What would you put on this?

[LtKojak]

I've just bought (very cheap) a late '60/early '70 Emperador (Korean Gibson 335 copy) guitar in really excellent condition, considering her age. It's a mahogany neck and body instrument, with a rosewood fingerboard and really beautiful AAA figured maple top and back. It's got two gold plate covered Gotoh pickups that sound much too muddy for my taste.

I really like both Larry Carlton and Robben Ford tones... what pickup set/combination would you advice me to put on to get as close as I could to be able to recreate those tones? My first idea was a combination of a SH-10 Full Shred neck and a SH-14 Custom 5 on bridge, but I'd like to first hear you guys on this, as I'm by no means an expert on the Seymour Duncan pickups line (I've been usind the same Di Marzio pickups on my Eko guitar for almost thirty ears) and I'd like to put on the very best on this guitar 'cause I think she deserves it.

What do you if you were in my position, guys? I'm all ears...

Yours truly,

Giuseppe Carmine De Blasio
Milano, Italy

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: What would you put on this?

WeLcome to the forum, Giuseppe.

Larry Carlton uses the stock Patent # huMbuckers in his 335. The closest Duncan equivalent to that would be the 59 set. Also, I do believe that Robben Ford used to use Gibson 57 classics in his guitars but also used the Duncan 59 in his Fender Esprit guitars.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: What would you put on this?

Thanks, Benji!

After a long tour through the net I've found many opinions 'bout what pickup to put on a 335 copy, I think the most named were the Seth Lover set... which now confuses me a little, as I don't think they'll deliver the basis for the sound I'm after.

What about the combination Full Shred neck/Custom 5?

Any takes on this?

Pretty please...?

Pepe

 

[greco]

Re: What would you put on this?

I'm a huge 335 fan and I'm experimenting with SD hums.
I don't really know what to suggest for Carlton and Ford tones.

At present I have a PG in the neck and bridge. I'm going to try a Phat Cat in the neck, and bought a Custom Custom recently for more fun. I also had a Seth Lover neck in for a while...very warm pickup. My friend had a set of'59s in his 335 copy and they sounded great.

I'm sure that this has not been helpful, but I'm convinced that 335's lend themselves to many pickup combinations. I guess that is obvious, given all the pickups I have gathered to try/experiment with.

Good Luck on finding the tone you are looking for.

What amp are you using?

Dave

 

[LtKojak]

Re: What would you put on this?

Thanks for the answer, greco.

you're probably right when you say that this particular kind of guitar lend herself for many pickup combinations... I see you're experimenting, but what kind of sound/feeling are you looking for? Just judging from the sound samples found on SD's site, the clarity of tone of the neck pickup for clean rythm and jazzy lines I prefer, the FS seems to be the one (also in his Baker guitar Robben Ford is using this one at the moment), so to go with this particular kind of moderately high output, for the kind of vintage vibe and tone the one that should go can't be other than the Custom 5... (even though Robben Ford is using a '59 for bridge, go figure)

Why did you take off the Seth and put the PG and how's going with the CC, and why are you thinking of a FC, which being a stacked humbucker the tone could be telly-like... is that what you're looking for, greco?

My amp is a V-Ampire LX112, which has some really great sounding patches but I'm kinda having a hard time dialing in the tone I'm looking for... too many posibilities, too little time...

Pepe
Milano, Italy