Epiphone '57 Classic Pickups?

[Squier Fat Telecaster]

Any opinions on these? See some sets on the ebay that are tempting me. Wonder if these are worth giving a try over GFS?

 

Was going to update my EBMM SUB-1. Want something warmer/smokier that what I have now. The stock pickups are Korean made for EBMM. Seem to be your typical 8K-ish range bucker. These are rather sparkly and even response. Guitar is wired with 250K pots.

 

[Zackb911]

I haven't heard anything good about them, they're not comparable to Gibson 57s. Stick with GFS.

[kayd_mon]

Are they the same alnico Vs that ship in a lot of their Les Pauls and SGs? If so, then I'd try it out. I have a G400, and while I thought the stock pickups were very good, I bought the guitar just to put some humbucker-sized P90s in it. Anyway, the pickups were warm as I remember them, and they had a good crunch sound.

[metallica_00]

I've never heard an Epi that has good stock humbuckers. Doubt it will be much of an upgrade if at all. Plenty of other mid-priced options that should get you where you want to go (including but not limited to GFS)

[Squier Fat Telecaster]

Also looking at Duncan 59 set or dimarzio Joe satriani paf Joe & more Joe set.

[Squier Fat Telecaster]

Check out this item I found on eBay:

 

Pure Page Handwound Tone Replicas Matched Humbucker set

 

Link: http://cgi.ebay.com/Pure-Page-Handwound-Tone-Replicas-Matched-Humbucker-set-/290595579183

 

(Sent from eBay Mobile for Android)

[kayd_mon]

Ok, I figured you were looking at Epi pickups because they would be dirt cheap on eBay. Duncan 59s are very warm. I don't know what you mean by "smoky" tone, though. I have a pair of 59s in one guitar, and it's a great set.

[Crisco]

Epiphone's 'HOTch-bridge +' and the 'neck LP/335' is a good set on any Qingdao Epiphone after 2008

especially a G-400 faded.

I realized this after installing GFS Fat Pats to replace them.

And, I was not pleased with the GFS pickups -so I reinstalled the Epiphone pickups.

It may have been a matter of preference on my part, but the GFS pickups certainly didn't blow me away.

[Squier Fat Telecaster]

Smoky is warm bluesy neck tone the ebmm neck pup reminds me of a Duncan jazz

[Squier Fat Telecaster]

 

Epiphone's 'HOTch-bridge +' and the 'neck LP/335' is a good set on any Qingdao Epiphone after 2008 especially a G-400 faded. I realized this after installing GFS Fat Pats to replace them. And, I was not pleased with the GFS pickups -so I reinstalled the Epiphone pickups. It may have been a matter of preference on my part, but the GFS pickups certainly didn't blow me away.

 

 

So these do sound pretty good?

[kayd_mon]

 

Smoky is warm bluesy neck tone the ebmm neck pup reminds me of a Duncan jazz

 

 

Ok, then Duncan 59s are smoky. If you buy a pair of them, I think the bundle is called the Vintage Blues set.

[xStonr]

Nothing special about them. Very average. I wouldn't consider GFS an "upgrade".

[ashasha]

 

Epiphone's 'HOTch-bridge +' and the 'neck LP/335' is a good set on any Qingdao Epiphone after 2008 especially a G-400 faded. I realized this after installing GFS Fat Pats to replace them. And, I was not pleased with the GFS pickups -so I reinstalled the Epiphone pickups. It may have been a matter of preference on my part, but the GFS pickups certainly didn't blow me away.

Had the same GFS pickups that I used to replace a set of Duncan Design things....I had to double check to make sure that I actually put the right pickups in because it sounded the same.

 

As far as the Epi pickups go the only thing in common with real 57 classics is that they are both humbuckers. Here's a few sound clips comparing the two:

 

Epiphone '57 Classics

 

Gibson '57 Classics

 

This was using the same set of strings, carefully measuring the pickup height before and after to match and going direct through a clean preamp into the PC. Going through a real amp the differences really stand out, but I didn't want to skew the test.

 

Oh yeah, those Epiphone pickups are made in Korea and measure exactly 8k.

[Squier Fat Telecaster]

The Duncan 59s are probably the best bet along with dimarzio.

[vintage clubber]

I bet the GFS VEH and some 500k pots would be a good fit for that guitar. I wouldn't mess with the Epi pickups because they would probably not be much different than what you got in there.

[Alecto]

I had an Epiphone Dot with the stock '57 Classics; muddy as hell. Upgraded to a set of Gibson '57's and it woke that guitar right up. I was a happy camper until I found my Carvin.

[Crisco]

 

So these do sound pretty good?

 

 

They really did in mine....

I've had some crappy ones too and I'll be the first to change out crappy pickups,

but this set just didn't have that problem.

I was wondering if they were wound by Bill Lawrence Co. because I'd read something that it 'was a possibility'

that those Epi pickups came from a major manufacturer

and not just some sweat shop out of Asia

[HanSolo]

 

Had the same GFS pickups that I used to replace a set of Duncan Design things....I had to double check to make sure that I actually put the right pickups in because it sounded the same. As far as the Epi pickups go the only thing in common with real 57 classics is that they are both humbuckers. Here's a few sound clips comparing the two: Epiphone '57 Classics Gibson '57 Classics This was using the same set of strings, carefully measuring the pickup height before and after to match and going direct through a clean preamp into the PC. Going through a real amp the differences really stand out, but I didn't want to skew the test. Oh yeah, those Epiphone pickups are made in Korea and measure exactly 8k.

 

 

 

 

I much prefer the muffled thrum sound of the Epiphone pickups. The Gibsons are way too articulate. I hear every damn string and every nuance of your playing comes through with those damn Gibson pickups. I think I may start a club ... The "My Epiphone sounds better than a Gibson (to me) Club". Haha. The Gibson '57's sound like heaven.

 

To the OP, forget those Epi pickups. Artecs and GFS are better. I had a GFS Vintage '59 that I liked. I've heard the Alnico II's and they sound good also. I don;t like the Fat Pats or the Crunchy Pats. Both sounded compressed and buzzy (fizzy) to me.

[Squier Fat Telecaster]

My two top choices are:

 

Duncan '59 Set

Dimarzio Joe Satriani set ( Mo' Joe and PAF Joe)

 

Maybe the GFS VEH's

 

I used to have a Big Apple Strat years ago and did like the Duncan 59 a lot.

[solitaire]

I really like what my DiMarzio PAF 36th Annis and Air Classics do to my tone. I would choose these over the SD 59s any day of the week. Very clear and spacious sounding. Actually the PAF in bridge and the AC in neck is to die for. Could do almost any gig only using these two.

 

If more vintage is your thing and you're on a budget then Stew-Macs HB pickups get rave reviews and are very moderately priced. No experience though.

[Squier Fat Telecaster]

I saw those new Parsons Street golden age humbuckers. A tad over budget but interesting.

 

Toneriders and GFS are more in my budget range.

 

Really was hoping the Epip 57's might be a budget darkhorse winner, still may go over to GC and try some out soon.