Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
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beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
My Gretsches and Rickenbackers I leave alone.
I wanted to change the pickups in my Les Paul back when I bought it, but it was so expensive for me at the time, I didn't want to mess with it. What's interesting is that now, 19 years later, the sound has evened out and it's the best sounding Gibson I have. I notice the switch is encrusted with some kind of oxidation, and there's some dirt and grit in/around the pots, but it's hard to attribute what all aging factors caused the electric tone to level out. (When I bought the guitar, the pickups were hot and uneven. Throwing the selector switch almost sounded like switching guitars. Now throwing the switch sounds like a nice shift in tone between a mids/treble pu sound and a warmer-mid rhythm pu sound.)
My Gretsches and Rickenbackers I leave alone.
I wanted to change the pickups in my Les Paul back when I bought it, but it was so expensive for me at the time, I didn't want to mess with it. What's interesting is that now, 19 years later, the sound has evened out and it's the best sounding Gibson I have. I notice the switch is encrusted with some kind of oxidation, and there's some dirt and grit in/around the pots, but it's hard to attribute what all aging factors caused the electric tone to level out. (When I bought the guitar, the pickups were hot and uneven. Throwing the selector switch almost sounded like switching guitars. Now throwing the switch sounds like a nice shift in tone between a mids/treble pu sound and a warmer-mid rhythm pu sound.)
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
Oh yeah! Only three of my eleven Pauls have Duncans: Seths, 50th Anniv. Seths, and Antiquitys. I've got a couple that will get sets of Ants, Seths, or Pearlys. My 18 G&Ls all have factory pickups except for one Legacy with Antiquity Texas Hots...but, I have two more sets to be installed. Still the balance will be heavily biased to factory pickups. No reason to change the Super 58s or the Infinitys in my Ibanez guitars.
For the most part the factory pickups do the job for me. I don't need special pickups to sound good, but they can provide additional flavors.
Bill
Oh yeah! Only three of my eleven Pauls have Duncans: Seths, 50th Anniv. Seths, and Antiquitys. I've got a couple that will get sets of Ants, Seths, or Pearlys. My 18 G&Ls all have factory pickups except for one Legacy with Antiquity Texas Hots...but, I have two more sets to be installed. Still the balance will be heavily biased to factory pickups. No reason to change the Super 58s or the Infinitys in my Ibanez guitars.
For the most part the factory pickups do the job for me. I don't need special pickups to sound good, but they can provide additional flavors.
Bill
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
I actually have a number of guitars that I havent swapped the pups on. My Jackson DK2 has a JB with 2 STK1's that I havent swapped I have a 61 Reissue SG that has the stock 57 classics still. My Robin Machete and Medley both still have their stock Rio Grande pickups. Some of my other Jacksons still have stock pickups also and probably one or 2 others that I'm not thinking of.
On the opposite end of the spectrum I have a Green acrylic Mockingbird that has had 9 different bridge pickups in it. (I think its a mutt but I keep trying for the hell of it)
I actually have a number of guitars that I havent swapped the pups on. My Jackson DK2 has a JB with 2 STK1's that I havent swapped I have a 61 Reissue SG that has the stock 57 classics still. My Robin Machete and Medley both still have their stock Rio Grande pickups. Some of my other Jacksons still have stock pickups also and probably one or 2 others that I'm not thinking of.
On the opposite end of the spectrum I have a Green acrylic Mockingbird that has had 9 different bridge pickups in it. (I think its a mutt but I keep trying for the hell of it)
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
Jackson Stars NASL160 - came with SH-5 in the bridge and JB in the neck. Swapped thing around for a bit but went right back to stock. Best combo for it IMO. Bought another one and didn't touch the pickups.
Jackson Stars NASL160 - came with SH-5 in the bridge and JB in the neck. Swapped thing around for a bit but went right back to stock. Best combo for it IMO. Bought another one and didn't touch the pickups.
LtKojak
New member
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
All my nine electric guitars have aftermarket p'ups, mostly modded Duncans, but I own an Electric City Pickups RD-59 Hybrid set which resides in my #1 guitar, a 335 copy, a Zhangbucker Custom-made strat set in my PRS SE EG, a Lace Holy Grail set in my Jap Squier strat, an A4 '59n / rewound A8 Zhangbucker Pagey bridge p'up in my Vantage 400, an A3 Electric City Pickups RD-59 neck/ UOA5 '57 Classic Plus in my Vantage LPC, and the others I don't remember right now... man, I', oooooooooold!!!!!!!!!!
