I plan on getting a D'angelico Premier DC. I'll want to change the pickups in the future. What's the closest thing Seymour Duncan makes to Gibson's Burstbuckers? I'm looking for that warm, clear bluesy tone in the neck and something that can get a nice classic rock tone in the bridge with some natural distortion from the amp. I'll be playing blues, classic rock, and country. I really like Kip Moore's sound if that gives you an idea. Chuck Berry, John Mayer, BB King, Frankie Ballard, The Eagles, Gary Clark Jr. (I know that one's a stretch), etc.
What pickups should I put in a 335 style semi-hollow body guitar?
- Thread starter SlowHeart
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gsammo79
New member
Re: What pickups should I put in a 335 style semi-hollow body guitar?
If I was gonna' try to match the Burstbucker to a Duncan model I'd probably try an Alnico 2 Pro. A Pearly Gates may not be as close of a match, but still a good option if you want to get a low output, solid humbucker relacement. A '59 bridge would be a good way to go too...
Hope this helps.
If I was gonna' try to match the Burstbucker to a Duncan model I'd probably try an Alnico 2 Pro. A Pearly Gates may not be as close of a match, but still a good option if you want to get a low output, solid humbucker relacement. A '59 bridge would be a good way to go too...
Hope this helps.
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Re: What pickups should I put in a 335 style semi-hollow body guitar?
Ok, so my understanding from another forum is this:
The 57 classics and Seths don't have a lot of windings so they'll sound a little thin and lifeless and basically identicidentical. The BBs are A2 and unpotted and are slightly overwound giving them that bigger and warm tone I'm looking for. The Pearly Gates are also slightly overwound and are A2 but are potted. The Alnico 2 pros sound like they're the same thing as the Pearly Gates so idk. The WHLs are overwound but are A5 and potted so a completely different sound from what I'm looking for. The 59s are unpotted and slightly overwound but A5 so probably not going to have the warmth I'm looking for.
So from the sounds of it right now I guess it comes down to the BBs or the Pearly Gates. Potted or unpotted. How will that affect my tone if at all?
Ok, so my understanding from another forum is this:
The 57 classics and Seths don't have a lot of windings so they'll sound a little thin and lifeless and basically identicidentical. The BBs are A2 and unpotted and are slightly overwound giving them that bigger and warm tone I'm looking for. The Pearly Gates are also slightly overwound and are A2 but are potted. The Alnico 2 pros sound like they're the same thing as the Pearly Gates so idk. The WHLs are overwound but are A5 and potted so a completely different sound from what I'm looking for. The 59s are unpotted and slightly overwound but A5 so probably not going to have the warmth I'm looking for.
So from the sounds of it right now I guess it comes down to the BBs or the Pearly Gates. Potted or unpotted. How will that affect my tone if at all?
Lewguitar
New member
Re: What pickups should I put in a 335 style semi-hollow body guitar?
The Seth Lovers and the Pearly Gates are very similar once you take the nickel covers off of the Seth Lovers.
The Seths with covers do sound weaker than a Pearly Gates without a cover.
But if you take the covers off of a set of Seth Lovers they're just as strong as a PG.
So I'm going to say get some Seths and remove the covers. Very easy to do if you've done it before.
The Seths without covers have become my favorite pickup.
GREAT for American Blues and especially for British Blues.
The Seth Lovers and the Pearly Gates are very similar once you take the nickel covers off of the Seth Lovers.
The Seths with covers do sound weaker than a Pearly Gates without a cover.
But if you take the covers off of a set of Seth Lovers they're just as strong as a PG.
So I'm going to say get some Seths and remove the covers. Very easy to do if you've done it before.
The Seths without covers have become my favorite pickup.
GREAT for American Blues and especially for British Blues.
The JEM Ghost
New member
Re: What pickups should I put in a 335 style semi-hollow body guitar?
Another vote for the Seth Lovers from me!
Another vote for the Seth Lovers from me!
Re: What pickups should I put in a 335 style semi-hollow body guitar?
So why not just get the Pearly Gates then...
So why not just get the Pearly Gates then...
Lewguitar
New member
Re: What pickups should I put in a 335 style semi-hollow body guitar?
No reason not to. I'm a big fan of the PG's.
Some folks hear them as being too bright though.
Very few hear the Seths as being too bright.
So since I like them both, the Seths seem like a safer set to recommend since they're almost universally loved...especially in a 335.
No reason not to. I'm a big fan of the PG's.
Some folks hear them as being too bright though.
