pipi1980 Posted September 30, 2014 Posted September 30, 2014 Hey All, I have a 1978 SA 700 (Greco - 335 Model). Such a cool guitar to play. I'm wanting to give it some 'upgrades' I have a Bigsby B7 that I'm looking to install on the guitar. I'm looking at one of these Vibramate V7 kits, that way I don't need to drill any holes on the body of the guitar, and in future if I wish to take off the trem, it will be ok. Has anyone experienced playing with one of these? are they reliable and tough enough for bends? or is it gonne rip out of the body? lol The nut is quite old, so am looking at replacing it with a graphite nut.. if i install the Bigsby, I'm thinking the graphite nut will also help with it staying in tune. Looking at getting some locking tuners. Not sure which ones to get. Either get the Scahller ones that lock from the rear. (http://www.ballurio.com/images/BGImages/SchallerLockingTuner.jpg) or the Kluson design ones that lock down from the front? (http://www.toneproskluson.com/wp-content/uploads/TPKB3L_F_big.jpg) - Is one better than the other? Lastly, some new pickups. what kind of pickups do you recommend for more of a rock sound? I've read with the right pickup combination, these guitars can rock out! So far, am loving the hollow body!! :)))
tabeck5 Posted October 5, 2014 Posted October 5, 2014 Not sure about the tremolo or locking tuners since I have neither on any of my guitars but the tusq nut is a pretty good upgrade if you are not going with bone that is. I have them on alot of my guitars and I can't complain. As for the pickups, I love the Gibson Classic for the neck and the Gibson Classic Plus for the bridge. I won't say that these pickups can do it all, but there is not much they can't do IMHO. Alnico II magnets like (some) of the originals and lower output in the neck (about 7.5 but I have put some in that measured closer to 8K) and 8.3K for the bridge. Every time I put a set of these in a guitar I feel like I got a great deal since you can pick them up for less than $100 on ebay. There are some other great ones out there, the Seymour Duncan Blues set (A pair of their 59's), which is their take on a PAF, Alnico V I believe with pretty versatile output. I put a set into a cheap Ibanez (replacing some ceramic HBs) and the difference was dramatic. There are so many good PAF's out there now that you can really dial in what you want.
Jon S. Posted October 7, 2014 Posted October 7, 2014 The '57 Classics are hard to beat in a 335(or any guitar for that matter). My personal favorite.
tabeck5 Posted October 7, 2014 Posted October 7, 2014 Everytime I put in a set of Gibson 57 Classics, I never (and I mean ever) think about changing them out. I don't even mess with the coil splitting option, it is pretty much all the tone I need right there.
houndman55 Posted October 18, 2014 Posted October 18, 2014 My recommendation is take it to a luthier. Pay what it cost and it's granted to have a longer life. If I was you I'd swap the 57's for some dogear P90's, but that's just my opinion. Maybe you could order a nut out of articifical bone and make a luthier put it on. Bone like structures are probably more durable than some cheap plastic.
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