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

[Rez]

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

Lotta choices. So it sounds like 59's are / could be too bright. Would an A2 have the same bite as the Seth's and Pearly? I've heard the audio samples and they more or less sound the same as stated in the audio sample section.

 

[teleblooz]

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

Some real good suggestions so far. Of course, it's all subjective and we recommend what we like. What works for me may not do it for you, but I'll still chime in! A big thumbs up for the Dimarzio 36th PAF's. They nail the classic tones I like to hear. I also really like the Tonerider A lV's.....for cost/performance, they are hard to beat and I could live happy with them. I have a set of Van Zandt Tru Buckers in a semi and they are fantastic. The neck pickup has an rich, articulate sweetness that is quite addictive. Not much written about them and they fly somewhat under the radar, but they are darn good and worth checking out! As far as Duncans go, Seths are just hard to beat in a semi. Don't overlook the Jazz model either. It's been one of favorite Duncan pickups for years.

 

[elelpe]

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

Would an A2 have the same bite ...

A2Pro in the bridge has healthy dose of bite. I tried and didn't like A2Pro neck in Epi Dot though (too round). If you want A2 pickup in the neck, I'd say go with PG.

 

[Chickenwings]

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

Lotta choices. So it sounds like 59's are / could be too bright. Would an A2 have the same bite as the Seth's and Pearly? I've heard the audio samples and they more or less sound the same as stated in the audio sample section.

Ive put a2's in a 59 set in my 335. I have pearly gates in it now.
The a2 magnets in the 59s seem to make them feel fatter and sound warmer than stock. Its a jazzier sound rather than a clear funky sound. I really like that sound - superb actually. BUt yeh - a2 is spongier in the bass end and smoothe off in the top end. Both A5 and A2 59s are a sweet set of pickups for different reasons.
To compare A259's to PG's, i'd say that the PG neck is a bit warmer and deeper, but the PG bridge is a bit brighter and more cutting, but less fat.
Honestly, i reckon a pair of 59's is the best choice, cos you can throw in pretty much any magnet combination until you have your own perfect 335 sound. While stock 59's are kinda defined and clear/hifi, i would not call them bright necessarily. They are more like a blank slate to work with. The bass is defined and punchy and the treble is detailed. They are very sweet pickups indeed - it just comes down to whether or not you feel the need to tailor your sound after getting used to them for a few weeks/months.

 

[Chickenwings]

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

Lotta choices. So it sounds like 59's are / could be too bright. Would an A2 have the same bite as the Seth's and Pearly? I've heard the audio samples and they more or less sound the same as stated in the audio sample section.

Ive put a2's in a 59 set in my 335. I have pearly gates in it now.
The a2 magnets in the 59s seem to make them feel fatter and sound warmer than stock. Its a jazzier sound rather than a clear funky sound. I really like that sound - superb actually. BUt yeh - a2 is spongier in the bass end and smoothe off in the top end. Both A5 and A2 59s are a sweet set of pickups for different reasons.
To compare A259's to PG's, i'd say that the PG neck is a bit warmer and deeper, but the PG bridge is a bit brighter and more cutting, but less fat.
Honestly, i reckon a pair of 59's is the best choice, cos you can throw in pretty much any magnet combination until you have your own perfect 335 sound. While stock 59's are kinda defined and clear/hifi, i would not call them bright necessarily. They are more like a blank slate to work with. The bass is defined and punchy and the treble is detailed. They are very sweet pickups indeed - it just comes down to whether or not you feel the need to tailor your sound after getting used to them for a few weeks/months.

 

[Chickenwings]

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

...dont know why that posted twice. sorry! lol

 

[blueman335]

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

A2Pro in the bridge has healthy dose of bite. I tried and didn't like A2Pro neck in Epi Dot though (too round). If you want A2 pickup in the neck, I'd say go with PG.

To me, PGN's have a more rounded high-end than A2P's. Too warm for me in the neck slot.

 

[Rockstar216]

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

To me, PGN's have a more rounded high-end than A2P's. Too warm for me in the neck slot.

I have to agree with this but I actually liked the roundness but eventually swapped the mag to UOA5 and am really happy with it now. The mids don't sound congested like with A2 but I still have a bit of the A2 feel but the bottom is a bit tighter and the highs aren't as rounded but I roll back the tone and it solves the problem for me. If I was playing straight Jazz I would keep the A2 or if I wanted a tad more brightness put in the Polished A3 I have. Mind you I have this in a Alder Super Strat with Floating Floyd with a big Brass Block.

 

[ItsaBass]

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

I'd probably use Seths, PGs, A2 Pros (or a combo), or P Rails, myself.

 

[Rez]

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

I've been noticing a lot about magnet swaps. They're cheap enough from what I've seen. I mentioned that I'll be playing Funk/R&B/Jazz... but I'll also be soloing a lot with fuzz/rock sounds.. think Steely Dan - Reelin In The Years solo etc. So I'm thinking maybe Pearly or Seth with magnet swap? From what I've read.. the A5 magnets have more punch to it than the A2's.

Are all magnets marked with what they are? Meaning do they say A2, A5 etc? I took a magnet out of an old Ibanez pickup that I have and it said PAF. But then I took a magnet out from an old humbucker (late 70's early 80's) and it had nothing on it at all.

