I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

[BigDaddyB]

Hello! I have an Eastman t386 (es335 copy) that came with Kent Armstrong designed pickups. They are super boomy and have decent treble but almost no mid range coming through my Deluxe Reverb RI. I've raised them, lowered them, tilted them and tried every other eq thing I can do on amp but they still sound like poop!!

I like a dirty ol British blues thing for sure (Alvin Lee, Clapton w/ cream, etc.). Wont be playing any smooth jazz or heavy distorted music.

To be honest the sound in my head is kind of close to a modern Jazzmaster I used to have, it have really nice rich low end and good balance but the guitar lacked sustain in such a major way I had to let it go. I know those are fat single coils.

I've literally read probably 50 posts with people asking "which pick up for my semi hollow" and the Seth Lovers get a pretty solid recommendation. I just wonder if I can dial in the raunchy bluesy tone I'm hearing in my head? Maybe I should look in to the various p90 styles, or filtertrons? Thanks for your time!!!!

 

[gregory]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

Might consider an amp that has the tone stack further down the signal chain. Maybe a Bluesbreaker?

 

[BigDaddyB]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

Yeah interesting thought..."when to change pickups OR when to change amps!!"?

 

[gregory]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

You can address it with a pedal, but be careful to keep it reigned-in using a hollow-body. You can also attempt to address it with a different magnet: like an A4, or rough UA5.

Carving out mids is the name of the game with that style of amp. A Bassman is a fine option if you want more mids out of a Fender amp.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

There is a big secret about semi hollow guitars and pickups: use A2 low wound pickups like Seth Lovers and BK Stormy Mondays. I tried both and both shine in semis.
My explanation is: A2 mags are soften the attack that makes the semi tone a bit stiff. A brass tailpiece from ABM also helped to broaden the fundamentals of the semi sound. Lower wounds are clearer and dont compress that much, when played harder.

 

[Despair]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

Hello! I have an Eastman t386 (es335 copy) that came with Kent Armstrong designed pickups. They are super boomy and have decent treble but almost no mid range coming through my Deluxe Reverb RI. I've raised them, lowered them, tilted them and tried every other eq thing I can do on amp but they still sound like poop!!

I like a dirty ol British blues thing for sure (Alvin Lee, Clapton w/ cream, etc.). Wont be playing any smooth jazz or heavy distorted music.

To be honest the sound in my head is kind of close to a modern Jazzmaster I used to have, it have really nice rich low end and good balance but the guitar lacked sustain in such a major way I had to let it go. I know those are fat single coils.

I've literally read probably 50 posts with people asking "which pick up for my semi hollow" and the Seth Lovers get a pretty solid recommendation. I just wonder if I can dial in the raunchy bluesy tone I'm hearing in my head? Maybe I should look in to the various p90 styles, or filtertrons? Thanks for your time!!!!

Fenders are rather known for a mid-scooped sound. If you wont use an EQ pedal [parametric are particularly nice for broad tonal adjustments], the major reason people love Tube Screamers and similar overdrives with Fenders is because the midhump offsets the midscoop.

Another common solution is a speaker swap to something more british.

But super boomy sounds like a pickup problem at least in part. Do other es355ish guitars sound better through the amp? Or is the guitar vastly more usable with other amps? [Might also check other guitar into other amp, to make sure the problem isn't both the pickups AND the amp...]

Filtertrons are awesome, but given your dirty british blues, Clapton references, probably not quite what you are looking for.

P-90s are great fun, but not typical for Clapton tones.

A good set of classic humbuckers ought to get you exactly where you want for pre-strat Clapton tones, though.

Though if you want to cover a ridiculous gamut, P-Rails are crazy fun [P-90, parallel PAFy humbucker tones, rail "single coil" tones, and series over the top humbucker tones for the 4 switching options. But they are likely to be a lot of work for rewiring, particularly if you decide to go with push/pull pots in a semi-hollow. If Triple-Shot pickup rings work for the guitar, that'd expose all features.]

You are most likely to get what you want out of changes if you narrow it down to be sure you are changing the right thing, though.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

Most of the ES-335's that we all know and love have Alnico 5 pickups in them. Thinking specifically of Eric Clapton's and Larry Carlton's.

When I think of British Blues I think first of Eric Clapton back in the 60's playing Gibsons.

IMO, he invented that overdriven British Blues tone.

I think 59's with roughcast A5 magnets capture that Clapton Disraeli Gears and Wheels of Fire tone beautifully.

