IanHenry Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share Posted July 19, 2015 <br><br>I think we are all waiting with baited breath! Is it possible to do a sound clip of before and after.... that would be interesting... for us... and you too :)<br> Watersilk, I can't do a before and after comparison because I've already changed the capacitors and I don't have the facilities to record it upload it. I didn't stick with the 50's wiring because I decided it wasn't for me, a personal choice really. The 0.022 PIO cap I put on the bridge pickup has made a difference in so far as it's smoothed out the sound a little when you roll back the tone control. The 0.015 PIO cap that I put on the neck pickup has made quite a difference, giving me a lot more useable tone options. The sound doesn't start to get "muddy" until the tone control is down to 2-3. I'm quite pleased with the difference. Now I've just got to decide on the pickup height, I find it difficult to find a setting that I'm entirely happy with. The capacitors that I used are those: http://www.mojopickups.co.uk/capacitors.php Many thanks to everyone who's helped me in this thread, particularly Pippy for the long and detailed pm he sent me and the link to the web site. Regards, Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Autumn Light&Shade Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 Hi IanHenry, I'm pleased for you, that you have found a solution and getting the tones you want. kind regards, Emma :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanHenry Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share Posted July 19, 2015 Hi IanHenry, I'm pleased for you, that you have found a solution and getting the tones you want. kind regards, Emma :) Thanks Emma. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. C.O. Jones Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 Nice to hear that it worked out for you Ian. A little question. What caps did you have in your guitar before swapping? I was have a little project, I was thinking maybe to pimp my girlfrriends Epi SG. Right now it has only one volume and one tone with killpot. The pickups are ceramic I think, 650R/700T. Well, its gloss ebony and maybe I refinish it in a satin cherry or brown. I also have a set of 490R/498T that I don't use. Thanks a lot Pippy! I think those Mojo caps would be perfect for my little project and without breaking the bank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanHenry Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share Posted July 19, 2015 Nice to hear that it worked out for you Ian. A little question. What caps did you have in your guitar before swapping? I was have a little project, I was thinking maybe to pimp my girlfrriends Epi SG. Right now it has only one volume and one tone with killpot. The pickups are ceramic I think, 650R/700T. Well, its gloss ebony and maybe I refinish it in a satin cherry or brown. I also have a set of 490R/498T that I don't use. Thanks a lot Pippy! I think those Mojo caps would be perfect for my little project and without breaking the bank. The caps were the stock 0.022 items that came with the guitar. I don't suppose you should pay much attention to how they look, but they did look a little pathetic next to the new ones. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 I'm happy to read that the new caps have given you more tonal choice, Ian, even if it's still not quite 100% where you want to be. The p'up-height thing might take a few days or so but you know what you are doing so no worries there. Pip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobF_ Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 Coupla good cap vids http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92G-jw4TqS4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR4maqK_IhQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watersilk Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Watersilk, I can't do a before and after comparison because I've already changed the capacitors and I don't have the facilities to record it upload it. I didn't stick with the 50's wiring because I decided it wasn't for me, a personal choice really. The 0.022 PIO cap I put on the bridge pickup has made a difference in so far as it's smoothed out the sound a little when you roll back the tone control. The 0.015 PIO cap that I put on the neck pickup has made quite a difference, giving me a lot more useable tone options. The sound doesn't start to get "muddy" until the tone control is down to 2-3. I'm quite pleased with the difference. Now I've just got to decide on the pickup height, I find it difficult to find a setting that I'm entirely happy with. The capacitors that I used are those: http://www.mojopicku.../capacitors.php Many thanks to everyone who's helped me in this thread, particularly Pippy for the long and detailed pm he sent me and the link to the web site. Regards, Ian Hello Ian, I'm glad to hear that you have improvements.... that's always a good feeling :) Getting the pickup hieght right should improve tone too. Do you notice any difference in the sound when the tone controls are fully open? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zentar Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 From what I have learnt so far I agree completely.... so many pickup manufacturers claim to replicate a '59 model.... but which one?????? The pickups that came with my 2009 '59 Reissue just sound dull and uninspiring to me, playing the guitar unplugged, I hear that there is potential there, I'm just determined to find it. Can someone please tell me if I need to change the wiring and pots on this model? I want to not only have tone, string separation and sensitivity, I also want to have something made with correct materials of the period, something that could have been taken out of a real '59.... there are some great pickups out there from specialist makers..... Steven's Design, Lollar..... etc.... but I think I've found my ideal set..... the one's Joe Bonamassa chose with the Seymour Duncan Custom shop to match the pickups of his favourite '59. I've heard these through 4 different guitars, through different amps... they seem to have the sound I'm chasing. I want wide tonal range, so a fairly low output, but just hot enough to drive the amp a little. I just hope Seymour Duncan's Custom Shop will agree to make me a pair. I thought the Pearly Gates were in the 59? