90's Epiphone Sheraton Pickups?

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Alpaca_Please

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I'm looking for a set of pickups for my 90's epiphone Sheraton. The genres I'm looking to cover are more hard rock and alternative type sounds. I was thinking pearly gates or Dimarzio Paf Pro's, but finding demos for hollow bodies is near impossible.
 
Re: 90's Epiphone Sheraton Pickups?

Alpaca_Please said:
I'm looking for a set of pickups for my 90's epiphone Sheraton. The genres I'm looking to cover are more hard rock and alternative type sounds. I was thinking pearly gates or Dimarzio Paf Pro's, but finding demos for hollow bodies is near impossible.
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I used to have a set of Duncan '59's in my Sheraton and they were great for Alt Rock, Hard Rock, Classic Rock, and Blues.
 
Re: 90's Epiphone Sheraton Pickups?

I have always thought that two PAF PROs in a set sound too unbalanced. The bridge is too bright and thin compared to the fat boomy neck position. I like the PAF PRO in the bridge with something like single coils in the neck, or the PAF PRO in the neck with a more powerful bridge like the Tone Zone, but not 2 PAF PROs together.

The Whole Lotta Humbucker Set might be great.
 
Re: 90's Epiphone Sheraton Pickups?

Before we launch into random recommendations from Seths to JB's….

What do you need more/less of from your Sheraton based on the current sound? And what is hard rock and alt to you?

And what amp or FX do you use. I'm thinking with a POD I could play anything with the Sheraton as is….

Pickups are not Metal or Alt or Blues or Hard Rock or Modern. They are output, bass, middle, treble and some tightness or looseness….

What do you need more/less of???
 
Re: 90's Epiphone Sheraton Pickups?

Aceman said:
Before we launch into random recommendations from Seths to JB's….

What do you need more/less of from your Sheraton based on the current sound? And what is hard rock and alt to you?

And what amp or FX do you use. I'm thinking with a POD I could play anything with the Sheraton as is….

Pickups are not Metal or Alt or Blues or Hard Rock or Modern. They are output, bass, middle, treble and some tightness or looseness….

What do you need more/less of???
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I probably should have included that in the OP. I'm just looking for a pickup that gives a bit more aggressions and tightens the sound up a bit. A little more output wouldn't hurt, but its not necessary.

The amp I'm playing through is always subject to change. It's currently a Blackstar Series One 100, but that'll probably get swapped for an Orange Rockerverb, or a Marshall DSL 100. The cab will be the matching cab.

As for effects, I've got an MXR limited edition Jimi Hendrix Octavio, going in to Mesa Boogie Flux Drive that I use as a lead boost, then into a phase 90, then a noose gate. In the loop I have EQ and 'verb.
 
Re: 90's Epiphone Sheraton Pickups?

No need for pushing the amp…

Jazz set, Bridge and neck.
 
Re: 90's Epiphone Sheraton Pickups?

Going on what you have said, and also what you have told Ace, I'd probably recommend the APH set, which is really just a jazz set with alnico II mags.
Epiphone 90s pickups are rubbish. So the good news is that pretty much anything you put in there will be a big improvement.
Make sure you do it right so you only have to do it once because swapping pickups in a thinline semi is a time consuming process, so replace all the cheapo mini pots and flimsy switches that epiphone use, and invest a few bucks in getting some nice quality 500k pots (alpha, CTS or bourns) some new caps (sprague are nice) and a nice solid switchcraft jack and switch.
It will sound like a new guitar.
 
Re: 90's Epiphone Sheraton Pickups?

ANY Duncan pickups will make it sound like a new guitar!

And, you can then Mag swap easily to make Jazz, A2P, or any other combination you want for a buck.
 
Re: 90's Epiphone Sheraton Pickups?

yeah pearlies are great. The neck is so sweet and warm. Probably my fave neck pickup period. Gorgeous jazz tones. The bridge is kinda raspy and twangy. Both pickups have quite a distinct personality from one another. It is a cool, highly characterful vintage sound in a semi hollow. You might find them to be perfect for you because the bridge pup is kinda lean on the low end. If you are finding you have too much low, then it could be a good fit. Where it does have a bit of extra push is in the upper mid/treble range which really tickles the cutting frequencies on your amp without ever getting brittle/bright. It reminds me a little of a paf that has one foot in the gretsch/filtertron camp.
This is an excellent guide to the kinds of tones they will provide. I know its not in a semi, but as far as that goes, i can say i really enjoyed having a set in my 335. Ive since changed to WLH set because i was after a bigger, more powerful and bassier tone at the time i installed them, but there have been a lot of times I wish i still had the PG's in there.
http://www.iguitarmag.com/magazine-.../reviews/seymour-duncan-pearly-gates-pickups/

This is a tune i recorded when i had the pearlies in my 335 via a fuzzface into a twin reverb. I think i was using the middle position. No bass, just guitar and drums. Hope it's helpful.


I guess a simple and quick guide would be APH set for something with that kind of slash guns n roses sound, and pearlies for a billy gibbons zz top sound. Both are pretty effin great rock tones that will also give you a pot full of sweetness if you play clean. Both are kinda similar in some respects, and of course a much bigger part of the tonal equation will be your amp, pedals and speakers yet both are an identifiable sound too.
 
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Re: 90's Epiphone Sheraton Pickups?

You can call me crazy but for the bridge I might even think the SH-5 could do well for what you are looking for. Of course there quite a bit of output and will drive amp but still not as crazy as a JB. I find there is more opportunity with the SH5 to combine controlled way of driving the amp with some serious bite (given it's voicing and what I've been hearing as well)
 
Re: 90's Epiphone Sheraton Pickups?

Okay, I've come to a decision I think. I just need to know how the custom/59.

My plane is a custom/59 bridge with a pearly gates neck.
 
Re: 90's Epiphone Sheraton Pickups?

Alpaca_Please said:
I'm looking for a set of pickups for my 90's epiphone Sheraton. The genres I'm looking to cover are more hard rock and alternative type sounds. I was thinking pearly gates or Dimarzio Paf Pro's, but finding demos for hollow bodies is near impossible.
Click to expand...

Not "hollow bodies"...Semi-hollow body. Big difference.
 
Re: 90's Epiphone Sheraton Pickups?

The C/59 will sound pretty bright. Is that really what you want?

The Pearly is a great neck pup. I really like that, but I personally prefer the Demon...a little more even tonal response and more versatile. I would also suggest considering the Demon as a set. You can play just about anything with that set.

The WLH set also works wonders in a semi. Definitely worth your consideration.
 
Re: 90's Epiphone Sheraton Pickups?

the WHole Lotta Humbuckers would be my choice over the brighter Pearlys or Jazz set. It will also rock more, and that is always cool, ya know.
 
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