Very few hear the Seths as being too bright.
So since I like them both, the Seths seem like a safer set to recommend since they're almost universally loved...especially in a 335.
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chadd
Well-known member
Re: What pickups should I put in a 335 style semi-hollow body guitar?
There are five different versions of Burstbuckers.
BB1 - A2 lowest output
BB PRO rhythm - BB1 with A5 magnet
BB2 -A2
BB PRO lead - BB2 A5 magnet
BB3 - much hotter A2
There are five different versions of Burstbuckers.
BB1 - A2 lowest output
BB PRO rhythm - BB1 with A5 magnet
BB2 -A2
BB PRO lead - BB2 A5 magnet
BB3 - much hotter A2
Re: What pickups should I put in a 335 style semi-hollow body guitar?
A lot of people seem to like them but I'm worried. I really like the big, thick sound of the burstbuckers and I understand it gets that big sound from the extra windings compared to the 57 classics. I've heard some people say that the Seths are more comparable to the 57s than the BBs. So I'm worried that the Seths will have a thinner, lesser sound than the thick, smooth sound I'm looking for.
A lot of people seem to like them but I'm worried. I really like the big, thick sound of the burstbuckers and I understand it gets that big sound from the extra windings compared to the 57 classics. I've heard some people say that the Seths are more comparable to the 57s than the BBs. So I'm worried that the Seths will have a thinner, lesser sound than the thick, smooth sound I'm looking for.
Re: What pickups should I put in a 335 style semi-hollow body guitar?
When I say Burstbuckers I'm referring to the Burstbuckers 1 and 2. I've heard them in 335s in some reviews and demos and absolutely love that sound. I've never actually heard the BB PROs. I've heard about them though and from my understanding of AlNiCo magnets the 5s will take away from the biggness and thickness of the tone. I don't know for sure though, I'm just starting to really learn about the differences between pickups and what makes them sound a certain way and all of that, just trying to learn and understand here. Also, sorry everyone, I really suck at describing guitar tones haha.
When I say Burstbuckers I'm referring to the Burstbuckers 1 and 2. I've heard them in 335s in some reviews and demos and absolutely love that sound. I've never actually heard the BB PROs. I've heard about them though and from my understanding of AlNiCo magnets the 5s will take away from the biggness and thickness of the tone. I don't know for sure though, I'm just starting to really learn about the differences between pickups and what makes them sound a certain way and all of that, just trying to learn and understand here. Also, sorry everyone, I really suck at describing guitar tones haha.
chadd
Well-known member
Re: What pickups should I put in a 335 style semi-hollow body guitar?
I have BB3 in the bridge of both Les Pauls, a BB1 and a 57 in the necks. The BB1 is much lower in output, than the 57. My 335 has BB Pros, they are brighter and a little hotter than the BB1/2 set. The hollow body helps fill in some of the mids that I think are otherwise missing. I liked the BB2 but it wasn't enough output for my 90s cover band, I needed the hotter BB3.
I have BB3 in the bridge of both Les Pauls, a BB1 and a 57 in the necks. The BB1 is much lower in output, than the 57. My 335 has BB Pros, they are brighter and a little hotter than the BB1/2 set. The hollow body helps fill in some of the mids that I think are otherwise missing. I liked the BB2 but it wasn't enough output for my 90s cover band, I needed the hotter BB3.
LLL
New member
Re: What pickups should I put in a 335 style semi-hollow body guitar?
How would you describe the tonal differences between the Seths and PGs?
How would you describe the tonal differences between the Seths and PGs?
Lewguitar
New member
Re: What pickups should I put in a 335 style semi-hollow body guitar?
I've always felt that the Seths were a little smoother. And that the PG's had a little more sizzle.
Uncovered, there's more of a raw quality from both. The PG's seem to have a little more of that.
The Seths with the nickel covers on are a different sounding pickup than with the covers off.
And since Duncan puts zebras and double creams under those covers, they clearly expect some of us to remove the covers and see what surprise is inside!
I have set of double creams, a set of zebras and a set with a zebra neck and cream bridge.
The cover is not wax potted so it removed easily once the solder is cut or sawn through.
I've always felt that the Seths were a little smoother. And that the PG's had a little more sizzle.
Uncovered, there's more of a raw quality from both. The PG's seem to have a little more of that.
The Seths with the nickel covers on are a different sounding pickup than with the covers off.
And since Duncan puts zebras and double creams under those covers, they clearly expect some of us to remove the covers and see what surprise is inside!
