NZGuitars.com

So thought I'd pick the brains of the forum once again.
Will be contimplating a pup change in my yamaha sa1000 at some stage soon.
Actually the stock pups are very good. The only things I would say is that there is a degree of muddiness/darkness to them that interfers with getting good articulate overdrive/distortion. Played clean lead they are fine, clean rhythm they are a little boomy.
Id like to be able to achieve tasty overdrive/distortion ala' Killers/Larry Carlton Steely Dan solos/Grohl while still maintaining a warm vintage tone for Indie/folk applications and putting on my nans sunspecs for Roy Orbison sessions.
Bit worried that some of the vintage style sets are unpotted, and thus might be honky and microphonic in a semi-hollow.

My thoughts from a little interweb research:
1. SD 59's
2. Dimarzio 36th anniv/or air classics
3. Gibson 57'
4. SD seth lovers

Thanks guys

My vote for 36th anni's, I have one of those in the bridge of my LP and its bloody great, clear and articulate, more like a single coil but plenty of grunt, I have a SD '59 in the neck and its much darker in comparison, quite a nice contrast I reckon having one of each... NB: These are uncovered pickups, I found the covered pickups I had previously (JB / '59 combo) were quite dark and muddy, apparently the covers can be partially responsible for this.... you could try raising them and see if they brighten up a bit?

Value for money I would go for the Annies. The Classic 57's seem to work very well in my 339 if you back them off the strings a bit, they are a bit thicker and warmer than the Annies but not quite as clean if that makes any sense.

Try messing with the pickup height before spending any money, it can make a big difference.

sizzlingbadger wrote:Value for money I would go for the Annies. The Classic 57's seem to work very well in my 339 if you back them off the strings a bit, they are a bit thicker and warmer than the Annies but not quite as clean if that makes any sense.

Try messing with the pickup height before spending any money, it can make a big difference.

+1 on the DiMarzios and the advice of messing with height adjustment before spending any money.

I'll add that the low-wind Lollar Imperials are also great.

Sustainz wrote:

sizzlingbadger wrote:Value for money I would go for the Annies. The Classic 57's seem to work very well in my 339 if you back them off the strings a bit, they are a bit thicker and warmer than the Annies but not quite as clean if that makes any sense.

Try messing with the pickup height before spending any money, it can make a big difference.

+1 on the DiMarzios and the advice of messing with height adjustment before spending any money.

I'll add that the low-wind Lollar Imperials are also great.

Seriously considering the 36th anni option. Very good price wise and they seem to cover what I want quite well.

Seriously considering the 36th anni option. Very good price wise and they seem to cover what I want quite well.

Happy for you to try my gold ones, I know you are going to want chrome covers, but at least you would have satisfied yourself that they are indeed what you want before spending any money.

jvpp wrote:

Seriously considering the 36th anni option. Very good price wise and they seem to cover what I want quite well.

Happy for you to try my gold ones, I know you are going to want chrome covers, but at least you would have satisfied yourself that they are indeed what you want before spending any money.

Heh, I'll swap you my Zebra ones for your golds so I can have a proper LP Custom

jvpp wrote:

Seriously considering the 36th anni option. Very good price wise and they seem to cover what I want quite well.

Happy for you to try my gold ones, I know you are going to want chrome covers, but at least you would have satisfied yourself that they are indeed what you want before spending any money.

That sounds too logical!
...yes good idea. Pitty I have to work all weekend.

Air classics are funny pickups. The neck one sounds a bit like a single coil. Bridge one is similar too; it's like having a not quite so clear parallel HB. They're ... Odd, ya gotta play them to see. Not particularly grunty but very very sweet - Great if you want absolute clarity, but they get kinda piercing when any drive is added.
Source: had them in my V.

36th's are the shit. The only reason I haven't had them in more guitars is that I'm too impatient for the colour I want to come into the country, and the bridge (as angry as it is) isn't quite as hot as I'd like. The neck one's awesome. However, one will be going into my murray build.
Source: Had them in my LP classic. They replaced burstbuckers which were absolutely awful.

57 classics are great too; very clear, even with drive. Neck one was a bit bassy but man, save that, they really surprised me. They sound hotter than you'd expect so prepare for that. Source: 61ri SG.

SD 59 set would be my cop out option if you can't get hold of anything else. A 59 in the neck is pretty good. On a spectrum I'd put it nearer an air classic than a PAF 36th though. If you do end up with this, I'd chuck something a wee bit angrier in the bridge that isn't a JB.
Source: Various guitars I've played and put 59's in for people (Washburn prs copy thing, old old epiphone LP).

I'm a big fan, as I mentioned, of the Pearly Gates and the Seth Lovers by SD. I have the Pearly in the neck of my 335.

As per usual a great set of options!
Great thing about pups is if you don't likem you can always change em!

+1 for pearly gates... something cool happens in the overdrive zone with them, they can really sparkle
feel compelled to recommend Lollar imperials too, expensive but dreamy in my semihollow... all that with better than average coil-tapness