Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: JamesHealey on April 18, 2008, 08:18:24 AM

Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: JamesHealey on April 18, 2008, 08:18:24 AM
I've got a 1980 ES335S Deluxe Professional.
This is basically a solidbodied les paul/sg style guitar with mahogany body,neck and ebony board.

It's currently got Gibson DirtyFingers pickups which are the originals and they're on the right track tonally so I don't want to deviate too far, they've got something nice about them but they're a bit muddy and undefined compared to my other guitars.

Suggestions!? I was thinking maybe Cold Sweats?
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: Twinfan on April 18, 2008, 08:44:09 AM
Gotta be Cold Sweats I think :)
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: kellar on April 18, 2008, 02:43:40 PM
Ooohhh, I like those old Gibson Dirty Fingers. I used to have a pair and kicked myself later for selling them. Make sure you hang on to them.
With that said, there doesn't seem to be anything that BKP's can't do. Hope you find the right pair. :)
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: maverickf1jockey on April 18, 2008, 03:24:06 PM
You sure it's a solidbody?

The Gibson ES series are all semi-hollowbodies to my knowledge.

ES=Electro Spanish I believe.

If this is the case I'd say Stormy Mondays or Mules.
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: noodleplugerine on April 18, 2008, 03:33:50 PM
Quote from: maverickf1jockey
You sure it's a solidbody?

The Gibson ES series are all semi-hollowbodies to my knowledge.

ES=Electro Spanish I believe.

If this is the case I'd say Stormy Mondays or Mules.


I think the guy knows whether his own guitar is a solidbody - And in this case, the guitar certainly is a solid body.

And gorgeous guitars they are too.
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: maverickf1jockey on April 18, 2008, 03:49:37 PM
If the S at the end stands for studio those were made without the tell tale F-holes of the rest of the ES line so could be confused for a solidbody quite easily.

Could you tell us, JamesHealey, if the body is particularly large (or, better still give us a picture) so we can resolve this little dispute.
Title: Re: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: Transcend on April 18, 2008, 03:52:01 PM
Quote from: JamesHealey
I've got a 1980 ES335S Deluxe Professional.
This is basically a solidbodied les paul/sg style guitar with mahogany body,neck and ebony board.

It's currently got Gibson DirtyFingers pickups which are the originals and they're on the right track tonally so I don't want to deviate too far, they've got something nice about them but they're a bit muddy and undefined compared to my other guitars.

Suggestions!? I was thinking maybe Cold Sweats?


i know someone who will most likely buy those pickups off you.
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: Will on April 18, 2008, 03:52:16 PM
After searching on t'internet machine, it seems it is solid, maybe the S is for solidbody?

Please get cold sweats, so you can compare them to DF for me please :D
Still unresolved issue of my bridge P'up and what to do with it
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: blue on April 18, 2008, 04:02:47 PM
yeah, i,ve seen these guitars before.  early eighties, solid body, smaller than a 335 i think? and fitted with Dirty Fingers.  if i remember rightly they were walnut.
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: maverickf1jockey on April 18, 2008, 04:03:06 PM
Yes, I found it and, yes, it is a solidbody.

In my defence it isn't an ES and was not listed as such in the catalogue.

It looks to be along the lines of a LPjr double cut, providing I've found the right guitar.
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: Philly Q on April 18, 2008, 04:04:11 PM
Quote from: Will
After searching on t'internet machine, it seems it is solid, maybe the S is for solidbody?

It certainly is.  :)

James, is it the type with a natural finish and a "firebrand" Gibson logo?  I remember that model very well, but not sure if I ever saw one in any other finish.

There's a picture of one about halfway down this page (he says it has a maple body, but I think that's an error!):

http://www.xhefriguitars.com/page12.html
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: maverickf1jockey on April 18, 2008, 04:11:25 PM
The 1980 Gibson catalogue I found did no list it as an ES-model though it is evidently based upon the ES335 shape.
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: gwEm on April 18, 2008, 04:14:33 PM
Quote from: Will
Please get cold sweats, so you can compare them to DF for me please :D
Still unresolved issue of my bridge P'up and what to do with it


They have an overall similar EQ and vibe, but just very generally - actually they are quite different pickups and I don't think you'd mistake them.

The Dirty Fingers have a certain 'messed up-ness' to them, which I think can be cool in some situations. I also think the Dirty Fingers have alot more mid range grind. Cold Sweat has a very mild mid range.

Cold Sweat has a rather extended treble response, which I think is pretty nice. I'd say both pups have a similar bass response.

Dirty Fingers is quite compressed - it sounds good dirty and clean, but 'breaking up' tones are not very good in my opinion. Cold Sweat is alot more versatile in this regard, handles all gain levels... Maybe the DF bridge sounds a bit nicer clean than the CS though, but very hard to say.

In terms of output I find them both to be similar levels.

DFs are the best commercial pickups I tried, i have a set of early 80s ones. they didn't come potted are were very microphonic before I potted them. CSs are 'better' than the DFs in quite a few ways, but they are not really that close.

500T is closer to DF than CS.

Soon I will have a Painkiller bridge in a guitar... I'm interested to hear the difference on my rig. Previously I just heard them through Feline's rig.
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: ericsabbath on April 18, 2008, 06:14:54 PM
judging by clips, the cold sweat sounds more like duncan custom, but has more mid grind and life
i love the duncan custom (my favorite duncan pup) but it's a bit scooped and the highs are kinda sterile

the painkiller sounds closer do the 500t, but without the harshness and a bit more middy
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: badgermark on April 18, 2008, 06:31:30 PM
They are some seriously nice guitars. Looks kinda like the PRS Mira in body shape though... Gibson going to get their sue-ing hat on?
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: JamesHealey on April 18, 2008, 06:56:03 PM
It's solidbodied.. it's silver burst.

it's the Deluxe Professional one, which was the top end one.
Ebony Finger Board, Brass Nut etc.
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: JamesHealey on April 18, 2008, 07:03:05 PM
http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/gib80p28.php - it's this guitar but in silver burst :)

from what I can gather

the 335-S had 3 models

Deluxe, Brass nut and bound ebony board

Custom, Plastic nut and rosewood board

Standard, Plastic Nut and Maple body and Rosewood board
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: lulusg on April 18, 2008, 08:13:32 PM
Very nice guitar JH!
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: Philly Q on April 18, 2008, 08:56:31 PM
Quote from: JamesHealey
http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/gib80p28.php - it's this guitar but in silver burst :)

Very cool  8) !  And unusual too, so a bit of a talking point.

I remember many years ago there was a bloke called Gary Cooper (not the chap from High Noon) who wrote reviews for Sounds and some other magazines.  He reviewed a Firebrand 335-S and was so impressed he bought it.
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: Prawnik on April 19, 2008, 11:00:53 AM
Dirty Fingers are some of my favorite pickups.  In my 335 they sound like a hydrogen bomb.

Hang on to them or better yet, sell them to me.  :D
Title: I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups
Post by: JamesHealey on April 19, 2008, 06:56:12 PM
haha, they're not for sale wouldn't sell them it'd devalue the guitar.