I have set of double creams, a set of zebras and a set with a zebra neck and cream bridge.
The cover is not wax potted so it removed easily once the solder is cut or sawn through.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: What pickups should I put in a 335 style semi-hollow body guitar?
I have two of those sunburst PRS Singlecuts and in the picture above they're right next to each other. One has zebra Seths and one has Cream Seths. There's also a black SE with nickel covered PG's.
In this picture, below, one has covered Seths and one has cream Seths and I compared them a lot.
The cream Seth (uncovered obviously) sounded so much better for rock and British Blues, than the nickel covered Seths that I eventually uncovered the covered set too. Now both guitars sound pretty much identical.
I do want those two guitars to sound different though. And I love the Antiquitys in the blue PRS CU22. They have roughcast A2 and the Seths have polished A2.
So I'm going to try a set of roughcast A2 in my zebra Seths just to compare them with the polished A2 in my double cream Seths.
I'm expecting the zebra Seths with roughcast alnico 2 to sound a little like an uncovered Antiquity. Kind of between a Seth and an Antiquity. We'll see. I plan to do it this weekend.
I have two of those sunburst PRS Singlecuts and in the picture above they're right next to each other. One has zebra Seths and one has Cream Seths. There's also a black SE with nickel covered PG's.
In this picture, below, one has covered Seths and one has cream Seths and I compared them a lot.
The cream Seth (uncovered obviously) sounded so much better for rock and British Blues, than the nickel covered Seths that I eventually uncovered the covered set too. Now both guitars sound pretty much identical.
I do want those two guitars to sound different though. And I love the Antiquitys in the blue PRS CU22. They have roughcast A2 and the Seths have polished A2.
So I'm going to try a set of roughcast A2 in my zebra Seths just to compare them with the polished A2 in my double cream Seths.
I'm expecting the zebra Seths with roughcast alnico 2 to sound a little like an uncovered Antiquity. Kind of between a Seth and an Antiquity. We'll see. I plan to do it this weekend.
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Re: What pickups should I put in a 335 style semi-hollow body guitar?
While I wholeheartedly endorse a set of Seth Lovers for any semi, I'd recommend you live with the pickups that come with your guitar for awhile. Your ideas of what the guitar needs might change when you actually hear it (it might be too bright, bassy, etc).
While I wholeheartedly endorse a set of Seth Lovers for any semi, I'd recommend you live with the pickups that come with your guitar for awhile. Your ideas of what the guitar needs might change when you actually hear it (it might be too bright, bassy, etc).
Lewguitar
New member
Re: What pickups should I put in a 335 style semi-hollow body guitar?
Yes. The OP doesn't even have the guitar yet.
Seths are superb pickups and a lot of FUN to play.
IMO, they do not have a traditional vintage 60's ES-335 tone. 59's would be closer to the pickups in Larry Carlton's or BB King's or Eric Clapton's ES-335 style guitars.
There's a soft "kiss" or "pluck" on top of the treble when the note is first picked that I hear with alnico 5 59's that I do not hear with Seths. Santana has commented on this quality as well.
I can hear it my playing when I'm playing my 59's, Santana's playing and Wes Montgomery's playing.
But the Seths are simply more fun for me to play than 59's.
Yes. The OP doesn't even have the guitar yet.
Seths are superb pickups and a lot of FUN to play.
IMO, they do not have a traditional vintage 60's ES-335 tone. 59's would be closer to the pickups in Larry Carlton's or BB King's or Eric Clapton's ES-335 style guitars.
There's a soft "kiss" or "pluck" on top of the treble when the note is first picked that I hear with alnico 5 59's that I do not hear with Seths. Santana has commented on this quality as well.
I can hear it my playing when I'm playing my 59's, Santana's playing and Wes Montgomery's playing.
But the Seths are simply more fun for me to play than 59's.
Diego
New member
Re: What pickups should I put in a 335 style semi-hollow body guitar?
I'll hate it when the day comes I wanna change the pickups in my 339.
For me, it's DAMN HARD to get my head around how to improve it's tone.
I want a bit more of this, a bit less of that, but it's so hard to change pickups and just swap them around in a semi-hollow that I'm supposed to know first-hand that I'll like the swap.
I'll hate it when the day comes I wanna change the pickups in my 339.
For me, it's DAMN HARD to get my head around how to improve it's tone.
I want a bit more of this, a bit less of that, but it's so hard to change pickups and just swap them around in a semi-hollow that I'm supposed to know first-hand that I'll like the swap.
