[Best type of replacement pups for ES175]

I started to post a long-winded response to your other thread, but I'll try to keep it short here.

 

Your "unwanted resonance" may be the guitar, not the pickups. The Fralin pickups may be enough more sensitive to be picking up sympathetic frequency resonance of the guitar itself that the original pickups didn't.

 

That said....... when I think of jazz guitar pickups Fralin is not exactly a name that comes to mind. There is one standard humbucker that I know of that is designed specifically for archtops, the Benedetto A-6. They are specially made for him by Seymour Duncan, and if Bob Benedetto is willing to put his name on it, then he hasn't found anybody that can build anything better for the purpose.

 

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Guitar,_archtop/Benedetto_Pickups/Benedetto_A-6_Humbucker.html

 

I've got a Benedetto S-6 (suspended pickguard mount) on my '47 L-7 and couldn't be happier.

Thankyou for your good advice l5larry.Please refer to my response to stein .I agree that it is the guitar rather than the pickups and I'll try replacing the 8/9K Fralins with a more specific archtop type pickups like Benedetto or Fralin pure paf.-regards -Neil

[Best type of replacement pups for ES175]

Another short version of an answer:

 

Overwound, or hot pups, are not really the pups you are looking for given what you describe you are looking for.

 

What you are decribing about the pups you have is not a reflection of quality, but rather that overwound pups are NOT going to sound good to you.

 

If I were in your shoes, I would return the pups if possible. At the very least, exchange them for a set of the 'standard', or low output versions.

 

Fralin pups may not be what a lot of "Jazzers" are into, but they are highly regarded. I would expect them to be at least as good as the average "high" quality PAF style made by Gibson, or Duncan.

 

Still, I would try and get a hold of Mr. Fralin himself. He does do custom pups for poeple, but likely he would already have made or have available pups wound to the application you are describing.

Thankyou for your advice stein .It may be that the 8/9k Fralins are great for a Les Paul-335 ect but are too hot for the body chambers of an archtop where there is much more air born resonance.There is evidence that light potting can help. Too much potting can isolate the pups and damage the acoustic relationship between body and pickup.I think the answer is to fit lower output pups or ones designed specifically for an archtop. -regards -Neil

[Best type of replacement pups for ES175]

Just had Lindy Fralin 8k/9k paf humbuckers fitted to my ES175 .My humble opinion- The sound is ok -just ok - not so different from other humbuckers .Also there is now a lot of unwanted resonance on the E-A-D strings. I've read that players stuff foam ect into the body / tape up the f holes/ right hand muting /pennies taped over the poles/ect ect ect.to reduce this problem .I've lowered the bass side of the pup which has helped a bit . Basically this is disappointing but I'm sure there must be a simple solution to this problem.

Firstly does anyone else have experience of these Fralin pups ? Is it possible that they are are too hot ?.Are they potted or not and does it make a difference. His pure paf pups are lower output- 7-7.5K. and may work better.I have no interest in feedback or high volume sustain ect I'm just after quality of tone and clarity of note.

Can't find an email address for Fralin or I'd contact him direct for advice. Anyone out there had a similar experience or have any constructive advice- thankyou -kind regards -Neil