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Another +1 for the hand made KA stuff. I have a hand made KA floating PAF with coil tap and I LOVE this pickup. So versatile. Warm, fat and round and also can great single coil tones. You can't go wrong.
Kent Armstrong Adjustable Built-In PAF (Handmade)
Michael is great to deal with and has great pricing.
'Mike
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03-12-2012 11:41 PM
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I have recently purchased an Eastman ar403. I love it. I'm thinking of replacing the pickup with either Kent Armstrong Jazz or Seymour Duncan Seth Lovers.
Thoughts? Advice?
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If you "love it," then why? Usually one replaces pickups to correct or change something. It might be better to first explain the reason for the proposed swap.
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Very fair point.
1: things can always be better
2: The tone is great, but could be warmer. The top strings are juuuust a little bright. Just a little.
I like te guitar and I like the sound. Any changes I make will be down the track a bit.
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I've had both, and while both pickups can be nice and warm sounding, I think the Seth Lover is the warmer of the two.
The Kent Armstrong is more accurate, and it gives as good as it gets from the guitar. The Seth Lover is more colored, but lots of people like the way it colors the sound. I also think the Seth gives more an electric guitar sound, while the Kent lets more of the acoustical properties of the instrument come through. However, to my ears the acoustical properties of an archtop aren't usually as warm as a nice, warm electric archtop.
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Some say there are differences between Ken's handmade pickups and the foreign ones that you can buy online ... be careful what you purchase
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I would just say to spend a bunch of time with the stock pickup, adjusting the heck out of it, before you spend the time and money to replace. Both overall height and the individual pole piece levels introduce different tonal effects.
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Absolutely agree! That's what I did with my AR403ce. Overall height (lower than how it came from the factory) for tonal balance, and then individual pole pieces for string-to-string balance. With nickel-steel roundwound 12's through a JazzAmp 112 it sounds just the way I want it to!
Originally Posted by rpguitar
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On the other hand, I messed with the stock KA in my AR371 for almost a year before finally opting for Seth Lovers and it did exactly what you're hoping to do with your giutar by toning down its brightness and delivering a very lovely, balanced, warm tone. You won't be disappointed with a switch.
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Having owned each, in Eastman's, and assuming we're talking about a KA handwound, your evaluation of the strength's of each pup could not be more spot on. A handwound KA will definitely let the love (wood) shine through - Excellent job! Originally Posted by Jonathan0996
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The stock pickups are licensed by Kent Armstrong but not made by him (model HPAN-1 or HPAG-1 I believe).
Of those two, I personally would try the Seth Lover as I have a hunch it might be a tad warmer perhaps?
I've had my AR403 for coming on a year almost. I initially planned on replacing the pickup immediately. But I gave it a chance and liked it for the most part. Over time I've found it a tad bright with an almost acoustic like quality to it...not super warm, but nice and clear. But definitely still sounds good.
Another member here (jazzrat) who also has an ar403 recently swapped in a gibson classic 57 and likes it. I'm going to do the same actually as I found a good price on a classic 57 to try in hope it might be a smidge warmer.
I wouldn't expect a huge difference tonally if you're going from the stock pickup to a Seth Lover, Classic 57, etc as I think they are somewhat similar (classic paf types I guess). But you can also upgrade the rest of the electronics (pots, tone cap, jack) at the same time and might as well if you're changing the pickup.
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I think you should just keep it for awhile and play a lot of gigs with it at performance level. Make sure the pole pieces and height are adjusted just right and your amp too. You might find it gives you just the sound you want.
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Hello and welcome Allyn..
It's a built in pickup. Not a big deal. If you don't already have some basic soldering skills, this is a good opportunity. Swap it. It's not hard. Several YouTube vid's to guide you. It's not terribly expensive. It's fun. You can swap back if you're not happy with the result. Seth Lover or Classic 57. Both are a good choice for a nice warm sound. You can usually find an Ebay deal or two on the Classics. If you obsess over acoustic tone (in which case I suppose you would have bought a guitar with a floater in the first place), it's hard to beat an Armstrong 12 pole. See if you can get the info to buy direct as that is a bit cheaper.
I don't recommend swapping the pots for now. There can be a difference in the hole size on the top of the guitar when switching to something like a CTS pot so unless there is a current problem, that can wait.Last edited by Spook410; 09-16-2013 at 04:29 PM.
