Archtop Pickup Suggestions

[Smkulczyk]

Hello,

I just purchased my first proper archtop guitar. It is a 2017 Eastman John Pisano 880. It feels and plays great. Amplified it is just a tad bit too acoustic for me. Nothing bad, this is my first carved top archtop and I know they are known for their acoustic resonance so I am sure this is something I will get used to. The stock pickup is the John Pisano Kent Armstrong model. Anyone recommend a pickup that could "electrify" the tone more? I think once these new strings break in it'll be more to my liking but would appreciate any suggestions!

Thank you.

[ThatRhythmMan]

Do you know if the Pisano pickup is wax potted? I don’t see any info on its specs.

If it isn’t, that may account for a more acoustic sound. The Gibson 57 Classic would be a readily available humbucker that is wax potted. It’s what was used in the L-5 Wes Montgomery, the Tal Farlow, etc..


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[marcwhy]

Hi - welcome to the Forum!

So, a carved top with an ebony bridge is often meant to sound ... "acoustic," so you got what you paid for - which is very nice guitar, BTW! If you wanted a bit more "electric" sound, then a laminated top with TOM bridge might've been an easier choice.

That being said, there are many pickups that you could try to find an "electric" sound; I would encourage you to consider humbucker-sized P-90s as well as humbuckers! I'm a recent fan of BareKnuckle Pickups from the UK; check out this HB and this HSP-90.

Happy hunting!

Marc

[Mick-7]

Do you know if the Pisano pickup is wax potted? I don’t see any info on its specs.

Well, if you can believe Googles AI (no source given).....

"Kent Armstrong John Pisano guitar pickups are wax potted to prevent microphonic feedback and reduce unwanted noise, a common practice to ensure tonal clarity and stable operation, according to various pickup manufacturers."

[omphalopsychos]

Gibson 57 classic

[ccroft]

I replaced the stock KA with his 'made by him' model, called PAF-0. BIG difference. Much 'beefier'. The stock one was too 'thin' for my liking.

My 880 is 2007. I wouldn't know if the 2017 would see the same kind of change or not.

I also don't know how it would compare with 57 Classic. That seems like a safe bet too.

You might try lowering the pickup if you haven't already. EG: B-120 KA pickup is about 3/8" away from the open string in stock setup. They sound pretty great to my way of hearing.

I'm very happy I made the swap and I'm still satisfied 8 years later.

[garybaldy]

Is it possible to raise the pickup?
One always hears that lowering a pickup can make the sound more acoustic.

[58flame]

Try rolling back the treble and bumping the mids a little on your amp before doing any surgery.

[Woodstove]

Hi - welcome to the Forum!

So, a carved top with an ebony bridge is often meant to sound ... "acoustic," so you got what you paid for - which is very nice guitar, BTW! If you wanted a bit more "electric" sound, then a laminated top with TOM bridge might've been an easier choice.

That being said, there are many pickups that you could try to find an "electric" sound; I would encourage you to consider humbucker-sized P-90s as well as humbuckers! I'm a recent fan of BareKnuckle Pickups from the UK; check out this HB and this HSP-90.

Happy hunting!

Marc

I put the Manhattan HSP-90 in my carved spruce top (Trenier) and love it. When I checked to see if this was the one Marc was discussing I was surprised to see that my note to Bare Knuckles is on the page. I find the acoustic properties of the guitar are very well maintained so I’m not sure if it’s what the OP is looking for. I replaced a Lollar medium wind and found the mids and especially treble were more clear and full with the Manhattan.

[Smkulczyk]

Thanks for the replies guys! I’ll keep tweaking everything and let the strings age a bit but just wanted to see what the consensus is on a topic like this. I raised the pickup pretty high where it did help “beef up” the tone without the magnets pulling on the strings. I think part of it too is this is my first carved/high end guitar so I am not used to the resonance of these nice instruments.

[garybaldy]

Thanks for the replies guys! I’ll keep tweaking everything and let the strings age a bit but just wanted to see what the consensus is on a topic like this. I raised the pickup pretty high where it did help “beef up” the tone without the magnets pulling on the strings. I think part of it too is this is my first carved/high end guitar so I am not used to the resonance of these nice instruments.

That's good. I believe there is very little magnet pull with humbuckers. It's the slug magnets in single coils that cause the problem.
ps I don't know, though, if KA humbuckers are constructed differently to a regular humbucker.

[GuyBoden]

I put the Manhattan HSP-90 in my carved spruce top (Trenier) and love it. When I checked to see if this was the one Marc was discussing I was surprised to see that my note to Bare Knuckles is on the page. I find the acoustic properties of the guitar are very well maintained so I’m not sure if it’s what the OP is looking for. I replaced a Lollar medium wind and found the mids and especially treble were more clear and full with the Manhattan.

Interesting, the Bareknuckle pickup called 'Half Note P90' probably has a similar sound too.

The Half Note 90s are a pure and dynamic early '50s voiced P90 designed to recreate the tone of the jazz greats and complement the natural tone of the guitar. The Half Note 90s are a pure and dynamic early '50s voiced P90 designed to recreate the tone of the jazz greats and complement the natural tone of the guitar. | Bare Knuckle Pickups

[garybaldy]

If you are looking at British winders there is Fletcher Pickups.
I have a Dogear Alnico 3, 7.2K P90 to go into my es125 lookalike. This thread has prompted me to get on with it!
Fletcher Pickups, p90|UK