Pickup Change for Epiphone Joe Pass Guitar

**peterpanico** · 12-04-2011, 05:48 PM

Hello everybody,just to have some advices from this great community!

I'm thinkin about a pickup change on my Epiphone Joe Pass,I mainly use the neck Pup,so it's that one to go first,ideas?

I like the round mellow sound,was thinking about the Seymour Duncan '59,or the Jazz (wich I haven't yet heard, but it seems more clear and more high frequency oriented,than the '59, looking at the specs), some others? Cannot go too high on money,so let's keep feet on the ground

Also is there need to change something in the capacitors and pots as well?

Thanks in advance
Pietro

**Frank67** · 12-04-2011, 06:12 PM

I have an Epiphone Joe Pass and swapped the pickups. Really love the sound and the playability of this guitar and how it feels in my hands. My pickups are fairly boutique Amber PAF pickups that you would probably find too pricy. But i think that a Gibson classic 57 will do a very good job there too. Also consider changing the bridge pickup later. The middle position sounds also very nice. There many other alterntives for the pickups. I heard an Epiphone ES 175 in a shop in NY with Fralin pickups that sounded great - maybe the infamous unbuckersa. But i never found out. Duncan Jazz also comes to mind but some people find them too bright.

For not too much money consider changing the nut to a bone nut. Finally, if you want to mellow the sounds some more an ebony bridge might be a good idea. I guess Stewmac sells them for not too much. Butbthe single most important improvement are the pickups.

**jorgemg1984** · 12-04-2011, 06:28 PM

Bare Knuckles Stormy Monday, Bare Knucles electronics and vintage cloth wire.

**Jazzman301** · 12-04-2011, 06:42 PM

I am a fan of the USA made hand wound Kent Armstrong PAF. These can be coil tapped as well which makes them pretty versatile. I also like both the Benedetto A6 and B6. According to Bob the A6 is very well rounded and can go from moderately bright to pretty warm and dark. The B6 is more of a one trick poney. He told me that it is very warm and fat and can easily dial in Wes or Jim Hall. Both of the Benedetto pickups can be coil tapped as well.
Then you have the Gibso 57classic. What more can you say. Its a great off the shelf pickup and should be rather easy to find.
Jason Lollar makes some great stuff. His Charlie Christian pickup is available in a humbucker size and sounds just awesome.

'Mike

**jorgemg1984** · 12-04-2011, 07:33 PM

The Classic 57 is not worth the money imo.

**mongrel** · 12-04-2011, 07:40 PM

Although I've yet to have them in any of my guitars, I think that you can't go wrong with a Gibson Classic '57. I've got a 2006 Joe Pass and I swapped out the factory pickups for a set of Vintage Vibe HCC's that were made underwound. I played those for awhile and then put in a set of Seymour Duncan Phat Cats I bought used cheap and had lying in a draw since they hadn't clicked in my Strat or Tele clone. I think they sound great in the Joe Pass with that old school 1950's sound like low wind P-90's. I just snipped and spliced leaving the factory switch and pots in place. A couple of squirts of electronics spray once every few months keeps them quiest and its cheaper than hiring a tech to rewire it or blowing my mind trying to do it myself. The next pickups I try in that Joe Pass may be the Guitar Fetish pickups trying to be Dynasonics--Surfriders I think they're called.

**jorgemg1984** · 12-04-2011, 07:47 PM

You can go wrong with a Classic 57 for 140 US. A Fralin Pure PAF is 130 US. A Lolar Humbucker is 165 US. A BK Stormy Monday can be had in the US for around 175 US for what I have seen.

I can asure you the 30 bucks difference is worth it. I had a Classic 57 (100€) in my archtop and then put a Bare Knuckles Stormy Monday (130€) and the difference in tone is HUGE. For the price difference don't go for a Classic 57.

TH · 12-04-2011, 07:53 PM

Classic 57 are nice but pricey. Duncan 59 has been a great match for the laminate top and hollow body of your guitar. For a more "acoustic" edge my preference has always been the Duncan jazz, but I'll say this is a matter of choice. Do get your hands on a guitar that is similar to yours that has these mods because pickups will sound very different depending on body type, string choice and body material.
If you happen to come by Guild pickups with the blister cover, they are wonderful in my playing experience, but take all these recommendations as opinions. Try them out as you can. You are not me, nor anyone else here and it will be your ears that have to live and grow with your choice. Well worth the effort at this point.
David

**vinlander** · 12-04-2011, 08:23 PM

Back in the days, I upgraded the neck pickup on my Joe Pass with a Gibson 490R as a way to get closer to my teacher's ES165 Herb Elis.

