Benedetto A6 pickup for an Eastman AR503CE?

[DanielleOM]

I am thinking of ordering an A6 for my Eastman AR503CE.

I like the plugged in sound of my Benedetto Bravo with A6, and think it will improve the plugged in sound of the Eastman AR503CE. There seems to be a real clarity of notes that I hear with the Bravo plugged in compared to the Eastman plugged in.

Unplugged I like the Eastman much better. (I think the Bravo might have some loose hardware somewhere that might be setting up some weird vibration. I tend to hear it acoustically. There's a few notes that make it sound like somewhat like a card board box rather than a fine archtop. I bought it used and it's about 7 years old. As I write this I wonder if it might be something loose within the A6 in which case I would not want another one.)

I am not crazy about keeping gold pickups clean. Would rather have flat black. I really do not care for the shiny black enamel alternative they offer.

Although I have played guitar for many years this would be my first trip down routed in humbucker pickup change lane.

Danielle

[keith]

If you do make the change, if you have the ability it would be great to hear a before and after recording of the guitar!

[whiskey02]

I would strongly recommend a Duncan Seth Lover over the A6, especially as you're so pleased with the acoustic tone you've got.
As for the vibration, first thing to do is take a screwdriver and gently test that your tuners are snugged up properly, then check the finger rest. Test every screw that doesn't move something (pup height), don't turn it as tight as you can, just make sure they don't turn easily. If it's a floater the wire can easily touch something as produce artifact.

[DanielleOM]

I went ahead and ordered the A6 feeling comfortable going with something that I know and like. The description on the Seymour Duncan site seems to match what I hear. I went with the gold one. I really wanted to see if I could bring the Benedetto plugged in sound to the Eastman.

Easily accessed screws on the Bravo seem to be tight enough. I need get an allen key to remove pot knobs and verify the nuts holding the pots in place are tight enough. This guitar has a push pull switch.


Danielle

[Eddie Lang]

I look forward to hear your report. The pickup is one thing I'd like to change on my 503.

[GNAPPI]

I have a B6 and a Schaller that I bought for my ES-195 to replace the P94's and I plan on "getting around to it" this week.

If you haven't heard it, there's a youtube B6 demo by Ivan Bulecevich.

And the Benedetto A6 & Eastman Archtop Medley on youtube

I like the B6 a bit better.

[va3ux]

Apply a couple of good thick coats of car wax to the new pickup before you install it. That creates a physical barrier between the gold finish and the air and skin oil. It will prolong the life of the gold finish. Works on other guitar hardware too; gold or not.

[blackcat]

Hi Danielle,

I have enjoyed the A6 in the neck position of my Peerless Renaissance Custom for some time now, except for one thing. At volume it produces a certain resonance/buzz on both my Cube 60 and DV Mark Little Jazz on the low E string unless I roll the bass right back on the amps. I have screwed in the pole piece as far as poss' but simply do not understand it.

Hope you like yours but if anyone has a perspective on this I really would be grateful. Thank you en avance.

[blackcat]

Update - lowered the p/u ( more than previously ) on bass side and problem solved.

[whiskey02]

I do the same on my guitars. I usually like to keep as much bass and mids on the amp (within reason) to thicken up the tone on the higher strings, so if you drop the bass side of the pickup, you can keep the fat tone without the bass strings booming.

[DanielleOM]

I finally got the pickup changed in my Eastman AR503CE. Both I and the bass player I play with regularly liked what we were hearing. We wired it and used component values per the Seymour Duncan - Benedetto A6 data sheet. We used the push pull switch arrangement that lets you choose between series or parallel coil winding connections.

[rlyacht]

I'm thinking of picking up a used AR803CE. One that I'm looking at on Reverb has had the pickup replaced by a Benedetto A6, as well as having had the tuners "upgraded", with the replacement unspecified.

I know this isn't a vintage guitar where I should care a lot about having all original parts, and I can find out what the tuners on now are. But is that pickup truly an upgrade to the Kent Armstrong that the guitar ships with?

[neatomic]

yes its an upgrade


the kent armstrong pickup is not a handmade armstrong but an asian made designed by kent...nothing special...different story if it were a handmade kent armstrong..

the benedetto is made by seymour duncan (one of the true pickup masters) usa made

cheers

[sgosnell]

I agree that it's an upgrade, without question. That pickup sounds great for jazz. I have one in my 18" Wu, and it sounds great.

[Cunamara]

Kent, however, speaks well of the Korean made versions of his pickups. They are hand made by one guy, in Korea rather than United States, to Kent's specifications and designs.

[sgosnell]

The Korean-made Armstrong pickup is not bad. But I prefer the Benedetto. It's wound to a much higher resistance, and has a higher output, so the volume can be reduced quite a bit and still have a great sound. Not everyone will agree with me on this, but that's my opinion.

[neatomic]

Where did you hear this? dongho electronic factory in sk has been making armstrongs pickups for years... they manufacture pickups and parts for many in the industry.