All my nine electric guitars have aftermarket p'ups, mostly modded Duncans, but I own an Electric City Pickups RD-59 Hybrid set which resides in my #1 guitar, a 335 copy, a Zhangbucker Custom-made strat set in my PRS SE EG, a Lace Holy Grail set in my Jap Squier strat, an A4 '59n / rewound A8 Zhangbucker Pagey bridge p'up in my Vantage 400, an A3 Electric City Pickups RD-59 neck/ UOA5 '57 Classic Plus in my Vantage LPC, and the others I don't remember right now... man, I', oooooooooold!!!!!!!!!!
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Chris of Arabia
Desert RATT
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
Probably half have stock and the rest have been modded or were fitted (with Duncans or something else) when I put them together
Probably half have stock and the rest have been modded or were fitted (with Duncans or something else) when I put them together
jmh151
Active member
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
When I first started playing and buying guitars, I figured I could buy any guitar, change pickups, and make it sound better. These days I'm a little more picky with my guitar purchases, if the tone I want isn't 100% there to begin with, I'll pass. On my Charvels, PRS, EBMM and new EVH, I figure the guitar maker spent enough time testing the pickups to the guitar to pick the ones that sound and perform best.
Granted, these are specialized guitars. In Fenders and Gibsons, they try to put pickups that cover too wide a range of music, so you may need to change pickups to get a more focused tone of your choice
When I first started playing and buying guitars, I figured I could buy any guitar, change pickups, and make it sound better. These days I'm a little more picky with my guitar purchases, if the tone I want isn't 100% there to begin with, I'll pass. On my Charvels, PRS, EBMM and new EVH, I figure the guitar maker spent enough time testing the pickups to the guitar to pick the ones that sound and perform best.
Granted, these are specialized guitars. In Fenders and Gibsons, they try to put pickups that cover too wide a range of music, so you may need to change pickups to get a more focused tone of your choice
mojosman
New member
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
I have four guitars. Two will always stay original. One is a CS Robert Cray Strat, and the other is an SRV model. I just built a partscaster with D. Allen Tru-62's, and my Les Paul Studio is about to get a matched set of SD Pearly Gates. So I'm batting 50% I guess.
I have four guitars. Two will always stay original. One is a CS Robert Cray Strat, and the other is an SRV model. I just built a partscaster with D. Allen Tru-62's, and my Les Paul Studio is about to get a matched set of SD Pearly Gates. So I'm batting 50% I guess.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
Precious few have the original PU's. The way I look at it: what are the odds that the PU's and woods are a perfect match for the gear and genres I'm playing? Rather than be incredibly picky up front (and pass up a lot of great guitars and great deals), or sell them because they don't sound like I want them to (I don't like being so helpless), I'd rather change PU's, mags, pots and dial them in for my unique set of variables. If all it takes is a different set of PU's to awaken a sleeping tone monster, why not do it?
Precious few have the original PU's. The way I look at it: what are the odds that the PU's and woods are a perfect match for the gear and genres I'm playing? Rather than be incredibly picky up front (and pass up a lot of great guitars and great deals), or sell them because they don't sound like I want them to (I don't like being so helpless), I'd rather change PU's, mags, pots and dial them in for my unique set of variables. If all it takes is a different set of PU's to awaken a sleeping tone monster, why not do it?
MasterKtulu
New member
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
Only one, my 1986 Ibanez Roadstar II with Super 70 Pickups.
Only one, my 1986 Ibanez Roadstar II with Super 70 Pickups.
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
Most of my 30 guitars I've at least replaced the pups with modded or hybridded SD pups, but some of them (following) I have left with the stock pups because they sound so great just the way the factories made them...
'68(?) American made Sheraton (not sure which pups are in it...I've never taken it apart to look),
Fender Jazz Bass with stock pups,
Fender 50th Anniv. Commemerative '57 Strat,
Gretsch Duo Jet (Elliot Easton sig) with Filtertrons,
Gibson Firebird with Firebird Minis,
Gibson LP (Zebrawood) with Burstbucker Vs (now Burstbucker Pro),
Gibson LP DC Goldtop with Gibson P-90s,
Gibson SG faded with Gibson P-90s,
SG Prophesy with Gibson Dirty Fingers,
Epi Wilshire with NY minis,
Brian May Special Goldtop with Burns TriSonics,
Rickenbacker 620 with Ric High Gain singles.
