Pickups for Epiphone Sheraton (335)

[Push to Shuv]

I have an Epi Sheraton that is in need of new pups.

I just received a new wiring harness for it consisting of CTS 500k volume pots, 500k push/pull tone pots, and Luxe Bumblebee .022 caps.

The guitar currently has a Jazz in the neck and the stock junk in the bridge.

I really like the clarity of the Jazz but the low end is too strong for my taste. These guitars inherently have a lot of bottom end and the A5 exploits that with rumbling lows and dialed back mids.

I am leaning towards Seths but I want to see what others have found to be a good fit for 335 style guitars. I play mostly blues and classic rock.

[indie folk guy]

I really like Lollar Low Wind Imperials in 335 style guitars, I know they are a little more expensive.

Seths would be a good low cost alternative.

Another option would be DiMarzio Air Classics.

[symptom]

If you're into mag swapping, I say to try an A4 in the Jazz Neck. For the bridge, I'd go simple: a 59, a PG, or a 59/Custom (with the option to split).

[Aceman]

Numerous possibilities.

Seths are the obvious choice.

59's RULE in 335 epi's

Pearly Gates might be a better neck choice (PG/59 combo), or a set of Pearly's

I'm sure the mag swap bunch will suggest an alternative to the A5 for the jazz. Might consider a Jazz set....

[Push to Shuv]

I don't really want to shell out big bucks for Lollars in this particular guitar, but I have heard excellent things about them.

I am very anti-Dimarzio

I feel that 59s would be EQ'd too similar to the Jazz (a lot of bass and dialed back mids). I like 59s in the right guitar though. I don't want PG's in this one either, I actually just sold a set of them.

I hadn't given thought to the 59/Custom. I used to have one back in 06 (A2 mag) and it was awesome in my old Schecter. It is a little hotter than what I'm looking for, going for vintage type sounds.

I've toyed with the idea of swapping an A2 into the Jazz. Anyone tried that? Originally planned to get a Jazz b to go with it but I am weighing my options now.

[blueman335]

I feel that 59s would be EQ'd too similar to the Jazz (a lot of bass and dialed back mids). I like 59s in the right guitar though.

I've toyed with the idea of swapping an A2 into the Jazz. Anyone tried that? Originally planned to get a Jazz b to go with it but I am weighing my options now.

You're right, a '59N is going to be even bassier than a JazzN. An A2, A4, or UOA5 would shift some low end to the middle.

I'm a blues/classic rock player and have a pair of Seth's in an Epi Dot; it sounds great. Very vintage. I like them much better then PG's. More open and airy, more bite, just an overall better tone to my ears.

[LtKojak]

I've toyed with the idea of swapping an A2 into the Jazz. Anyone tried that? Originally planned to get a Jazz b to go with it but I am weighing my options now.

You do EXACTLY that. It sounds magnificent. I can vouch for it. My Gibson L-5 CES copy has an A2 Jazz set and they're not going anywhere anytime soon.

Set the A2 Jazz bridge as close to the strings as possible until it sounds best for your ears(the Jazz bridge is a bright p'up, even with an A2, that's why you should start the setup with it), then balance the neck p'up with the bridge to dial-in the chirp, and last but not least, fine-tune the whole thing taking it from there.

It sounds as vintage-y as a Seth Lover set, but it's got a sharper pick attack that increases articulation. Not for sloppy players, though... it'll clearly show cutting through the mix like a knife in butter every single note you play.

You've been warned!

[The Dali]

In my Epi Sheraton I have a Gibson 57+ in the bridge and a PG in the neck. Great combo!

[Gypsyblue]

I think Seths would be a great choice. Nickel covered Pearly Gates would be great too. I prefer alnico 2 vintage type humbuckers because the highs are smoother, there's more mids and the bass is not as boomy as with alnico 5, and those are two of my favorites. I also think 500K pots and .02 caps are the way to go.

Good call! What do you need us for?

[Gypsyblue]

Only thing about the Seths is that they don't come stock as 4 conductor pickups if you're interested in coil splitting them. You'll have to special order them or search a bit to find them 4C. The Pearly Gates come stock 4C but don't come stock with nickel covers. I prefer the tone (and look) with nickel covers, especially for blues.

