need suggestions for extra warm pups for a semi-hollow.....

bazguitarman

New member
Guys, I need a recommendation for a set of humbuckers for an Ibanez semi-hollow I have. It is an AGS83 single cut away. Think 335 but shaped like an over size LP. The guitar is pretty neutral tone wise for a semi-hollow.

I want to go slightly hotter than the stock pups. Which are the non "Super 58" standard ceramic magnet models. I play mostly Texas style Boogie blues rock on this guitar and want it a little hotter to push the front of my amp.

Speaking of amps....Mine is a Peavey 6505+ running through two Boogie 4x12's loaded with V30's. So I want the pups to be fairly smooth in the mids. Not too smooth though. But they have to play nice with the 6505+ which can be a little nasty in the mids.

I was thinking that a Pearly Gates set might be nice and rude.
 
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Re: need suggestions for extra warm pups for a semi-hollow.....

I wish I could help more because I never owned a semi-hollow, but I do know in solid bodies, PG set is nice. Neck is a lot smoother and warmer than you'd expect. Bridge can be bright but has nice attitude if you wanna get rude.

However, if you're afraid of nasty mids from your amp, the PG might be too harsh sometimes. I personally prefer the A2P set over PG in general. They may be a better fit for you and that amp. Also check out Dimarzio Air Classics.

Then again, Alnico 2 or Airbuckers have softer attack and IDK how that'll mate with a semi-hollow.
 
Re: need suggestions for extra warm pups for a semi-hollow.....

A2Pro bridge and Jazz neck
 
Re: need suggestions for extra warm pups for a semi-hollow.....

I have a Semi-Hollow Strat and would say definitely go with something "hotter" rather than "moderate".

I think the Pearly Gates set might just be what you are looking for; however, I have not tried the set itself so I'm only going off of the description.

Best of luck!
 
Re: need suggestions for extra warm pups for a semi-hollow.....

I have a Semi-Hollow Strat and would say definitely go with something "hotter" rather than "moderate".

I think the Pearly Gates set might just be what you are looking for; however, I have not tried the set itself so I'm only going off of the description.


PGN's are warm PU's, not really the direction he's probably wanting to go with a warm guitar.
 
Re: need suggestions for extra warm pups for a semi-hollow.....

For the extra warm sound, I like the Alnico II set. With the Pearly Gates, you'd be adding more output and highs to the mix, which kinda goes against the 'extra warm' thing. The Alnico II Pros sound great in semi-hollows from jazz to blues to classic rock.
 
Re: need suggestions for extra warm pups for a semi-hollow.....

how about a P90 as a neck pickup?
 
Re: need suggestions for extra warm pups for a semi-hollow.....

I have a 335 I play Classic. Country. Funk. Blues ect.... Old timer... I am now using a set of Alnico 5's through the years I've used just about everything SD makes. The hotter pickups ....to me make things pop. In clean you can roll on a little tone pot and get a more Jazz sound. I love um.....But who am I.....
 
Re: need suggestions for extra warm pups for a semi-hollow.....

I have an EPI DOT STUDIO with a A2P bridge and a A2P"SLASH" in the neck and that combo sounds nice in my semi-hollow guitar.
 
Re: need suggestions for extra warm pups for a semi-hollow.....

I would go Custom Custom bridge and Seth Lover neck personally but you might need something potted for your rig.

The Pearly Gates set is really versatile. I got the best results with semi-bright strings + the tone rolled down a bit... I don't think I ever used the PG set successfully with the tone fully open w/500k pots.

I even rolled the tone down with the neck pickup for just regular ol' blues/rock tones. I seemed to want to roll off around a quarter of the tone with the tone knob (500k pots)

People may not agree with me, but the sweet spot for the PG set might be 300k or even 250k pots.

You get maximum clarity and fidelity with 500k pots and you just roll off what you don't want.
 
Re: need suggestions for extra warm pups for a semi-hollow.....

Sounds like a whole lotta humbucker set would be perfect.
Ive got a set in my 335 and ive had pearly gates and a few others in there over the years.
 
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