**RonD** · 12-04-2011, 10:02 PM

I've heard nothing but good reviews on the Bare Knuckles pickups.
That being said, I have yet to try them.
Currently, all of my PUPs are from a Canadian builder, MJS Custom.
They might be a little pricey for your budget?

**=DK=** · 12-05-2011, 12:27 AM

Who here has tried Bare Knuckles pickups and actually had them installed in their guitar? Gigged with them? Solo fingerstyle, duo with vocalist/sax? I'd like to hear about three in particular: Stormy Monday, The Mule, and Half Note P-90. The Half Note is the only pickup they're really marketing to jazzers. Any experience? Thanks.

**jorgemg1984** · 12-05-2011, 07:20 AM

I have the Stormy Mondays in my archtop and my 335 and absolutely love them. Very balanced, the mids are very clear and not ear-fatigating. The sound is fat without being muddy or boomy. Best pickups I have ever tried, period. Oh you can also hear all the inner-voices on chords.

The Mules have more gain, they could work for someone who wanted a more versatile guitar. My next guitar purchase will be a cheap archtio with P90s and I will put the Half-Note in there.

I would'n let the fact that they are not marketed for jazz scare you - good procucts are good products. There are already too many things marketed for jazz players. A good PAF is what it is, it's your job to make it sound like jazz.

**oldskoolchop** · 12-05-2011, 08:40 AM

i love the '59 and have them in other solid body's, i am about to put a pair, neck and bridge, into my artcore semi

**burchyk** · 12-05-2011, 09:32 AM

'59 I find a bit hollow in the mids and overall having a "smiley" EQ curve. Might work great with a guitar that has lots of midrange, like an LP. Seth Lover is quite opposite, rich mids and smooth highs with tighter low end. I like Kent Armstrong PAFs alot, well balanced and worked great in a laminate 16" hollowbody

**peterpanico** · 12-05-2011, 01:42 PM

Hi mates,thanks for the answers,
I know the Classic 57' very well,since I have them in my CS 336,but i wanted something different,I've heard wonders about Bare Knuckle,but never tried one so far,but the Stormy Monday, looks definitely a good choice!

also Lollar has a name , had a try at a Strato with a set of them wired in...."gorgeous"..but never heard their Humbuckers,and they are a bit pricey over here,Kent Armstrong would be "the bang for the money" I suppose,but are hard to find,and buying them directly from USA would involve an absurd shipping rate ,so the choice,in the end, would be between the BK,or a Dan Armstrong hand made in UK ( tehy sell directly),or the SD '59 ( or Jazz)...
mmmm...

Don't really want a "too bright" thing,again i mostly use the neck "boy"
( been thinking about unwiring completely the bridge one,or even removing it) as I said I prefere the round mellow sound,like a Metheny "all tone closed" thing,no booming bass,and not too much brightness....

will play through a Fender "The Twin"( red knobs),or an Egnater Rebel 20 head,or my SR Jam 150,wich makes the CS 336 "shine",better than a valve amp!

**Makani** · 12-05-2011, 04:59 PM

I have two SM's installed in my '66 Epiphone Riviera...they are very smooth and articulate pickups...they are ghreat for blues and jazz...not so much for rock...an excellent choice if you are considering an upgrade.

**mambosun** · 12-05-2011, 06:18 PM

Looking at the specs in BK web site the Stormy monday is scooped in the midrange.
Is it smooth enough to nail the so-called dark sweet jazz tone?

**jmstritt** · 12-05-2011, 06:35 PM

I really wouldn't reccomend using the Seymour Duncan Jazz pickup for... well... Jazz. I really is going to sound more bright and thin than what you want. For a Duncan I would recomend the Seth Lover model. Also, the Fralins and Lollars are good, but might be pricey. I don't have any experience with the Bare Knuckle pickups, but have heard some good things. I think that a Duncan Seth Lover pickup would be your best option based on what you are looking for IMO.

