Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: bandmaster188 on November 01, 2011, 11:30:35 PM

Title: bkp for 335
Post by: bandmaster188 on November 01, 2011, 11:30:35 PM
hi all,
 its probably been asked a thousand times but i'm just about to order new pups for my gibbo 335 and i'm swaying towards a mule in the bridge and a stormy in the neck. i play blues and southern rock stuff.
any thoughts and suggestions to add to the confusion are most welcome!
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: Lezard on November 01, 2011, 11:45:40 PM
That should do the job very nicely.
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: Telerocker on November 01, 2011, 11:46:10 PM
Must a be nice combo, although AIV and AII-magnets not always combine optimal, but there must be some forummembers and ES-users that will comment on that. I have Mules in a mahogany bolt on-guitar (St. Blues) and they are great for blues, pop, classic rock, hardrock and will do even metal if asked. It's on of the most versatile pickups in the range. I have no experience with the Stormy's, but they have a good reputation. Musical, depth, great cleans, can handle classic rock too.
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on November 02, 2011, 01:42:06 AM
Phil - I've fitted Stormy M and Mule combos before and found that they work well together.
Your mule/SM reverse zebra combo was ordered yesterday and should be here in a few days
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: Philly Q on November 02, 2011, 01:49:24 AM
Not sure about the AIV plus AII thing - definitely read it somewhere, and referred to it myself, but I don't know if it's actually true!

Mule/SM sounds a good combo to me.  I'm sure the SM would be a great neck pickup in a 335, but I'd always want something a little tougher in the bridge.
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: bandmaster188 on November 07, 2011, 08:43:31 PM
have given my 335 the open heart surgery it desparately needed and although it took me about 8 hours to complete the procedure the gibbo is sounding better than ever. will let you know what i really think after rehearsal on wednesday. must just say though that the middle positions sounds fantastic so whoever says that alnico II and IV don't mix, need their earholes syringed. :D
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: FernandoDuarte on November 07, 2011, 10:39:42 PM
have given my 335 the open heart surgery it desparately needed and although it took me about 8 hours to complete the procedure the gibbo is sounding better than ever. will let you know what i really think after rehearsal on wednesday. must just say though that the middle positions sounds fantastic so whoever says that alnico II and IV don't mix, need their earholes syringed. :D

What have you done on her???
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: Telerocker on November 07, 2011, 11:16:00 PM
have given my 335 the open heart surgery it desparately needed and although it took me about 8 hours to complete the procedure the gibbo is sounding better than ever. will let you know what i really think after rehearsal on wednesday. must just say though that the middle positions sounds fantastic so whoever says that alnico II and IV don't mix, need their earholes syringed. :D

Thx for sharing and nice to hear they sound excellent.
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: bandmaster188 on November 08, 2011, 07:21:59 PM
hello fernando, just fitted a mule in the bridge and a stormy monday at the neck replacing the stock 57 classic pickups. tried to wire in the new pups through the f hole which was fine for the bridge but the neck pot wouldn't come out (not enough wire) and managed to snap the terminal off of the volume pot so had to remove the complete wiring loom to fit new pot and pickups. 3 times i had to take the loom out and refit due to other problems. got there in the end though and saved a few quid and gained a few more grey hairs.!
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: FernandoDuarte on November 08, 2011, 11:34:21 PM
Ah, alright... I did understand that you had done a bigger surgery...
But I've no desire to touch the wiring on a 335 body :)
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: 'Ash' J. Williams on November 09, 2011, 10:06:01 AM
must just say though that the middle positions sounds fantastic so whoever says that alnico II and IV don't mix, need their earholes syringed. :D

Well, tastes, you know...
I've had quite a few bkp vintage sets since but, when i was discovering BKP and after buying my first set of Mules, i fitted a AIV Mule bridge + AII SM neck combo (not paying attention to what i've read here) and i realized almost immediately that it just didn't work as well as ANY middle position of the calibrated set in my Les Paul or LPC... and i've had Mules, SM, PGs, BD, Emeralds...
Then again, it's no science and if it works for you then it's good !
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: bandmaster188 on November 09, 2011, 06:05:43 PM
like you say ash, it's all down to your own individual ear. one mans medicine is another mans poison and all that!
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: Philly Q on November 09, 2011, 06:18:31 PM
I had a search earlier to see if I could find any posts by Tim about the "AIV+AII" thing.

Lots of posts about AIV, lots about AII, but I couldn't find anything about combining them.

As you say, guys, whatever works for you.  There's no right or wrong here!
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: 'Ash' J. Williams on November 09, 2011, 06:39:34 PM
I had a search earlier to see if I could find any posts by Tim about the "AIV+AII" thing.

