Pickups for Washburn HB35

D

davidkıng

New member
Hi good people

I am very much the new kid on the block in more ways than one.

I been playing (or trying to play acoustic) for many years.All sorts of stuff but mainly jazz and blues.Sometimes along to a record or backing track and sometimes ın a trio with an accordion and fiddle. We are not very good but have a lot of fun.

About 18 months ago I went elecric with a cheap and cheerfull Behrınger 110 and a HB35. I have always liked the 335 vibe and was advised that the quality control and tunıng stability of the HB35 made it one of the better far east copies. Also it was available in natural. I was advısed however that I should upgrade the neck pu to a SD SH2 or Alnico 11 preferably with a coil switch and I would then have an excellent workhorse. I use the neck p u a lot and agree the tone could be better. I have played a PRS Custom 24 fitted with Alnico 11 s and coil taps and a washburn ıdol with a 59 and custom and was mega ımpressed with both guitars.

The web site recomends eıther an Alnico or SH2 for a Hollowbody. Can anybody advise from experience re this guıtar. Also any good guitar mechanics in Gorham NH area if I dont fancy doing work myself . I am competent with a soldering iron and have a fair aptitude for DIY but the hollowbody looks tricky to work on.


David
 
Re: Pickups for Washburn HB35

I have no experience with that guitar. But a '59 should sound great in it. I have played hollowbodies with a '59 and it sounded great. Get a '59 set.

Welcome to the forum
 
Re: Pickups for Washburn HB35

+1 on the '59 neck. It's the best humbucker that I've ever tried in a semi-hollow body. It gets great deep/balanced jazz and blues tones, and handles OD pretty well.
 
Re: Pickups for Washburn HB35

If you are leaning towards a jazz tone I would go with a Seth Lover. I have installed Seth's in my Epiphone Sheraton 335 copy and I am very pleased with them.
 
Re: Pickups for Washburn HB35

set of seth lover's is always a good answer for a hollow body

i have played that exact model guitar with a set of phat cats in it and they were exceptional ... absolutely breathtaking tone ... and this was on a day that i was playing another guitar worth about 5x more than the washburn cost

either way, you are in for a tonal treat

welcome to the forum
t4d
 
Re: Pickups for Washburn HB35

*watches thread with interest*

I'd LOVE to get my hands on a HB35 or HB 30.
 
Re: Pickups for Washburn HB35

Thanks for all the responses. Is there any reason why the recomended (by SD) Alnıco 11 and SH2 are not getting a vote? Also is there a site on the web or wrıtten material which can give guidance on carrying out this upgrade. Is it possible to fit a push/pull for a coil tap in this guitar (and is there a recomended site for buyin this). Is fitting a throw switch perhaps a lot easier despite having to drill the extra hole. Is the coil split worth the aggro of fitting?

Sorry about all the questıons but İ am treading new ground. Also my local guitar shops reaction was 'you get all the bits and and we'll have a go a fitting them' which did not inspire my confidence in them.


Regards and Best wishes for a great Christmas to all
 
Re: Pickups for Washburn HB35

The push pull will replace your volume or tone pot. No drilling.
As for the SH2 the jazz is not really a "jazz" pickup. The '59 and seth are more vintage. I have never heard of a Alnico 11. Was is saying SH 11? That is a custom custom which would sound nice and warm with more output than the others mentioned.
 
Re: Pickups for Washburn HB35

Thanks Reckless Abandon. The pups full title is APH 1 alnico 11 pro. I have played a PRS fitted with these and was pretty impressed by the warmth and clear tones plus jazz chord sounds. They have been recommended by my original advisor as a neck pu and I note web site recommends them for a holiday. Thanks for reassuring me re the push pull .This is obviously peferable to drilling holes but I was under the impression they would not fit thru f holes. Can you recommend a place to order push pull and any specific model I should ask for?
 
Re: Pickups for Washburn HB35

I have an Epi Sheraton that I use for pretty much the same styles you mentioned. I've had the Seth set, the Phat Cat set, and it now sports a pair of Pearly Gates + pickups (8.1k neck, 8.6k bridge).


The Seths were round, smooth, and have a pleasing edge to them when you dig in.

The Phats are bright, cutting, and tight. They're great if you must cut through or want a lot of your guitar's acoustic tone to come through your amp.
 
Re: Pickups for Washburn HB35

BTW, I have a Hamer Special with a PGn/Screamin Demon combo and it does very well for jazz annd blues as well.
 
Re: Pickups for Washburn HB35

The APH 1 then. Those are great. They will be smooth but chimmy. One of my favorites. OF the 3:'59, Seth, APH1

The '59 is the brightest overall, tightest bass
APH 1-Smooth, lower output than '59, more mids
Seth, To me is a mixture between the 2. More mids than the '59 but less high end.
 
Re: Pickups for Washburn HB35

Brisk had a set of Phat Cats in his and really liked them. I think the only reason he put a set of PG's in his is because he was bored one day.
 
Re: Pickups for Washburn HB35

davidkıng;1186911 said:
Thanks Reckless Abandon. The pups full title is APH 1 alnico 11 pro. I have played a PRS fitted with these and was pretty impressed by the warmth and clear tones plus jazz chord sounds. They have been recommended by my original advisor as a neck pu and I note web site recommends them for a holiday. Thanks for reassuring me re the push pull .This is obviously peferable to drilling holes but I was under the impression they would not fit thru f holes. Can you recommend a place to order push pull and any specific model I should ask for?
Click to expand...

www.stewmac.com is where I order pots
 
Re: Pickups for Washburn HB35

I am know this guitar well. Interested to note you are planning to change only the neck pu.The 600 open coils do have a bit of a following and some HB35s are being used on on gigs still with these ıntacto. They do not seem to break up at high amp settings lıke some other Chinese cheapies.

All of the recommended in this thread are fırst class neck pu s and you will be delighted with the upgrade. I can vouch for both the 59 and A11 giving first class performance. Have read several favourable reviews of the SH2 but have never had a chance to try.

If you are completely new to guitar electronics I do not think you should try to cut your teeth on a hollowbody.There are few things more frustrating than a poorly fitted pup, I seriously recommend you get it fitted by a competent guıtar workshop or similar. There are several washburn dealers-see washburn website - fairly near you who should able to point you in the right direction. Ask if you can contact any satisfied customers who have had similar work carried out before handing over you instrument. Alternatively see if you source somebody thru one of the gigging bands in your area. Proceed with caution however has these guys will have little time for you if they think you are just another gear junkie.

Personally I would not bother with the coil tap. This is something else to go wrong and I some skill is required to fit a push pull in a hollowbody because of cavity dimensions and body thickness.

Play your guitar a lot. The HB35 benefits from being played in. The fret board can be a tad dry so if you are not already doing so use a lıttle fret oıl from time to time.Wıth the upgraded neck pu you should never outgrow this excellent piece of kit.
 
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