I'm wondering if changing the magnets on my existing Epiphone pickups will make a difference. I purchased the Dot back in early to mid 90's. The pickups (when I took them out about a year ago) said Samsung or Sam Sung. I don't remember which one exactly and didn't know anything about magnets until just this week. So not sure if they would already have A2's or PAF's.

I'm pretty much a noob when it comes to pickups, electronics etc. I assume that I should also change my pots too... from what I've seen on the forums and as well as searching online, they say that new pots will make a difference as far as sound.

I want to thank everyone for their input. You all seem to know what you're talking about and it really has making me rethinking how to go about tackling this.

 

[Rez]

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

me rethinking how to go about tackling this.

"Tackling" is the wrong word... It's more like just deciding to do it and pick a pup and roll with it.

 

[Rez]

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

.
Honestly, i reckon a pair of 59's is the best choice, cos you can throw in pretty much any magnet combination until you have your own perfect 335 sound.

I think I'm going to go with the 59's like you and others have said. Now I'm faced with 4 conductor and single conductor. I know how to solder (work in IT and repair motherboards from time to time) but I don't understand electronics all that much.

So if I was to get a 59 neck pickup, I would want it to act like my current pickup where I use the neck and bridge together. Would that be a single conductor... and the 4 conductor would be for coil tapping?

Sorry for the noob questions.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

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

Every 59 I've bought came with braided single con on as standard. You can get them in 4 though. you can wire 4 con normally, you just have more wiring options with 4 con.

 

[Rez]

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

Are they any particular pots that I should consider... make/manufacturer?

 

[Chickenwings]

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

I think I'm going to go with the 59's like you and others have said. Now I'm faced with 4 conductor and single conductor. I know how to solder (work in IT and repair motherboards from time to time) but I don't understand electronics all that much.

So if I was to get a 59 neck pickup, I would want it to act like my current pickup where I use the neck and bridge together. Would that be a single conductor... and the 4 conductor would be for coil tapping?

Sorry for the noob questions.

yeh. normally they are not 4 conductor. Do you really need coil tapping etc?

Pot: Bourns. 500k audio taper. excellent fast, smooth and long lasting. I reckon they are in a class of their own. However, you might as well just get this kit:
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Complete-Les-Paul-Upgrade-Electrical-Component-Kit_p_179.html
cos it has everything you need and its all good quality.
If you want to, then spring a couple extra bucks for these:
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Complete-Les-Paul-Upgrade-Electrical-Component-Kit_p_179.html
and you will have done everything you can do to make your dot sound better.

 

[david kornblatt]

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

yeh. normally they are not 4 conductor. Do you really need coil tapping etc?

Pot: Bourns. 500k audio taper. excellent fast, smooth and long lasting. I reckon they are in a class of their own. However, you might as well just get this kit:
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Complete-Les-Paul-Upgrade-Electrical-Component-Kit_p_179.html
cos it has everything you need and its all good quality.
If you want to, then spring a couple extra bucks for these:
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Complete-Les-Paul-Upgrade-Electrical-Component-Kit_p_179.html
and you will have done everything you can do to make your dot sound better.

I would go with something extraordinary like Alnico vi with severely underwound bobbins. I also would have 1 meg tone pots with volume kit. Make your amp simulate " the jazzy carpet over the speaker sound" not the guitar. I'm of the opinion it should like an acoustic guitar only louder not like an an electric guitar. In other words add to sound instead of trying to figure out what needs to be taken away.

 

[david kornblatt]

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.

DONT FORGET MOJOTONE DON'T FORGET RS GUITAR WORKS. BOTH PLACES SELL 335 wiring!

 

[papersoul]

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

I have a 2014 Epiphone Dot that I prefer over my 2009 Gibson ES335. The Epi plays like butter and the natural acoustic tone is insane! I ended up installing a Gibson Burstbucker Pro neck and Duncan Custom-5 bridge pickup and it rocks! The Burstbucker Pros are great pickups but I like the added beef of the C-5. I also used a CTS 300K Audio taper volume pot!
-Rich

 

[david kornblatt]

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

I have a 2014 Epiphone Dot that I prefer over my 2009 Gibson ES335. The Epi plays like butter and the natural acoustic tone is insane! I ended up installing a Gibson Burstbucker Pro neck and Duncan Custom-5 bridge pickup and it rocks! The Burstbucker Pros are great pickups but I like the added beef of the C-5. I also used a CTS 300K Audio taper volume pot!
-Rich

I must apologize to you; because it is my strong belief that 335s should only have low resistance, low impedance style humbuckers. It's not a les Paul or a Stratocaster. I say this because; to go from smooth sounds like George Benson to wild piercing sounds like Alvin Lee requires that set up. Also get a good guitar tech because; with the right set-up your Gibbie should play like a dream just by you glancing at it. I own an Epi and even though I love it; it's not a Gibbie or a Herritage 535. Every guitar is like a snowflake they're all different but the same. You should know what I'm saying to you. Semi Hollow guitars are supposed to have a "woody" tone. The Stratocaster should have a clangy metal on metal tone.