[indie folk guy]

Good call the seths with 4C would be a shop floor custom.

[Push to Shuv]

Blueman and Gypsyblue, I think you both just finalized my decision for Seths.

I too prefer A2 vintage buckers. The Antiquities in my LP blow me away everytime I pick it up. I like PGs as well but they seem more picky as to which guitar they go in, and as I stated I just sold a nickel covered set to a forum bro.

I have never played Seths but have always wanted some! They will have to be gold covered and yes, shop floor custom with 4-conductor. I will wire the bridge push/pull for out of phase sounds (when both pups are active) and the neck push/pull for either coil split or parallel.

[indie folk guy]

you will love them I put a set of nickel covered 4C seths into a Heritage 535 for a customer and they sounded amazing.

I tend to prefer the PG's in a Les Paul where I'm going for more of that Texas inspired tone raw, agressive, etc.

[Gypsyblue]

I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time) but if you reverse the phase electrically using a switch on a humbucker with a nickel cover the cover might become hot and buzz like crazy every time you touch it. I'm not sure about this tho. Maybe someone who's actually done it will chime in.

You can put it out of phase without a switch by reversing the magnet on one pickup...like on a ES-345 or 355 or Lucille. But that would be more or less permanent.

If it was my guitar I'd just split the coils with those switches.

[Push to Shuv]

I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time) but if you reverse the phase electrically using a switch on a humbucker with a nickel cover the cover might become hot and buzz like crazy every time you touch it. I'm not sure about this tho. Maybe someone who's actually done it will chime in.

You can put it out of phase without a switch by reversing the magnet on one pickup...like on a ES-345 or 355 or Lucille. But that would be more or less permanent.

If it was my guitar I'd just split the coils with those switches.

I wasn't aware of this, hopefully someone will have some input.

I thought about reversing the mag but I like the idea of being able to switch between in and out of phase.

[Push to Shuv]

I'm still collecting all the parts (its getting a full makeover) and am a little ways out from getting the other pickup(s) so I might try an A2 in the Jazz in the mean time. Unless it completely takes me by surprise, i'll likely end up with the Seths.

[LtKojak]

I might try an A2 in the Jazz in the mean time. Unless it completely takes me by surprise, i'll likely end up with the Seths.

FWIW, the A2 Jazz set I got into that guitar replaced a Seth Lover set which, BTW, sounded magnificent.

However, I feel that the difference among the two sets is audible enough to justify the change.

HTH,

[blueman335]

FWIW, the A2 Jazz set I got into that guitar replaced a Seth Lover set which, BTW, sounded magnificent.

I can't imagine pulling out a Seth set.

[LtKojak]

I can't imagine pulling out a Seth set.

If I haven't heard it with my own ears, I wouldn't have believed myself either, not even if it was God in person telling me!

With the A5, the Jazz is very clear, but it doesn't have the harmonic complexity as the EQ scoop kinda puts a mask to that range of frequencies, so to speak.

Bringing the A2 to the equation, off the mask goes and you first hear the tone of the wood, after a week or so the "airy" quality becomes noticeable and last but not least, the harmonic complexity takes you by surprise, as it's something you don't expect from the Jazz model... all of this without ever losing that sharp-ish pick attack characteristic of this p'up, not so the usual "inyerface" way anymore but perfectly blanded with the other "new" characteristics the A2 brings to the forefront.

A poor comparison would be saying is a slighty beefier and sharper Seth Lover, but just to give you an extremely rough idea what to expect.

Of course, in my particular case it was the guitar to make all the difference, but from I'm hearing, it may well apply to semi-hollows and guitars in general having that dreaded peak in the mid-lows making'em feel "muddy" in the neck with most p'ups. In extreme cases, you can put an A3 in the neck, keeping the A2 in the bridge.

Consider it another weapon in your arsenal, Rick. Well worth the effort, if you ask me.

HTH,

[Push to Shuv]

IIRC the Jazz is more or less similar to a T-Top, with a full size A5 mag rather than a short A5. This is what intrigued me about them. To my ears they are quite different than PAFs, brighter and more articulate. They don't have as much character as PAF types but the clarity is what made me think it would be a good fit for a 335 body. I'll have to track down an A2 to try in it.