Which pickup for a Yamaha SA2200?

[2bornot2bop]

Nice! I was this close to grabbing one of those but wound up with a Guild X-170. Needless to say I am a semi hollow man and needed the upper fret access.

I’ve owned several of those too, when they were cheap used. They can still be found used for $1600. What a truly well built archtop they are, built by Guild in the 90’s. Truly exceptional in every way, and with a nitro finish.

[Karlos]

There’s no consensus for guitars or gear. Some prefer a traditional tube sound, others experiment with digital or other amplification.

For tubes I’d suggest a Fender Deluxe Reverb amplifier. It’s small enough to easily transport or simply used as a home amplifier. They’re available used for $900 and below. Although, I prefer the Twin because it uses 2 speakers, and provides a traditional jazz guitar clean tone.

Hi, thanks for your advice, I had never thought of the Fender Deluxe! I always thought it had a less jazzy sound.. Too clean, but maybe I'm wrong. The quilter also has many admirers.. What do you think? Thanks

[GNAPPI]

Gibson started installing a "new" pickup type in the 335 and others but I think that the two wire 57 Classic pickups are the cat's meow for tone.

[frabarmus]

Sorry, but could you suggest me a good tube amp for home use? I'm not an expert on tubes! I see that many go in another direction.

The best Jazz-tone I've ever had was with this tube amp. Warm woody, super clean tone with tons of head room and beautiful, "creamy", drive channel (but too heavy for me to carry around and move: 27+Kg)

It's reasonably priced, too.

YAMAHA T100C - #5699982 - su Mercatino Musicale in Amplificatori - Combo per Chitarra

[frabarmus]

Also... if you are considering an AF2000, be aware that the waiting may be months long! Therefore you might consider an AF200 (if you want to have it sooner). There's one in Rome (I don't know where you are located in Italy) and it seems in good conditions. It's the model that preceded the AF2000... quite similar and definitely top notch as a Jazz guitar.

IBANEZ AF200 - #7096166 - su Mercatino Musicale in Chitarre Semiacustiche

[Karlos]

Also... if you are considering an AF2000, be aware that the waiting may be months long! Therefore you might consider an AF200 (if you want to have it sooner). There's one in Rome (I don't know where you are located in Italy) and it seems in good conditions. It's the model that preceded the AF2000... quite similar and definitely top notch as a Jazz guitar.

IBANEZ AF200 - #7096166 - su Mercatino Musicale in Chitarre Semiacustiche

Hi, there is a new one available for 2000.

[arnie65]

IMO, either Lollar Imperial Low winds, or Bare Knuckle "Stormy Monday". They are basically very close, but Lollar has A5 in their bridge, and BK has A2 in both neck and bridge, also the BK are scattered wound for extended frequency response. I found out that low wound pickups with A2 magnets balance a lot better with semi-hollow's and hollow body guitars. Both of the aforementioned have tamed mids and tight lows. These pickups are a bit pricey, but worth every penny. The alternative to these, is the Seymour Duncan Seth Lover, also A2 but wound a bit hotter. I'm not stating that the above sets are the best, but simply more balanced for a semi-hollow, or even a chambered guitar.


Cheers,
Arnie...

[2bornot2bop]

Hi, thanks for your advice, I had never thought of the Fender Deluxe! I always thought it had a less jazzy sound.. Too clean, but maybe I'm wrong. The quilter also has many admirers.. What do you think? Thanks

It’s built for its smaller size and price point. Many guitarists here own more Deluxe’s than Twins.

I preferred the Twin because I’m not a gigging musician. But while the Twin, to my mind sounds better, it’s not as affordable as a Deluxe.

[medblues]

What neck pickup height do you have? Do you know if the ibanez af 2000 neck is similar to Yamaha?

I never measured it but I will after my move is complete. I don't have access to an Ibanez to compare but when I can afford it, I might buy the John Scofield model just for the "being a fanboy" reason :-)

[bluejaybill]

What do you mean by tip number 3 exactly? The individual screws of the magnets? Is there any danger in turning too much?

Yes, the individual screws. And I believe if you keep turning them they will come out.

The main point being keep them as close to level with the top of the pickup to start, some say that having the screws out makes the pickup brighter, though I am not sure that a's the case. Mainly the idea is to try different things ultimately.

