MHS PAFs in Ibanez SJ500

**h1pst3r88** · 01-02-2021, 09:48 AM

Hey folks,

I am considering putting in a set of Gibson's Memphis Historic Spec PAF pups in my newly-acquired Ibanez SJ500. Does anyone have any experience with the MHS pups that can share some feedback (pardon the pun) about their tone?

Thanks!

-Chris

**ThatRhythmMan** · 01-02-2021, 10:01 AM

Chris,
I like them a lot. I bought a few sets shortly after they came out. A lot of people were taking them out of the ES Les Pauls. I think they are somewhat on the brighter side of PAF reproductions, but have a lot of clarity. The bright edge is easily managed with a tone control if desired. I’ve been putting them in guitars that have had PAFs and early Pat # pickups harvested for Les Pauls with great results. I recently put some in this Barney Kessel.

**h1pst3r88** · 01-02-2021, 10:21 AM

RhythmMan, thanks for that -- very timely video!

I think I prefer the brighter side as I can roll it off, and can potentially dial in the range I want with the right capacitor value; I prefer that as opposed to not being able to hear a tone's detail through excessive wool.

However, does the "clarity" ever get to being ice-picky and do they possess that elusive PAF harmonic complexity and texture across the strings? I just sold my Conti with a vintage Tim Shaw PAF in the neck position that I thought would be the PAF for me, but it wasn't (or maybe it was the guitar).

Thanks!

-Chris

**Marty Grass** · 01-02-2021, 10:25 AM

I do think that Gibson competes with its self with its pickups. I have a couple of semi-hollows with MHS pickups. They sound very good and a little brighter like Seth Lovers. I agree that the tone pot is all that's necessary to get what you want, assuming you have a good amp.

What is the consensus on them? Like every pickup, there is no consensus. Here's an example of the range of opinions.

https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/mhs-pickups-review.410502

**h1pst3r88** · 01-02-2021, 10:30 AM

I play through a '63 Vibroverb re-issue. I also have a modeler (HeadRush) and a little Quilter 101... but I play through the Vibroverb almost all the time.

**lawson-stone** · 01-02-2021, 10:50 AM

Are these pickups now available for general purchase?

**h1pst3r88** · 01-02-2021, 11:21 AM

No, Lawson, I found a VOS pair on ebay yesterday, made an offer, and it was accepted.

The set would be a slightly more expensive than two Seth Lovers.

-Chris

**ThatRhythmMan** · 01-02-2021, 12:30 PM

I’ve never found them to be ice-picky at all. I happen to recently have come into a few sets of pickups, including ‘59 PAFs, late (short magnet) PAFs, and very early Pat #s. I have been thinking of using a ‘58 RI Les Paul as a mule and doing a shoot out with these three sets and the original Burstbuckers. Maybe I should throw in an MHS set while I still have one available.

**jazzkritter** · 01-02-2021, 12:50 PM

Chris... congrats on the SJ500, that being 4.5” deep should give some nice tone! Did you find that in the US or elsewhere? Don’t blame you for replacing the Chinese Super 58s they are not the best of Ibanez)

**pingu** · 01-02-2021, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by ThatRhythmMan;[URL="tel:1087598"

1087598[/URL]]I’ve never found them to be ice-picky at all. I happen to recently have come into a few sets of pickups, including ‘59 PAFs, late (short magnet) PAFs, and very early Pat #s. I have been thinking of using a ‘58 RI Les Paul as a mule and doing a shoot out with these three sets and the original Burstbuckers. Maybe I should throw in an MHS set while I still have one available.

wow !
you lucky so and so ...

**Stringswinger** · 01-02-2021, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by ThatRhythmMan

I’ve never found them to be ice-picky at all. I happen to recently have come into a few sets of pickups, including ‘59 PAFs, late (short magnet) PAFs, and very early Pat #s. I have been thinking of using a ‘58 RI Les Paul as a mule and doing a shoot out with these three sets and the original Burstbuckers. Maybe I should throw in an MHS set while I still have one available.

My understanding is that late, short magnet PAF's and the earliest Pat#'s are identical except for the stickers. Then the wire was changed (mid 1963) and eventually the pickup was changed into the T-top (different architecture and different tone).

The thing about PAF's (particularly the early long magnet version) is that they were not very uniform (they had a random number of windings) so they vary in tone a lot.

I find the MHS pickups a bit bright for my taste and prefer the 57 Classic or even the 490R, but I do admit that any pre-T-top Gibson humbucker is still the king of the hill. And the price they command reflects that fact that I am not alone in that opinion.

**h1pst3r88** · 01-02-2021, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by jazzkritter

Chris... congrats on the SJ500, that being 4.5” deep should give some nice tone! Did you find that in the US or elsewhere? Don’t blame you for replacing the Chinese Super 58s they are not the best of Ibanez)

I found the SJ500 on ebay and hit "buy now" even before I had read the description. The cool thing is that the owner had replaced the tailpiece with an OEM George Benson GB10 tailpiece... from my perspective, this SJ and me were kismet.

The seller was a jazzer in Florida who had the heaviest flats on the guitar that I had ever played. With those strings it was a bit dead... until I changed to some Elixir nano 11s I was calling the SJ "the log".

Once I changed strings that guitar just blossomed! The tone is quite exceptional. The build quality, too, is really excellent. I have wanted an SJ500 ever since I saw one here on the forum several years ago.

I don't hate the custom 58's but the bridge pup has something wrong with it, it's lower output then it should be; I find the neck pup to sound very nice indeed. However, a solid set of pups as a replacement and having my luthier (Mark Herbert in Brookline Village -- Pat Metheny's guy) replace the whole circuit should give me peace of mind for many years to come.

That's why I was asking about the MHS pups... but there are so many great PAFs out there now I am not sure what I want to do.

I will post a NDG post for the SJ soon.

-Chris

**Lobomov** · 01-02-2021, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by h1pst3r88

That's why I was asking about the MHS pups

I've always liked the MHS pups a lot. But I always like my pups slightly on the bright side. Also I tend to like alnico3 pups. A bit sweeter than the more common alnico2.

I mean there are plenty of good pups out there and a zillion good options, but I'd gladly put a set of mhs pups in my PM120 (Been wanting to swap the silent58s for a while now)

**GNAPPI** · 01-02-2021, 10:19 PM

If you like a slightly brighter sound and / or have no problem rolling off the tone controls, they're easy to get used to. They're clear for sure.

**arnie65** · 01-31-2021, 09:12 PM

Chris,

I have a Gibson Memphis ES Les Paul, which is the guitar these pickups (MHS) were made for. The pickups are probably the best Gibson ever developed for Jazz, they are not and were never up for sale to the general public and the only way you can get a pair is by buying them used from someone. They are a bit mid heavy, which is understandable since the ES Les Paul is a marriage of the 335 and a Les Paul. The neck PU (Alnico III) is fat, thick, and full and the bridge is Alnico V. I like them better than the Ibanez Super 58's for jazz. If anyone states the they're bright, they probably have them too close to the strings. Kent Armstrong sells an even better set for jazz guitars, they also have Alnico III on the neck and Alnico V on the bridge, they are the best I've heard so far and many boutique Luthier's are using them in their high end jazz guitars.

Cheers,
Arnie..