To Mod Or Not To Mod, That's My Question???

[Nostalgic Distortion]

It seems I've come to an impasse over whether or not I should mod my semi-hollow....


I recently bought a 2013 ES-139 which is a fantastic guitar! It's essentially a single cut ES-335 without any F-Holes, a quartersawn Maple neck, ABR1 bridge, a simple single Vol./Tone/3 way toggle control layout, & it came loaded with 57 Classic Burstbuckers stock.

Normally I absolutely hate Burstbuckers of any flavor & in any guitar! That said, for whatever reason this one doesn't really sound all that bad & the stock humbuckers seem to fit the guitar alright. I mean they aren't the best pickups in the world by any means but it certainly sounds better than the last L.P. I had loaded with the same pups!

Now, I've also got a brand new set of Pearly Gates set (zebra uncovered bridge & covered neck) laying around that I ended up with for doing some work on a friend's guitar. He'd bought them & a Seth set to see which he liked better but after I got the Seth's in his Lester he was quite happy with it & asked that I leave well enough alone. The Pearly Gates were past their return date by that time so I offered to take them in lieu of payment....



The past few days I've been wondering how they'd sound in this particular fiddle & whether or not I should give them a shot? On the one hand I feel like they could sound really great in it but on the other I'm a little worried that I'd loose all of the open "woody" tone the guitar has now???

I'm definitely not one of those "NEVER MOD A GIBSON GUYS", I've got a half dozen of the dam things & the ES-139 is the only one that's even close to being stock!!! So I'm not really concerned about losing value or anything, I'm just wondering if it's worth the trouble & also if anyone here has any experience with the PG/PGN set in a similar semi-hollow???

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Re: To Mod Or Not To Mod, That's My Question???

From the words you used to describe it ("alright"), I would say go ahead and swap the pickups. Although, personally I would try to get a covered bridge pickup (or fit a cover), just for the looks.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: To Mod Or Not To Mod, That's My Question???

Really want to try a 139! Seems like best of design as I hate f holes for feedback...

As mentioned above, I would try the PG s for sure... Logical pup for that build and I would love to hear outcome.

Assuming that there's a cavity cover on back, so much easier than fishing a normal hollow body?

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[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: To Mod Or Not To Mod, That's My Question???

From the words you used to describe it ("alright"), I would say go ahead and swap the pickups. Although, personally I would try to get a covered bridge pickup (or fit a cover), just for the looks.

Aesthetically I'd actually prefer a covered bridge as well but I'm solidly in the "I can hear the cover camp" & with the P.G.B. especially I like the way they sound uncovered better....

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: To Mod Or Not To Mod, That's My Question???

Really want to try a 139! Seems like best of design as I hate f holes for feedback...

As mentioned above, I would try the PG s for sure... Logical pup for that build and I would love to hear outcome.

Assuming that there's a cavity cover on back, so much easier than fishing a normal hollow body?

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LOL, I'd be lying if I said that the fact that this one does have a control panel in back didn't play at least a small role in me deciding to go with the 139 over a 335 or something like that....

As for the guitar IMHO ES-139's are great & kinda hidden gems!!! I paid $950 shipped for mine but it was essentially a NOS guitar. While I've seen some going for up to $1,100-$1,200 I've seen better loved ones for $100-$150 less than what I paid so they can be had at pretty reasonable prices if you look around...

I bought mine from a fella that said he was a "Blues enthusiast" who owned several Gibson semi-hollow's but mostly as decorations & he didn't play more than a few chords. Apparently he had them hanging on the wall with very light tension on their necks but he had recently decided to move to a smaller place & would have to let go of a few.

Rich people problems I guess, LOL??? IDK, when it arrived at my door there wasn't even a pick scratch on it & she still had the plastic covering the pickups so I tend to believe him. Actually as you can see its still covering the back control panel now!!!

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: To Mod Or Not To Mod, That's My Question???

I didn't put a whole lot of stock in the no F-holes no feedback thing but plugged into my Parsons JTM45 clone it actually doesn't feedback much more than my solid body LP does so perhaps there is something to it???

 

[zionstrat]

Re: To Mod Or Not To Mod, That's My Question???

I didn't put a whole lot of stock in the no F-holes no feedback thing but plugged into my Parsons JTM45 clone it actually doesn't feedback much more than my solid body LP does so perhaps there is something to it???

Yeah, F hole feedback is well documented and musicians have stuffed hollow bodies with deadening material for over 50 years... It's the same reason that amplified accoustics squeal... Sound holes are designed to resonate to increase volume without amps, but they are overwhelmed when an amplifier reinforces the same frequencies.

Back to pickups, I know asthetics aren't that important, but you could look into silver plastic pup covers if u like the PGs... Not saying it would be simple or cheap

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[Wattage]

Re: To Mod Or Not To Mod, That's My Question???

Mod

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: To Mod Or Not To Mod, That's My Question???

You already know what to do, you just need reinforcement to do it. You've got it: mod. Nothing to lose.

 

[Mincer]

Re: To Mod Or Not To Mod, That's My Question???

I say DO IT! I actually wasn't aware of that model. It looks really cool, actually. I'd be interested to know how the sound changes if you do the swap.

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Re: To Mod Or Not To Mod, That's My Question???

Aesthetically I'd actually prefer a covered bridge as well but I'm solidly in the "I can hear the cover camp" & with the P.G.B. especially I like the way they sound uncovered better....

What about a black pickup with the "open cover" type on it? I know that's a terrible name for them, but I mean the ones that have are like a cover with the sides, but most of the top is cut out. Or the "toaster" covers?

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: To Mod Or Not To Mod, That's My Question???

What about a black pickup with the "open cover" type on it? I know that's a terrible name for them, but I mean the ones that have are like a cover with the sides, but most of the top is cut out. Or the "toaster" covers?

Ah yes, I think your referring to Beauty Rings? They're basically just covers that have had the tops cut out aside for a 1/4in-1/2in skirt? I had a some gold Beauty Rings on a black 59 set that was in my 70's Blackback Custom LP to match the rest of the hardware. They definitely add a little class to the right guitar & that's a suggestion that I might just heed but I think I'll get it sounding the way I want first though? I'll worry about looks once its sonically sound...