[Karlos]

The best Jazz-tone I've ever had was with this tube amp. Warm woody, super clean tone with tons of head room and beautiful, "creamy", drive channel (but too heavy for me to carry around and move: 27+Kg)

It's reasonably priced, too.

YAMAHA T100C - #5699982 - su Mercatino Musicale in Amplificatori - Combo per Chitarra

I understand that many guitarists choose the amplifier giving a lot of importance to the size and weight! Of course also a good sound. I wonder if henriksen 6 is one of these? If weight was not an issue which amp would you buy?

[Karlos]

The best Jazz-tone I've ever had was with this tube amp. Warm woody, super clean tone with tons of head room and beautiful, "creamy", drive channel (but too heavy for me to carry around and move: 27+Kg)

It's reasonably priced, too.

YAMAHA T100C - #5699982 - su Mercatino Musicale in Amplificatori - Combo per Chitarra

Is it true that tube amplifiers are noisy? That at home it could be a problem with low volumes?

[frabarmus]

If weight was not an issue which amp would you buy?

My answer is definitely a tube amp.

I would keep my Yamaha T100C.
Or I would buy a Fender Twin Reverb or a Rivera Jazz Suprema
(I have played Twin Reverb and it's a fantastic amp. I have not tried the Rivera Jazz Suprema but I've seen youtube test-videos of it and it had an amazingly beautiful jazz-tone).

[frabarmus]

I must add: I've tested my T100C and my DV Mark Little Jazz side by side and got the LJ to sound very similar to the T100C (after about a half an hour of tweaking and turning knobs, both on the amps and the guitar)!

I am also very happy with my (solid state) Polytone Megabrute: another classic jazz-tone amp.

[frabarmus]

Is it true that tube amplifiers are noisy? That at home it could be a problem with low volumes?

With my Yamaha T100C, at low volumes, the fan (la ventola di raffreddamento) can make itself heard... but, to be honest, I've never minded that. I've usually played it so that the fan is not (or just barely) heard.

[2bornot2bop]

Is it true that tube amplifiers are noisy? That at home it could be a problem with low volumes?

No. If any tube begins to go, and gets noisy, you simply change it. With a new tube amp it will provide many years in home use before getting noisy.

Tubes have only been around for more than a century. Did you know that they were once used in televisions and radio equipment?

[Karlos]

No. If any tube begins to go, and gets noisy, you simply change it. With a new tube amp it will provide many years in home use before getting noisy.

Tubes have only been around for more than a century. Did you know that they were once used in televisions and radio equipment?

when I plug in my guitar without playing, does the fender deluxe reverb have a zzzzzz background noise? I'm talking about playing at home at low volume.

[Karlos]

Yes I had a tube TV. Ho 60 anni..

[2bornot2bop]

when I plug in my guitar without playing, does the fender deluxe reverb have a zzzzzz background noise? I'm talking about playing at home at low volume.

Never heard any hum from mine. Just a clear tone.

[DawgBone]

It’s built for its smaller size and price point. Many guitarists here own more Deluxe’s than Twins.

I preferred the Twin because I’m not a gigging musician. But while the Twin, to my mind sounds better, it’s not as affordable as a Deluxe.

I was looking at a used 1970 Twin with Celestions on GC used last night.....759,99. That's pretty cheap.

[2bornot2bop]

I was looking at a used 1970 Twin with Celestions on GC used last night.....759,99. That's pretty cheap.

Extremely!

[Danm777]

I’ve had a couple of SA2200s and convinced myself to tinker with things and quickly lost sight of where I was and what I wanted to achieve. In my experience, going down the rabbit hole adjusting pickup heights and measuring trying to hear a difference was very frustrating and most often ended up around factory spec. Note that some stock SA2200s came with a no load tone pot and ‘9’ would bring it back into the circuit. There are so many variables including having the amp volume up and guitar volume down and using the amp eq to compensate. If too many highs are lost turning the guitar volume down and it sounds muffled, then that may indicate a treble bleed or ‘50’s’ wiring would work but the no load tone pot on 10 may negate this effect of loosing too many highs? I feel that there’s so much to try with the gear you have and once you identify what it is exactly that is wrong (e.g too bright/dark, high output/low output) then talk to a pickup maker who can advise as it is too overwhelming to navigate the internet for contrasting opinions.