My guitar has the blues and needs new PUPs

[Crosscut5]

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I have a 1984 Yamaha SA2100 semi-hollow with coil spliters, the PU's need to be replaced, music played Blues, jump/swing, R & B inc: all the kings (albert, freddie, BB), T-Bone Walker, Coco Montoya, Tommy Castro, T-birds, Delbert Mclinton. Your opinions' would be appreciated based on the music and guitar played Jazz-N/59-B, Jazz-N/JB-B), 59-N/JB-B, 59-N/59-B or other combo's. Thanks

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: My guitar has the blues and needs new PUPs

I'd go with vintage output humbuckers.

A set of Seth Lovers or Antiquitys or 59's.

Most of BB's recordings feature a5 humbuckers like the 59's.

Albert King's '58 Flying V probably had a2 pafs like the Seths. All the sounds on Born Under A Bad Sign are the '58 V. Later, Dan Erlewine made him that walnut V with a5 Gibson humbuckers.

Alot of Freddie King's 50's recordings feature a Les Paul with P90's...or a Tele on some. When he plays a ES-355 like BB's he's using alnico 5 pickups like the 59's.

I'm seeing a lot of alnico 5 humbuckers on that list: so I'll say a set of 59's.

But the Antiquity and Seth Lovers are awesome in a semi-hollowbody guitar too: smoother highs & more mids than the 59's.

The 59's will be easier to find with the 4 conductor cable you'll need for coil tapping though.

Lew

 

[brinton]

Re: My guitar has the blues and needs new PUPs

I'd go with vintage output humbuckers.
Lew

That's it really, those will all do what you want very well, if your not looking for a tone that gets specific beyond that, then it all comes down to taste.

 

[Kelsey]

Re: My guitar has the blues and needs new PUPs

BB's more recent stuff with his Gibson signature Lucille would appear to use the 490 set, which have A2 mags. Obviously, different folks can get great sounds with either A2 or A5, which leaves the tough decision of which type (and which pup) is going to help most in getting your own great tones.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: My guitar has the blues and needs new PUPs

BB's more recent stuff with his Gibson signature Lucille would appear to use the 490 set, which have A2 mags. Obviously, different folks can get great sounds with either A2 or A5, which leaves the tough decision of which type (and which pup) is going to help most in getting your own great tones.

Yeah...the diff between a2 and a5 is noticable to tonal-fanatics only! BB sounds exactly like BB regardless of what guitar or pickup he's playing. Albert King always sounded exactly like Albert King too. But there's a nice discussion in the Eric Clapton thread about the diff in Clapton's tone using his '64 SG with alnico 5 pickups and his Fresh Cream tone using what's probably alnico 2 pickups. He sounds just like Clapton either way! It's all good. But the a5 59's are easier to find in the 4 conductor cable needed for coil splitting. Lew

 

[Crosscut5]

Re: My guitar has the blues and needs new PUPs

What about a 59 and a Seth Lover, which position would you prefer for them

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: My guitar has the blues and needs new PUPs

I'd put the Seth in the neck and the 59B in the bridge. The 59B has more bass and treble and the Seth has less bass, less treble and more mids. Because the Seth has less bass, I find that I'm able to get a clearer tone for chords with the Seth...doesn't get as boomy as a 59N when I'm playing loud. I use the Seth with a Custom Custom in my Hamer Monoco Super Pro...a semi hollowbody. The CC is a great pickup but I don't think of it as having a vintage 50's or 60's tone, tho I'm a blues player too. But I think of the CC as having kind of a modern sound. Thick mids! Lots of sustain and smooth natural overdrive.

Lew

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: My guitar has the blues and needs new PUPs

Does your Yamaha have the stock pups? They look like they are uncovered but they have covers... I have an SG2000 which is about to get a pup change as well...if it were my SA2100 I would go with a set of Seth's or a Set of 59's...and if you wanted a hotter bridge pickup...you could do the Seth with a Custom Custom, or the 59 with a Custom 5. Let us know what you decide...btw, if you have the stock pickups I described, they are Alnico 5 and measure right aroung the 8.5-9.0k mark...just as a point of reference.

The guy who invented fire

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: My guitar has the blues and needs new PUPs

Does your Yamaha have the stock pups? They look like they are uncovered but they have covers... I have an SG2000 which is about to get a pup change as well...if it were my SA2100 I would go with a set of Seth's or a Set of 59's...and if you wanted a hotter bridge pickup...you could do the Seth with a Custom Custom, or the 59 with a Custom 5. Let us know what you decide...btw, if you have the stock pickups I described, they are Alnico 5 and measure right aroung the 8.5-9.0k mark...just as a point of reference.

The guy who invented fire

Good advice.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: My guitar has the blues and needs new PUPs

But the a5 59's are easier to find in the 4 conductor cable needed for coil splitting. Lew

Pearly Gates are even easier to find with 4 conductor wiring.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: My guitar has the blues and needs new PUPs

Pearly Gates are even easier to find with 4 conductor wiring.

I don't think I'd put a set of Pearly Gates in a semi hollowbody but yes, you're right. They do come stock as a 4 conductor pickup. Lew