Can anyone tell me more about these pickups?

[Kirby G]

Hello,

I recently bought a 1989 Gibson 335 Dot and would like to know more about the pickups which do not seem to be the original Gibson pickups for that era (which I think would have been Bill Lawrence "Original" humbuckers). They are very clear sounding (not high output) with a great mid-range bark. They appear to have a "Seymour" signature, a label with a code number and "N" and "B" stickers which I presume stand for Neck and Bridge.

Can anyone identify them?

Many thanks,

K.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Can anyone tell me more about these pickups?

I believe they're early Antiquities. Antiquities look just like those, but have Bridge Neck decals, not B N, unless they used those on the earliest ones.

Measure the DC resistance with an ohm meter, and see if they're around 8.5/7.5

 

[Kirby G]

Re: Can anyone tell me more about these pickups?

I forgot to mention that this was my first post.... and thank you for your reply.

Your assessment would explain why they sound so good! It's great when you buy a guitar just by trusting your ears!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Can anyone tell me more about these pickups?

The good news is you have some of the best PAF's, and they're already installed. Don't change anything. Just play it. Nice 335!

 

[AlexR]

Re: Can anyone tell me more about these pickups?

Looks like someone might have modded them for OOP at one point....unless thats a bridge wire on the chassis.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Can anyone tell me more about these pickups?

The original Leesona 102 winding machine Gibson wound all the PAF's on is owned by Seymour to do Antiquities, Seth Lovers, PG's, A2 Pro', and CS PAF's like Skinners, Bonamassa, etc.

I'm unable to find the year Seymour acquired the Leesona, but there's only 3 functional ones. Seymour bought one, and Throbak owns the other 2.

http://www.pafhumbucker.com/leesona102-paf-pickups.html

 

[Mincer]

Re: Can anyone tell me more about these pickups?

Congrats on having some older Antiquities...those are great pickups.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Can anyone tell me more about these pickups?

Beautiful guitar. One of the nicest I've ever owned was a (roughly) 1960 Gibson 330 with the shorter access neck.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Can anyone tell me more about these pickups?

I have a student with a mid-60s ES 330. It is one of the nicest guitars I've ever played.

 

[Kirby G]

Re: Can anyone tell me more about these pickups?



I've been enjoying playing the 335 for a week or so now.... and my 63 "brown super" works really well with this guitar.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Can anyone tell me more about these pickups?

Wow, very cool amp! Wanna tell us more about it? I don't know much about those...

 

[Kirby G]

Re: Can anyone tell me more about these pickups?

It is a very cool amp from 1963 (the last year of production). I bought it about twenty years ago from the original owner.

It's 40 watts with two 10" Jensen speakers and has the "Harmonic Tremelo" which is gorgeous (has a kind of uni-vibe quality about it). It stays clean until it's way too loud for everyday use, so it needs a push from an overdrive pedal (I have been using the J Rockett Archer) to make it sing.

http://ampwares.com/amplifiers/fender-brownface-super/

It has quite a brittle treble response, which I think is down to the Jensens (which are not the originals) and I have been thinking about replacing them with Celestion Golds. They are supposed to be 10" versions of the Blue speakers in the Vox AC30. I used to use AC30's but they are too loud for me these days and I switched to small Matchless and Orange amps a few years ago.

I am mainly a Stratocaster player (although I played Les Pauls in the 1970's) but recently decided to try out the 335. I like the sound of Gibson guitars through Fender amps... I think that you hear more of the character of the guitar that way. So the combination of the 335 and the Super amp is making me very happy.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Can anyone tell me more about these pickups?

Cool amp and cool guitar! Glad you were to get the info you needed—belated welcome to the forum!

 

[Kirby G]

Re: Can anyone tell me more about these pickups?

Thanks for the welcome.

Does anyone have experience of the Celestion Gold speakers?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Can anyone tell me more about these pickups?

Yeah, that sounds like a wonderful amp when you find the right speakers for it. I've never tried the Golds, though.