Best pickups for Epiphone DOT, Jazz, Funk, R&B...

Rez

New member
Does anyone have any recommendations as far as what would be the best pickup for a semi-hollow Epiphone DOT to play Funk, R&B, and Jazz? I'm playing through a Peavey Deuce as of now. The pickups that are currently in there are Samsung (I never knew Samsung made pups.) Someone had mentioned Gibson 57 Classics, but not sure if Seymour Duncan has something comparable to the 57's or something better. Thanks.
 
Re: Best pickups for Epiphone DOT, Jazz, Funk, R&B...

Welcome to the forum.

Something comparable with Gibson C57s? SH-1 '59, SH-55 Seth Lover, SHPG-1 Pearly Gates, SH-2 Jazz, Antiquity humbucker (more expensive), Zephyr Silver humbucker (considerably more expensive!!!).

On my (mostly maple) Epiphone BB King Lucille, I have Tonerider Alnico II Classic N and Rocksong B humbuckers. For your Dot, I suggest Alnico IV Classic N and Alnico II Classic B.
 
Re: Best pickups for Epiphone DOT, Jazz, Funk, R&B...

Welcome to the forum.

Something comparable with Gibson C57s? SH-1 '59, SH-55 Seth Lover, SHPG-1 Pearly Gates, SH-2 Jazz, Antiquity humbucker (more expensive), Zephyr Silver humbucker (considerably more expensive!!!).

On my (mostly maple) Epiphone BB King Lucille, I have Tonerider Alnico II Classic N and Rocksong B humbuckers. For your Dot, I suggest Alnico IV Classic N and Alnico II Classic B.

Awesome! Thanks a lot... Is there a model name to the Alnico IV Classic N and Alnico II Classic B or is that indeed the name? I'm assuming that the N and B are neck and bridge. If you don't mind me asking, what would be the difference between the pups in your BB King Lucille and the ones that you recommended to me? Thanks again.
 
Re: Best pickups for Epiphone DOT, Jazz, Funk, R&B...

Samsung making pickups? :bsflag:

how can you be sure they are legit?
 
Re: Best pickups for Epiphone DOT, Jazz, Funk, R&B...

It usually appears spelt as SAM SUNG.
 
Re: Best pickups for Epiphone DOT, Jazz, Funk, R&B...

not sure if Seymour Duncan has something comparable to the 57's or something better. Thanks.
Its not just Seymour Duncan. Pretty much everyone manufacturing pickups from the USA, Europe and even Asia across all price points are making better sounding paf style pickups than the gibson 57.

Anyways...funk R&B and jazz....just get a pair of Duncan 59's. They are very clear and defined in a 335. They also sound great with any magnet swap you choose if you want to fine tune their sound later on (which means you dont need to go thru the nightmare of removing all the wiring again).

Epiphphones have notoriously cheap and nasty electronic componentry, so spend a few extra bucks on swapping in good quality 500k pots, nice caps and a new switch and jack. You can get a good cheap upgrade kit here:
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Complete-Les-Paul-Upgrade-Electrical-Component-Kit_p_179.html
nice caps here:
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Sprague-Orange-Drop-Tone-Caps-022uf-for-Les-Paul_p_695.html
or you can possibly get a wiring harness all pre-done for you using absolutely best pots from bourns and vintage style paper in oil caps like this:
http://bcsguitars.com/?page_id=2760
Which will save you a lot of time and get you a great result.
 
Re: Best pickups for Epiphone DOT, Jazz, Funk, R&B...

Its not just Seymour Duncan. Pretty much everyone manufacturing pickups from the USA, Europe and even Asia across all price points are making better sounding paf style pickups than the gibson 57.

Anyways...funk R&B and jazz....just get a pair of Duncan 59's. They are very clear and defined in a 335. They also sound great with any magnet swap you choose if you want to fine tune their sound later on (which means you dont need to go thru the nightmare of removing all the wiring again).

Epiphphones have notoriously cheap and nasty electronic componentry, so spend a few extra bucks on swapping in good quality 500k pots, nice caps and a new switch and jack. You can get a good cheap upgrade kit here:
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Complete-Les-Paul-Upgrade-Electrical-Component-Kit_p_179.html
nice caps here:
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Sprague-Orange-Drop-Tone-Caps-022uf-for-Les-Paul_p_695.html
or you can possibly get a wiring harness all pre-done for you using absolutely best pots from bourns and vintage style paper in oil caps like this:
http://bcsguitars.com/?page_id=2760
Which will save you a lot of time and get you a great result.

