bluewaterpig Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 I have an ES-333 (c. 2004) that I'm swapping the pickups out of. I'm planning on putting a 57 Classic in the neck and a Burstbucker in the bridge. My question is do I need to buy new pickups that have 2 or 4 conductors? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff-7 Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 You'll only need 4 conductors if you're planning on some modding and adding coil taps as far as I know, some of our more technically proficient forums members may be able to elaborate or prove me wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluewaterpig Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share Posted December 6, 2010 You'll only need 4 conductors if you're planning on some modding and adding coil taps as far as I know, some of our more technically proficient forums members may be able to elaborate or prove me wrong. Yea I don't know what modding or coil taps means. I just wanna switch out the pickups straight up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff-7 Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Yea I don't know what modding or coil taps means. I just wanna switch out the pickups straight up... modding = modify coil tapping = switching to single coil mode. Humbuckers are basically two single coils wired in series. You should only need a 2 conductor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazzboy Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 4 if you are going to do coil tapping. 2 if not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 I have an ES-333 (c. 2004) that I'm swapping the pickups out of. I'm planning on putting a 57 Classic in the neck and a Burstbucker in the bridge. My question is do I need to buy new pickups that have 2 or 4 conductors? Thanks. The 2 conductor pickups will be a direct drop in replacement. With 4 conductor pickups you can choose to wire them normally or add push-pull coil splitting potentiometers on the volumes and you would be able to swicth from humbucker sound to single coil sound by pulling the volume controls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Go with the 2 conductor pickups then...There are also 57s for the bridge and 57s for the neck, same with Burstbuckers. And there are 3 models of Burstbuckers as well. Checkout PICKUP GUIDE GIBSON and TECH TIPS FOR GIBSON PICKUPS / MUSICIAN"S FRIEND.....Both sites will be helpful for you..... Do you have an Epi 333 or a Gibson ES 333 ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluewaterpig Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share Posted December 6, 2010 Great help. So 2 it is. Thanks very much guys. By the way, is the installment pretty easy? I'm already pretty good with soldering. I'm planning on just opening it up on Christmas day and seeing where it's soldered and doing the same to the new pickups. Easy enough? Any advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Great help. So 2 it is. Thanks very much guys. By the way, is the installment pretty easy? I'm already pretty good with soldering. I'm planning on just opening it up on Christmas day and seeing where it's soldered and doing the same to the new pickups. Easy enough? Any advice? See my previous post and ask again..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluewaterpig Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share Posted December 6, 2010 See my previous post and ask again..... I have a Gibson 333... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 I have a Gibson 333... Sweet.....Learn what you can first....then just do it.....you'll be fine. Let us know how it turns out.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluewaterpig Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share Posted December 6, 2010 Can you kind of condense the types of 57 Classics and Burstbuckers? The reason I want both is cause I want a nice thick jazz tone in the neck (57 Classic) and a BB/Clapton sound in the bridge (Burstbucker). Which would be best? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Can you kind of condense the types of 57 Classics and Burstbuckers? The reason I want both is cause I want a nice thick jazz tone in the neck (57 Classic) and a BB/Clapton sound in the bridge (Burstbucker). Which would be best? There are a bunch of different Burstbuckers, so you'll have to do some homework to figure out what you want. As far as 2 conductor vs four conductor pickups, your guitar can accomodate both types. The way your guitar is wired now - it has two conductors (wires) from each pickup wired to the volume controls. If you use a 2 conductor pickup (like most Burstbuckers), you'll just rewire the 2 new wires to the same places where the old ones were, making sure to solder the correct colored wires to the correct points. If you use a new 4 conductor pickup (like 57's and Burstbucker Pros), you'll hook two of them together and hook the other two up like a two conductor pickup. This arrangement is shown in the upper left corner of the third page of the wiring diagram below. See here for pickup wiring diagram Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 Check this site out, it has info on changing electronics on a Gibby semi hollowbody... http:forum.gibson....rades-complete/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluewaterpig Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 Check this site out, it has info on changing electronics on a Gibby semi hollowbody... http:forum.gibson....rades-complete/ That link got condensed or something...what was that site? I hate to be a ****, but can somebody quickly summarize what the major differences in the Burstbuckers are? I'm trying to order one of these ASAP for Christmas and I can't find any solid info on them. I want my Burstbucker to have a bluesy, BB King type of 335 sound... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djroge1 Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Since I don't know you or how much you know let me say that this is not going to be the easiest pick up swap due to the fact that it is a hollow body guitar. It can be done, but it may test your patience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluewaterpig Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 Since I don't know you or how much you know let me say that this is not going to be the easiest pick up swap due to the fact that it is a hollow body guitar. It can be done, but it may test your patience. I'm putting it into my ES-333, which is a semi-hollowbody. Why wouldn't it be easy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djroge1 Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 I'm putting it into my ES-333, which is a semi-hollowbody. Why wouldn't it be easy? On second thought, since it's only a swap out it won't be that difficult (my bad). My natural inclination is the swap capacitors too which would require more disassembly. Sorry. It won't be difficult. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluewaterpig Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 It's only soldering where the existing pickups are soldered correct? I'm also looking for suggestions as to which pickup I should buy (maybe a Burstbucker isn't the way to go?). As I said, I'm putting a 57 Classic in the neck for a nice 335-ish jazz tone. I would like a bridge pickup that isn't too harsh but can provide a nice sweet BB King tone. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djroge1 Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 It's only soldering where the existing pickups are soldered correct? I'm also looking for suggestions as to which pickup I should buy (maybe a Burstbucker isn't the way to go?). As I said, I'm putting a 57 Classic in the neck for a nice 335-ish jazz tone. I would like a bridge pickup that isn't too harsh but can provide a nice sweet BB King tone. Any suggestions? Yes you are only replacing the existing pickups. I can't help you on your choice of Gibson pups - I replaced mine years ago... come to think of it they didn't even make either of those when I replaced them (not that I remember anyway... 1981/82). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluewaterpig Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 To make a long story short, I may end up having to use the 57 Classic with 4 conductors on it. I know the pickups that I have right now are only 2 conductors but I've been told I can just pair 2 of the conductors together and treat it as if it were just 2. Is there going to be any tonal differences? Which 2 conductors do I pair together? I'm guessing they're on the same side? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 To make a long story short, I may end up having to use the 57 Classic with 4 conductors on it. I know the pickups that I have right now are only 2 conductors but I've been told I can just pair 2 of the conductors together and treat it as if it were just 2. Is there going to be any tonal differences? Which 2 conductors do I pair together? I'm guessing they're on the same side? Once you get the pickups you can ask for advice and the response should be more precise since you will be abel to see the colors on the cables, the cables are color coded of course. Classic 57' and BurstBuckers 1, 2 and 3 have alnico 2 magnets, more vintage and darker sounding, more mellow tones. BurstBucker Pros have alnico 5 magnets, brighter more defined vintage-modern sound. The pickups should intstall easy, your ES333 has a cover in the back to access the pots right? make sure you have a 40 watt soldering iron to me able to solder to the back of the pot, less power and you may have a hard time making that wire stick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluewaterpig Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 I'll be ordering the pickups online so that's why I'm asking here... How about the differences between the Burstbucker 1 2 and 3? So far from what I've heard on YouTube I'm thinking I'll go with the Burstbucker 2 for my bridge. Sounds bright but not too harsh. I don't like any of the "modern" sounding pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 StiffHand gave you good advice.....BurstBucker II might do it for you.....I would go eith a 57 Classic in the neck and a 57 Classic Plus in the bridge..the plus is basically a 57 with a slightly higher output..... I'll check that link out, see whats wrong... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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