Best replacement pickups for Epi humbuckers?

[kiramdear]

Hey all,

I'm wondering what the members are switching to when they replace the pickups in their Epiphone Gibson models. I have in mind an upgrade for my Korean made Sheraton II. Thank you.

[tennis_nick]

This might sound odd, but I liked the stock Epiphone pickups I've played much more than the stock Gibson pickups I've played!!!


But to answer your question, it depends what you're willing to spend.

I hear the WCR Crossroads set is amazing in these guitars, but a bit pricey, as are the Godwoods they produce.

For the neck position in a Gibson style guitar, I like a Seymour Duncan Jazz.

I have a JB ,but I'm starting not to like it in the bridge, Something with a bit less output or maybe an AlNiCo 3 magnet (rather than 5) will pro bably be dropped in at some point.
However... I have coil splitters installed as push/pull on the tone knobs, and the JB split sound KILLS!

[kiramdear]

You know, Nick, the ones that are in here now aren't that bad. I definitely wouldn't throw them out. But I think I'd rather have single-coil in there. My friend put the humbucker-shaped P-90s in his EPI Dot Studio, but he had trouble afterwards as the sound was really wrong, all dark and weird. He's now trying to figure out what kind of cap to throw on the line to get a better tone. I'd rather avoid the experimentation and just get some good advice about which ones give which tones, and whatever about caps and balanced tone that I should understand.

I'm in no distress about the situation, as I said, but eventually I'll upgrade. Just hoping to hear a few reviews or suggestions. I liked the P-90 idea and I wish it had worked out for him. Any ideas on what went wrong with his upgrade? Sorry I can't describe the tone very well, except to say the new pickups definitely didn't sound like P-90s.

[chuck_king]

I recently swapped the humbuckers in my Epi korina Flying V for a set of GFS Dream 90s, which are humbucker-sized P-90s. I don't know what kind of pickups Kira's friend used, but the Dream 90s certainly could not be described as "dark and weird". They're not real high output pickups, and I think they give the guitar a sparkly quality it didn't have before.

I really liked the stock humbuckers in that guitar---it had an amazing, thick, punchy tone that was perfect for, say, blues. But the way I play, I don't often need that sort of tone. The Dream 90s are great for janglier stuff (strummed open chords, arpeggios, etc.). Tonally, to put it in Rickenbacker perspective, I think the guitar has more punch than my 340 with toasters, but at the same time more "shimmer" than my 360 with Hi-Gains. It's actually fairly close to the 340VP, but a little higher output and with more low-end presence.

Here's a link to the Dream 90s. Don't be fooled by the low price; these are very good pickups. Even on a boutique tone snob forum like The Gear Page people acknowledge that the GFS P-90 type pickups sound good.

Obviously, this is not a traditional humbucker sound. If that's what you're after, I'd agree that it may be harder than you'd think to improve on the Epi pickups.

[kiramdear]

Thanks, Chuck,

"Thick and punchy" is the right description of the humbuckers in my Sheraton. And like you, I'm not sure if that's the sound I want for this guitar. Great for blues, but I don't play much blues. I think I want to move to single coil, so your suggestion is well taken.

PS those Korina Vs are very cool. I prefer the Explorer model though . Can't get comfortable with a V, though they look great on stage.

[tennis_nick]

Thanks, Chuck,

"Thick and punchy" is the right description of the humbuckers in my Sheraton. And like you, I'm not sure if that's the sound I want for this guitar. Great for blues, but I don't play much blues. I think I want to move to single coil, so your suggestion is well taken.

PS those Korina Vs are very cool. Definitely on the wish list.

Then I have the pickup for you! It's a bit pricey, but for a P-90- ish single coil sounding pickup that fits in a humbucker rout, it is the pickup to get!

You want.... The Lindy Fralin P-92!

[kiramdear]

Thanks for that, Nick. The prices are similar to new Gibson parts, I guess. The P-92 looks interesting indeed. Do you have experience with them?

What about the Gibson brand single-coil replacements? That's what my friend used that didn't work out, and I'm wondering why they wouldn't perform as expected on an Epi Dot.

[ricardo_vicente]

+1 for humbucker-sized P90s

I have a Gibson 335 and constantly toy with the idea of putting in some P90-type pickups. The stock humbuckers (57 Classics) are great though and would also work well in your Sheraton.

Incidentally Nick Valensi's guitar on the first Strokes album was a Korean Epiphone (Riviera, i.e. same 335 shape) with Gibson P94s in it.

[kiramdear]

Thanks, Richard,

This guitar is so nice that there is only two things I want to change. First find the pickups I like for my sound, then move away from a polyester finish to a varnish.

The Gibson P-94s are what my friend put into his Dot. I wonder what went wrong?

[sloop_john_b]

In my Dot, I have one of these in the neck (not a fan of neck HB's) and one of these in the bridge. Interesting combination that works really well together!

[kiramdear]

John, I like it. I've no objection to a double-coil in the bridge position, and that SL looks nice, though I may want something just a nudge hotter.
Have we heard this guitar on your record?

Thanks for all the tips, everybody.

[sloop_john_b]

John, I like it. I've no objection to a double-coil in the bridge position, and that SL looks nice, though I may want something just a nudge hotter.
Have we heard this guitar on your record?

I'd be happy to do a quick recording of it, Kira. When I forget, shoot me a PM. Really!

[kiramdear]

Thanks, John! There's no big hurry but when I'm ready to decide I will surely ask you about that. Cool!

[kiramdear]

My objection to the neck sound is that there's not much room between too thin and too thick. I can't get much variety of strong and clear together.

[tennis_nick]

Thanks for that, Nick. The prices are similar to new Gibson parts, I guess. The P-92 looks interesting indeed. Do you have experience with them?

What about the Gibson brand single-coil replacements? That's what my friend used that didn't work out, and I'm wondering why they wouldn't perform as expected on an Epi Dot.

In General, Gibson pickups get it right about 75% of the way there, but in the same price range, there's always something better out there, in my own experience.

From what you described wanting in the neck, I'd probably suggest a low-medium output humbucker, something like the Seymour Duncan SH-2 (jazz). I've got one in my SG and it's the bee's knee's!

The Fralin pickup I mentioned however has a great following as a humbucker than delivers the P-90 thicker single coil tone, while retaining it hum-cancelling properties.