Pickups for an ES335 style guitar

[infinityisfive]

Hi guys, I just picked up a black Harley Benton HB 35, which is an ES335 style guitar, for playing out, so I can leave my nicer guitar at home. After a mild set up, action adjust, fretboard oiling, and new strings, it plays great. I'll replace the tuners with something a bit better, like your typical Klusons, sometime down the road, but for now I'm looking at pickups and electronics.

My setup is simple, just guitar going into amp, no pedals. I have a Fender Bassbreaker typically set to the medium gain setting with the gain knob a few numbers higher than the master volume, and I control my overdrive with the volume knob on the guitar. Think AC/DC. With that in mind, I'm trying to figure out which pickups to put in this guitar.

I also have a Gibson SG Standard with 57 classics, and they do the vintage vibe thing pretty well. I'd like for this guitar to be able to do something similar, as far as the vintage overdrive tone with the volume knob at 10, but cleaner when it's on 7, but I want to try Seymour Duncan this time.

From a quick read it seems like 59's or Seth Lovers? There are so many different SD pickups, I'm not sure where to start, and since replacing electronics in this guitar is a pain, I'd like to just do it once and do it right. Any tips?

 

[pskorz]

I think you couldn’t go wrong with Seth lovers in a semi-hollow. I have an epi dot that I put Mojotone 59 clones in. They’re similar enough to Seth’s-vintage wind and non-potted. I don’t see any compelling evidence that the wax potting affects the sound much from the listener’s pov, but as the player, they feel a tad more alive.
between the unpotted vintage-spec pickups and the semi hollow guitar, I’ve found it to be vibrant, a real joy to play. Some will say that the lack of wax will increase the likelihood or possibility of feedback. I haven’t experienced this, but people don’t pot pickups just for fun, either. But my vote for you of Duncan’s would be the Seth lovers.

 

[ICTGoober]

I have a sweet Ibanez AS73 loaded with Antiquities that sounds incredible.

 

[gsammo79]

The '59 & Seth both sound good played clean. The '59 ,to my ears, will have more output. Not a LOT more though.

If I had a 335 those two Duncans would come to mind first. I'd give the '59 a shot just because it's more bassy than the Seth and root 6 power chords will have more ooomph.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

I'd generally recommend Seth Lovers or Antiquities for a semihollow.
But if the guitar already has a pronounced midrange voice, 59s are the ticket.
I found the Ants a bit too honky in a guitar with strong mids.

 

[Blille]

I support Seth’s. A bit on the warmer end you have A2Pros which I found great in semis too.

 

[Mincer]

Either Seths or Antiquities would be my choice. I have Antiquities in my semi hollow, and for cleaner, dynamic styles, they sound amazing.

 

[chadd]

I have Gibson BB1/3 combo in my 335. The first run of DG 335s had the 1 in the neck, second run had the 3 in the bridge, great for rock tones (didn't pick them because of him).

I had APH1 set in my Schecter Corsair (335 style) and it could have used a little more top end, I'd go with something else for sure.

 

[infinityisfive]

Awesome, thanks guys! The guitar is very bassy and and honky, but also smooth, but that could be the stock pickups coloring the tone. Either way it sounds like a set of Seth Lovers would be perfect. How do these react to coil splitting, being low output? The guitar has gold hardware so I'll likely be buying the 4 wire version.

 

[trevorus]

I have a set of Seth's in my Epi Dot. It has a killer tone. Get some good electronics to go with it.

 

[Condemned soul]

Another suggestion:


Have an Eastman equivalent to the Gibson 339 model ( T-484 ), and it came from the factory with SD's:

Neck ..... Jazz Neck
Bridge .... 59 Bridge

This combination is not one that I would have tried.

After some practice time and a couple of sessions with the screwdriver, the pole pieces got adjusted to the radius of the finger board that helped bring out a touch of midrange. The pickups compliment each other, and I decided this is a very useful combination for me.

So I have to give a thanks to the folks that decided to put these pickups in the guitar at the factory.

 

[Mincer]

Seths will emphasize the honky tone, so just be aware of that.

 

[Blille]

Another suggestion:


Have an Eastman equivalent to the Gibson 339 model ( T-484 ) and it came from the factory with SD's:

Neck ..... 59 Neck
Bridge .... Jazz Bridge

After a couple of sessions with the screwdriver, the pole pieces got adjusted to the radius of the finger board, which helped bring out a touch of midrange, so I'm really liking this combination, and they are staying.

Nice guitar for sure.

I think you wrote it the other way around, I believe it’s Jazz Neck, 59 Bridge.

 

[GuitarStv]

I like Seths and '59s in a semi-hollow. The '59s are slightly more output and a little more mid-scooped. The Seth is lower output with more upper mids.

FWIW, I've tried coil splits and parallel wiring with '59s, and don't like it at all. They just don't give a very usable sound this way - too bright and gutless.

 

[solspirit]

"do it once and get it right"

lol

 

[pskorz]

And just to muddy the waters a bit—I have a gut feeling that a set of Saturday night Specials in a semi-hollow would be absolutely FANTASTIC.

 

[ErikH]

Add the Pearly Gates set as an option. Those would be my first choice.

 

[Ascension]

And just to muddy the waters a bit—I have a gut feeling that a set of Saturday night Specials in a semi-hollow would be absolutely FANTASTIC.

Have a set currently in my semi hollow Carvin AE 185 and they are in that guitar!!

 

[Aceman]

You know....Depending on the general tone of the guitar itself, I would be default say 59's.

But I can't fault the Seth recommendations either.

PG's however, might be the solution to the boom and the super mid spike will keep it bright without the honk. Perhaps a tweak of the meds in the amp? Does it have a mid control?

 

[GuitarDoc]

If your guitar is already "very bassy and honky", the 59 may not be the best choice. Seths could be good, but I'd go along with Aceman's suggestion for the Pearly Gates. It's really a great neck pup, I have it in a couple guitars. The bridge has a bit more oomph and warmth to it, but it is still a bright snappy pup. It has a nice even tonal range, not too bassy like the 59 and with a bit of extra sizzle in the highs. Controls very well with the guitar's volume pot. It would work very well through your Vintage Modern.