ES-335 Question

ChasFred

ChasFred

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OK, I love my Epi 335 Pro, it plays beautifully for me.
I do not like the pick ups though.

I know we have some 335 players on here, what are you running for p'ups?
I have a set of Gibson 498 I could use, but I am not sure they would be a good match for a 335.

Input please.
 
hey..have one coming...going to prob have some custom wound. What are you going for? I am looking for more of Larry Carlton type mellow OD & then get into warren haynes range. The 57's are always classic on em..look at most Gibson model 335. Its a classic combination for more of what a 335 was used for. I am keeping mine on the jazz/rock side of things. Discussing a wind..we are thinking 7.5 neck & 8k on bridge..unpotted for an airy side.i have no floor noise into my fender to worry about .I Use the blend a whole bunch want to take advantage of how 335 are so full sounding. srry min rant..just chomping at the bit to get into the studio with a 335 . I wouldn't put a 498 in..its a great pickup ..in my case i use it in my hot set up LP. I guess it come down to..what are yuu using it for..I been really digging into this subject..pots too..got to have right values .
 
I am looking for a good clean tone, I run a Mesa Mini Rec so if I need a little dirt that is not a problem.
I am thinking maybe Larry Carlton with a touch of Dicky Betts.

I was thinking maybe the S.D. Seth Lovers, but have not found anybody playing them to talk to.
@smitty_p talk to us buddy, tell us the scoop on the '59s, are they a 4 wire p'up?
 
BFT Gibson said:
talk to me !! very interested to hear about 59's in 335. i love that pup
Click to expand...

For starters, my “335” is actually a Washburn HB-30.

There are a few ergonomic and stylistic differences, but it’s semi-hollow construction and materials are the same as a 335. Honestly, I prefer this guitar to a 335.

Here’s a picture:

1566507780808.png

Anyway...the 59s sound great in the guitar.

They’re thick and warm, without sounding muddy. But, you still have enough high end to get a good crunch and not get lost in the mix.

I also have 500k ohm pots for volume and tone, with .022 mfd caps.

It can really rock, yet get mild for cleaner work. I can use it for just about anything.

The ‘59s can be purchased as a four-wire p’up or a two-wire.
 
Last edited:
smitty_p said:
For starters, my “335” is actually a Washburn HB-30.

There are a few ergonomic and stylistic differences, but it’s semi-hollow construction and materials are the same as a 335. Honestly, I prefer this guitar to a 335.

Here’s a picture:

View attachment 30222

Anyway...the 59s sound great in the guitar.

They’re thick and warm, without sounding muddy. But, you still have enough high end to get a good crunch and not get lost in the mix.

I also have 500k ohm pots for volume and tone, with .022 mfd caps.

It can really rock, yet get mild for cleaner work. I can use it for just about anything.

The ‘59s can be purchased as a four-wire p’up or a two-wire.
Click to expand...
That sir is a very good 335 set up..all the right stuff..nice guitar !!
 
ChasFred said:
I am looking for a good clean tone, I run a Mesa Mini Rec so if I need a little dirt that is not a problem.
I am thinking maybe Larry Carlton with a touch of Dicky Betts.

I was thinking maybe the S.D. Seth Lovers, but have not found anybody playing them to talk to.
@smitty_p talk to us buddy, tell us the scoop on the '59s, are they a 4 wire p'up?
Click to expand...
i am torn between the 57-59-seth...all good stuff..Smitty got the awesome 59 set up above.All 3 of those are great 335 pickups. My pickup guy said he can get me in the range i was seeking....with in all actuality is prob a lil of all 3 of those...we need a 335 club here //so anticipating a 335 more than any guitar in a long time. SG & 335 was my guitars in 2016 when had to learn it.
 
smitty_p said:
For starters, my “335” is actually a Washburn HB-30.

There are a few ergonomic and stylistic differences, but it’s semi-hollow construction and materials are the same as a 335.

Here’s a picture:

View attachment 30222

Anyway...the 59s sound great in the guitar.

They’re thick and warm, without sounding muddy. But, you still have enough high end to get a good crunch.

I also have 500k ohm pots for volume and tone, with .022 mfd caps.

It can really rock, yet get mild for cleaner work. I can use it for just about anything.

The ‘59s can be purchased as a four-wire p’up or a two-wire.
Click to expand...

Thanks fofr the info, that is a sweet looking Gitter you have there.
What ever I get I want the 4 wire so I can tap/split the coils.
I have all ready ordered new pots and cap, selector switch for the project.

Oh yeah and plastic air tubing to help pull the parts into place.
 
BFT Gibson said:
i am torn between the 57-59-seth...all good stuff..Smitty got the awesome 59 set up above.All 3 of those are great 335 pickups. My pickup guy said he can get me in the range i was seeking....with in all actuality is prob a lil of all 3 of those...we need a 335 club here //so anticipating a 335 more than any guitar in a long time. SG & 335 was my guitars in 2016 when had to learn it.
Click to expand...

