Semi-hollow pickup upgrade

[staggybitosoup]

So I’ve got a Hagstrom Super Viking wth stock pups. Lovely guitar but I’m looking to really make her shine with an upgrade. I’ve no actual experience with pickups so I did a whole lot of searching through forums and originally considered just slapping Classic 57s in her as a start and then nit-pick the tone after that if I find myself wanting any certain flavors.

Well, I was already iffy on the price tag and then I realized I’d need the four conductor version (my guitar uses coil split) and that was even pricier. I kinda gave up on that idea and researched more and am now leaning towards just grabbing a pair of Seth Lovers. I just wish I could find the four conductor coverless and in black, because I’m wanting to put the new pickups I get into the pickup covers I currently have, for aesthetic reasons. Saw that people said the color inside of seths is random. Not so sure what to go for now. I’m still open to any suggestions, just keep in mind the four conductor and coverless black preferences.



There she is.

I play mostly Jazz, Blues and 60s-70s Rock so I’m looking for overall quality vintage tone, a nice warm jazz tone in the neck and maybe something with a bit more spunk in the bridge.

Oh ya and first post. Hi hi hi there.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Semi-hollow pickup upgrade

Welcome. I'd go with a set of PAF flavored pickups. I'm aware how generic that recommendation sounds, but you have to start somewhere.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Semi-hollow pickup upgrade

I'd say Seth Lover neck and Custom Custom bridge should cover all the bases you are looking for. Just order them in black and put the covers you have on hand onto them. You can even get them Shop Floor Custom with no logos for no extra charge.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Semi-hollow pickup upgrade

Nice guitar! Send Banjomikez a message on eBay and ask for a quote on a set of Black Seth Lovers with 4 wires. Shouldn't be an issue for a custom floor shop model. The Seth Lovers do come with random bobbin colors. As do Antiquities. Seymour is keeping true to hold these were wound back in the heyday. I got a zebra and double cream for my Seth Lovers (seen in my avatar). I recently got a zebra Antiquity. If you're looking for vintage tone and best bang for buck, you can't go wrong with the Seth Lovers. Plus, they work wonders in semi hollow guitars. I think it'll fit the bill nicely.

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[beaubrummels]

Re: Semi-hollow pickup upgrade

Pearly Gates are 4-conductor black stock.

Seths are 2-conductor stock.

For a hollow body, I would think A2Ps or 59s with 4-con shop floor custom would be the most affordable and good sounding. Next level might be Seths in 4-con shop floor custom.

Whole Lotta Humbuckers are 4-con black stock and would work well in your Hagstrom I'd bet.

 

[staggybitosoup]

Re: Semi-hollow pickup upgrade

You can even get them Shop Floor Custom with no logos for no extra charge.

Send Banjomikez a message on eBay and ask for a quote on a set of Black Seth Lovers with 4 wires. Shouldn't be an issue for a custom floor shop model.

Next level might be Seths in 4-con shop floor custom.

I was not previously aware that Shop Floor Custom was even a thing. Just looked it up and it sounds like the exact type of thing I was wanting! Now my question is; how to do so. I saw the mention of telling your dealer the specs you'd like and I get the idea that means going to someone like the eBay seller Red mentioned or even the fellows down at my local guitar shop and having them order it for me. Please correct me if I'm wrong, I am not familiar with this sort of thing at all. :33:

Nice guitar!

Also thanks! I'm several years into learning and she's my first sort of "real deal" quality guitar I stepped up to from my starter.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Semi-hollow pickup upgrade

Don't think the Seth Lovers are compromising in any way. They are fantastic pickups in a semi-hollow, and certainly among my absolute favorite. You can order them 4 conductor, too. I think they are certainly above a Classic 57 set in tone.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Semi-hollow pickup upgrade

I was not previously aware that Shop Floor Custom was even a thing. Just looked it up and it sounds like the exact type of thing I was wanting! Now my question is; how to do so. I saw the mention of telling your dealer the specs you'd like and I get the idea that means going to someone like the eBay seller Red mentioned or even the fellows down at my local guitar shop and having them order it for me. Please correct me if I'm wrong, I am not familiar with this sort of thing at all.

That's basically it. If you buy off the shelf, you get the stock production specs. If you order it from a dealer, you have an opportunity to specify simple things they can do on the shop floor like use a certain bobbin color, leave off the logo, change 2-conductor to 4-conductor. This is a "Shop Floor Custom", just simpler mods to a stock production pickup.

This is not to be confused with a "Custom Shop" pickup where you specify everything you want and they build a one-off pickup for you for $150+.

There's a blog article on the Seymour Duncan site that lists all the Shop Floor Custom options.

 

[staggybitosoup]

Re: Semi-hollow pickup upgrade

Don't think the Seth Lovers are compromising in any way. They are fantastic pickups in a semi-hollow, and certainly among my absolute favorite. You can order them 4 conductor, too. I think they are certainly above a Classic 57 set in tone.

Yeah, after I got iffy on the 57s and started researching more I noticed the Seths getting a lot of love and basically seeming to be equal to, if not better than, the 57s. From what I saw, most of the people who had experience with both (and various other pickups) seemed to have a general preference toward the Seths, especially in a semi.

That's basically it.

There's a blog article on the Seymour Duncan site that lists all the Shop Floor Custom options.

Sweet! I guess that solves that issue then, thanks! :biglaugh:

I’ll be going for the Seths but I’ll have to take a look at the other pickups mentioned and research them a little bit as well.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Semi-hollow pickup upgrade

Get a set of A2P's, and call it a day.

 

[justFred]

Re: Semi-hollow pickup upgrade

I don't know but I Ben told that for a Jazzy kinda thing the BENEDETTO A6 is the best way to go.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Semi-hollow pickup upgrade

The Seth Lovers in your semi-hollow will be fantastic. As was mentioned above, just contact banjomikez and have them ordered the way you want. You'll have to wait a bit to get them, but you'll get exactly what you want. I've ordered many shop floor customs over the years, no problems and it's a great service to get exactly what you want.