59's with stock polished A5 get close...and remind me of that tone enough that I put Roughcast A5 in my set to get even closer. And they did.

Roughcast A5 seems to have more mids or at least more texture and complexity to the mids. And the treble is a little rounder and has less of a sharp edge than with polished A5.

But: Seth Lovers, especially Seth Lovers with the covers removed, sound great!

They get, to me, more of a Gary Moore kind of British Blues tone and they're an absolute blast to play.

More fun, for me, to play the Seths than to play the 59's.

I have Seths in two of my guitars and 59's in one.

 

[gregory]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

...and Fender Deluxe Reverb voicing is definitely not part of the equation.

If the Fender DR is there to stay, then pay no mind to my rough unoriented A5 suggestion and I'd be a litte leery of all of the A5 variants. The RUA5 will provide the least scooped response of the bunch.

 

[blueman335]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

Seth Lovers, especially Seth Lovers with the covers removed, sound great!

They get, to me, more of a Gary Moore kind of British Blues tone and they're an absolute blast to play.

More fun, for me, to play the Seths than to play the 59's.

I have Seths in two of my guitars and 59's in one.

+1. Seth's are great in 335's. Excellent pairing of PU & guitar. The A2 magnets have a rich tone and keep the low end under control, and being unpotted gives a more open quality to the sound. I have covers on my Seth's but like Lew recommends, uncovered would give a little rawer sound.

Stock '59N's are famous for being bassy in some guitars, most notably LP's, due to a combination of wind & A5 magnets, but I've also found they can be bassy in some 335's too. My solution has been to put RC UOA5's in them.

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

Might consider an amp that has the tone stack further down the signal chain. Maybe a Bluesbreaker?

Interesting suggestion as it's probably the most expensive one, but yeah a wide 23db dip at midband will do it, and that 23db dip is with the mids on up all the way to 10 on those amps.

 

[gregory]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

Is this the DR version with the Bassman-voiced second channel or an FX loop? There may be a couple of other ways to skin this cat.

 

[BigDaddyB]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

Thanks for all the info so far! DR amp prob here to stay, it's the
65 reissue. Current pickups have alnico V in them. I'm open to trying other amps in the future, but not in the next 6 months I'd say.

I have a tube screamer clone that does an interesting thing in that it brings back some mids but doesn't retain the bottom end that was there before the pedal was engaged...it's like I need a "bass" transparent overdrive that boosts the mids!

Is this the DR version with the Bassman-voiced second channel or an FX loop? There may be a couple of other ways to skin this cat.

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

Or mod your amps tonestack. Use a 100kl mid pot wired like a rheostat (variable resistor) instead of the 10k and reduce the cap value from .047uf to .0047uf. Change the treble cap to 330p - 470p. That wil give you a really beefy response.

I have a tube screamer clone that does an interesting thing in that it brings back some mids but doesn't retain the bottom end that was there before the pedal was engaged...it's like I need a "bass" transparent overdrive that boosts the mids!

Most tube screamers or like, do have a bass cut

 

[Dusty.Rhoads]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

First thing you should do is email Kent Armstrong and let him know. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the results.

 

[gregory]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

I have a tube screamer clone that does an interesting thing in that it brings back some mids but doesn't retain the bottom end that was there before the pedal was engaged...it's like I need a "bass" transparent overdrive that boosts the mids!

That's what a TS (or clone) is supposed to do.

MXR M77 will give you control over the bass (as will others; Dave can provide the obligatory SD 805 plug).

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

Increasing the value of the .047uf cap in the inverting feedback loop of the main amplifier ic in the tube screamer and like circuits/clones will boost the gain in the lows and low mids in those pedals. .47uf instead of .047uf will give you a roll off at 72hz or so instead of the 720hz.

 

[BigDaddyB]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

Thanks for the technical info Joey, much appreciated.

Increasing the value of the .047uf cap in the inverting feedback loop of the main amplifier ic in the tube screamer and like circuits/clones will boost the gain in the lows and low mids in those pedals. .47uf instead of .047uf will give you a roll off at 72hz or so instead of the 720hz.

 

[chadd]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

There is a big secret about semi hollow guitars and pickups: use A2 low wound pickups like Seth Lovers and BK Stormy Mondays. I tried both and both shine in semis.
My explanation is: A2 mags are soften the attack that makes the semi tone a bit stiff. A brass tailpiece from ABM also helped to broaden the fundamentals of the semi sound. Lower wounds are clearer and dont compress that much, when played harder.

