Members Freeman Keller Posted July 9, 2016 Members Share Posted July 9, 2016 I am currently building a semi hollow body (ES-335 clone) for a local jazz player. I'm approaching the point where I need to order some hardware and electronics and would like suggestions on pickups. The guitar will have humbuckers and here is what the owner says about the sound he is seeking "I want pickups that permit as throaty a jazz sound as possible. (My Ibanez hollow body L5 clone has twin humbuckers and i like that Wes Montgomery/Benson sound" I would appreciate any suggestions - Koiwoi really likes Lindy Fralin pickups, I intend to write to him and ask for recommendations, however right now the table is wide open. Two things that would help are if they come with gold covers (I really don't like the naked zebra look) and if they have quick disconnects (335 wiring is a bit of a hassle, if they don't have disconnects I'll add them) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members onelife Posted July 9, 2016 Members Share Posted July 9, 2016 Although they are expensive, I recommend checking out what Chris Kinman has to offer. http://kinman.com/model-products.php?pid=2&products=Humbucker&modelid=41&model=Extra+Vintage&group= Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members onelife Posted July 9, 2016 Members Share Posted July 9, 2016 (335 wiring is a bit of a hassle' date=' if they don't have disconnects I'll add them)[/quote'] That is a bit of an understatement. I have an ES137 and an old "pencil neck" ES335. On both guitars, the treble pickup cavity opens up into the control cavity so, with a bit of care and planning, the work can be done outside the guitar and everything slid into place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted July 9, 2016 Members Share Posted July 9, 2016 I'd also add Lollar to the mix and add that I love my Tom Anderson humbuckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jtr654 Posted July 10, 2016 Members Share Posted July 10, 2016 There should be some old Gibson T tops on sale on Ebay reverb Craiglist ect . Those pickups are low output and clean they would be my best guess for a jazz with humbuckers. ( although original PAF would be better they are to much $$$) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members billybilly Posted July 10, 2016 Members Share Posted July 10, 2016 Wes Montgomery uses 57 classics from Gibson and Seth Lovers from Duncan are nice. Lots of choices, none will be wrong, some you'll like better than others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 1001gear Posted July 11, 2016 Members Share Posted July 11, 2016 Tom Holmes. The finest PAF you can read about. And what ever happened to Harmonic Design? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted July 11, 2016 Members Share Posted July 11, 2016 Gretsch Hilotron at the neck. Some other good choices would be a Dynasonic or P90. If it HAS to be a humbucker, Seymour Duncan Seth Lover or Lindy Fralin Unbucker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted July 12, 2016 Author Members Share Posted July 12, 2016 Any thoughts on the Benedetto A6 pickups from Seymour Duncan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members onelife Posted July 12, 2016 Members Share Posted July 12, 2016 I don't have direct experience with the Benedetto A6 but I generally find Seymouur Duncan pickups perform as the manufacturer claims they do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mr Temporary Posted July 12, 2016 Members Share Posted July 12, 2016 I'm really enjoying the Kent Armstrong Jazzy Joe, fingerboard mount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Etienne Rambert Posted July 12, 2016 Members Share Posted July 12, 2016 I'm really enjoying the Kent Armstrong Jazzy Joe' date=' fingerboard mount. [/quote'] I use a floating K.A. mini-humbucker (Slimbucker) on my Jazzbox. I'm satisfied w/it. Very warm, fits my style. Here are his body-mounted lines. http://www.wdmusic.com/kent_armstrong_humbuckers.html http://www.wdmusic.com/kent_armstrong_p90_family.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 1001gear Posted July 12, 2016 Members Share Posted July 12, 2016 I was just listening to a Nicholas Llerandi demo. The way he has 'em set, (metal guy) sounds way bright for jazzbox. [video=youtube;57eQLDgSihY] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted July 22, 2016 Author Members Share Posted July 22, 2016 I don't have direct experience with the Benedetto A6 but I generally find Seymouur Duncan pickups perform as the manufacturer claims they do. Need to decide on something and move forward. SD is sort of recommending the Benedetto A6 and PAF combination. Since I'll put quick disconnects on them it would be easy to switch between neck and bridge and to change one or both if we don't like them. Thanks everyone for the comments and advice - I don't think we would go wrong with any of them. Customer thinks that if he likes the A6 he'll put one of the floating Benedetto's in his jazz archtop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Verne Andru Posted July 22, 2016 Members Share Posted July 22, 2016 Need to decide on something and move forward. SD is sort of recommending the Benedetto A6 and PAF combination. Since I'll put quick disconnects on them it would be easy to switch between neck and bridge and to change one or both if we don't like them. Thanks everyone for the comments and advice - I don't think we would go wrong with any of them. Customer thinks that if he likes the A6 he'll put one of the floating Benedetto's in his jazz archtop. FWIK Kent Armstrong makes the Benedetto pickups - or he used to. They have their "own" tone which some like, most don't. I had Kent make me a 7-string bucker for my jazz-box and it is a very sweet pickup. Plus he's a great guy to deal with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted July 22, 2016 Members Share Posted July 22, 2016 I put Kent Armstrong humbuckers in my Ibanez 335 years ago and they were really bland with no top end. They only stayed in for a month and then I sold them. They weren't his high end models though and he gets lots of kudos (which is why I bought mine), so I suspect my experience is not typical. Plus I've been spoilt by Fralin... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted July 22, 2016 Members Share Posted July 22, 2016 Seymour Duncan makes Benedetto pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted July 22, 2016 Members Share Posted July 22, 2016 I think suggestions for the floating jazz pickups are not right in this guitar or for how you've summarized his requirements. This isn't a hollow body or an archtop. I think the pickups he's describing are great humbuckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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