Pickups for Epiphone Wilshire

[Steve Johnson]

Hey Troops-

I have an Epi Wilshire reissue, and it plays and sounds decent... but the
stock Epi pickups (full size humbuckers) leave a little to be desired. Any
suggestions on a good set to swap them out with?

Keep in mind it's a solid Mahogany body (think S.G.) with no maple cap... so
I'd like something to bring out some highs. I play mostly Classic
Rock/Blues.

Thanks in advance...

Steve

[lucky...@hotmail.com]

Are they the typical 57 and HOT pickups? If you explain how they are lacking and what you'd like to hear it might help. And the amp and how you use it (lots of outboard OD and distortion, or mainly amp distortion).

More often than not, for moderate gain blues/classic rock, I like the Seymour Duncan Jazz neck and JB bridge. And I use push/pull pots for different options, always including the parallel/series coil option (parallel coils in phase give a lower output single coil type of tone, but no hum). They ought to be a good choice for a mahogany solid body type, as they are a bit brighter than what you have in there, and a bit more output (IIRC).

For high gain or metal, I do prefer the EMG actives, but only with the EMG active tones.

[Steve Johnson]

wrote in message
news:6951417f-6e30-4fc6...@googlegroups.com...

They're the typical "stock" chrome covered buckers, but to me they're just
slightly "anemic" if you catch my meaning. Not a very hot output at
all....They lack anything that makes them stand out. I use a Kustom '36
Coupe (6L6 tubes) for gigs, and a Bugera V22 (EL84). Channel switching for
some distortions, but also a Bad Monkey for a light distortion sound. I do
like the idea of coil splitting for more sound options.

[Les Cargill]

Steve Johnson wrote:
>
>
<snip>

>
> They're the typical "stock" chrome covered buckers, but to me they're
> just slightly "anemic" if you catch my meaning. Not a very hot output
> at all....They lack anything that makes them stand out.

I dunno - there's something to be said for underwound 'buckers, then
using a boost pedal. You get more treble outta the cheap pickups.

But if you're determined, I'd troll the Rio Grande
catalog. The BBQ are nice 'buckers, very Billy Gibbons.

> I use a Kustom
> '36 Coupe (6L6 tubes) for gigs, and a Bugera V22 (EL84). Channel
> switching for some distortions, but also a Bad Monkey for a light
> distortion sound. I do like the idea of coil splitting for more sound
> options.

I'd try a boost pedal first.

--
Les Cargill

[Squier]

I have a bandmate with an older Ibanez all mahogany guitar (weighs a ton)
and it was always kinda dark and drabby sounding.

He put in a set of these (from Guitar Fetish)
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Bigmouth-Bridge-Pickup-POWER-with-vintage-Tone_c_33.html

and these pups really made that guitar come alive!
the wide poles on these seem to almost give a sort of single coil complexity
to the sound but sound like very articulate humbuckers whether he plays clean
or overdrives into mean. No mud. Anyways - they have a kind of sparkle that
sits great in a band mix and are responsive to whatever tonal adjustments you
make (either on your amp's tone controls or tone controls on the guitar).

no need to spend a lot (sometimes) for pickups that will do a great job
for a particular guitar/application. I think these might be something
that would interest you and could do what you want.

[LULU]

==========================================

So . . . let me get this correct . . . you have the 1966 Epi Wilshire reissue with mini-humbuckers and not the 1962 model with P-90's?

Lulu : )

==========================================

[Steve9199]

"LULU" wrote in message
news:1c4e1dc7-9205-4134...@googlegroups.com...

Nope... I have the "Limited Edition" reissue with the batwing headstock and
the full sized humbuckers. (The version prior to the "Pro"...so no coil taps
on this one..)

[Tony Done]

I like bright and chimey, so tend to go for P90 types however:

Seymour Duncan Jazz are the brightest HBs that SD make. I have them in
both positions in two guitars and like them a lot. I have a
series/single/parallel switch on one of them, because its acoustic tone
is very dark. It's output is higher than I would expect.

Another one I like because it is bright is the GFS Memphis, AL II, low
output Rick/Gretsch type. I have two and a half sets of these, one
currently in use.

--
Tony Done

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=784456

http://www.flickr.com/photos/done_family/

[LULU]

=====================================

As you undoubtedly know there are a lot of options available. I'd recommend going with Gibson pickups. A 490R in the neck position and a 498T in the bridge position. Gibson uses this combo on their "Studio" models and it sounds pretty good. There are various Duncan humbuckers that are four-wire models and give you switching options. I'd also look at Lollar humbuckers and "genuine" Bill Lawrence L-500's.

Good Luck,
Lulu : )

=====================================

[Flasherly]

On Thu, 13 Feb 2014 23:11:28 -0600, "Steve Johnson"
<stev...@hotmail.com> wrote:

>They're the typical "stock" chrome covered buckers, but to me they're just
>slightly "anemic" if you catch my meaning. Not a very hot output at
>all....They lack anything that makes them stand out. I use a Kustom '36
>Coupe (6L6 tubes) for gigs, and a Bugera V22 (EL84). Channel switching for
>some distortions, but also a Bad Monkey for a light distortion sound. I do
>like the idea of coil splitting for more sound options.

