I have a 1980 Gibson that needs new pickups

[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?

[Twinfan]

Gotta be Cold Sweats I think :)

[kellar]

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. :)

[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.

[noodleplugerine]

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.

[maverickf1jockey]

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.

[Transcend]

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.

[Will]

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

[blue]

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.

[maverickf1jockey]

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.

[Philly Q]

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

[maverickf1jockey]

The 1980 Gibson catalogue I found did no list it as an ES-model though it is evidently based upon the ES335 shape.

[gwEm]

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.

[ericsabbath]

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

[badgermark]

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?