It was in a response i received from Tim long time ago and, IIRC he was not saying that it shouldn't be done at all, but that the AIV bridge + AII neck middle sound wasn't as great compared to tried-and-true classics like AV+AII, AV+AIV or Ceramic+AV...
And i saw his point when i tried several others HB sets later on.
I've also noticed that the aforementioned combinations can be founds in most BKP sets but not the AIV bridge/AII neck one... not that i know of at least.
But again, it absolutely doesn't mean that it shouldn't be done !
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: Philly Q on November 09, 2011, 07:05:38 PM
I've also noticed that the aforementioned combinations can be founds in most BKP sets but not the AIV bridge/AII neck one... not that i know of at least.

Yeah, you're right, most of those combinations are already in the range, e.g. AV+AIV (Crawler, Emerald), Ceramic+AV (Cold Sweat, Miracle Man).  Plus of course all the sets with two magnets of the same type.

I don't think there's an AV+AII set as such, but Riff Raff plus Stormy Monday has quite often been recommended for SGs.
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: gordiji on November 09, 2011, 07:40:28 PM
when i wanted to replace my neck pup in a LP, with a stormy II, having already installed a VH 2(AV)   in the bridge
Tim said they would work well together. guess what?.......they do!
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on November 09, 2011, 08:57:26 PM
You're a very brave man Phil ........glad you got it all sorted .

Still it saved me having to swear at a 335 (although I bet you now know why some people are happier to pay for someone else to do it......
Post a piccy of the axe if you have one.....
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: bandmaster188 on November 10, 2011, 06:44:37 PM
(http://)(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee512/bandmaster188/DSC01824.jpg)
probably could have done with a clean, but there it is.
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: bandmaster188 on November 10, 2011, 08:52:07 PM
i can definately see why people pay people like yourself to do a job like this, and i was gonna give up at one stage and bring it down to you to sort out. but after a few beers at a fireworks party, i came home with a mysterious sense of focus and got stuck in.
so there you have it folks  REAL ALE + FIREWORKS = new pickups in 335.

(http://)(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee512/bandmaster188/Photo0132.jpg)

(http://)(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee512/bandmaster188/Photo0133.jpg)
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: FernandoDuarte on November 10, 2011, 10:33:26 PM
I'm thinking in buy a Epiphone 335 body and make a new neck, but I've told to the luthiers I'm friend: "good luck with the wiring, how much shall I pay???"
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: Philly Q on November 10, 2011, 10:41:07 PM
That wiring process looks terrifying.  I just know I'd have a massive tantrum and trash the guitar.  :(
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: bandmaster188 on November 10, 2011, 11:09:33 PM
yeh it is a bit scary especially when you've dropped all the pots and switch inside the guitar. its shite or bust at that point!
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: bandmaster188 on November 10, 2011, 11:14:27 PM
I'm thinking in buy a Epiphone 335 body and make a new neck, but I've told to the luthiers I'm friend: "good luck with the wiring, how much shall I pay???"
not sure fernando. you might find some epiphone 335 bodys on ebay which should give you an idea of how much.
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on November 11, 2011, 12:00:08 AM
The best thing about the Gibson BB King Lucille is the access plate

(http://cdn3.iofferphoto.com/img3/item/381/652/560/gibson-custom-lucille-b-b-king-red-color-electric-01b8d.JPG)
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: Philly Q on November 11, 2011, 12:14:13 AM
I suppose they have to do that because there aren't any f-holes!  :)

My Washburn HB-50 has a back panel too.  But it's a hollowed out mahogany body, rather than a proper semi like a 335.
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: FernandoDuarte on November 11, 2011, 12:18:20 AM
I'm thinking in buy a Epiphone 335 body and make a new neck, but I've told to the luthiers I'm friend: "good luck with the wiring, how much shall I pay???"
not sure fernando. you might find some epiphone 335 bodys on ebay which should give you an idea of how much.

I meaned that I shot the work to the luthier before asking how much for the wiring...
I'm already tracking the bodies on eBay :)
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: bandmaster188 on November 11, 2011, 04:29:27 PM
The best thing about the Gibson BB King Lucille is the access plate

(http://cdn3.iofferphoto.com/img3/item/381/652/560/gibson-custom-lucille-b-b-king-red-color-electric-01b8d.JPG)
i was quite tempted to get the jigsaw out and cut one of those in the back of mine!
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: bandmaster188 on November 11, 2011, 04:31:43 PM
I'm thinking in buy a Epiphone 335 body and make a new neck, but I've told to the luthiers I'm friend: "good luck with the wiring, how much shall I pay???"
not sure fernando. you might find some epiphone 335 bodys on ebay which should give you an idea of how much.

I meaned that I shot the work to the luthier before asking how much for the wiring...
I'm already tracking the bodies on eBay :)
sorry fernando.
i reckon you would be looking at between £70 and £100. that is just a guess though.
Title: Re: bkp for 335
Post by: bandmaster188 on November 12, 2011, 01:47:26 PM
You're a very brave man Phil ........glad you got it all sorted .

Still it saved me having to swear at a 335 (although I bet you now know why some people are happier to pay for someone else to do it......
Post a piccy of the axe if you have one.....

will be playing tonight at the oval tavern in croydon if you fancy it!