Pickups for a Gibson ES-335

J

joshaholloway

New member
Hi guys, new to posting on here!

I've recently been to New York for my 21st and saved up to get a guitar out there, I managed to get one of my favourites, a Gibson ES335, it's a 2005 model, cherry red tiger style and is a beauty!

I have a Fender American Special Tele which I fitted with a Hot Rails pickup on the bridge, absolute love the sound I get on the bridge! So I decided to see what Duncan's I could put on my Gibson. I sing and play lead guitar in a band, we play fast 'indie' rock'n'roll, it's general a mix of rock 'n' roll and the indie rock of my generation, with a little bit of punk in for good measure, haha!

I play lead and have such pedals as a Fulltone OCD, Way Huge Pork Loin, Pro Co Rat, and use a VOX AC30C2. I like a thick tone for rhythm (I seemed to get this on the Tele) but that keeps that sound where you can clearly hear all the notes ring well.

Does anyone have an suggestions of what set of pickups would be best for me?

Much appreciated!
 
Re: Pickups for a Gibson ES-335

Yes, Seth Lovers come to mind. A lot of ES-335 players love them. Pearly Gates pickups with nickel covers sound great too.

I use alnico 2 Tom Holmes pickups in my 2001 ES-335. The nickel covered Pearly Gates pickups sometimes get compared to them.
 
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Re: Pickups for a Gibson ES-335

I think that the Seths are something magical, especially in a 355, but they generally have a tone on the brighter, more biting/honky side of things. In your other guitar you have a Hot Rails and you say that's perfect for you so you may be aiming for something with slightly hotter output.

When you say you want something big and warm sounding, but still keeping note clarity, I'm going to suggest you try out the Whole Lotta Humbuckers. That's what they do best. I have a pretty extensive review of them in a strat, and there are a bunch of dudes in this forum with a pair in Les Pauls who love them. I believe that Gibson175 has a set in his 335 so he can probably tell you more about how they'd fare in your guitar.
 
Re: Pickups for a Gibson ES-335

TimmyPage said:
When you say you want something big and warm sounding, but still keeping note clarity, I'm going to suggest you try out the Whole Lotta Humbuckers. That's what they do best. I have a pretty extensive review of them in a strat, and there are a bunch of dudes in this forum with a pair in Les Pauls who love them. I believe that Gibson175 has a set in his 335 so he can probably tell you more about how they'd fare in your guitar.
Click to expand...

Boy - I wish I had a spare two humbucker guitar to try those WLH's in! I don't tho.
 
Re: Pickups for a Gibson ES-335

Congrats on the 335, they are wonderful guitars. I have a 2006 blonde, a 2006 Antique SB, and a new 2013 Vintage SB. All have the stock pickups, the Classic '57s, which I like. I think if I were going to change them, I would do either Seths, or Gibson Burstbucker 1&2s. I recently played a Historic 335 with the BBs, and just LOVED it. Totally different than the '57s. I'd take the sweet and mellow '57s for my jazz gigs and the BBs for the harder rockin' stuff. And I'd bet a set of the new Custom Burstbuckers, or the Duncan Bonamassa set would sound awesome too.

Bill
 
Re: Pickups for a Gibson ES-335

WOW! Thanks for the replies guys!

I feel that like some have said, they're a duller sound than I'm after, just lacking the rockier bite I'm after I guess! I mean it's still a gorgeous sound but not what I'm after, I'd agree that with the current pick ups, it'd be great for a jazz sound.

So many choices haha! I do love the pick up I have in my Tele (I only replaced it as one of the stock ones was faulty) - it gives a great tone to the Tele and makes the other pickups sound so flat and 'lifeless'. The Whole Lotta pickups sound great, I'm currently swaying towards them... I tend to have an Overdrive pedal on (probably will be my Pork Loin) as my basic sound, for rhythm etc, then the OCD, Pro Co are more for solos or certain intros, riffs etc. I've not really played around with it yet but I can tell that these pick ups are lacking for what I'm after.

It seems to be too thin sounding with the pedals and my VOX, like I say, not the thick warm tone I'm after. I don't think the Seth's will be right for what I'm after, with the brighter, honky style.

Pearlies seem to be suggested quite a bit also, so I'd say so far it's between those and the Whole Lotta.

ON ANOTHER NOTE... (if I need to post this in another thread feel free to have a go at me, hahaa)
Also, with this being a semi-hollowbody and me using mutiple effects (I currently have a MXR Noise Clamp on my board, to cut out feedback/hum from the pedals) - Whats the best way to go about the feedback from these, with a cranked up VOX and pedals I'm guessing I'm going to get some. Is there certain things you can do/pedals that will stop this etc?

Thanks so much for the info and replies btw, it's great and very helpful, loving this forum already! :yourock:
 
Re: Pickups for a Gibson ES-335

It seems there is also too much Treble when played through my set up. I'm guessing something with a hotter output, like I had in my Tele wouldn't be as trebly and thin.
 
