Recommendations for an Epi Sheraton II

[guitargeezer]

Hi, new forum member here. I've recently picked up a '95 Sheraton II and absolutely love it. The stock pups aren't bad, but I wanted to upgrade and need your advice.

I'd like to be as versatile as I can with the new pickups, but I play mainly blues and classic rock/Southern rock (hobbyist only). My favorites extend from Clapton's humbucker days to Richard Betts and Warren Haynes and I love a little grit.

Since the Sheraton is a maple semi-hollow body with a maple neck, it appears from a review of the pickup charts that a APH-1 alnico II pro in the neck with a Custom Custom or Pearly Gates in the bridge, or maybe even a pair of Pearly Gates work well with a maple semi-hollowbody. I love the description of the Pearly Gates..."Originally designed as a recreation of the pickups in the ’59 Les Paul® Standard that defined the raw, rebellious sound of Texas blues-rock"... but don't know how a pair would work in the Sheraton.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Reckless Abandon]

Re: Recommendations for an Epi Sheraton II

PG or '59 pair.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Recommendations for an Epi Sheraton II

I recently fitted new pup to an korean all maple L-5 knock off. My main goal was to get smoother highs and more mids. I ended with P90 humbucker in the neck and a DiMarzio VVPaf in the bridge.
So i think Alnico 2 humbuckers are the way to go with you ax. I personally love ny Custom Custom in my strat, but never had it in a semi-acoustic guitar. When it comes to strings in this kind of guitar i had my day when a first used GHS Bright Bronze. The have the sound of acoustic strings but they can be used with magnetic pickups. Full acoustic and electric sound!!

 

[guitargeezer]

Re: Recommendations for an Epi Sheraton II

PG or '59 pair.

As for the suggestion for the '59 pair...I had a '59 in combo with a JB on an older LP clone with a mahogany body and maple cap. It was OK, but in looking at SD's description for the '59..."For balanced and warm instruments. Works especially well with mahogany bodies and rosewood fingerboards" seems like you would want some balance at least on the bridge pup. Am I wrong?


I've had P-90s in another LP clone, but the Sheraton will be my "main" guitar and I think I want to stay in the regular humbucker range rather than an HB-sized P-90 for flexibility.

 

[spuds]

Re: Recommendations for an Epi Sheraton II

Well those SD descriptions are a great guide but its not a hard and fast rule. I think it may work well. And since its a semi hollow, I'm sure it will warm things up a bit.

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Recommendations for an Epi Sheraton II

Hmmm, i have the same guitar. Made in 97. The pups, good grief, are made by Samsung! Fear the installation! get a pro!

I could never decide amoungst the buckers, so i have yet to do it. Hope you can share the word when you do. I've been looking long and hard at mr Jason Lollar's products...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Recommendations for an Epi Sheraton II

Are you going to use pickup covers?

If so a set of Seth Lovers would be awesome.

If you're going black or zebra, a Pearly Gates neck and Custom Custom bridge would give a great blend of vintage tones from the neck pickup and slightly stronger tone with more output from the bridge pickup. I had a CC in my Hamer Monoco chambered body guitar and totally loved it.

 

[Lu_B]

Re: Recommendations for an Epi Sheraton II

+ 1 for Seths they're a really awesome pickups. really versatile too

 

[Bludave]

Re: Recommendations for an Epi Sheraton II

I have a Tele thinline. I know its a very different guitar, but I also have a 335 and my thinline sounds a lot like my 335. In the thinline I have a JazzN and a 59B and its a great combination. I also like Seths in a 335. But IMHO I would go with a set of AlnicoII pros. These are some of the warmest sounding pickups SD makes. In this type of guitar and for the tones you describe you will love them.

I would also take the advise of having a pro do this. The Epis have no back cavity so all wiring needs to be done thru the F holes. This it not a job for the novice. Most of the replacement pickups that I recommended can also be tapped. It would be an intersting setup to have push/pull pots to split the coils. Kind of a P90 tone as well.

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: Recommendations for an Epi Sheraton II

I put Seth's in mine

 

[guitargeezer]

Re: Recommendations for an Epi Sheraton II

Thanks for the feedback, guys. Don't worry, though. I am technically challenged so whatever I choose will be installed by a pro. The alnico 2 suggestion works...aren't the Pearly Gates anlnico 2, as well?

Are you going to use pickup covers?

If so a set of Seth Lovers would be awesome.

If you're going black or zebra, a Pearly Gates neck and Custom Custom bridge would give a great blend of vintage tones from the neck pickup and slightly stronger tone with more output from the bridge pickup. I had a CC in my Hamer Monoco chambered body guitar and totally loved it.

Yeah, I'll be keeping the pups gold. But I'll get the PGs in gold, too, if I go that way. Are the Custom Customs not available in a gold covered model?

 

[firebirdVII]

Re: Recommendations for an Epi Sheraton II

AlnicoII pro is an actual pickup. The seth lover, pearly gates and alnico 2 pro all have alnico 2 magnets in them. I'm pretty sure that you can get the pickups in any color that you want if you order from the duncan factory directly, but you should call them just to make sure.

 

[Martian]

Re: Recommendations for an Epi Sheraton II

I'm anxiously awaiting a Pearly Gates set for my Epi Dot.

 

[guitargeezer]

Re: Recommendations for an Epi Sheraton II

I'm anxiously awaiting a Pearly Gates set for my Epi Dot.

Be sure and give us your feedback.

Has anyone compared the Gibson '57 Classic Plus and the Pearly Gates? The Classic Plus is supposed to be a slightly hotter wind than the standard Classic and --like the PG--uses alnico 2 magnets. Are they at all similar or totally different?