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watersilk Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 I thought the Pearly Gates were in the 59? Hello Zentar, I had a straight Seymour Duncan '59 installed in the neck position and a Pearly Gates installed in the bridge of my Hamer because it's a little higher in output than their straight '59...... that guitar is an absolute delight to play.... I bought that guitar because I was too mean to stretch to a 'real' Gibson..... the American-made Hamers have SD 59's neck and bridge.... so it's probably close to the American Hamer now in all but the wood.... which of course it can't compete with. I've seen the light in terms of paying a premium for quality wood and construction, it's now time to bring my Les Paul out of the dark, bland tonal landscape she languishes in..... she's going to sing.... somehow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zentar Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 A pair of Pearly Gates runs over $200. Nice pickups but sheesh! $200? You can buy a guitar for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobF_ Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 A pair of Pearly Gates runs over $200. Nice pickups but sheesh! $200? You can buy a guitar for that. I bought a Fender Tele FMT (spalted maple) a few years that came stock with SD PGs. They didn't impress me in that particular guitar. Pickups are such a subjective thing to choose, I hate to make any specific recommendation other than to try if there is a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watersilk Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 A pair of Pearly Gates runs over $200. Nice pickups but sheesh! $200? You can buy a guitar for that. Hahahahaha! It's true! It does sound crazy when you look at the price of a secondhand Korean Hamer. Those pickups are expensive, but no use paying a lot of money for pickups alone...... I tried it...... a big improvement on the original Duncan Designed ones, but only when I cleared out all the electrics and replaced them with CTS pots, Jensen Cap, Switchcraft jack and pickup switch... and of course decent wiring.... the nut, aluminium stoptail and locking studs.... did she really sing... !! Yes, you can buy a guitar for all this... but what? Possibly a rough secondhand USA Hamer in a ghastly colour..... but what else?? I don't think there is much out there that can match this guitar as it is now... for the price.... in my opinion, most guitars are made to look good, while the electrics and some of the hardware are not up to the job, unless of course we are talking about USA PRS or Collins... and a few other brands... It's a lot of fun to squeeze great tone out of a guitar though.... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zentar Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Nice story of a 59 LP and how the pups got their name Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watersilk Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 I bought a Fender Tele FMT (spalted maple) a few years that came stock with SD PGs. They didn't impress me in that particular guitar. Pickups are such a subjective thing to choose, I hate to make any specific recommendation other than to try if there is a chance. My gosh! What a peculiar combination! Pearly Gates in a maple body..... I was going to ask what you did about it, but I see there is an absence of 'Tele' in your signature. I agree completely, pickups are all about a personal sound, how we play, what we want out of a guitar and they HAVE to match the guitar too. I will never get my money back if I sell my Hamer or PRS SE because of the money invested in upgrades, but on the other hand, I have no intention of selling either of them. The Gibson, well I will sell that if I can't extract the tone I'm looking for. I wish we could just take a guitar into a shop and try out many different pickups till we find the magic pair! The Zack Myers looks and feels so nice, I like the feel of the satin neck in my hands! Will you keep the original pickups in that one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobF_ Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 My gosh! What a peculiar combination! Pearly Gates in a maple body..... I was going to ask what you did about it, but I see there is an absence of 'Tele' in your signature. I agree completely, pickups are all about a personal sound, how we play, what we want out of a guitar and they HAVE to match the guitar too. I will never get my money back if I sell my Hamer or PRS SE because of the money invested in upgrades, but on the other hand, I have no intention of selling either of them. The Gibson, well I will sell that if I can't extract the tone I'm looking for. I wish we could just take a guitar into a shop and try out many different pickups till we find the magic pair! The Zack Myers looks and feels so nice, I like the feel of the satin neck in my hands! Will you keep the original pickups in that one? IIRC, the FMT Tele was a mahogany body. The pups weren't terrible, just not special. To me. If the neck wouldn't have been so narrow I might've kept it and tried different pups. I love my ZM, but it will probably get locking machines to speed up string changes and I'm thinking seriously about a set of SD P-Rails for it. I've been talking about it long enough though it's not a certainty as this point :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watersilk Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 Custombuckers vary depending on the model, usually in things like CC models and copying a specific pickup. Reissues generally have burstbuckers but be aware that burstbuckers sold aftermarket are potted where as those factory fitted in RI'S are not. Hello Farnsbarns, I've been thinking a lot about your comment here, regarding the wax potting..... would the pickups in my '59 reissue be burstbuckers, and also unpotted? I would guess that the original '59 PAF's were also unpotted... is this correct? My '59 reissue does produce electrical noise if I run my hand up the neck, I think this is just static or that something is not properly grounded or insulated against interference, or is it because the pickups are not potted? The same happens on my USA PRS (but to a greater extent), which has SD P90's fitted as standard. Why do you think that the aftermarket Burstbuckers are potted, is it because they are more likely to produce microphonic feedback in a modern wiring setup, as opposed to 50's wiring, and as an insurance against complaints, Gibson wax pot them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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