New pickups for Ibanez PM100?

**rpguitar** · 01-05-2011, 08:55 AM

New pickup = fine

New guitar = fine

Cut big hole in top of favorite guitar as experiment = not fine

Pretty much as simple as that.

**robertm2000** · 01-05-2011, 09:02 AM

Hi Laurentius. If you do go with the Stellartone, could you post on how well it works for you? I just ran across them and am curious as to how well they work. Thanks!

**laurentius** · 01-05-2011, 09:06 AM

@rpguitar: my first thread and i am already named dumb or at least my experiments are called dumb by you.

**rpguitar** · 01-05-2011, 09:25 AM

I have owned close to 100 guitars in the past 30 years. I learned not to do certain things that will irrevocably alter a good guitar. For example, I defretted a 1970 Brazilian classical guitar because at the time, I was into fretless instruments. That was dumb. Now I wish I could play that guitar with frets instead of look at it forlornly sitting in my closet.

**laurentius** · 01-05-2011, 09:44 AM

yep, i am conservative, too, indeed: i own this instrument since 15 years now. and because it means so much to me, i will start only replacing the pickup or tone knob first. if that doenst help me, i will rethink everything over again ;-)
i also own a pretty big collection of guitars. and i never thought about such drastical modifications. in this case it's because i love the instrument so much and want to carry it with me on my next step as a musician. if i left it like this it would be hard integrating it in my scenario these days. maybe to be compared to something like a new tooth. feels different but can help alot ;-)

**cosmic gumbo** · 01-05-2011, 10:48 AM

If this is the axe you need to play, do whatever it takes to make it sound the way you want. It's possible. It will feel better than getting a new tooth.

**Dad3353** · 01-05-2011, 11:37 AM

Good afternoon, laurentius,

Many are the examples of mods. to guitars, more or less drastic, to get the sound required (not always successful, perhaps...). The most radical (Hendrix with lighter fluid, Townsend on a bad night...) are only to be imitated by the less economically challenged amongst us, but there is nothing sacrosanct about it (I can hear from here the grinding of teeth out there, but there it is...).
You seem to have a cool enough approach, and you know what you want, so do it, imho, and best wishes for the result.
As far as the Stellartone is concerned: from the info on the site it seems to be a refined tone knob, but can only cut (no pre-amp...). As it seems you're looking for more 'sparkle', I would suggest trying the external 'pedal' version first. I don't see it fitting your bill, but could be wrong, of course.
It's not that big a deal to have a pup cleanly inserted into the table (the manufacturers and luthiers do it all the time, but unless you have some expertise and/or experience, I wouldn't recommend the borrowing of Cosmic's saw. Consult with your favourite local 'man', and have the job done well, at least (saves on bubblegum and toothbrushes, too...).
If the cutting is done correctly, different pups (HB, P90, SC...) could all be tried later without further surgery.
Good luck with the project; please keep us informed as to the outcome...
Hope this helps...

**Ivan** · 01-05-2011, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by Dad3353

...As it seems you're looking for more 'sparkle', I would suggest trying the external 'pedal' version first.

Very interesting. I have a similar problem with 'sparkle'. Can you, please, be more specific with that 'pedal' version? Thank you.

**Dad3353** · 01-05-2011, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by Ivan

Very interesting. I have a similar problem with 'sparkle'. Can you, please, be more specific with that 'pedal' version? Thank you.

Good evening, Ivan...
Some misunderstanding, perhaps. I was suggesting that the Stellartone is not really capable of adding 'sparkle' (as it's a passive high-cut tone control...), and that to try with an external pedal version might be better than finding out after having modded the guitar. The product descriptions are here...
StellarTone...
...you may judge for yourself. Probably a fine product, but not for adding 'sparkle', methinks...
Hope this helps...

**Flyin' Brian** · 01-05-2011, 11:54 PM

Put in a Fralin P-92. It's a hum free single coil. It has the fullness of a humbucker with the string definition of a single coil and physically it's a drop in replacement. If you ever want to sell your PM-100 you can easily put the original pickup back in.

I use P-92s in both my Heritage Sweet 16 archtop and in my Heritage Prospect semi hollow.

**Ivan** · 01-06-2011, 04:52 AM

Originally Posted by Dad3353

Good evening, Ivan...
Some misunderstanding, perhaps. I was suggesting that the Stellartone is not really capable of adding 'sparkle' (as it's a passive high-cut tone control...), and that to try with an external pedal version might be better than finding out after having modded the guitar. The product descriptions are here...
StellarTone...
...you may judge for yourself. Probably a fine product, but not for adding 'sparkle', methinks...
Hope this helps...

Hi Douglas!
Thanks for the info! The idea of the device 'sounds' reasonable, imo. Methinks I should check it out.

