Replacement Pickups For Epiphone Korina '58 Explorer?

C

colchar

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There are other threads on this but, since we are all after different sounds, I figured I would post a new one.

I picked up an Epi Korina '58 Explorer this week. For a used guitar it is in great shape and I think it is definitely a keeper. Since it is going to be around long term I will want to replace the pots and pickups. Unfortunately, I am not sure what would work best in an Explorer.

My favourite Explorer player is Allen Collins from Lynyrd Skynyrd (I love everything that band ever did). I am assuming that the real '58 Explorer he used would have had PAFs in it and, according to the Gibson website, the limited edition (so far as I know, only a couple of hundred were ever made) reissue of his Explorer that they put out had '57 Classics in it. My second favourite Explorer player is Matthias Jabs from the Scorpions but I would rather use this as a classic rock/southern rock/hard rock guitar, rather than a metal one, so I am not really shooting for anything like his Explorers.

The fact that Gibson put '57 Classics in their reissue of Collins' Explorer makes me think that a set of those might be an idea for this guitar but I am not 100% certain I want to use Gibson pickups and, since this is my first Explorer, I am not sure what works well, or doesn't work well, in them.

At the moment I am seriously considering a Duncan '59 in the neck and a Pearly Gates in the bridge. What do others here think of that combination for the styles mentioned above? Are there any other pickup sets, or combinations of Duncan pickups, that people here would recommend?

I am currently using a Blackheart Little Giant combo but will be grabbing another couple of low wattage amps in the not to distant future (at the moment I am considering a Vox L'il Night Train, H&K Tubemeister, and a couple of others).
 
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Re: Replacement Pickups For Epiphone Korina '58 Explorer?

PG or the 59 would work great for the tones you want, The Seth Lovers would be a good fit IMO as well...
 
Re: Replacement Pickups For Epiphone Korina '58 Explorer?

Thanks.

At the moment, I think the Duncan '59 neck and Pearly Gates bridge is the way to go.
 
Re: Replacement Pickups For Epiphone Korina '58 Explorer?

Seths.

Or BG-Pups BG Buckers.

The 57 Classics should do you well, too. They do tend to be a bit darker.

If it were me and we were sticking with Dincans, I'd put a '59/Custom hybrid in the bridge or a '78. The neck would probably be a Jazz. It would be a versatile setup.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 4 Beta
 
Re: Replacement Pickups For Epiphone Korina '58 Explorer?

I'm not in a band so take this with a grain of salt. My current Explorer set up is a Jazz bridge in the neck and a Screaming Demon in the bridge spot. And it makes me think of LS tones.

In the future I'd like to try this set up and might suggest this set up for an Explorer: WLB in the neck and a 59/Custom in the bridge.
 
Re: Replacement Pickups For Epiphone Korina '58 Explorer?

I wouldnt recommend the PGb, I have the same guitar. You can try it if you'd like, but I just found it to be very bright.
 
Re: Replacement Pickups For Epiphone Korina '58 Explorer?

qaiso said:
I wouldnt recommend the PGb, I have the same guitar. You can try it if you'd like, but I just found it to be very bright.
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+1. PGB's are pretty bright and thin. As far as Gibson putting '57's in an Explorer, don't be impressed by that. They put '57's in many models of guitars, too many. '57's are a middle-of-the-pack PAF and nothing to get excited about. At their aftermarket retail price, they're up in boutique range, but don't sound nearly as good as boutique PU's. Overpriced and ordinary. The best PAF's Gibson's made in a long time are Burstbuckers (not BBP's).
 
Re: Replacement Pickups For Epiphone Korina '58 Explorer?

I'd flip it, with a 59 in the bridge, and a Pearly in the neck.
 
Re: Replacement Pickups For Epiphone Korina '58 Explorer?

blueman335 said:
+1. PGB's are pretty bright and thin. As far as Gibson putting '57's in an Explorer, don't be impressed by that. They put '57's in many models of guitars, too many. '57's are a middle-of-the-pack PAF and nothing to get excited about. At their aftermarket retail price, they're up in boutique range, but don't sound nearly as good as boutique PU's. Overpriced and ordinary. The best PAF's Gibson's made in a long time are Burstbuckers (not BBP's).
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I have to say I like them in my brother's '61 SG satin reissue. But that just might be a case of the right pickup in the right guitar.
 
Re: Replacement Pickups For Epiphone Korina '58 Explorer?

GilmourD said:
I have to say I like them in my brother's '61 SG satin reissue. But that just might be a case of the right pickup in the right guitar.
Click to expand...

I've heard that some players tend to like '57's in SG's, but they have an unusually thin body and a very long set-neck, all made of mahogany. Don't see those specs often. To me, a good PAF should great in an LP, and in my experience '57's have an overly rounded high-end in them. For players wanting a Gibson PAF, BB's are the way to go.

I've had all of Duncan's PAF-types, and I find Seth's to be the best-sounding: rich, complex tones and a sharp high-end in bridge and neck. I rank A2P's second, as they are closer to Seth than the others. "59's are very good, although brighter and thinner (due to the A5's). The aged A2's take off too much high-end in Ant's and give them a dull, rounded top. To me, PG's are mismatched, with a warm, mellow neck and a bright, thin bridge.
 
Re: Replacement Pickups For Epiphone Korina '58 Explorer?

blueman335 said:
[...]'57's are a middle-of-the-pack PAF and nothing to get excited about. [...]The best PAF's Gibson's made in a long time are Burstbuckers (not BBP's).
Click to expand...

How would you position Epi Probuckers in comparison to '57' and BB?
 
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Re: Replacement Pickups For Epiphone Korina '58 Explorer?

To the op, what did you end up using in the explorer?
 
Re: Replacement Pickups For Epiphone Korina '58 Explorer?

I would give those stock pickups a try.
When I bought mine, first day test was disapointing, because I've found those pickups weak and not exciting in any single way.
Then, I've decided to use a booster to cleanly increase their output and... they sound good enough!!!!.
Probably, the close to that sound could be the Seths but, expect feedback and overall same low output.

I would probably go for:
- SD's '59s with an A4 magnet on Neck and A8 on Bridge.
- Bareknuckle's The Mule
- David Allen P51

or alike slightly hotter.
 
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Re: Replacement Pickups For Epiphone Korina '58 Explorer?

I have an Epi Explorer, which has mahogany body, not Korina, but I think the sound is similar. Currently I have a set of Tonerider Generator humbuckers. Although they are "hot alnico" pickups (alnico 5, 7.8kOhm neck, 15.4 kOhm bridge), they are also good for Gary Moore-like blues. Using neck pickup, I get sound that brings in mind "Parisiene walkways" from "Ballads and blues 1982-1994" album. I think these pickups are worth consideration.
 
Re: Replacement Pickups For Epiphone Korina '58 Explorer?

The Skynard tone is probably best based around a PAF like pickup with an A2 magnet, like the 57 Classic's, but there are loads of PAF like A2 pickups around and also A2 magnets that someone can do a magnet swap with.

The stock Epiphone Explorer pickups HOTCH(Classic +) which some dismiss (being muddy and various other adjectives), are hotter than PAF pickups but they sound pretty good through a good matching amp or amp sim.

Epiphone HOTCH(ClassicPlus) (Alnico5) 13.3 – 14 K

and there are also these as well

Epiphone 57CH(Classic) (Alnico5) 7.8 - 8.13 K

and the Gibson's are

Gibson '57 ClassicPlus (Alnico2) 13.8K

Gibson '57 Classic (Alnico2) 7.44 - 8.5 K



Some stock Epiphone Explorer pickups demos.

 
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