Bebop or modern players using floating pickups

**Chazmo** · 01-07-2015, 10:30 PM

Mark Whitfield

**Danny W.** · 01-07-2015, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Peter told me that on a e-mail, just a regular Classic 57. But I've heard it's an humbucker taken from a Gibson Howard Roberts, which is not exactly a full PAF? Not really sure.

The pickup on the Gibson HR was in fact a full-size humbucker with mounting ears:

Danny W.

**Klatu** · 01-08-2015, 12:48 AM

Why isn't that Howard Roberts floater in production?

**Flyin' Brian** · 01-08-2015, 02:14 AM

Originally Posted by Klatu

Why isn't that Howard Roberts floater in production?

Because Gibson is too busy reissuing Trini Lopez models, Joe Bonamassa models,and Slash models along with guitars that have robotic tuners.

**gianluca** · 01-08-2015, 06:00 AM

Bireli lagrene: several recordings with his Gibson Super V BJB.
I love that tone...

**Eagle2x** · 01-08-2015, 09:18 AM

Howard Alden (Benedetto)

**oldane** · 01-08-2015, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by Para

What about Doug Raney I'm pretty sure He used a floater.

Living in Denmark, where Doug Raney has also lived for many years, I have been at his gigs many times through the years. I have seen him with a number of guitars over the years. When he was younger, he used an old beat up L7/ES350 (couldnt see which it was) with a P90 and stripped off finish. For a short while he used a Gretsch with cats eyes holes and a Schaller floater, which was replaced by another L7/ES350 (this time sunburst) with a CC pickup. That CC pickup was replaced by a P90, so I figure he liked that best. Reportedly he also inherited his fathers Hofner, but I have never seen him gig with it. In the last years he has been playing a stock Ibanez - actually the only guitar with built in humbuckers I have seen him with (or was that Schaller floater also a HB?). As far as I could see, his gutars was strung with medium/heavy flatwounds.

TH · 01-08-2015, 09:56 AM

Kenny Burrell played a Super 400 with a D'Armond. Jim Hall, a D'Aquisto New Yorker with a Johnny Smith, Joe Pass a D'Aquisto New Yorker with a floater, I believe.
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Bebop or modern players using floating pickups-hqdefault-jpg

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Here's Mick Goodrick
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A few players.
David

**ESCC** · 01-08-2015, 12:25 PM

Norman Brown

**pubylakeg** · 01-08-2015, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by oldane

In the last years he has been playing a stock Ibanez - actually the only guitar with built in humbuckers I have seen him with (or was that Schaller floater also a HB?).

No mounting ring on the Schaller Zoller pickup, would suggest a floater.

Joe Pass's D'Aquisto had a humbucker mounted in the top.

Kenny Burrell also played a D'Angelico with a floating DeArmond, it's in the Kessel/Grant Green footage from Ronnie Scott's.

**nick1994** · 01-08-2015, 08:11 PM

here's Russell Malone on a D'angelico

**David B** · 01-08-2015, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by bmw2002

Attachment 16993

Off topic comment: I wish that a luthier, or perhaps even Eastman, would approach Peter Bernstein with the idea of copying this guitar's design. Call it a Bernstein/Zeidler signature model and give both PB and John Zeidler's family a cut. I'd be first in the queue.

**jorgemg1984** · 01-08-2015, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by Danny W.

The pickup on the Gibson HR was in fact a full-size humbucker with mounting ears:

Danny W.

Thaks for the clarification. So it is a full size PAF.. maybe that's why that guitar sounds so good, no drills solid wood with a PAF. I am having two like that soon

**Cunamara** · 01-08-2015, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by TruthHertz

Kenny Burrell played a Super 400 with a D'Armond. Jim Hall, a D'Aquisto New Yorker with a Johnny Smith, Joe Pass a D'Aquisto New Yorker with a floater, I believe.

Neither Jim Hall nor Joe Pass's D'Aquistos had floating pickups. Both also had laminated bodies not made by D'Aquisto; Jimmy bought pre-made laminated bodies from (I think) United Guitar and then put his custom carved necks, etc. on them. The finishing was also done by D'Aquisto. There are plenty of photos of both of those guitars showing the mounted pickups.

Gene Bertoncini has one of those laminate D'Aquistos as well; it's a wonderful instrument.

