New pickups for my Epiphone dot

D

Dirty B

New member
I'm a first time poster and I'm relatively new to swapping pickups. I've read a bunch of threads but they weren't really specific to what I'm looking at and didn't provide the answers I'm looking for. I've been looking at getting new Pups for me Epiphone dot. I play a range of music from folk rock to indie rock to punk rock. I have an original issue Fender Blues deluxe tube amp and typically use an Ibanez tube screamer for OD. So I need pickups that:

1. Sound really nice clean on a semi-hollow but can also handle a little or a lot of OD (preferably on both pickups)

2. Blend well and compliment each other in tone.

Right now I'm pretty sure I want a Jazz pickup in the neck, but I'm not sure what to put in the bridge. I'm torn between a '59 or pearly gates.
I'm completely open to ANY suggestions as to what would sound good with a jazz neck pickup or even a completely different set. Versatilely for different genres and clarity when Overdriven are very very important.

Thank you
 
Re: New pickups for my Epiphone dot

'59B's and PGB's are both bright PU's, the '59 being the brighter of two and more mid scooped. I prefer a warmer bridge, like A2P's and Seth's. I have a pair of Seth's in an Epi Dot and they're great. WLH's would also be an excellent choice.
 
Re: New pickups for my Epiphone dot

Like A2 magnets in a 335 , have Fralin Pure PAFs overwound 5% in my epi dot rebuild and they are wonderful. Lot of folks here swear by the Seths and there are a bunch of good demos in 335 style guitars around here and on the web.
 
Re: New pickups for my Epiphone dot

I have to go 59's for clarity under drive, vs the PG, particularly in the bridge. I love PG's, but perhaps not for this. I think the Jazz/59 will be a better combo also.
 
Re: New pickups for my Epiphone dot

Keep things simple, go for a proven winning formula and put in a pair of 59s. They are equally as articulate as a jazz. They just have a much bigger low end. I like the jazz in hollowbodies because the tighter low end reduces feedback, but 59s with their bigger low end can make a thinline semi sound much bigger like a true hollow. Epi dots are also a lot thinner sounding than gibson 335s, so a big sounding pickup won't go astray.
replace all the electronics with good quality 500k pots and sprague or PIO caps.
That setup will sound night and day better than what's in there now. It will create a clear articulate treble, remove the muddy honk and create a solid low end. You will also be able to use the volume and tone controls to create subtle shades of overdrive and tone that are difficult to achieve with stock epi electronics.
59's also sound great with whatever magnet you choose to use in them, so if you find after a few months that in stock form they are too big, open and hifi for you, you can put in a pair of alnico 2 magnets for only a couple of bucks and get a smoother, warmer softer tone without having to repeat the major PITA process of rewiring. A2 59s are a superb match in a 335.
 
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Re: New pickups for my Epiphone dot

I know '59 set in semihollow works for some people, just not for me in my Epi Dot: '59 was too trebly in the bridge and too bassy in the neck. A2P bridge and Jazz neck cure that. This set delivers healthy dose of bite in the bridge and low end in the neck. A2 '59 set makes me curious though.
 
Re: New pickups for my Epiphone dot

elelpe said:
I know '59 set in semihollow works for some people, just not for me in my Epi Dot: '59 was too trebly in the bridge and too bassy in the neck. A2P bridge and Jazz neck cure that. This set delivers healthy dose of bite in the bridge and low end in the neck.
Click to expand...

+1. This has been noted by a few members here. A '59N was pretty bassy in my Sheraton too. Depends on the individual guitar. The solution for some is a mag swap to A4 or A3, or just using a JazzN to begin with.
 
Re: New pickups for my Epiphone dot

I have heard alot about the '59s being Bassy but I never intended to use them in the neck, I was planning on going with the Jazz neck unless there were any that were really really "better" I know it's really subjective, but I'm aiming for a warm-bright tone over a bassy tone. I was asking about the pearly gates because sweetwater's decription said they were good with semi-hollow and hollow bodies, b ut i haven't heard that anywhere else. The seth lovers did intrigue me but i don't know too much about them. I'm leaning toward the Jazz/'59 combo, but it's still a while until I can buy them so something else is not ruled out at all, I'm still not entirely sure.
 
Re: New pickups for my Epiphone dot

Dirty B said:
I have heard alot about the '59s being Bassy but I never intended to use them in the neck, I was planning on going with the Jazz neck unless there were any that were really really "better" I know it's really subjective, but I'm aiming for a warm-bright tone over a bassy tone. I was asking about the pearly gates because sweetwater's decription said they were good with semi-hollow and hollow bodies, b ut i haven't heard that anywhere else. The seth lovers did intrigue me but i don't know too much about them. I'm leaning toward the Jazz/'59 combo, but it's still a while until I can buy them so something else is not ruled out at all, I'm still not entirely sure.
Click to expand...

JazzN's are bright and clear. PGN's are warm and fat. '59N's are bright, but can be bassy; but that's usually not an issue in the bridge slot. I get most of my PU's used; check online for deals.
 
Re: New pickups for my Epiphone dot

The '59 set is just about the most versatile set there is... just not stock.
Mag swapping is a feast, as it's almost impossibile to make'em sound bad.

My favorite mag combo is A4/A4 for vintage, A4/A8 for everything else.

HTH,
 
Re: New pickups for my Epiphone dot

LtKojak said:
The '59 set is just about the most versatile set there is... just not stock.
Mag swapping is a feast, as it's almost impossibile to make'em sound bad.

My favorite mag combo is A4/A4 for vintage, A4/A8 for everything else.

HTH,
Click to expand...

During my research, I've seen some people saying that they like the Toneriders AC4 better than SD 59's. And curiously, it's an Alnico 4 set.
 
Re: New pickups for my Epiphone dot

symptom said:
During my research, I've seen some people saying that they like the Toneriders AC4 better than SD 59's. And curiously, it's an Alnico 4 set.
Click to expand...

A4's were in a lot of the original 1950's PAF's. It's a versatile magnet that's underappreciated these days.
 
Re: New pickups for my Epiphone dot

Although I have P-Rails in my Epiphone 335, 59s or Seths would be a better choice. It all depends on how warm or bright you want to be.
 
Re: New pickups for my Epiphone dot

I've been taking what everyone has said and looking into my options more.
I think the Jazz/59 combo is out for me.
I'm really looking at the WLH sets or getting a set of seth lovers.
I was also wondering if either of these would sound good in the bridge with the jazz still in the neck or if the matching sets would be the for sure way to go.
I'm looking for good warm punch with my tube screamer.
Counting Crows is my favorite band at the moment, they have the perfect sound of what I like.
 
Re: New pickups for my Epiphone dot

The Counting Crowes sound is vintage mainly single coils. They use a lot of Teles, JazzMasters and Les Paul Juniors in their sound as well as acoustics. I think you are not too far off with 59/Jazz or a pair of Seths. The WLH set could work too. Stick with vintage pickups and vintage amps and you are there. An Epiphone Casino with p-90s or an old Gibson ES 330 would be great too.
 
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