Most of my 30 guitars I've at least replaced the pups with modded or hybridded SD pups, but some of them (following) I have left with the stock pups because they sound so great just the way the factories made them...
'68(?) American made Sheraton (not sure which pups are in it...I've never taken it apart to look),
Fender Jazz Bass with stock pups,
Fender 50th Anniv. Commemerative '57 Strat,
Gretsch Duo Jet (Elliot Easton sig) with Filtertrons,
Gibson Firebird with Firebird Minis,
Gibson LP (Zebrawood) with Burstbucker Vs (now Burstbucker Pro),
Gibson LP DC Goldtop with Gibson P-90s,
Gibson SG faded with Gibson P-90s,
SG Prophesy with Gibson Dirty Fingers,
Epi Wilshire with NY minis,
Brian May Special Goldtop with Burns TriSonics,
Rickenbacker 620 with Ric High Gain singles.
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
My Gretsch Duo Jet still has the stock FilterTrons. I may replace the neck with a TV Jones SuperTron someday, but the bridge is fine and dandy.
My Gretsch Duo Jet still has the stock FilterTrons. I may replace the neck with a TV Jones SuperTron someday, but the bridge is fine and dandy.
chris effect
New member
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
I never changed the stock pups in my gibson SG standard. It's been 12 years. I'm thinking soon about putting some Distortions or Invaders in it though. after I get my 7 in order.
I never changed the stock pups in my gibson SG standard. It's been 12 years. I'm thinking soon about putting some Distortions or Invaders in it though. after I get my 7 in order.
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
My Les Paul Traditional Plus and my SG Special are my only stock passive guitars out of 14 axes. My 1999 USA Parker Midifly and 1973 Ovation Deacon 12 string (both active) are too rare to screw with, plus they both sound great.
My Les Paul Traditional Plus and my SG Special are my only stock passive guitars out of 14 axes. My 1999 USA Parker Midifly and 1973 Ovation Deacon 12 string (both active) are too rare to screw with, plus they both sound great.
OsvyRock
New member
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
If I was going to remember my good years, I needed to leave it as it were... stock. The guitar is actually retired*
+1. I have my 2005 SG Standard since Feb 2006. Never changed the pickups. I was considering it, but it's a very important emotional guitar. Is the guitar that ''made me'' the guitarist I'm today.
If I was going to remember my good years, I needed to leave it as it were... stock. The guitar is actually retired*
darthphineas
New member
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
So far, a few 80s Kramers that came with Duncans.
outside of that, a 1st-gen Ibanez Universe. but that is based mainly on not yet being able to find any 7-string models that deliver the tone I want.
So far, a few 80s Kramers that came with Duncans.
outside of that, a 1st-gen Ibanez Universe. but that is based mainly on not yet being able to find any 7-string models that deliver the tone I want.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
My '88 Baretta is back to stock form since I put a reverse zebra JB in it.
The Hamer EchoTone I picked up earlier this year has the stock Duncan Designed pickups in it.
A SG Classic I had came with P-90's and those stayed.
An old Focus 2000 had some nice pickups in it but those are now dual JB's (neck wired in parallel).
Half of my guitars that I have now I assembled myself so fair game there.
My '88 Baretta is back to stock form since I put a reverse zebra JB in it.
The Hamer EchoTone I picked up earlier this year has the stock Duncan Designed pickups in it.
A SG Classic I had came with P-90's and those stayed.
An old Focus 2000 had some nice pickups in it but those are now dual JB's (neck wired in parallel).
Half of my guitars that I have now I assembled myself so fair game there.
Bludave
New member
Re: Have you ever left stock pickups in a guitar?
I have a dot RI 335 from 1985 and it has the Tom Shaw PAF RI pickups in it. They are killer pickups. I also have a 359 that has the stock 57 classics, I have two EC Strats that have the stock Lace sensors (both are from '88) no need to change them. My feeling is "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"
I have a dot RI 335 from 1985 and it has the Tom Shaw PAF RI pickups in it. They are killer pickups. I also have a 359 that has the stock 57 classics, I have two EC Strats that have the stock Lace sensors (both are from '88) no need to change them. My feeling is "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"