Also, some of the Howard Roberts guitars come with a mini humbucker and some come with a full size one.

As for getting a floating full sized humbucker, I think that most of the custom pickup makers like Kent Amstrong, Pete Biltoft, Lollar, etc. would be able to do one for you. An Irish luthier named John Moriarity, who makes lovely guitars, also did one of these for a while for his guitars. The issue is clearance between the strings and the top plate- most archtops simply don't have room for a full size 1/2" thick pickup. I squeezed a Classic 57 modified into a floater onto my archtop but it clears the top with a scant 1/32" at its closest point and is pretty close to the strings. It does sound much better than any other pickup I have had on that guitar, though.

**Danny W.** · 01-08-2015, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by Cunamara

Also, some of the Howard Roberts guitars come with a mini humbucker and some come with a full size one.

Epiphone HRs came with minis, but the Gibsons were full-sized.

Danny W.

**Cunamara** · 01-08-2015, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by Danny W.

Epiphone HRs came with minis, but the Gibsons were full-sized.

Danny W.

Cool to know that. There used to be a web page dedicated to these guitars but I couldn't find it today. I've played one Gibson HR for a minute or two, nice axe. I don't know if I could get used to the soundhole, somehow my brain expects F holes in an archtop.

**Klatu** · 01-09-2015, 12:17 AM

Originally Posted by pubylakeg

No mounting ring on the Schaller Zoller pickup, would suggest a floater.

Joe Pass's D'Aquisto had a humbucker mounted in the top.

Kenny Burrell also played a D'Angelico with a floating DeArmond, it's in the Kessel/Grant Green footage from Ronnie Scott's.

I sure hope that's not Doug Raney.

**friendofjaco** · 01-09-2015, 01:43 AM

Bobby Broom's Hofner has a floater I think.

**oldane** · 01-09-2015, 01:56 AM

Originally Posted by pubylakeg

No mounting ring on the Schaller Zoller pickup, would suggest a floater.

I think you are right with that Ibanez.

**oldane** · 01-09-2015, 02:00 AM

Originally Posted by Klatu

I sure hope that's not Doug Raney.

It is. Like the rest of us, he's not getting younger.

**Jabberwocky** · 01-09-2015, 04:18 AM

Originally Posted by Danny W.

The pickup on the Gibson HR was in fact a full-size humbucker with mounting ears:

Danny W.

Mitch Holder plays a 1966 Epiphone HR Custom and a 1974 Gibson HR Custom. I came close to buying a Gibson HR Artist Natural but thought that the 1968 Epiphone HR Custom Ebony with the JS mini-humbucker I just acquired had better tone so I kept the latter and squelched the desire for the former.

TH · 01-09-2015, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by pubylakeg

Joe Pass's D'Aquisto had a humbucker mounted in the top.

.

It wasn't his only one though. His New Yorker which he played with Oscar Peterson in numerous live situations was a carved spruce top guitar with a floating JS pickup on it. But yes, his other guitar had a hum bucker mounted in the top.
David

TH · 01-09-2015, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by Cunamara

Neither Jim Hall nor Joe Pass's D'Aquistos had floating pickups..

Both owned and played New Yorkers that had floating pickups, and both owned and played laminated D'Aquistos with set in pickups. Hey, people can play both I guess. That's why I included photos in my post. I'd seen Joe Pass with his New Yorker, he used it live at some point. It was a concert with Oscar Peterson.
Jim Hall wound up giving his New Yorker back to Jimmy because he wound up using the laminate.

David

**Klatu** · 01-09-2015, 10:25 AM

I believe this to be a shot of Chet Baker in his last days at age 58. Now I don't consider 58 to be very old at all, and most healthy 58 year olds I know don't look like either Chet or Doug.

I also don't want to make it sound like I am trying to belittle Doug Raney in any way, it's just that he's been one of my favorite players for some time now and it saddens me to see him age in this manner.

**mr. beaumont** · 01-09-2015, 10:44 AM

Chet Baker's life and photographs are a drug cautionary tale. Hard living puts the years on.

Everything I've heard about Doug's life has been heresay and speculation, so I won't comment as to the "how," but I think we all know he's had a tough go of things...I'll just say it's good to see him with a guitar in his hands...and rocking the Ibanez with a Zoller pickup!