**Greco** · 12-05-2011, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by jmstritt

I really wouldn't reccomend using the Seymour Duncan Jazz pickup for... well... Jazz. I really is going to sound more bright and thin than what you want. For a Duncan I would recomend the Seth Lover model. Also, the Fralins and Lollars are good, but might be pricey. I don't have any experience with the Bare Knuckle pickups, but have heard some good things. I think that a Duncan Seth Lover pickup would be your best option based on what you are looking for IMO.

I didn't like the Seymour Duncan Jazz pickup at all when I tried it.
I totally agree with jmstritt that it sounds bright and thin.

Peter..I have a Seth Lover neck pickup that I would love to send to you in exchange for a couple of bottles of wine from your area...if only it could be done !!

BTW...As mentioned, the Seth Lover is a very warm pickup and worth consideration, IMHO.

Cheers

Dave

**robertm2000** · 12-05-2011, 08:29 PM

Has anyone taken a look at Pete Biltoft's Vintage Vibe pickups? I have a guitar that uas two of his pickups - both single coil, to be sure - but the tone from those pickups is gorgeous. I'm thinking that he knows his humbuckers as well as his single coils - if you look at the humbuckers on his website you can see the wide range of options he has. Pete will talk directly with you, and make sure he understands exactly what you want. His pickups have interchangeable magnets that can make a surprising difference in tone, and the pickups are as reasonably priced (the deciding factor in my choice) as any boutique style pickups I've seen. I'll bet he would do well for some of your specific pickup needs.

And no, I'm not related to him or involved in his business other than as a very satisfied customer.

Vintage Vibe Guitars

**jasonc** · 12-05-2011, 09:19 PM

+1 for Pete Biltoft. I have a number of his pickups and have been nothing but happy with all of them. I sent him my Filtertrons out of my Gretsch 6120 because they sucked (ceramic magnets) and told him I wanted a ES-175 sound out of the neck and a real Filtertron wound to match under the stock covers and that is exactly what I got. Now my Gretsch could totally be used as my main jazz box. He's done a couple other custom pickups for me and they are all great and his prices are very good.

**sparkhall** · 12-08-2011, 03:45 PM

Last year I replaced the neck pup in my Epi Joe Pass with the Bare Knuckle Manhattan P90 in humbucker size case. I am really delighted with the result - totally transformed the sound of the guitar. Cost me £90. Might seem a bit much for a fairly humble guitar but money well spent.

Very much recommended.

**Doctor Jeff** · 12-08-2011, 04:57 PM

Any experience with Stew Mac Golden Age hummers? I have a Joe Pass and was thinking of putting in a Parson Street Alnico 2 at the neck and an Alnico 5 at the bridge.

**Doctor Jeff** · 06-12-2012, 10:51 PM

I have made a few mods to my Epi Joe Pass.

First, I replaced the stock pickups with Stewart Mac Golden Age Parsons Street Alnico 2's (about $110 for the pair). They are unpotted. The stock pups had a nice warm sound but were muddy and indistinct, also certain strings had annoying frequency buildups. I like the GAPS much better. The strings are distinct and balanced, even with barre chords.

The installation was challenging but ultimately successful. I decided to replace the pots and caps while I was at it--I got stock items from Russo's Guitar Shop in Omaha, including .05 green caps. I did it through the f-hole and lower pickup cutout with some difficulty--I used old guitar strings wrapped around the pot stems to maneuver them through the holes. If I had it to do over again I would do a complete rewiring outside the guitar then pull the wiring assembly into place using fishing line, as suggested by Stew Mac.

When I removed the strings I noticed one of the stock tuners was broken, so back to Russo's for a set of Ping amber sealed tuners. These may not be Schallers, but the quality is at least as good as the stock tuners, and I really like the look of these. I was thinking of Art Deco Klusons or some similar vintage look, but these tuners complement the look of the blonde guitar IMO.

I gave it a good polishing and cleaning and paste-waxed the rosewood pickguard, then put it back together.

I like the way it sounds and am slowly learning how different it is compared to before the pup transplant. My initial impression is that it is cleaner and more "woody" than before, with a lot more tonal variations. I will include some clips when I get a chance to show how it sounds.