Listening online through headphones I like the seth the best, they are not waxed and seem to be a bit more airy sounding.
Jury is still out though. Hopefully @Col Mustard will see this and chime in, he has a 339 and he ALWAYS has good advice also.
 
I am running these in my Epi Dot.


I wasn't sure how they would be as they are not potted but at normal gig levels I'm not getting any feedback. Even though they are designed for metal and I don't even use any pedals they are very nice pickups. They are very loud so it is easy to overdrive most amps without a pedal. They clean up nice as you back off the guitar volume. I used 50s style wiring so I have a full range on the volume controls. They are very articulate. Even when the amp is overdriven you can hear the individual strings clearly.

Changing pickups in a semi hollow can be daunting the first time you do it. Go slow and have a plan. Pull strings through all the pot holes and the switch hole and fish them out of the F hole. Do one string at a time or you may get the wrong pot on the wrong hole. Don't ask how I know this. Be very sure of your wiring before you fish everything into place. The first time I played mine live a ground wire came off one of the pots. It is a major pain trying to fix that. I basically had to fish the whole assembly out, fix it, then fish it all back in. There are lots of videos on Youtube. Watch a few before you start then write a plan.
 
Kerry Brown said:
I am running these in my Epi Dot.


I wasn't sure how they would be as they are not potted but at normal gig levels I'm not getting any feedback. Even though they are designed for metal and I don't even use any pedals they are very nice pickups. They are very loud so it is easy to overdrive most amps without a pedal. They clean up nice as you back off the guitar volume. I used 50s style wiring so I have a full range on the volume controls. They are very articulate. Even when the amp is overdriven you can hear the individual strings clearly.

Changing pickups in a semi hollow can be daunting the first time you do it. Go slow and have a plan. Pull strings through all the pot holes and the switch hole and fish them out of the F hole. Do one string at a time or you may get the wrong pot on the wrong hole. Don't ask how I know this. Be very sure of your wiring before you fish everything into place. The first time I played mine live a ground wire came off one of the pots. It is a major pain trying to fix that. I basically had to fish the whole assembly out, fix it, then fish it all back in. There are lots of videos on Youtube. Watch a few before you start then write a plan.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input Kerry, I will look into these as well. I am not familiar with them but that is not an issue.
I have rewired many 335 style guitars in the past. I have always had good luck using the air tubing from an aquarium.
 
ChasFred said:
Thanks for the input Kerry, I will look into these as well. I am not familiar with them but that is not an issue.
I have rewired many 335 style guitars in the past. I have always had good luck using the air tubing from an aquarium.
Click to expand...

Aquarium air tubing is my technique, too.

At actually makes a wiring a semi-hollow a fairly simple process.
 
i just spent some interesting time working out leads for next song on Mon
78 t bucker
490/490
61 zebra

i am def going to go A2 in 335.. love the 490's for thick--edge of break up....the SGJ & faded are on all my recordings i post, The 335 hunt has helped me understand my likes. Never knew why until started to dig into the pickups. Going to have a pair built just under 490 in hotness but unpotted custom wound, The lil bit of sting but still big & wooly on the neck . Sat get here..
 
I really like the Manlius "Fat Diane" pickups. I have them in an SG and my Flying V build. Mick makes awesome pickups, and the "Fat Diane" is based off of a set of '60 ES-335 PAFs. If I had a 335, these would probably be the pickups I would use. Especially since his prices are not sky high for custom wound pickups. He is also great to deal with. When you place an order, you can tell him what kind of guitar the pickups are for, and the sound you're chasing.

Fat Diane PAF
 
ChasFred said:
OK, I love my Epi 335 Pro, it plays beautifully for me.
I do not like the pick ups though.

I know we have some 335 players on here, what are you running for p'ups?
I have a set of Gibson 498 I could use, but I am not sure they would be a good match for a 335.

Input please.
Click to expand...

That's a fairly high gain pickup...
 
ChasFred said:
I am looking for a good clean tone, I run a Mesa Mini Rec so if I need a little dirt that is not a problem.
I am thinking maybe Larry Carlton with a touch of Dicky Betts.

I was thinking maybe the S.D. Seth Lovers, but have not found anybody playing them to talk to.
@smitty_p talk to us buddy, tell us the scoop on the '59s, are they a 4 wire p'up?
Click to expand...

I'll send you some .018uf caps when you are ready...
 
ChasFred said:
OK, I love my Epi 335 Pro, it plays beautifully for me.
I do not like the pick ups though.

I know we have some 335 players on here, what are you running for p'ups?
I have a set of Gibson 498 I could use, but I am not sure they would be a good match for a 335.

Input please.
Click to expand...

I have some Gibson humbucker pickups here in the 7-8k range, 4 wire too...
 
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