Re: Pickups for a Gibson ES-335

joshaholloway said:
It seems there is also too much Treble when played through my set up. I'm guessing something with a hotter output, like I had in my Tele wouldn't be as trebly and thin.
Click to expand...

A hot rails is a flame thrower of a pickup truth be told. In the end it depends how "classic" you want your 335 to sound? If you want classic hot go with the WLH set. If you want fat and hot I think a Custom Custom would fit the bill for the bridge and a Pearly Gates for the neck. Now, if you want to ride the line the 59/Custom might be the ticket for you. Hotter than the WLH and not as hot as the Custom series. You can get any of them covered, or uncovered, depending if you like that look.

All that said if you don't mind throwing down some more money you might consider a Custom Shop Brobucker for the bridge.
 
Re: Pickups for a Gibson ES-335

Lots of PAF suggestions here but judging by the Hot Rails in your Tele I assume you're not really into vintage tones...

Maybe a Distortion set of the always classic Jazz/JB...maybe a Custom Custom in the bridge and a Pearly Gates in the neck...
 
Re: Pickups for a Gibson ES-335

I don't think you need a mega-bucker in there. Those pedals will all do the job.

I'm going to suggest an A2P bridge, and a Pearly Gates neck. Also - consider moving to the 500k pots as mentioned.
 
Re: Pickups for a Gibson ES-335

Personally I wouldn't go hotter than the custom series in the semi/hollow and would recommend the Custom Custom if you want a smooth, bluesy, but moderately hot lead pup.
 
Re: Pickups for a Gibson ES-335

There's something to be said for letting each guitar do its own thing, as opposed to modifying ALL of your guitars to get one particular sound. The 335s are a really versatile guitar, but no one guitar can be all things to all players for all styles of music.

I would never describe the '57 Classics as trebly and thin. Makes me curious; wondering if you may have something going on in your AC-30, like a microphonic preamp tube...

The 335 will feedback, but it is much better than say, an fully hollow jazz box, ES330, or Epi Casino. The best thing you can do is to position yourself in relation to your amp to minimize the feedback. I love it when I'm able to play mine when it is right on the edge--it feels alive in my hands, but won't feedback...unless I want it too. :)

Good luck!

Bill
 
Re: Pickups for a Gibson ES-335

Boogie Bill said:
I would never describe the '57 Classics as trebly and thin. Makes me curious; wondering if you may have something going on in your AC-30, like a microphonic preamp tube...
Click to expand...

In all fairness I've not had that much of a play with it on the amp, tonight I'm going to spend a few hours with my setup and see what I get, but yeah, the VOX I have seems to lack in some ways, it has the Greenback speakers in and I've been looking at swapping them to the British made Alnico Blues, as well as changing some of the tubes.

I'm aiming for the 335 to be my main guitar, as our main sound is thicker, fast rock 'n' roll, with lead riffs etc, I want that to be the main one and thats the sound I'm aiming for. I'm actually getting rid of the Telecaster and my second guitar is my Ric 330, which is used for the slower songs or when I need a more treble sound etc.

I agree with the fact that the pedals will do a lot of the work and the Pearly Gates seem to be mentioned a lot for the neck position, so that looks like a frontrunner at the moment, not sure on the bridge yet.

I'll see how it goes tonight and I'll know if I need to change the pickups or not, it did feel that way at first. Although, with the amp as it is now, that Tele bridge pickup did sound good, and that has been used with the same pedals and I noticed a BIG improvement with that pickup compared to the stocks.

Yeah, the other guitarist has a full hollowbody Casino and that gives some serious feedback. Yeah I know what you mean, I loved it when I used to play as just a guitarist but I've recently moved to lead vocals too, so sometimes I'm not playing etc and get feedback, maybe just cause I'm a newbie to playing less, hahaa! I was just wondering if there was any pedals or ways to help against the feedback, that was all!
 
Re: Pickups for a Gibson ES-335

Aceman said:
I don't think you need a mega-bucker in there. Those pedals will all do the job.

I'm going to suggest an A2P bridge, and a Pearly Gates neck. Also - consider moving to the 500k pots as mentioned.
Click to expand...
I like the idea of an A2P for the OP's needs and a Slash set wouldn't be out of line either. Just a little more heat with those. I have to be honest though, I really love the BB3 in the bridge of my newer Les Pauls, those sound great.
 
Re: Pickups for a Gibson ES-335

I have a Boss CS-3 compression sustainer which says it can be used as an ordinary limiter by turning down the sustain volume. That could work to reduce feedback.
 
Re: Pickups for a Gibson ES-335

Chrisp said:
I have a Boss CS-3 compression sustainer which says it can be used as an ordinary limiter by turning down the sustain volume. That could work to reduce feedback.
Click to expand...

As luck would have it, I actually have a CS-3 Compression Sustainer lying around, I'll try it later! Thanks!
 
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