PUs for a Semi?

[paulmapp8306]

i have a PRS CU22 which is getting a set of Mules soon.  My gran died recently and left me some money - some of which Im spending on a "keeper".  Looking at the Tokai ES155 (355 clone) but dotn want the - now more open - PRS with Mules to be too similar in tone.

I know the hollow body/ply construction of the ES v the solid/mahogony/maple of the PRS makes a high difference - but thinking about upgrading the PUs in the ES.  The guitar is comes in under my budget so I can chaneg the PUs for the best possible.

Curremntly also own a PRS CE with HFS ( Ceramic) neck and Dragon 1s - which covers more modern/high gain tones - a US Tele with Kinman Broadcaster for country/Tele Rock and a CP60s Strat with Irish tours for funk/blues tones.  The Cu with Mules is for classic rock stuff.

So - what would make the ES the most "different" and classic "335" type tone?  would Stormy Mondays be the ones?

Having never owned a semi, Im not well up on what would work - and being a "legecy" guitar I want to get it right.

[Ratrod]

Stormy Mondays would work well. There are plenty of guys here that made that choise for their ES-type guitars.

The other option would be Riff Raffs, think Chuck Berry.

Depends a bit on which way you wanna take it; blues or rock n' roll.

[paulmapp8306]

Personally, Blues is my thing Isuppose.  I play that 80% of the time with the rest split between Rock/Instrumental Rock/Indie - a bit of funk and country thrown in on occasion.

That said, I dont have anything that does that 60s R&R tone really - the closest would be the Teles bridge PU.  With the Strat and PRS covering the blues easily maybe I should look at that type of tone on the 335.

[Philly Q]

You could consider some humbucker-sized P-90s - Mississippi Queens or Manhattans. 

Turn it into a Casino or a sophisticated blues/jazz guitar!

[Telerocker]

MQ's are not a bad idea at all.

[Roobubba]

I can't believe Afghan hasn't made it in here yet.

[timski]

I've installed unpotted alnico II Stormy Mondays in 2 semis (a cheapish Yamaha one then a proper Gibson ES335) and strongly recommend this option.

I play funk/soul/blues/jazz-fusion/60s rock.

[tomjackson]

I had a Tokai ES130 for a while and I've also had Stormy Monday's in a different guitar.
I think they would be a great match for the guitar you are getting.  The Tokai pickups are okay but the Stormy Mondays will be a lot better.

I sold my Tokai in the end becuase I never got on with the neck, it's fairly shallow (I like chunky necks) and also the 41mm nut makes the string spacing quite tight

[gordiji]

i've got the stormy neck (a2) in a les paul (tokai) and it is indeed gorgeous tonally if your into cleans aka goerge benson, larry carlton etc.it would be different in a semi but i don't see how it could sound bad.
on another note i thought the stock pups on the tokai where poor, especially for cleans but i bought it knowing
i could bk it and still be miles under the price of a gibbo despite the tokai being a higher end model.they're 11k (mk2paf) and possibly the same on the one your after.
i'd be a little worried changing the pups in an es however, it looks like a ball ache, in fact does anyone know how to go about it.( i too have 335 gas after andy's ngd, but it'll be jap.)

[Philly Q]

i'd be a little worried changing the pups in an es however, it looks like a ball ache, in fact does anyone know how to go about it.

Here's a great thread on that very topic.  I hope it'll never be deleted!

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=10301.0

[MDV]

I can't believe Afghan hasn't made it in here yet.

:lol:

[gordiji]

thanks for link Philly Q :)

[Telerocker]

Yeah, that's a great thread. Put it in the safe.

[Nolly]

I'd definitely concur with the Stormy Monday recommendation.

[PhilKing]

I have unpotted A4 Mules in my 335 and love the sound.  I can get every tone from Crossroads through to The Thrill is Gone with them.  I haven't had a problem with them being unpotted and I think it adds some openness to the sound.