Pickups recommended for the Epiphone es-335

[braden90]

Hey everyone, so basically like the title says, I have an ES-335 at the moment and Im finding with the stock pickups the sound being too muddy, too bassy (yes i know its a jazz guitar so its naturally a bit bassyer but its pretty extreme with these pickups) and just not very clear overall. I play a hard rock style, closest thing i could compare it too is perhaps the foo fighters, and i play through the Orange dual terror with a Hughes anc kettner closed back 4x12 cab with vintage 30 speakers.

Iv been considering for the bridge pickup (which im looking to upgrade first) the SH-2 Jazz Model, the SH-4 JB, and the Alnico Pro II.

I need somthing that really rocks when its over driven through a nice tube amp, yet can provide a nice smooth and clear clean tone. What do you guys think? feel free to suggest other varieties of pickups for the bridge position and even stuff for the neck too. PS im new to pickips, the SH-2 is considered high output, how exactly will this effect the tone THANKS!!!

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Pickups recommended for the Epiphone es-335

welcome to the forum.

the SH-2 is considered high output, how exactly will this effect the tone THANKS!!!

the jazz isn't high output! high output pickups for semi/full hollowbodies is a no no as they feedback.
i've only had the sh-2 in the neck, its really clear and quite bright for a neck pickup, no mud at all! for the bridge i havn't tried any of the ones you're looking into. one i would recommend though is a sh-1 ('59) great for hard rock and can even border metal (which is suprising for a "vintage" PAF style pickup)

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickups recommended for the Epiphone es-335

Welcome aboard!

I'm a 335 fan myself, and have tried a variety of PU's in my Epi's. PAF's always sound good ('59's, PG's, A2P's, '57 Classics, Burstbuckers, etc) in 335's, for jazz, blues, and even hard rock. A number of the late '60's early '70's Brits used them for hard rock at some high volumes (Clapton, Alvin Lee, etc).

If you want a hot bridge PU, the C5 (Custom 5, SH-14) is great in mahogany. JB's are notoriously fickle about the guitars they're in, mahogany not being one of their favorites, and have a number of dissatisfied owners (or previous owners; many are sold used). In some guitars, JB's can develop an 'ice pick spike' and a loose low end. Overall, they tend to sound better in brighter guitars (like super Strats).

For a neck PU, the Jazz (which is not a PAF) is considered by many here to be nice, but rather bland & ho-hum. Some of us see the JB & Jazz as the 'Odd Couple' of PU's. A PAF will have more tone & character.

My recommendation would be a C5/'59N or a pair of '59's.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Pickups recommended for the Epiphone es-335

f you want a hot bridge PU, the C5 (Custom 5, SH-14) is great in mahogany. JB's are notoriously fickle about the guitars they're in, mahogany not being one of their favorites, and have a number of dissatisfied owners (or previous owners; many are sold used). In some guitars, JB's can develop an 'ice pick spike' and a loose low end. Overall, they tend to sound better in brighter guitars (like super Strats).

335 studio's are usually mahogany 335 dots and sheratons etc are usually maple aren't they?

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Pickups recommended for the Epiphone es-335

^actually, they're all pretty much laminate maple, though i think the studio's have a mahogany center block?

anyways if you want a modern foo-fighters-type sound, the easiest thing to do would be to get a burstbucker2/3 set for neck/bridge respectively since that's what comes in dave's signature.

 

[Thunder]

Re: Pickups recommended for the Epiphone es-335

A set of 59's can really rock when pushing your amp!

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Pickups recommended for the Epiphone es-335

I'm more than satisfied with my '59n + Custom 8 set in my 1980 MIJ Emperador 335 copy. You can play anything with this combo, as it sounds great clean too.

You can order'em here, he's the only one I know that STOCKS Custom 8 p'ups.

www.wymoreguitars.com

John's the nicest guy ever to deal with to boot.

HTH,

 

[Bludave]

Re: Pickups recommended for the Epiphone es-335

Hey everyone, so basically like the title says, I have an ES-335 at the moment and Im finding with the stock pickups the sound being too muddy, too bassy (yes i know its a jazz guitar so its naturally a bit bassyer but its pretty extreme with these pickups) and just not very clear overall. I play a hard rock style, closest thing i could compare it too is perhaps the foo fighters, and i play through the Orange dual terror with a Hughes anc kettner closed back 4x12 cab with vintage 30 speakers.

Iv been considering for the bridge pickup (which im looking to upgrade first) the SH-2 Jazz Model, the SH-4 JB, and the Alnico Pro II.

I need somthing that really rocks when its over driven through a nice tube amp, yet can provide a nice smooth and clear clean tone. What do you guys think? feel free to suggest other varieties of pickups for the bridge position and even stuff for the neck too. PS im new to pickips, the SH-2 is considered high output, how exactly will this effect the tone THANKS!!!

59's and maybe a JazzN & 59B.