Hollow Body Pickups

[viewaskew2k5]

O.K so im thinking of getting a Cheap Epiphone E 335 ( i wish i could get a gibson) and thinking of replacing the pickups to Alnico 2's. Now, the question is, what differnce in sound does the hollow body do to the pick ups? How would the sound be different say, to Alnico 2's in a Les Paul, or a Strat?

 

[Amateur]

Re: Hollow Body Pickups

I put a Jazz/JB combo in the Ibanez Artcore AS73 and the pickups sound good. The semi hollow body seems to give more sustain to the notes and also cuts down the high a little bit. I have not put the pickups in a solid body before so I can't tell you the difference. I am comparing this to the sound samples on the SD web. The split sounds are also good. Not exactly as bright as my Strat with the vintage noiseless pickups but is very pleasent. I play Rock, Blues, Pop and a little Jazz, so this actually fits me very well. I put the pickups in just for fun to see what kind of souns I can get and it turns out I like the sounds so much I end up playing this guitar most of the time even in gigs. I use the 500k pots and 0.047 uf capacitors so that I can get more bass and a fatter sound.

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: Hollow Body Pickups

In my experience, I've found that hollowbodies do NOT like high output pickups and/or pickups that are very warm sounding (i.e. Alnico II)

A hollowbody guitar gives off so much warm midrange to begin with, you want a pickup that will compliment it well.

I'm thinking of getting a cheap Epi Sheraton too, and most likely, will put in a nice, bright, lively set of pickups: Jazz Neck, 59 Bridge.

Both of these have a great treble response, and a more neutral midrange, and that allows the midrange of the hollowbody to sound natural.

I had overwound alnico IIs in my ES135, and it sounded like 110% midrange honk. I put in stock and underwound Alnico 5s, and now it sounds perfect.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Hollow Body Pickups

I have a Gibson ES-333 (basically a no-frills 335) and have found the stock pickups to be way too hot for my purposes. I essentially want to turn this guitar into a Gretsch Country Gentleman / Tennesseean a la George Harrison and have it sound good through my AC-30. I don't like hot pickups in a hollow body.
Right now I'm considering TV Jones TV'Tron humbuckers in both the bridge and neck.

Anyone have experience with those?

- Keith

(Sorry if I'm hijacking this thread. Feel free to PM me if you'd like.)

 

[Bludave]

Re: Hollow Body Pickups

I have a close friend who builds Arctop guitars. Jazz guitars... He uses a variety of pickups in them depending on the type of sound the customer wants. IMO the Alnico2 pros are one of the best sounding PUPs I have heard in his guitars as well as others. We have replaced them in LP Customs, Hamers, Sg's 335's and a few Archtops. The sound really well in all aplications. As long as you are looking for a good clean and warm sound this is the PUP to use. I actually prefer the sound of these over the Antiquity and the Seth Lover. I have a Custom Tele thin line and I have a Jazz and a '59 in it. This guitar has a tone that is similar to a 335.

 

[Lu_B]

Re: Hollow Body Pickups

I have Seths in my 335 and its sounds awesome

 

[viewaskew2k5]

Re: Hollow Body Pickups

Thanks guys! Anyone else? I'm thinking of building a guitar now aswell hmm

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Hollow Body Pickups

i have a screamin demon in my sheraton bridge and it sounds sh!t! the stock pup i had in it was much better! i want a nice warm, smooth sound with a lot of output and distortion, i mite get a sh-11 in the bridge instead? n e veiws?