-
Hello
not that I didn´t like the original pickup in my Eastman AR 403, but I always want to try something new so I put a Gibson Classic 57 in it. To me a big improvement, wanna listen?
cheers
Wolfgang
-
05-13-2015 04:01 PM
-
Sounds great to me! Funny thing is, we have the same guitar now...I also put the same pickup and CTS pots in my AR403 (which is of the same finish as yours). Cheers!
I found the difference to be more subtle but am happy I did it and prefer it. I haven't found the 57 Classic to be brighter necessarily, but did find it to be a smidge fuller. I've been fooling with pickup height though too which affects things as well.
I believe this is the stock pickup by the way, the HPAG-1: http://www.wdmusic.com/VINTAGE_G.htmlLast edited by monkmiles; 05-13-2015 at 05:02 PM.
-
Hello hallpass
"fuller" describes it good.
My pickup height on arch tops is pretty high, but just because I don´t turn the volume on 9 max, never on 10. It soften the sound, I like that, but only on archtops.
I heard that the stock pickups in Eastman guitars are not of the same quality than the separate sold Kent Armstrong, do you know something? To me it is possible that the chinese put some cheapo in the guitar, wich is ok for me, because its not a bad pickup.
The reason I´m asking. I´m looking for new pickups for my PRS Archtop II, I don´t like the stock pickups, they have to go. I considered Kent Armstrongs but if they are the same as in my Eastman....? Very hard to decide.
cheers
Wolfgang
-
That sounds amazing. What amp are you running it through?
-
the amp is a peavey delta blues with a 15 inch speaker
-
I enjoyed your video.
I like both. The Kent Armstrong pickup sounds a bit mellower than the Gibson 57 classic.
I don't know. I'd probably choose the 57 classic because you can still get a mellow sound by turning down the tone knob a bit.
Please do other videos. Which pickups do you have on your PRS right now?
-
Hello Wolfgang,
I liked your video. It surprised me that you were going for high pickup height and lowering the volume. I've been running max volume low pickup so I will try your method. The classic 57 really mellowed at lower volume.
thanks
Pete
-
Hi Wolfgang,
Originally Posted by mymixture
So I know the pickups Eastman is using for the AR403 and others (AR371 too, likely more) have been the HPAN and HPAG models (G for gold cover, N for nickel cover). My Eastman T386 had the HPANs in it and I put 57 Classiccs in that too. My understanding is that these HPAG/HPAN models are Chinese built pickups designed by Kent Armstrong. As opposed to being built by Kent Armstrong in the USA. So they likely use cheaper/lesser parts. My guess is that if it's labeled as a "HPAG" or "HPAN" model as opposed to the "6 Shooter" model label, that they are the designed versions built in China (or maybe Korea, don't know). You can see in the link above near the bottom of the page that it says "This pickup is sold in other countries using part # HPAG-1". This is the one for the HPAN models: * WD Music Products - KENT ARMSTRONG® 6 SHOOTER - PATENT APPLIED FOR VINTAGE STYLE - NICKEL METAL COVER
-
Hello
Jazz 175
I still have the stock pickups in my PRS, not bad, but after I started to try different pickups and had success on my other guitars, I will try to find a better pair for my PRS. Not sure wich one, any suggestions?
Chimera1to1
I got that tip from an old Jazz guy here in austria (Karl Ratzer) who once was my teacher, to me it helped
hallpass
you confirm the story I heard, thanks for the info. I played guitars with american made Kent Armstrongs and I think they are better. You get what you pay for:-)
thanks
Wolfgang
-
I'm not sure which suggestion to give as possible replacement of the PRS Hollowbody stock pickups that you have in right now. Originally Posted by mymixture
Of course there are great pickup makers as Lollar, Bareknuckles, Fralin, and many many others and you have an ample choice.
But I was asking about: which pickups you have in your PRS right now.
I would like to know (if you have this information) because I was getting interested in a PRS Hollowbody and noticed that the PRS Hollowbody II comes stock with PRS 57/08 pickups, which are the same that I have in my PRS Custom 22.
-
The PRS 53/10 pups are the ones PRS made with the new old stock "old 50s" enamel wire. It is purportedly more PAF-ish sounding than the newer 57/08. PRS ran out of the old wire and had to stop making them in about 2012.
I have a pair of the 53/10 that I got off a shredder who took them out of his Modern Eagle 1.
I enjoyed your videos, Wolfgang. Please post more often and share your findings with the forum.
And welcome.
Baba!
-
Jazz_175
I don´t know wich pickups are in my PRS, the day I put them out I will see if there are any markings. I will post this here.
Jabberwocky
thank you, I will post as often as I have something new, I promise
cy
Wolfgang
-
That is really great to hear the before/after. I was surprised by the brightness. It sounds great. it sounds like the brightness is also coming from whatever pick you are using, (hard, thick and glassy) but that might just be the compression and the small laptop speakers.
How ow it the neck on your guitar by the way?
-
I have an AR503CE and I am considering changing the pickup to a Benedetto A6. (I want to see how close it will come to the sound of a Benedetto Bravo)
I was wondering if you had part numbers for the pots, and caps that you used. Did you have make any modifications to the guitar top to fit the new pots?
I assume one advantage of new pots, is that you could wire the whole assembly before removing the old parts.
I have never changed a pickup myself but I suppose there's a first time for everything.
