Pickups for sheraton II

[apj]

I've had 59's in a dot before and was happy but want something a little different

I'm thinking pearly gates but I think the AII may not be great being that I want a decent bass response

Suggestions?

On a side note the guitar seems quite dark compared to my other guitars but I'm guessing it's the epi pickups. Are they quite dark and lacking in sustain?

Thanks

[gibson175]

I'm guessing it's the epi pickups. Are they quite dark and lacking in sustain?

Yes, but i think total rubbish would be a better description of them.
SO the good news is ANY pickup you try will sound heaps better.
If you still have your 59 set you can always do the mag swap thing. I cant imagine a better pickup for my taste in my 335 than 59s with the a2 mags that kojak made me put in!
Also - epi pots, switches and plugs are all pretty half asssed too, so spend a few extra bucks on some good quality electronics (including some nice caps like sprague or the mojotone oil ones).

[FuseG4]

by decent bass response, do you mean you want big, plucky bass, or warm, full smooth bass? When I play the A2p, I never feel like it lacks bass, it's there but it's smooth.

Most people end up meaning the big, plucky response. The 59 really is the best one for that. I really like the 59, and I find it as good/versatile as the pearly gates in it's own way.

I'm not much a dimarzio guy anymore but I did try the air classic neck in a dot-like semihollow a long time ago. It was pretty cool. Bigger bass than the A2p, and more of the kinda woody mids of a PG, but with the bell-like character and clarity of A5. Hard to describe. Might be something to look into though.

[GuitarDoc]

'59s are a great pup for your guitar. But if it is already a fairly dark sounding guitar, A2 mags will probably darken it more than you want. UOA5 or A4 may be a better suggestion. But try the '59s as-is first and see if you need to do anything else.

[ItsaBass]

When I had my early-1990's Samick-made Sheratons (four of them, at different times), the pickups were not anything to write home about, but were definitely deal-with-able. Maybe they have got worse since the move to China.

Personally, I think unequally-wound humbuckers sound great in a semi-hollow thinline. Fralin Unbuckers and Gibson Burstbuckers would be examples of the kind of pickup I am talking about.

It is interesting. My '04 LP came with Burstbuckers, which are supposedly Alnico II pickups. However, when I needed to replace the neck pickup under warranty, the guy who did it let me keep the bad pickup, and it says #2 AL V on the bottom. And they are also supposedly not wax potted...but the ones in my LP definitely are. So I am not sure what you get with Burstbuckers. I'd just have Fralin or Duncan wind a set, so you know exactly what you are getting.

[LtKojak]

If you care to look, there are countless threads 'bout how hard Epi p'ups suck, and I may add they're far too gentle!

To get any Epi up-to-date, you need to change the harness as well, as if you don't it'll prevent any p'up to deliver the tone it's supposed to.

I have two 335 copies, one Gibson L-5CES copy and a Mayones Maestro, which is a semi-hollow as well. All of them have the guts changed as soon as I got the instrument.

My best-sounding is my MIJ 1980 all-maple 335 copy with an A4 '59n and an A8 Custom. Best combo I can think of.

HTH,

[blueman335]

My best-sounding is my MIJ 1980 all-maple 335 copy with an A4 '59n and an A8 Custom. Best combo I can think of.

+1. Great alternative to straight '59's. I have them in my Sheraton (only the '59N has the stock A5), and it's nice clean or with OD. Plenty of muscle on the bridge.

[apj]

+1. Great alternative to straight '59's. I have them in my Sheraton (only the '59N has the stock A5), and it's nice clean or with OD. Plenty of muscle on the bridge.

I would've thought the A8 custom would be a little high in the output for a semi-hollow

[blueman335]

I would've thought the A8 custom would be a little high in the output for a semi-hollow

Not at all. It's 14K which is not overly hot, and it's very good clean. Yes, a 16K+ PU with a ceramic magnet would be too hot in a semi-hollow (at least for me), but C8's are one of the most versatile bridge PU's there is.