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I have an L-5CT in a unique configuration with a single factory-installed P90 pickup in the bridge position. I would like to find a great pickup for the neck position but the guitar has a cool history so I don’t want to modify it in any way so no drilling, etc.
Ideally it would be a humbucker and I would be using it for Jazz. I was hoping the forum could offer me some recommendations as I don’t know much about the options - I am going for a classic late 50s or early 60s L-5 sound if possible, though I know it won’t be exactly the same with the unmounted pickup.
Does something like this exist?
The guitar:
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04-28-2025 02:00 PM
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I assume drilling a small hole on the neck for a rhythm chief is out of the question? Because that pickup would be ideal.
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Kent Armstrong? I hear this name come up often. Kent Armstrong Jazz Guitar Pickups – Armstrong Pickups
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I would suggest a Kent Armstrong slimbucker with the tab on the side. That way you can simply use some heavy-duty double stick tape to secure it to the pickguard and no modifications are needed. Run a small wheeled volume put under the pickguard and I would use a mini jack wired direct the hangs loose. I do this on my 38 Gibson L5 requires zero modifications to the guitar and can be taken off in minutes.
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Isn’t that a single coil pickup?
Originally Posted by spencer096
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That happens to be a Dearmond and yes single coil but you would need to attach the rod to the neck so I suggested the KA pickup. I actually like the dearmond better and the reissues are really as good as the original for a very nice price. The way I have this is not particularly the easiest way for someone gigging and using the guitar night after night. Most fine the hanging jack just not as easy as the regular jack in the tailpiece end. Personally though if you want to do no modifications to the guitar at all this is by far the easiest. Originally Posted by Marker
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I would look at one of the Krivo pickups if I were in this situation (either the Micro-stealth PAF or Micro-Manouche):
KRIVO PICKUPS - Home
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For the sound, a DeArmond is going to be a great option. You don’t necessarily have to use the neck mount. You can always use the “monkey on a stick”. I recently sold this L-5C and set the new owner up with a vintage RC1000. That would be my personal first choice. Obviously it’s not a humbucker, but still my favorite.
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I have a Krivo brand new I will sell you very thin with mounting on side PM if interested.
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Kent Armstrong Handmade floating PAF is a nice pickup that sounds a lot like what you’re describing.
Kent Armstrong Adjustable Floating PAF (Handmade) - DjangoBooks.com
I would look at getting a new pickguard made so that you can have it notched for the floating pickup (which mounts to the pickguard). Maybe a pickup selector switch and/or volume/tone controls for the floating pickup too.
I think looking at some single coils is worth it also, especially with that P90 in the bridge. Kent Armstrong also makes a floating single coil.
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I have the Armstrong 2D humbucker from archtop.com on my L-7C, it works well. With their wiring kit it's all mounted to the pickgaurd too, so no modifications to the body. More of a mini humbucker sound, not as fat as a PAF. I thought about the Armstrong floating PAF, but you have to make sure you have enough clearance between the body and the strings; I don't think it would fit my L-7.
Last edited by BreckerFan; 04-28-2025 at 05:52 PM.
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Just what I was going to suggest, an alternate pick guard with a KA floater attached. I have the PAF model on one guitar and it sounds great. The question is where to put the jack. Mine is in the end pin, I don't know if you can do that without altering the endpin hole. Originally Posted by andrew
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yea, but it's a nice fat single coil that would be ideal for both the sound you described and the guitar. Originally Posted by Marker
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A Lollar Johnny Smith style pickup is another great option!
Johnny Smith Style Humbucker | Lollar Pickups
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I had a Heritage Sweet 16 that hosted three floaters over its time with me: the original Heritage pickup, a Benedetto-label Kent Armstrong Johnny Smith style (small) floating humbucker; and a Kent Armstrong 12-pole floater. Of those three, the KA 12-pole sounded closest to a set-in pickup, but while it was acceptable it really wasn't real close. Originally Posted by Marker
It's difficult to get a built-in humbucker sound from a floater, IMO. Something about the depth of the coils plus the effect of the weight of the pickup constraining the motion of the top, I imagine. The floaters sounded much more acoustic-y to me than set-in pickups. Of the three floaters I have experience with, I very strongly preferred the KA 12-pole. My least favorite was the KA small floater - too trebly.
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Did you decide to sell this guitar? I just noticed that one just like it popped up for sale in London:
Just a moment...
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Wow! That guitar is gorgeous! Originally Posted by Marker
And you ain't kidding about "unique configuration" ...I can't even wrap my head around why Gibson would have ever built an L-5 with a P90 in the bridge position!
Some rockabilly star with too much money burning a hole in their wallet?
As for your question re: what pickup? sorry, I got nuttin'
...although I vaguely recall decades ago playing a guitar with a floating Bartolini humbucker that evoked the classic Gibson L-5CES/S-400CES sound.
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I would leave the guitar as it is and rather find a new owner for it. It looks like a collector's item. Even if it should sell for less than a "regular" L-5, the money would give you the opportunity to choose from a wide array of premium archtops. L-4 or Tal, for example, if you want to stick to Gibson.
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The first thing to do is make careful measurements of the clearance you have between the top of the guitar and the strings, and add in the space you probably will need between the top of the pickup and strings.
That will be your primary constraint and limit the choices.
Then, you can read the nearly infinite number of opinions on which provide the best sound.
Once you've narrowed those down to fitting physical constraints, and then listened to actual samples with similar guitars and setups and playing styles, you'll probably be getting close to making a decision.
My dream on my L7 was a KA 12 pole, but that violated the first rule of physical law. It wouldn't fit.
I ended up with a Lollar gold foil single coil. It’s quite different from a humbucker. But works fine. Fits my guitar, has volume thumb wheel under the pickguard and endpin jack. The lollar has adjustable poles.
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If it were me, would use a Kent Armstrong hand wound single coil. Will look nice and compliment the sound of your P90. Think you're going to get a frankenguitar look with a lot of the other choices.
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You could float a similar black P90 neck pickup, cut a new pickguard to fit the pickups, so no cutting into the guitar, save the original pickguard.
A black Dogear P90 neck pickup would match the existing bridge Dogear P90 and look good.
Some Dogear P90's pickups have a very a shallow depth less than 18mm, if you cut the end of the pole rods off.
Last edited by GuyBoden; 05-14-2025 at 01:08 PM.
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Krivo or a Dearmond with a Monkey on a Stick setup will give you an easy on/off option. A KA floater on it's own pickguard with a jack on the pickguard is another option.
Any of the three will get you the jazz guitar tone you are looking for with that guitar.
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