Danielle
-
Danielle, just chiming in on your Benedetto A6. I have been checking out the Benedetto Bravo and the Deluxe recently in preparation for a possible 7-string build. The Bravo Deluxe is kitted out currently with the Benedetto B6 (although the webpage shows the Deluxe with an A6) which is supposed to be a full-sized routed-in version of the floating S6. The Bravo though comes kitted out with the A6. There is also a Benedetto PAF. Originally Posted by DanielleOM
I hope that you are aware of the differences in Benedetto pickups. Product Technical Specifications .
Given my current inclination for a more acoustic floating pickup-type tonal palette, I would be more inclined towards the B6.
They are all made by Seymour Duncan, incidentally.
YMMV.
-
Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
Thanks for chiming in. Interesting suggestion. I have a Benedetto Bravo here with the A6 pickup, I have been enjoying it. I seem to like the pick up and I am certainly getting plenty of positive reinforcement from local music friends that often hear me play. The Bravo does need some work. I was thinking of an alternative while the Bravo is out with a luthier. It's an interesting decision. Do I go with what I know or do I experiment? With the AR503CE having a carved top the B6 might be a better choice. I will probably listen to some You Tube clips before I make a decision.
-
I've found the adjustable poles on the Armstrong hand wound to be advantageous when looking for a good acoustic archtop sound. Also you can tweak things to adapt to strings and amps. I recently installed a EV speaker in my Fender Concert making it quite a bit more responsive. Backed off to pole pieces at the same time to take advantage of it. Armstrong pups are on sale at WD music right now for 25% off which is a great price.
Another one to consider is Guild's re-issue Rhythm Chief 1100. Have one waiting to install but no hands on experience yet.
-
Originally Posted by Spook410
I am a little confused when it comes to the Armstrong hand wound. I see photos where they show 2 adjusting screws on one side. Does that required a different mounting ring? Then I see other photos where I see no tab at all in the photo for the pickup mounting ring screws. Not sure which one would really apply when replacing a full size humbucker in an Eastman.
-
Hi Wolfgang
Great playing and nice sound[s] from both pickups for me.
....I was listening through some decent spec Sony headphones, but as you say the compression
etc on Youtube can change perceptions a lot.
I thought the original p/u sounded balanced and that you were getting a good sound
either with the tone wide open or backed off to 50%.
I'd happily play it.
The Gibson also sounded good but two things struck me....the 6th string sounded quite "boomy"
while the other 5 sounded nicely balanced.
I think I could hear the individual notes in the chords a little better...probably much more so to you
in the room.
But the one thing I wondered about was the pick that you're using on the clip.
A lot of ping at the front of each note ....quite noticeable online.
Made of some hard material perhaps?
That could be playing some part.
You play great and have been around....so I hesitate to ask, but have you played with picks of different
materials,thickness etc?
Just a thought.
Speaking for myself, I've just burned through a bunch of p/u's from various makers [including 57's and 57 plus]
to little avail....until I just sat down for an afternoon and played through all the picks in the pick drawer
and came round to what I had been using for some years before.
....and the answer for me was back to ye olde celluloid 351's.....ha ha...the joke was on me.
I get a much more balanced sound with these picks.
All the best in your quest Wolfgang
-
"Another one to consider is Guild's re-issue Rhythm Chief 1100. Have one waiting to install but no hands on experience yet"
I have one installed on a Guild Savoy phenominal pickup great sound and I have another waiting to install on an incoming archtop.
-
Thanks so much for the awesome video! I had a 910ce and while it was beautiful it was super boomy like yours. Much prefer my El Rey 3 though I was wondering what a change in pickups might do to it. Have you ever played any of the El Reys?
-
What type of pickup did your 910 have? I play an 810 with the Johnny Smith style floater with adjustable pieces that doesn't sound boomy to me at all. On the other hand, I have a lovely Heritage Eagle that I can't play at any reasonable volume without having it howl at me. I'm actually considering a pickup change on that guitar to see if I can't get it to the point where I could play it out with some confidence. Originally Posted by petestorz
I've seen some Eastman acoustic archtops that come equipped with non adjustable pickups. My thought is that they would be more prone to feedback and balance issues since their poles can't be adjusted to help compensate for troublesome frequencies.
As for the El Rey series, I agree that they are wonderful instruments. I own an El Rey 2 and think the world of it; however, I would never try and compare it to the 810 since they are vastly different instruments. The way I use them, the comparison would be equivalent to saying that a Gibson Les Paul is better than a Taylor guitar. They are simply too different to directly compare.
-
I had the 910ce with the floating Kent Armstrong pickup by the neck which I think is pretty standard, though my model was from maybe about ten years ago so I'm not sure if they've changed anything on them since. I had more wolf tone problems than actual feedback with that guitar. Was very strange. If I played any long held notes on the A string (usually between the C and the E) the notes would crescendo on their own and take over everything.
Ya I didn't mean to compare those two guitars as they are totally different animals. I think I just prefer having the el rey because for me it's such a work horse and does everything from jazz and rock to metal.
-
Hi Moonray
the pick I play is a V-Pick "Snake" pointed and I play this now since 4 years. The best pick for me, but you are right, on acoustic guitars it makes a little click noise
all the best
Wolfgang
Reply With Quote
“Shearing style”
Today, 05:26 PM in Comping, Chords & Chord Progressions