Super '58s?

[stringman340]

Love this place.

So I got an Ibanez As73 (which I love, surprising since I leave my 'expensive' axes at home now), and I'm feeling like a pickup swap these days. The current medium output pickups are actually quite good - though I forget the model names - able to produce satisfyingly contrasting tones between bridge and neck.

While the stock pups are quite dynamic, I'm lusting for the extra touch sensitivity and maybe a bit more 'tonal color' ala Scofield. This is a sound I want my AS to produce, well as close as possible I do realize he plays an early '80s AS200, different string gauge (currently using 11s), etc..

My question is: Are there any pickups out there that can be justifiably compared to those beloved Super '58s?

[jorgemg1984]

You have several boutique pickups these days, it they are better or not its really tough to say...its a matter of taste I think. I had Gibson Classic 57s in my Guild archtop and then switched to Bare Knuckles Stormy Monday and what a difference... in the US I think Lolar and Fralin are very well regarded, but its always a risk to put new pickups. In my case worked, BK are the best pickups I have ever heard.

[TruthHertz]

This is a question that everyone will have an answer to and only yours will be the right one. Sorry to be so cryptic, but the sound you get depends on so many things that will be different from the things that John Scofield does. And please remember, this is his sound, it's one factor in things that he does to be himself. It may well be that you find even greater inspiration in a pickup that brings out something in yourself. Might I suggest you try lots of different pickups beginning with alnico magnets (that super 58's have) because you will be able to appreciate the subtle differences, but also because you can't buy super 58's off the shelf. I used to have a bunch, all taken off Ibanezes because they weren't the sound I liked, even though I love Sco's sound.
Duncan 59's are good sounding pickups, Duncan jazz have an edgier sound, Guild "blister" pickups are very vocal, Gibson 57's are classically warm. Be inspired by Sco but get inspiration from what makes YOUR guitar react in your hands, to your pick, with your stings, playing your lines with your touch into your amp.

I heard a story about a sax player who loved/idolized/worshipped David Sanborn. He watched all the clips, got his sound down, walked and played like him. When he finally met up with David, he played for him and rather than be flattered, David was distressed. This fan had put his whole life into being David Sanborn and it now his idol wasn't happy. David pointed out that the posture this fellow so accurately imitated and emulated was the result of a childhood disease, and everything he had done was a result of him trying to be himself despite his limitations.

When I met John, he played a Gibson es-335 which he loved. He still has it and he really loves the sound of that guitar. But the neck went bad and it was unplayable. At that time Ibanez was wooing him and they gave him their finest as-200 which he plays to this day. It took getting used to but he made it work. The rest is history and hard work.
David

[jorgemg1984]

Yes, when you play so many nights a year you need a guitar you can trust. I remember Ben Monder saying he hated his AS at first but then got used to it and now its his signatures sound. He said he tried a 335 recently, was a better instrument but was too used to the AS. And you could use all the gear he uses and never get his sound...

‪Ben Monder and Bill Mchenry - 2/10/2011‬‏ - YouTube

But of course changing pickups can change your sound a lot (guitar pickups and amp speakers can really change your tone). But you should change your sound because you want and not because you want to sound like Scofield...

Here is John playing a Tele and still sounding like himself

‪John Scofield Plays Blues‬‏ - YouTube

Another thing I don't trust that much are signature models. A lot of the times players get a very custom model that is completely different from the signature model you get on a store...

[stringman340]

All great points.

I should note this correction: I don't want to sound exactly like Sco, I think what I meant to say is that I'm after a pickup that share some of the specific characteristics of his tone. I will not install a bone/brass nut, so I guess I may be asking much. Particularly dynamics and vioce, medium output are the characteristics I seek. So I guess I can also say that I'm looking for a pickup that can perform well in a Scofield-like ala BUMP setting (funky fusion jazz w/a little overdrive most times). I'll check out Lollar since his shop is here in Washington state.


I've heard DiMarzio PAF Anniversarys and like that sound some, though it was in a solid-body LP, which in this case makes all the difference. Any other products applicable?

[jorgemg1984]

I have heard great things about Lolar, you probably wont get much better, go there and talk to them.