Best BKP for ES-335

[Sambrowne]

Hi guys,

I have an ES-335 (It's a Yamaha Jap copy from the golden era of the 70s.  This one is a 1977 SA-2000S - absolutely amazing guitar with a cedar top) which I'd like to fit out with BKPs.  I already have two les pauls with BKP Rebel Yells (God I love those pickups) but I'd like something that will really allow the hollow body to shine. 

I'm thinking perhaps something slightly lower output than the Rebel Yells, but still aggressive enough to palm mute at times.  Or perhaps the Rebel Yell would be the way to go, with the different body shape and characteristics changing the tone so much that having the same pickup need not mean I have three guitars that sound too similar.  OR perhaps a slightly HIGHER output pickup would be better since the guitar lacks the density and low end of the les paul so a higher output would ensure it's still heavy sounding enough to hang with the paul.

I play rock stuff described as a listener as  "Ryan Adams jamming with the Killers" which is pretty accurate.  I'm looking for a big, heavy tone that still lets the hollow body's sweet integral tone shine through.  Tall order, I know.

What do you guys think?

Hear the guitar in action (and in the application of what I think of as my sound) here:
www.myspace.com/blackriverdrive

The song "Bullet" is the best indicator of what I want it to do really.

[MrBump]

I'd have to say Mules.

Mules are just so versatile, as a "lower" output pup.  For me, in a Yam SG, they do everything from BB King through to Motorhead, and do it brilliantly.  Can't see them being any less good in a semi.

Mark.

[kevinr]

Pig 90 bridge and Mississippi Queen at the neck would sound great in this type of guitar, maybe someone who has this set in a semi will comment.

[Twinfan]

I'd suggest Alnico IV Stormy Mondays - clear, lowish output to allow the guitar to come through, and tight enough to rock if required  :)

[38thBeatle]

Having heard a set of Stormy Mondays in a semi recently I think I would go with Twinfan though I am not a humbucker expert by any stretch.

[tomjackson]

I'm debating this myself at the moment.....

Fourth Feline has advised a lot on this but my understanding is:-

Stormy Mondays, balanced and sweet, I had AII in a different guitar but probably too soft and refined for your music.  AIV would have more definition but I still think you would want more kick

Riff Raffs, 60's 335 PAF tone, could be just what you need.  One of my main contenders

MQ's I'm very interested in these for Jazz / Blues / Rock but never tried them. 

Not much help I'm afraid....

[AndyR]

Like the tunes :D (and the guitar sounds)

Yeah, I'm thinking Riff Raffs too.

[Ratrod]

Another vote for Riff Raffs.

[Twinfan]

Just be aware that Riff Raffs are BRIGHT.....

[AndyR]

That's what tone controls are for :lol:

More seriously though, I'd have written "BRIGHT" in caps a week or so ago.

But I've just moved mine from an Epi SG to a Gibson SG.

In the Epi they were BRIGHT, in the Gibson they have bite still, but I wouldn't call them bright at all - they are nice and chewy, they are almost perfect. Also, while doing this, and posting in some recent threads, I recall I had them in my very woody Gibson Explorer for a few weeks - they weren't bright enough in that!!

I'm thinking Riff Raffs for SamBrowne because of the tracks I was listening to, and also because of how I know they would work in a semi I used to have.

Mine was a Westone Rainbow (one of the earliest ones where the body/ears shape was still E335) - it was a warm, woody sounding semi. Riff Raffs would have been perfect for what I wanted in that guitar - and the sounds I lean towards are quite similar to Sam's.

The only thing I'd say Sam, is this - what does your semi sound like accoustically? I tried a Gibson 335 a year or so ago, the missus was ready to buy it even, but it just didn't feel sexy for me. It sounded thin and quite hard accoustically to my ears - not reminiscent of my old Rainbow at all. It was still "woody", and I'm sure someone would love it, but I wanted a mellower, resonant, sort of vibe, so I didn't go for it. I reckon that Riff Raffs in that Gibson would have been too bright for me...

[Mr. Air]

Here's a link to a Ron Ulu track where he plays a es335 with riff raffs. Might be helpful?

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=14533.0

[Philly Q]

Stormy Mondays seem to be the "go-to" recommendation for 335s, but I'm pretty sure I've seen Riff Raffs recommended for a Larry Carlton tone.

My ES-339 has quite a lot of bright "snap" to its acoustic tone, although it can also sound very sweet and warm amplified.  I personally think Riff Raffs could sound overly bright in my guitar, and if I was planning a pickup change (which I'm not) I'd probably go for the AIV SMs.

I'd guess the cedar topped Yamaha might be a bit warmer sounding acoustically?

[AndyR]

Yeah, that's what I was trying to get across, Philly - bright "snap", and I'd be wary of Riff Raffs. And I did actually wonder what yours sounded like when I was typing.

[PhilKing]

I have AIV Stormy Mondays in my 335 and I think they sound perfect.  If you love the sound of Cream, you can get the perfect Crossroads sound from them.  If you want more grit than that you can use an overdrive and push them as far as you want, ted Nugent is no problem with them, or back off a bit and you've got BB King or Otis Rush.  I had T-Tops in mine (it's a 67), and wasn't really thinking of changing them until I got the AIV SM with Riff Raff in my LP.  Once you atart to listen to BK's then you start to spot problems in other pickups!  I really don't think you need to get hotter than the SM's (I have AII SM's in a PRS Hollowbody clone and they are great too, but not quite as much definition in the high end).  I have a Riff Raff and they take a little getting used to because they are bright, and I'm not sure that they would be my choice in a 335. 

[hunter]

I'd suggest Alnico IV Stormy Mondays - clear, lowish output to allow the guitar to come through, and tight enough to rock if required  :)

+1

It's like asking what colour to chose for a Ferrari. There can be only red :O)