Replacement PU's for 1989 Gibson 335

[Grahams Cat]

That series - parallel configuration sounds interesting. Do you know where I could find a diagram? I presume BKP supply a diagram with their PU's. Might this be the 50's circuit that's being refered to?
Def going for the unpotted Stormies tho  :D

[BigB]

That series - parallel configuration sounds interesting. Do you know where I could find a diagram?

Err... on the net ?-)

http://www.google.com/search?q=humbucker+series+parallel+wiring

I presume BKP supply a diagram with their PU's. Might this be the 50's circuit that's being refered to?

Yes, and no. The wiring diagram that comes with the pickups is the classic "modern" one. For 50s wiring you may want to have a look here: http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/tonefreaks/558-wiring-library.html#post4555

FWIW, AndyR is right when he says that a semi-hollow might not necessarily be the best test guitar if you never used that wiring style (unless you don't mind redoing the whole process if you find out it doesn't work for you) -  depending on how you use your controls and you like them them to react, you may as well fall in love for that wiring or plain hate it.  The point is that it makes volume and tone much more interactive, with some unexpected (at first) behaviours for some settings,  so you may want to first experiment this wiring on a guitar that's easier to rewire or at least read more about it before you go for it (or not).

Oh, and yes, that's definitly not something I'd try with a ceramic cap :mrgreen:

[Grahams Cat]

@OP: beware, unpotted pups in a semi might be _a bit_ prone to feedback at stage level...

Bare Knuckles unpotted pickups are very feedback resistant.  I have a pair of unpotted Stormy Monday's in my 335 and they sound great and can be overdriven to give great harmonic feedback.

[Grahams Cat]

Has anyone tried Stormies with an overdrive pedal? I'm kind of sold on these but am wondering if the Mules will offer more flexability.

[PhilKing]

Stormy Mondays work great with overdrive pedals.  I have them in my 335 and in the neck of my Zemaitis clone (with an AV Mule in the bridge).  I also have an AII one in the bridge of one of my Strats, with a couple of Sultans, which is the most amazing HSS combination and gives superb harmonic feedback when driven.   I also have a PG Blues set in a darkback LP Goldtop, and they are based on SM's too.  Go for them, you'll love them.

[Fourth Feline]

Hiya , ( and welcome ! ).

I have not used Stormy Mondays with much overdrive,  but went through a Larry Carlton phase , with a cheap 335 copy - and getting B.K.P. to swap my existing Stormy Monday magnets between the original Alinico II , to Alnico IV and back again.   The reason I even considered a magnet swap ( which I later reversed ) , was the fact that the Bass strings on a 335 copy sounded too 'soft' for crispy Blues riffs.    This may not apply in a much lighter / more resonant 335 original,  but there was no escaping the fact that Alino IV pulled the bass tighter  - but ended up putting a toothy edge on the top strings, that an alnico II version did not do.

When I carry that experience  forward to my transition to Chord melody, and the use of AII Stormy Mondays and Manhattans - I come to the following conclusion(s)

Matched B.K.P. sets are my favourite ( and I am thinking specifically about Mules for your needs )

However :

I think the tasty exception to the rule that I would be tempted to consider for you, is the Alnico IV verion of the Stormy Monday for the bridge and a ( Alnico III by design ) Manhattan for the neck.

That is however speculation on my part - and the previous answers have come form a more direct 'gigging with B.K.P.'  experience than I am basing my opinions on.  :)

[Grahams Cat]

I've noticed some 3rd party or dealers are selling these between £40-50 less than BK P's online shop. It seems a little bizarre. I presume 500k pots are the size for either Mule or SM's. The PIO caps prices are bewildering too. I hope to order this week all going to plan.
Where did you guy's purchase your PU's? I'm based in the UK.
Thanks

[Grahams Cat]

I've had a critical listen, well listened to the BK's snippets. The manhatten's have a beatiful timbre, as do the SM's, but I think a matched set would be prudent. Nice idea though! It's something I'd try if I could. I don't relish rewiring a 335 too many times.

[Fourth Feline]

I've noticed some 3rd party or dealers are selling these between £40-50 less than BK P's online shop. It seems a little bizarre. I presume 500k pots are the size for either Mule or SM's. The PIO caps prices are bewildering too. I hope to order this week all going to plan.
Where did you guy's purchase your PU's? I'm based in the UK.
Thanks

I'm in the U.K. and bought all mine ( some time ago now ) direct from B.K.P.   At the time, the price differential between B.K.P and the cheapest online stockist , was only about £ 10 the pair - and I was getting valuable / accurate  advice from Tim at B.K.P , regarding my needs.  I just felt that ( with the high quality / flexible after sales service I was getting from B.K.P. ) - I was buying into more than just a good opening price on the stock.

I presume that by now, some  general strings / Tubes / accessories U.K. stockists that had bought in B.K.P  pickups ,  later found  that a lot of their clientelle were in fact more interested in the 'Big name lure ' of certain generic and mass produced brands - therefore encouraging those same businesses to sell the better quality stuff ( i.e B.K.P. ) cheaper, and then later re-stock on 'what the kids want' .

[Fourth Feline]

I don't relish rewiring a 335 too many times.

I'm having 'flashbacks' at the very thought .  :lol:

Between my 2 hollow and 1 semi-hollow guitars, I must have done it over a dozen times - to get the most applicable  pickups in each guitar.   I still think it is well worth it,  but It never seems to get any easier .  They could market it as a "'Fun game for all the family"  like the musician's version of 'Operation ' -  but much, much harder.   As for the 'other' components - I have stuck with Orange drop caps and 500k CTS pots all round.  :)

[AndyR]

I buy mine from Jonathan at Feline Guitars (Croydon) nowadays.

I was originally buying direct from BKP because I liked the idea of "getting them from the source" (and for some reason I'd imagined they'd be cheaper that way). But after a while I discovered that, like most industries, BKP very sensibly does not undercut its dealers in the market-place.

So, yes, you can get a better deal from a dealership. And you're then supporting both the dealership's business and BKP's... so it's win-win-win all round :D.

[Philly Q]

I buy mine from Jonathan at Feline Guitars (Croydon) nowadays.

I buy mine secondhand from Twinfan.  

Actually the last set I bought was direct from BKP, but that was a special-order aged, pre-wired Strat scratchplate.  I intend to go to Feline for future purchases.

[Fourth Feline]

I buy mine secondhand from Twinfan.  

Yes,  sometimes the larger dealers are cheapest ...  :)

[Philly Q]

 :lol:

[timski]

Definitely unpotted Stormy Mondays.
Awesome clean tones and work great with overdrive especially of the Tubescreamer/Zendrive variety, not so good with vintage style fuzzes though.