I want to upgrade the pickups in my Epiphone Wildkat. They are really dark and muddy sounding. I know about the wiring deal and plan on rewiring it. It is mainly the micro-phonic squeal I cannot deal with so I want something with plastic covers. I know people will say just replace the metal cover with plastic, but this is easier said than done considering the neck has wacky pole spacing and the are welded to the pickup. Any suggestions preferable from someone has done it and it worked out to be an improvement. So far I have heard good things about GFS that they fit good-any truth to this?
Epiphone Wildkat Pickup Upgrade
- Thread starter Rockbly
- Start date
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Epiphone Wildkat Pickup Upgrade
That's a guitar in need of a pickup upgrade. I never got around to doing anything with mine before I traded it for a box of Q-tips and a corduroy pantsuit.
That's a guitar in need of a pickup upgrade. I never got around to doing anything with mine before I traded it for a box of Q-tips and a corduroy pantsuit.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Epiphone Wildkat Pickup Upgrade
You did well, LP.
You did well, LP.
Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
Re: Epiphone Wildkat Pickup Upgrade
Plastic covers? IT's not about plastic or metal covers it's about having properly wax potted pickups. If you want less mud go with a Seymour Duncan Jazz in the neck and something along the lines of a JB in the bridge for versatility.
Plastic covers? IT's not about plastic or metal covers it's about having properly wax potted pickups. If you want less mud go with a Seymour Duncan Jazz in the neck and something along the lines of a JB in the bridge for versatility.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Epiphone Wildkat Pickup Upgrade
Ahem. The Epiphone Wildkat is a hollow-body guitar with "Casino" style dogear P90s and Rockabilly pretensions.
Ahem. The Epiphone Wildkat is a hollow-body guitar with "Casino" style dogear P90s and Rockabilly pretensions.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Epiphone Wildkat Pickup Upgrade
Dyna-Sonic type pickups might prove veeeeerrrry interesting.
Dyna-Sonic type pickups might prove veeeeerrrry interesting.
Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
Re: Epiphone Wildkat Pickup Upgrade
Ahh, I stand corrected. My pickup suggestions will not work then obviously.
Ahh, I stand corrected. My pickup suggestions will not work then obviously.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Epiphone Wildkat Pickup Upgrade
They might, after some wood removal.
On the other hand, the OP's forum ID and choice of guitar strongly suggest a very specific musical genre preference.
They might, after some wood removal.
On the other hand, the OP's forum ID and choice of guitar strongly suggest a very specific musical genre preference.
Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Epiphone Wildkat Pickup Upgrade
Replacing the wiring/electronics isn't going to change muddiness. Epi uses 500K's. The dark sound you have is from the wood and/or PU's.
Replacing the wiring/electronics isn't going to change muddiness. Epi uses 500K's. The dark sound you have is from the wood and/or PU's.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Epiphone Wildkat Pickup Upgrade
Yes i had a student with a wildkat. At the time i had an original 1966 Epiphone Casino. Seeing as they both had dogear p90s i compared the two axes.
The casino had a pair of GFS vintage dogears (yes i know....cheap chinese pickups in a vintage american axe) and it sounded superb. IN comparison the wildkat just sounded flat and lifeless. Part of it was the guitar itself, but part of it of course was the pickups. There is no doubt in my mind that your Wildkat will sound a lot nicer with GFS dogears.
However...the gfs vintage dogears believe it or not are actually measured to true vintage spec and therefore the spread of the pole pieces are different for the neck and the bridge so that they line up exactly underneath the strings on most gibson style axes. Actually its kinda funny that current gibson p90s dont bother with this. Anywway...what this means is that you also need to get a pair of the nickel covers to fit the GFS pickups. They are not on his website but if you email jay directly at guitarfetish you can request a pair of vintage spaced nickel covers. The gfs pups are also nicely calibrated for neck and bridge too. Really good pickups actually. Hope this helps.
ps...while you are on the site, you might as well order a full upgrade of the rest of the electronic components in your axe. The Alpha pots are pretty good...get some in 500k values and new jack and 3 way switch cant hurt. A couple extra dollars for Sprague .022uf capacitors is cool too. Honestly i dont think i can hear the difference between different brand caps in a guitar tone circuit, but the orange drops look cool and you wont die wondering if there is a potential sound upgrade for an extra couple of dollars.
Yes i had a student with a wildkat. At the time i had an original 1966 Epiphone Casino. Seeing as they both had dogear p90s i compared the two axes.
The casino had a pair of GFS vintage dogears (yes i know....cheap chinese pickups in a vintage american axe) and it sounded superb. IN comparison the wildkat just sounded flat and lifeless. Part of it was the guitar itself, but part of it of course was the pickups. There is no doubt in my mind that your Wildkat will sound a lot nicer with GFS dogears.
However...the gfs vintage dogears believe it or not are actually measured to true vintage spec and therefore the spread of the pole pieces are different for the neck and the bridge so that they line up exactly underneath the strings on most gibson style axes. Actually its kinda funny that current gibson p90s dont bother with this. Anywway...what this means is that you also need to get a pair of the nickel covers to fit the GFS pickups. They are not on his website but if you email jay directly at guitarfetish you can request a pair of vintage spaced nickel covers. The gfs pups are also nicely calibrated for neck and bridge too. Really good pickups actually. Hope this helps.
ps...while you are on the site, you might as well order a full upgrade of the rest of the electronic components in your axe. The Alpha pots are pretty good...get some in 500k values and new jack and 3 way switch cant hurt. A couple extra dollars for Sprague .022uf capacitors is cool too. Honestly i dont think i can hear the difference between different brand caps in a guitar tone circuit, but the orange drops look cool and you wont die wondering if there is a potential sound upgrade for an extra couple of dollars.
Last edited:
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Epiphone Wildkat Pickup Upgrade
I got one in trade that had a Lindy Fralin set of P90's in it...sounded amazing!
I got one in trade that had a Lindy Fralin set of P90's in it...sounded amazing!
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Epiphone Wildkat Pickup Upgrade
I had an Epi Joe Pass that was very warm, the warmest-toned guitar I've ever had. Too warm for me, I sold it.
I had an Epi Joe Pass that was very warm, the warmest-toned guitar I've ever had. Too warm for me, I sold it.
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