**jzucker** · 01-09-2011, 11:59 AM

i've replaced the pickups in my pm100 and pm120 and it's still dark. The guitar itself is voiced darker than the equivalent 175. Not sure why, neither was ibanez but I'm guessing it has something to do with the bracing.

**laurentius** · 05-08-2011, 08:00 PM

just a little update:

i installed another pickup so i now have two humbuckers (gibson). to all those doubters: the guitar's acoustic/natural sound hasn't changed a bit. my luthier explained this with the top's resonant behaviour but i can't explain that too well in english...
anyway i now have a great tonal range and am really happy with the new possiblities. in the meantime i also installed a piezo-bridge by schatten design: much better than my microphone that i had installed inside the guitar. blending the piezo with the magnetic pickup signal is amazing...

cheers,
l.

**kris** · 05-09-2011, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by laurentius

just a little update:

i installed another pickup so i now have two humbuckers (gibson). to all those doubters: the guitar's acoustic/natural sound hasn't changed a bit. my luthier explained this with the top's resonant behaviour but i can't explain that too well in english...
anyway i now have a great tonal range and am really happy with the new possiblities. in the meantime i also installed a piezo-bridge by schatten design: much better than my microphone that i had installed inside the guitar. blending the piezo with the magnetic pickup signal is amazing...

cheers,
l.

Good.May be you will find your personal sound o this guitar.
Regards
kris

**helios** · 05-09-2011, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by laurentius

hello everyone,

i'm happy to write my first post in this good forum. my question is about the ibanez pm100 guitar: after having played some years now on a gibson 335 i realized that after coming back to the pm 100 it is simply one of my favourite instruments of all time. but what i am missing is some tonal flexibility since it has only one pickup. it sounds superbly warm but sometimes i feel like it is too warm - not really reacting on what i am doing with my pick. i am aware that i can't get a strat sound of it, but it would be lovely to get at least a little into the direction of a 335- bridge pickup. so would you guys recommend me to install an addtional pickup - and if so which on could that be? i would love to get a real "twangy" kind of sound, lots of hi mid range and blend that smoothly together with the front pickup (occasionally). also it would be great to be able to give at least a little bit of crunch to the sound to get a little more bluesy.
for any recommondations i'd be very greatful!
thanks alot for "listening",
laurentius

To avoid "violating" the guitar, simply remove the whole assembly (pickup, tone & volume, ground, jack) and store it in case you change your mind about the sound (or eventually choose to sell the guitar). It is easy to solder a couple of pots and a jack to a new pickup and install a whole new assembly (especially on you hollow body single pickup PM100). You can even buy new pre-wired assemblies from places like Mojotone if you prefer not to do this kind of thing (I'm sure they'll make one specifically for you).
Mojotone.com - The Best source for Vintage Amp Parts, Cabinets, Guitar Parts, Bass Parts, and Pickup Parts
As to a pickup, did you consider an unbalanced humbucker (Lollar Imperial, Fralin Unbucker, or Gibson Burstbucker)? Such designs would "cut through" a bit more and not sound so dark and muddy.
I would change the pickup in a moment if I didn't like the sound-but don't violate the guitar in any way! Cheers!

**amhabz** · 05-09-2011, 01:59 PM

coil-tap it?

**kris** · 05-09-2011, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by jzucker

helios,

He already had the guitar cut for the treble pickup. It's his guitar, he can violate it all he wants!

I think all guitarist like to update instruments/new pick ups, bridges,tailpieces etc/...but sometimes without effect.This is my expierience...sorry

**gkorm** · 06-17-2011, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by jzucker

i've replaced the pickups in my pm100 and pm120 and it's still dark. The guitar itself is voiced darker than the equivalent 175. Not sure why, neither was ibanez but I'm guessing it has something to do with the bracing.

My impression of Pat Metheny's sound with this guitar vs his earlier 175 matches your experience, Jack. No surprise.

I particularly love his darker tone on some more recent recordings.

How cool though, to hear, Laurentius, of your success (sounds like), expanding your guitar's tonal range quite a bit in the other direction as well! I originally found this thread while searching "StellarTone" (looking for folks who wanted to expand the usable darker tones of their guitar). Going the other direction is, of course, very cool too. Sounds like you went in two other directions, with that piezo unit -- kind of multi-dimensional.

Best wishes,
George

**gkorm** · 06-17-2011, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo

I've got a saw you can borrow when you're ready to be a man and do something. Some guys are afraid to take the plastic film off the pick guard, cuz they might scratch it. Metheny's 175 was held together with duct tape, paper clips, and chewing gum.

Well, when I was in high school (oh so many decades ago), I did something like that to the tone pot cavity of a Gibson Melody Maker and it bit back -- thankfully my thumb healed! I think I was just a bit too young for that project at the time.