Had a humbucker on the neck (have it routed for one, anyway), but
replaced the pickguard and am fitted with two mini-humbuckers -- and
all and some with parr/series mini-switches, etc. The neck, however,
is a Fender single coil (noiseless PU). All those cleans and highs
and then some imaginable for, of course, a Telecaster. Lots of clean
presence in the neck especially for, say, a rhythm/arpeggio passage.
The middle/belly mini-HB will do half-decent hotjob at approaching
grind to low growls, but when it comes to highs it does not remotely
sound like any guitar, I've heard yet, with two full-sized humbuckers
(which, though somewhat natively inaccessible from my present guitar
options, I nonetheless do like for commanding lush lows).

OTH - might say I wouldn't give up my Telecaster, all those
near-strident cleans and highs for a humbucker.

[Nil]

On 13 Feb 2014, "Steve Johnson" <stev...@hotmail.com> wrote in
alt.guitar:

> I have an Epi Wilshire reissue, and it plays and sounds decent...
> but the stock Epi pickups (full size humbuckers) leave a little to
> be desired. Any suggestions on a good set to swap them out with?
>
> Keep in mind it's a solid Mahogany body (think S.G.) with no maple
> cap... so I'd like something to bring out some highs. I play
> mostly Classic Rock/Blues.

If your Wilshire really is "SG-like", consider Gibson P-90s or similar
in a humbucker form factor if necessary. I'm in love with my Gibson SG
Classic with its P-90s - I think those pickups suit that guitar to a T.

[Les Cargill]

LULU wrote:
> On Friday, February 14, 2014 3:17:26 PM UTC-7, steve9199 wrote:
>> "LULU" wrote in message
>>

<snip>

>
> As you undoubtedly know there are a lot of options available.

... and they are all pretty good options. Frankly, I went with
Rio Grande because I could tell what they were driving at with each
offering. The way the website is organized, it's easier to
compare and contrast what to expect from the models.

But with Gibson pickups, its also easier to try them since
they come installed on Gibson guitars...

> I'd
> recommend going with Gibson pickups. A 490R in the neck position and
> a 498T in the bridge position. Gibson uses this combo on their
> "Studio" models and it sounds pretty good. There are various Duncan
> humbuckers that are four-wire models and give you switching options.
> I'd also look at Lollar humbuckers and "genuine" Bill Lawrence
> L-500's.
>
> Good Luck, Lulu : )
>
> =====================================
>

--
Les Cargill

[jtees4]

I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing. I recently picked up a Gibson
Les Paul Special Junior Humbucker (yes, real name!). It is s solid
mahogany guitar and it has the 490R and 490T combination....I think
they work really well together, and add just enough brightness to not
miss the maple top at all!




*************
Some of my music:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=789610

[LULU]

On Saturday, February 15, 2014 7:36:05 PM UTC-7, jtees4 wrote:
> >
>
> >As you undoubtedly know there are a lot of options available. I'd recommend going with Gibson pickups. A 490R in the neck position and a 498T in the bridge position. Gibson uses this combo on their "Studio" models and it sounds pretty good. There are various Duncan humbuckers that are four-wire models and give you switching options. I'd also look at Lollar humbuckers and "genuine" Bill Lawrence L-500's.
>
> >
>
> >Good Luck,
>
> >Lulu : )
>
> >
>
> >=====================================
>
>
>
> I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing. I recently picked up a Gibson
>
> Les Paul Special Junior Humbucker (yes, real name!). It is s solid
>
> mahogany guitar and it has the 490R and 490T combination....I think
>
> they work really well together, and add just enough brightness to not
>
> miss the maple top at all!
>
>

============================================

I have a Gibson Studio model and an Epiphone Studio model. The Gibby has a chunky 50's profile neck and the Epi has a 60's Slim-taper style neck. They are both set up to the same specs and other than the neck profiles, they play in a very similar manner. Plug them in and the difference between them quickly becomes apparent. The Epi open coil Alnico humbuckers and has a very nice, but lower output kind of sound. It's sounds clear and concise, just not very loud at lower volumes and doesn't open up until around "6" on the volume knob. The Gibson's pickups (a 490R in the neck position and a 498T in the bridge position) are much more "in your face", not distortion-wise, just a much more ringing and articulated sound. If you run the Gibson guitar into a boost pedal and then into the front end of a small combo amp, the Gibby is a touch sensitive tone monster. It's a whole other animal compared to the Epiphone. Both are nice instruments that are a blast to play, just different. The pickups are the real difference. Personally, I prefer the sound of a Gibson Les Paul Special, that I've had for years, that has a pair of P-90's. Not as quiet as the other two, but it has a more cutting tone in a band context.

Lulu : )

============================================

[jtees4]

Always loved P90's, had them in my '66 non reverse Firebid and
basically did all my gigging with that. Now that I am old, I honestly
just can't deal with single coil noise anymore....never used to bother
me. But yeah...P-90's are great in those all mahogany Gibsons!