Need help deciding which bucker to put in 335

Sir Loin

Sir Loin

New member
I've got a 2007 Gibson ES 335 (satin finish) that really feels and sounds pretty good. The natural resonance of the guitar really sings but is inherently pretty dark. The stock Gibson '57 Classic pickups that came in the guitar actually sound pretty good, but I'd like to find something that gives me a bit more clarity, definition, and punch. My main amp is a '51 tv-front Fender Pro, with a 15" Jensen F15N speaker. The amp is quite mid-rangy and bass-heavy due to it's octal preamp tubes and the 15" speaker. I want something that can cut through the mix at gigs and sessions. So far, I've had the Antiquities, Seth Lovers, and '59s recommended to me. From what I've read, they all sound like they have lots to offer. Can anyone offer any other suggestions to brighten up a dark guitar and amp combo?
 
Re: Need help deciding which bucker to put in 335

Sir Loin said:
I've got a 2007 Gibson ES 335 (satin finish) that really feels and sounds pretty good. The natural resonance of the guitar really sings but is inherently pretty dark. The stock Gibson '57 Classic pickups that came in the guitar actually sound pretty good, but I'd like to find something that gives me a bit more clarity, definition, and punch.
Click to expand...

Trust me on this: there's nothing wrong with the pickups you have. Get rid of those 300K volume pots Gibson sometimes uses and put 500K pots in instead. What you're hearing is the result of a lot of your treble leaking through those 300K volume pots to ground, and never making it to your amplifier to be amplified.

Gibson used 500K volume pots for all of the vintage 335's from the 50's and 60's. I hate the sound of 300K volume pots with humbuckers...sounds like a blanket over my guitar speakers.

Of course there are some people who prefer a muffled tone...I'm not one of them and it would appear that neither are you.
 
Re: Need help deciding which bucker to put in 335

And if Lew's right-on recommendation isn't enough, I'd recommend 59s, they are brighter & more cutting than either Seths or Ants.

BTW, welcome to the forum!
 
Re: Need help deciding which bucker to put in 335

Thanks guys. I'm glad you mentioned the pots... I hadn't thought of that. Can you guys tell me if the '59s are unbalanced coils like the Seth Lovers and Antiquities?
 
Re: Need help deciding which bucker to put in 335

One more vote for the Classic 57's staying and switching the pots.
That's what I have in my Ibanez 335 copy. While I know it's nowhere near the quality as your Gibson, it is still a nice sounding/playing guitar. The 57's have no problem cutting, are plenty punchy and are not muddy at all to my ears. I never had 300K pots in there, unless Ibanez used them stock. I know when I changed out the Ibby pups and went with the Gibson's I put the 500k's in there and they're going nowhere.
 
Re: Need help deciding which bucker to put in 335

'57 Classics with 300k pots is a recipe for mud...

'57 Classics and 500k pots is a recipe for a thick, singing blues tones...
 
Re: Need help deciding which bucker to put in 335

I've tried checking online to see if, in fact, the pots that came stock on my guitar are 300K but I haven't been able to find anything to tell me what their values are.
 
Re: Need help deciding which bucker to put in 335

WE are telling you you've got 300K volume pots in your 335. AND crappy caps as well.

Change the guts of that 335 if you wanna have an instrument showing all potential.

550K CTS pots, Sprague Orange Drops or Vitamin Q caps, wired with vintage braided wire and Switchcraft toggle and jack will let anything connected to that harness to shine through.

HTH,
 
Re: Need help deciding which bucker to put in 335

Thanks! I'll try changing the pots first and go from there.
 
Re: Need help deciding which bucker to put in 335

For what it's worth, I put APH2's in my '78 - they sound awesome!
 
Re: Need help deciding which bucker to put in 335

'57's are good quality PU's, I personally don't like the A2 magnets they put in them. I put an A5 in the neck '57 and suddenly I get clarity! In the bridge, I use a roughcast A2 or an UOA5. Keep the PU's; change pots, and if you need to, change magnets.
 
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