Fenders are rather known for a mid-scooped sound. If you wont use an EQ pedal [parametric are particularly nice for broad tonal adjustments], the major reason people love Tube Screamers and similar overdrives with Fenders is because the midhump offsets the midscoop.

Another common solution is a speaker swap to something more british.

But super boomy sounds like a pickup problem at least in part. Do other es355ish guitars sound better through the amp? Or is the guitar vastly more usable with other amps? [Might also check other guitar into other amp, to make sure the problem isn't both the pickups AND the amp...]

Filtertrons are awesome, but given your dirty british blues, Clapton references, probably not quite what you are looking for.

P-90s are great fun, but not typical for Clapton tones.

A good set of classic humbuckers ought to get you exactly where you want for pre-strat Clapton tones, though.

Though if you want to cover a ridiculous gamut, P-Rails are crazy fun [P-90, parallel PAFy humbucker tones, rail "single coil" tones, and series over the top humbucker tones for the 4 switching options. But they are likely to be a lot of work for rewiring, particularly if you decide to go with push/pull pots in a semi-hollow. If Triple-Shot pickup rings work for the guitar, that'd expose all features.]

You are most likely to get what you want out of changes if you narrow it down to be sure you are changing the right thing, though.

Those are two great responses and f it with my experience. I would go with an APH-1 set, or the Slash set if you want to go a little hotter. If that isn't quite enough juice to get where you want to be, a blues driver or tube screamer will be the cherry on top.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

Hello! I have an Eastman t386 (es335 copy) that came with Kent Armstrong designed pickups. They are super boomy and have decent treble but almost no mid range coming through my Deluxe Reverb RI. I've raised them, lowered them, tilted them and tried every other eq thing I can do on amp but they still sound like poop!

I can suggest what I'm myself using right now: an A3n/A2b-modded, nickel-covered '59 set.

They check all your boxes, plus you can get'em second-hand for next-to-nothing, and the magnets will set you back about ten bucks, so breaking the bank will not be a concern.

HTH,

 

[Despair]

Re: I've read so many posts!!!...still not sure where to go on my semi hollow

Thanks for all the info so far! DR amp prob here to stay, it's the
65 reissue. Current pickups have alnico V in them. I'm open to trying other amps in the future, but not in the next 6 months I'd say.

I have a tube screamer clone that does an interesting thing in that it brings back some mids but doesn't retain the bottom end that was there before the pedal was engaged...it's like I need a "bass" transparent overdrive that boosts the mids!

Most people who use Tube Screamers with Fender amps have them on all the time. Or even use a second one if they need a solo boost as well as the always-on tone shaping. The bass cut is useful for fighting boominess. If you don't want to spend money, fiddling with the combination of amp & overdrive settings is probably the cheapest place to start. There's plenty of Tube Screamer mods that let through more bass, but they can be too fat under gain, too, which is exactly why the bass cut... Could look into a Keeley mod, or something flatter like a Klon Centaur clone [EHX Soul Food for example is pretty cheap].

Another option might be a Marshall-In-A-Box pedal like the Joyo JF-16 British Sound. Which are intended to sound like a Marshall when used with a Fender amp.

After that, magnet swaps, as LtKojak mentioned, are a very cheap way to tune the mids. A5 is the most mid-scooped option there is in humbuckers, but it also has a bass/lower mid & upper mid/treble hump that complicates things with your amp.

A speaker swap is around the same cost as a pickup swap, and will considerably move your amp towards the early Clapton sound (JTM-45 wasn't as different from a Bassman as later Marshalls). Just make sure you match the impedence your amp is expecting. DRRI, according to a quick google, is 8ohm, and a 22W amp. If you aren't prone to high volume playing, a G12M25 might be exactly the right speaker, but it has little margin for abuse. It'd be pretty much a good choice for Cream-era Clapton. I'd be cautious with octave divider pedals in particular!

A G12H30-75 might work and not be overly bassy, though it's still under the double the power output rule of thumb for bulletproof reliability with gain/effects/volume. A Neo Cream is another possibility, but might be too smooth.

Celestion Gold (pretty much an Alnico Blue, only with high power handling) would be great for Bluesbreaker-era sounds.

The problem with most higher power handling speakers is they emphasize bass, and even if they are tighter, that doesn't sound like what you want.

A Celestion Gold + roughcast '59s ought to be awful close to Bluesbreaker tones. G12M25 for later, and maybe unoriented A5 for even more mids.