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Hi everyone!
Newbie here.
I bought a new Ibanez AS200 at the end of 2018. Since then I just (try to) play Jazz with it. Thomastik BB113 and a Fender-ish clean amp, no complaints here.
Recently I want to get more versatility out of it, so I put a set of Daddario .011 gauge (exl115) and add some overdrive to play not just Jazz, but also some blues.
The problem is that it seems that the pickups are TOO hot. Nice clean sound, fat and defined, but don't match well with anything over the edge of breakup.
Is it the caracter of the Super 58?
Is that guitar more oriented to play jazz than a 335 wich can do well all things?
Thanks in advance for your answers.Last edited by CharlesR; 09-11-2020 at 10:36 AM.
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09-11-2020 05:59 AM
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Try lowering the pickups closer to their pickup rings. Super 58's are used on many of Ibanez's high end and artist models.
Also, they have AlNiCo 3 magnets which should give you an over smooth and balanced output.
The only caveat is if your AS200 has Super 58 'Customs'. Those are typically used in Ibanez's lesser models and some users don't care for them. I'm not sure what their specs are.
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Originally Posted by CharlesR
Last edited by citizenk74; 09-11-2020 at 02:39 PM. Reason: rephrase
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It's a semihollow and IME those often don't work that well with a lot of distortion. Seems like the signal is more complicated compared to a solidbody. On the edge of breakup sounds great (BB King, John Scofield- who played an AS200 for decades- and Warren Haynes to name a few.).
Lower pickups or even just roll the volume knobs down can help. My Ibanez GB10 has really hot pickups and those are often at 6 or so even at gig volume.
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The recent super 58s are clearly hotter than those from the eary 1980s. I have originals on my 1980 AS200 and they are very close in sound to the PAFs on my 1961 ES175D - marginally hotter, but that's fine for blues - I keep the volume below 8 for jazz. I also have a 2014 AR420 with recent Super 58s (trisound) - in humbucker mode I stay below 6 for jazz, or switch to a less strident parallel sound.
I suggest either rolling off the volume on the guitar, or lowering the pickups and/or polepieces.
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Originally Posted by Gitfiddler
I already try to lowering the pickups, the problem remains.
The pickups are the stock ones, so must be the good ones.
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Originally Posted by Cunamara
As far as I know, Scofield use two AS200, and one of them with Florance Voodoo pickups instead of Super58. I start to supect why
Past week I try for a couple of days some guitars from some friends.
Gibson BB King all stock, no problem.
Gibson 335 with Lollar Imperial, no problem
Ibanez GB 12, PROBLEM
What I perceive with the GB12 is the same with the AS200, is like those pickups fill the headroom of the pedals and the amp really fast.
The only improvement was run the OD at 18 volts.
Next week I'll try the JSM100, will report the experience.
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Originally Posted by Ray175
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Originally Posted by citizenk74
Thanks CitizenK.
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Originally Posted by Cunamara
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Originally Posted by Lobomov
I'm asking about the nature of the AS200 with the Super 58. For sure, changing the pickups will change the sound.
The JSM100 that I'll try next week have some years more than my AS200, so I want to test these set of Super 58, just curious.
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Originally Posted by CharlesR
Looking forward to your thought after you test drive a JSM100.
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you went from pure nickel thoms to nickel plated steel d'addario...more magnetic output
try lowering the pups and return to pure nickel strings...just about every string company makes pure nickel rounds
also how do you tame a pup?..roll back the guitar knobs..it's electrical..suddenly your 8.8k pickup is 7k
luck
cheers
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Originally Posted by Gitfiddler
BTW, both the JSM and the AS200 usually (varies from year to year) came wit 13's with a plain G, so you may be right, Ibanez thinks in a specific voice for that guitars.
I'll post my thoughts on the test drive.
Thank you Gitfiddler!
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Originally Posted by neatomic
Rolling back the vol pot tame the volumen, and the gain, but the excessive low mids from the Super 58 are still heavy present.
Thanks Neatomic.
At the end I guess that this is the sound of the guitar. I love it clean, even with 11's, but don't like anything above off-clean blues tone with it.
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Originally Posted by CharlesR
thoms are very unique!!
also the super 58' were originally low wind paf style...many in the 6.8k/under 7k range
i'd doubt the newer "58's" are that low wound
anyways sounds like you figuring it out
cheers
ps- good current low wind paf style pups are lollar low wind imperials and guild hb-2's...right around the 7k mark
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Originally Posted by neatomic
Also thinking in get a set of the old Super 58's...
Thanks again Neatomic!
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what's odd to me is that when i've played those, they always seem to be more rock than jazz to me...like getting a rock/blues sound was so easy, but they didn't have the beefiness of a 335
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Update.
JSM100 and AS200, both with .011 D'addario pure nickel, sounds the same. Different feel when playing but not in sound.
The pure nickels sounds really nice after several hours of playing, but don't solve the problem.
I'll put again the Thomastik BB113 and enjoy that guitar for jazz only.
Too hot and loud pickups, and at least with my setup not so versatile.
Thanks you all for the comments .
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So, I just picked up an Ibanez AS120, pretty much the same guitar, same pickups, MIK instead of Japan, and I must say, I seem to be finding the same thing, these pickups are dark as heck.. not like Seth Lovers or Classic 57s at all... I think it is better for jazz, but not as good for rock
I don't have money now, but eventually I'll probably put some Seth Lovers in it, or maybe someother PAF style pickup that has more upper mids
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Originally Posted by patshep
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Originally Posted by Lobomov
I never like any Ibanez pickups, but love the guitars, like PRS is the same for me
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Originally Posted by CharlesR
Ed Cherry at Small Last Night (6/3/24)
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