What pickups for Gibson 335

[joek5150]

I’m building a 335 style guitar and want to make it as close as possible to original. My question is what pickups should I use ?
Thanks

 

[Juan Tumani]

I'm sure you'll get a lot of suggestions but mine is Gibson 57 Classics.

It does depend on what your musical style is though. I like the 57s because I like vintage output pickups through overdrive pedals and a cranked tube amp. The 57s are well wax potted to avoid microphonic squeal in a semi hollow, with overdrive at stage volume.

If you're a clean only or studio only you may not care about wax potting.

Edit. You may get more suggestions if you change the thread title to "What pickups for 335?"

 

[joek5150]

I'm sure you'll get a lot of suggestions but mine is Gibson 57 Classics.

It does depend on what your musical style is though. I like the 57s because I like vintage output pickups through overdrive pedals and a cranked tube amp. The 57s are well wax potted to avoid microphonic squeal in a semi hollow, with overdrive at stage volume.

If you're a clean only or studio only you may not care about wax potting.

Edit. You may get more suggestions if you change the thread title to "What pickups for 335?"

Thanks Juan, so you would use 57s in the neck and bridge?

 

[icantshred]

I used to have a Historic Reissue 1960-something 345. It had '57 classics in it. I'd wager those are a safe bet considering they were chosen by Gibson for the Historic models.

 

[Juan Tumani]

Thanks Juan, so you would use 57s in the neck and bridge?

Yes. I know Gibson has many PAF style pickups available but for me the 57s have always been a consistent winner. In truth I haven't even bothered to try many others as the 57s have never left me wanting more.

With 57s there isn't really a bridge or neck pickup, they are the same pickup just placed in different positions just like they did originally.

 

[motowntom]

If you can find a set, a guy who used to be here at MLP made pickups called R S Guitar Works. Bought a set from stephen78 here, I have them in a Epi Dot....... best pickups I've ever played.
Cheers

 

[cmjohnson]

Invaders?

But seriously, I'd say to go with a set of Gibson 57 Classic Plus pickups and call it good. They're never a bad choice for that classic PAF tone at a very sane price.

 

[Leee]

@Juan Tumani nailed it.
I simply cannot imagine a reason to ever remove the 57 Classics from my beloved ES-335.

There might be “better” pickups out there, but after 20+ years I don’t care.

 

[Juan Tumani]

Invaders?

But seriously, I'd say to go with a set of Gibson 57 Classic Plus pickups and call it good. They're never a bad choice for that classic PAF tone at a very sane price.

I do also like the 57 Classic Plus but it's meant specifically for the bridge position with it's extra winds. They're good for many things but are a tiny step away from that authentic original 335 sound. A very tiny step, but still.

The Classic reads about 7.58 and the Classic Plus about 8.55 so if the goal is to be as close as possible to the original, just a tad hot.

 

[Axeman16]

Seth lovers are a wonderful choice for any 335

 

[Juan Tumani]

I

Seth lovers are a wonderful choice for any 335

I haven't owned a set and hear great things. However, the bridge is at 8.5k and they aren't wax potted (which could only be an issue dependent on use).

 

[Juan Tumani]

Btw, I'm aware that the original pickups were not wax potted. I'm just saying that if the intent is to play with a lot of overdrive or volume then it would be a difference I'd be ok with.

I can hear the difference between potted and un-potted but for my use the very slight benefit of un-potted is completely void because they're entirely unusable to me. I notice in this video no significant overdrive was used. Lol. Also, it's the guitar alone and in a band mix you would never hear the subtle differences in clean tone but you'd 100% notice the difference between a squealing vs non squealing pickup.

 

[ezra1]

Sigil or Wagner

 

[Leee]

I’m so done with unpotted pickups.

They’re far from vintage-correct when they go microphonic and squeal uncontrollably.

 

[Juan Tumani]

I’m so done with unpotted pickups.

They’re far from vintage-correct when they go microphonic and squeal uncontrollably.

I remove all non wax potted pickups and either swap them out or pot them myself. But I get un-potted pickups for only clean/quiet playing.

 

[Axeman16]

Never had any issue with microphonics using 20w non master vols with unspotted paf types. Of course you will get some feed back standing directly infront of the cab facing it but it can be controlled. I imagine a 50 or 100w head through a 4x12 might of a different story depending on your volume.

 

[Juan Tumani]

Never had any issue with microphonics using 20w non master vols with unspotted paf types. Of course you will get some feed back standing directly infront of the cab facing it but it can be controlled. I imagine a 50 or 100w head through a 4x12 might of a different story depending on your volume.

I don't do the "Quiet Stage" thing. Never have, possibly might someday. There's also the relationship between volume and overdrive. I use a lot of both.

Last year this 88 Les Paul Custom Lite was new to me. It still had "The Original" pickups in it and I took it to a multi band show where an amp was supplied to me (Blackface Twin Reverb). I just brought my pedal board and guitar. Couldn't be anywhere near the amp or monitors without it squealing and the sound guy couldn't do anything for me as we didn't have our own sound check to work out the bugs ahead of time.

I spent the majority of our set of to the side of the stage.

Now I have 490's which are also well potted any I can be anywhere I want playing anything I want.

The dude with the red shorts is playing with the exact same situation (provided amp and all) but is having no issues because his pickups are potted.

Here's me with my own amp & my Lucille. Right in front of my amp (with 4 12's blasting at me). Simply not possible without potted pickups.

 

[Leee]

Of course you will get some feed back standing directly infront of the cab facing it but it can be controlled.

Oh, well, let me tell you about an ice-pick-in-the-ear squeal as soon as you touch the volume knob.

You could be standing in another room.

Had this happen twice with Gibson pickups.
Early 80s Les Paul Custom
Early 2000s Black Beauty with BB3

I’m familiar with some pickups being quite sensitive to volume and feedback.
I’ve sent a couple to Lindy Fralin for potting, and it fixed it.

But these pickups were dead worthless.

 

[Juan Tumani]

Oh, well, let me tell you about an ice-pick-in-the-ear squeal as soon as you touch the volume knob.

You could be standing in another room.

Had this happen twice with Gibson pickups.
Early 80s Les Paul Custom
Early 2000s Black Beauty with BB3

I’m familiar with some pickups being quite sensitive to volume and feedback.
I’ve sent a couple to Lindy Fralin for potting, and it fixed it.

But these pickups were dead worthless.

Of course it really does depend on how the OP plans to use them. This could be a non issue.

 

[Leee]

I understand the tone purists wanting unpotted pickups.
But after so many hassles, I decided to avoid them.

Seriously, if I bought a vintage guitar I would be tempted to pull the original pickups and store them for safe-keeping.

Play the hell outta some other pickups that I don’t have to worry about.