Thanks for the heads up. I also want to be able to rip a lead here and there now and then. Do you think the Duncan 59's are well suited for that as well?
 
Re: Best pickups for Epiphone DOT, Jazz, Funk, R&B...

Thanks for the heads up. I also want to be able to rip a lead here and there now and then. Do you think the Duncan 59's are well suited for that as well?

For the music you described yes plus their wax potted so you can throw a lil more gain before they feed back but I doubt you would be using that much to start with.
 
Re: Best pickups for Epiphone DOT, Jazz, Funk, R&B...

Is there a model name to the Alnico IV Classic N and Alnico II Classic B or is that indeed the name?

Those are, indeed, Tonerider model names.

I'm assuming that the N and B are neck and bridge.

Correct.

what would be the difference between the pups in your BB King Lucille and the ones that you recommended to me? Thanks again.

The Epiphone Lucille is constructed mainly of maple. To compensate for the natural brightness associated with maple, I chose pickups with greater midrange emphasis. The Rocksong model humbucker, in particular, I chose for its extra output.

The Tonerider pickups that I suggested for your Epi Dot do not over-emphasise the midrange. IMO, a mainly mahogany ES Thinline needs clearer sounding pickups.
 
Re: Best pickups for Epiphone DOT, Jazz, Funk, R&B...

I'd highly recommend Seth Lovers (for Duncans) or Air Classics (for Dimarzios).

I've owned a Dot and both above mentioned pickups filled the bill for me.

Funkfingers says: "The Epiphone Lucille is constructed mainly of maple. To compensate for the natural brightness..."

Yep- true that

That's why I'd avoid the Duncan 59s.
In general, I think Dimarzios are slightly better suited for that guitar.

I'll bet the Dmz 36 Anniversarys would kill in a (primarily) Maple Dot.
 
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Re: Best pickups for Epiphone DOT, Jazz, Funk, R&B...

Epi Dot is constructed mainly of maple too. I had '59 set in my Epi Dot and didn't like them (too bright in the bridge and too boomy in the neck). But if you go with '59s, try '59 with A2 in the bridge and '59 with A4 in the neck. I'm happy with A2Pro bridge and Jazz neck. Tonerider A2 Classic (or Rocksong) bridge and A4 Classic neck is a good suggestion too.
 
Re: Best pickups for Epiphone DOT, Jazz, Funk, R&B...

Its not just Seymour Duncan. Pretty much everyone manufacturing pickups from the USA, Europe and even Asia across all price points are making better sounding paf style pickups than the gibson 57.

Well said, my friend.
 
Re: Best pickups for Epiphone DOT, Jazz, Funk, R&B...

Hard to argue with a pair of 59's for all-around PAF style goodness for multiple styles...
 
Re: Best pickups for Epiphone DOT, Jazz, Funk, R&B...

Hard to argue with a pair of 59's for all-around PAF style goodness for multiple styles...

I've tried 59s in a Dot (and so has elelpe) and found them too bright-deep and overly scooped.
 
Re: Best pickups for Epiphone DOT, Jazz, Funk, R&B...

If you want something more on the warm side you might want to try the Pearly Gates or a set of Seths you can't go wrong with neither for what you want to do. Now if you want something on the bright side then maybe try a 59 set or Jazz set but since they are going into a bright guitar already I would go with one of the first two sets I mentioned. Now if you are open to swapping mags well thats a whole other thing together.
 
Re: Best pickups for Epiphone DOT, Jazz, Funk, R&B...

If you want something more on the warm side you might want to try the Pearly Gates or a set of Seths you can't go wrong with neither for what you want to do. Now if you want something on the bright side then maybe try a 59 set or Jazz set but since they are going into a bright guitar already I would go with one of the first two sets I mentioned. Now if you are open to swapping mags well thats a whole other thing together.

Yes, actually along with the 59s I tried in my Dot, I also tried a set of Jazzs.
They too were not goo to my ears.

I'd go with A2 Duncans or Dimarzios that use the Air technology.
Air Classics might be nice?
 
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