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I recommend the hand-made Kent Armstrong pickups. He's a great guy and takes it very seriously that you end up being happy with the tone and performance of whatever he winds for you.
He made a replacement p/u for a Borys and sent me the pickup before payment and wanted me to install and play it before paying. He said if I didn't like the sound, I could describe it and he would re-wind to make it work. I played it and immediately sent him the money.
I can't say enough good things about Kent Armstrong, and when my DeArmond 1100 or Johnny Smith p/u's need new magnets or re-winds, they're going straight to him.
Pay the extra money and get an handmade Armstrong and develop a relationship with a real craftsman and genuinely nice guy.
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KA hand wound humbuckers and floaters - I've had them both. Highly recm'd!
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Through the years, I found the pickups I keep are those that brings out the tone of my guitar regardless of price cos I want to play the guitar, not the pickups.
I have installed expensive pickups which I go "wow that's nice pickup" but never reconcile it with the character of the guitar in the end. I have put in cheaper pickups which I go "where's the sound? I only hear my guitar".
In your shoes, I'll first like my guitar and then pick Kent Armstrong if my guitar is more Kent. Seth Lover if my guitar is more Seth ;-p
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So I don't really dig mini humbuckers or floaters but I like full size PAFs. I am getting two new archtops soon and have a 36th Di Marzio and a SD Anlico Pro II for them. How would this Kent Armstrong compare to a classic PAF? Thanks!
Kent Armstrong Adjustable Built-In PAF (Handmade) - DjangoBooks.com
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I've used KA PAF with my arch-top-sound was great and it was floater...:-)
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Hi Kris,
Thanks for the reply and great sound. I have a custom humbucker in P90 format in my Kingpin (which can be seen as close to a floater or mini) and I can make it sound good too... but in this case I am going for a full size PAF because those I know I like.
I am just curious if these sepcific pickup is very different from any other PAF.
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I think real full size PAF/not floater/ sounds more "electric"...I mean good "electric" warm and fat...:-) I also prefer the sound you think about....that was a reason i/ve sold my arch-top with floater.
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Yeah I get you
I am just curious if it sound much different than say a Di Marzio 36th or a Classic 57!
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Lots of great pickups out there, including Kent's.
If you're "searching" for boutique or different, try Kent, or JM Rolph J. M. Rolph Pickups and Rewinding Service, a custom Lollar, or Amalfitano, or etc. etc. (search on The Gear Page for info on all these).
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i've had most of the pickups under discussion here - i.e. 12 pole armstrong mounted; 12 pole armstrong floater; armstrong mini-humbucker (no poles); dimarzio 36th anniversary
every one of these is great - INCLUDING THE ARMSTRONG MINI. i thought i'd need to change the mini armstrong on my campellone either for a full size 12 pole piece or e.g. a lollar js but the more i play it the more i like it (mark would not use it as his standard install if it were not spot on - and it is). the mini preserves the acoustic shimmer of the instrument incredibly well whilst providing great warmth too.
i like the armstrong 12 floater just as much as the armstrong 12 mounted - perhaps even prefer it a shade.
if i still had my guitar with the mounted armstrong i think i would change it for the dimarzio 36th - which is the best mounted paf style pickup i've ever had. it colours the tone more than the armstrong - and that is a good thing - it colours it just right.
the armstrong floating pickups have played a central role in domesticating (taming) the fully acoustic archtop - they make these sometimes over-sensitive instruments seriously usable on stage. i once had a benedetto floating pickup in a campellone archtop and it was nowhere near as good as any of the armstrongs (really - no competition at all - unless you like edgy harsh brittle sounding pickups!).
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One of the biggest difference I notice comparing a stock KA floater on a Korean D'Angelico vs. KA Handwound 12 pole, Benedetto A6, Dimarzio Air Norton, and Bartolini PBF 55/57 is the stock KA pickup hum. Others are quieter. The stock KA has a good jazz mid range but not much high or low. All others I have listed have more complexe sound. I kept mine on because I still consider the stock KA produce a good jazz tone.
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Hi Kris,
Do you know what capacitor and pot are used on your guitar with the KA 12-pole?
I have .022uf with 500k pot sounded too bright.
Yours sound just right!
Rick
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