Neck humbucker recommendation for a fully hollow thinline

[fishbucket]

So, I've recently purchased an Eastman thinline guitar, which I originally intended to use for jazz, but I already have a dedicated jazz guitar, so I've decided to try an use this as my dedicated non-jazz guitar. The only problem with it is the current pickup (Korean Kent Armstrong) leaves much to be desired. Specifically, the pickup is kind of muddy, sound is really thin, and I have to dig in excessively, which creates some crappy tones. I've been recommended to get something that's somewhat hot, in order to get the thickness out of the hollow-body, but beyond that I haven't discovered much that has peaked my interest. I have been curious about SD phat cats, harmonic designs Z-90s, Gibson 57's, maybe some sort of DiMarzio pickup, but nothing has jumped out at me.

 

I've tried an SD Alnico II pro, which sounded great in a solid body I had, but the highs were really brittle sounding in this guitar, and it still sounded fairly thin.

 

As far as tone goes, I play mostly with some light, transparent overdrive. Never "high-gain". So my clean tone is very important. I guess my musical styles would be defined as indie-rock or post-rock.

[vintage clubber]

which Kent Armstrong model did it come with? How about a Filtertron type pickup?

[Faber]

The SD Phat Cat in my thinline Hamer Newport is plain awesome - thick yet clear and cutting. The duncan Seth Lover that was there before sounded great as well, but it was a bit fuller and rounder than what I wanted in that position.

[EADGBE]

DiMarzio PAF or Duncan '59.

[Padrino]

'57s can be very bright in an eastman,i had swapped out the stock ones for those a while ago. i ended up putting diMarzo PAFs in mine and it sounds much better.

[fishbucket]

 

which Kent Armstrong model did it come with? How about a Filtertron type pickup?

 

 

I believe it's this pickup http://www.wdmusic.com/patent_applied_for_style_pickup_gold_12_pole.html

 

 

I was looking at the Tv Jones PowerTron pickup, but I'm concerned that that high end would be too prominent. I'd like to test one out though.

[fishbucket]

'57s can be very bright in an eastman,i had swapped out the stock ones for those a while ago. i ended up putting diMarzo PAFs in mine and it sounds much better.

 

 

Which Eastman do you have?

[Faber]

I've never done measurements but to my ears the output of the PC is in the ballpark of the seth lover that it replaced. So sort of like a vintage style humbucker

[vintage clubber]

I believe it's this pickup http://www.wdmusic.com/patent_applied_for_style_pickup_gold_12_pole.html I was looking at the Tv Jones PowerTron pickup, but I'm concerned that that high end would be too prominent. I'd like to test one out though.

I actually have that pickup in a couple of my guitars and I'm quite happy with it... Maybe it's the gold finish that is sucking out the tone... have you tried adjusting the height at all?


Open coil version in my son's Peavey:




Nickel Finish in the neck spot of my Warmoth:



Same one in my CV Tele paired with a BG T-90:

[fishbucket]

Maybe I'll have to try the Kent Armstrong out in a solid body. I like the general character of it, but it's just kind of thin in this guitar. Maybe a solid body would fatten it up a bit.