Different pickups for my 535

[joesupposta]

Hello,

 

Any thoughts and ideas to get more of a tele or strat kind of sound. I love the guitar and the way it plays but I need a single coil sound for much of what I do. I have good guitar techs that could swat stuff out just not sure if there is anything and if it's worth it.

 

Thanks, Joe

[H]

Check your pickups: if they have four wires then any decent tech can give you a coil-splitting option on either or both pickups via push-pull pots (or switches if you really must).

 

That said, you won't achieve a believable Strat/Tele type sound with a semi-hollow guitar. Horses for courses, as the saying goes...

[smurph1]

Check your pickups: if they have four wires then any decent tech can give you a coil-splitting option on either or both pickups via push-pull pots (or switches if you really must).

 

That said, you won't achieve a believable Strat/Tele type sound with a semi-hollow guitar. Horses for courses, as the saying goes...

That's true, IMHO..If it were me, (and it's not) I would not mess with the high quality semi, and buy me a good quality Tele or Strat..As always my 2 cents and YMMV..(But you did ask).. You can get a good quality Mexi-Fender for under 5 bills..

[Kuz]

Get very low output pups. Tom Short low-wind Tom-buckers are VERY reasonable and sound great.

 

But I have to echo Smurph's post.... a 535 is NOT a Tele or Strat and really if it is a good 535..... it should not sound like a Tele or Strat.

[tulk1]

The PSPIII White 535 Custom came with coil taps (split? - whichever). It can approximate a single coil tone. But it never has sounded like a Strat or Tele.

[joesupposta]

Thanks for the input. Your right just leave it alone and keep playing my tele's. I just hate to see such a great guitar not being played.

[TalismanRich]

... I just hate to see such a great guitar not being played.

 

The 535 is such a versatile guitar, surely there are some places you can fit it in. I've even heard some good chicken picking on a semi. It might not be its strong suit, but it can be done.

[SouthpawGuy]

My vote goes for ........ P-Rails !

 

That might come as a shock to some

 

I have them in a 535 and they are really good. I can't say they make it sound like a Tele though. In the semi hollow in particular the single coil "rail" mode actually sounds good, especially if combined with the other pickup in series humbucker or P90 mode. They're worth it for the P90 sound alone, series humbucker is big and fat, parallel bucker is much thinner with reduced output, good for rhythm playing and hum free. Mine has the triple shot switching rings installed so no need for extra holes or push pull pots.

 

Obligatory photo ...

 

[heritagefan7]

My vote goes for ........ P-Rails !

 

That might come as a shock to some

 

I have them in a 535 and they are really good. I can't say they make it sound like a Tele though. In the semi hollow in particular the single coil "rail" mode actually sounds good, especially if combined with the other pickup in series humbucker or P90 mode. They're worth it for the P90 sound alone, series humbucker is big and fat, parallel bucker is much thinner with reduced output, good for rhythm playing and hum free. Mine has the triple shot switching rings installed so no need for extra holes or push pull pots.

 

Obligatory photo ...

 

sooooo cool. I'm in the middle of that single coil saga right now--decided to keep my 555 (nice to get reaquainted w/ such an amazing instrument!) but am prob gonna get a USA Deluxe Strat at some point. Looked at the grosh elcetra jet--considered G&L--& PRS DC 3....Fender sounded great is cheaper & seems to hold it's value---love the noiseless pup's in the deluxe. Not sure abt the S-1 feature, but it sounds good on paper. Super versatile git!....AGAIN--wish Heritage was in this part of the game today (have seen some past H strat pics.???), but can't be all thing to all people I guess.

[tbonesullivan]

P-rails or maybe even Stag mags, combined with the triple shot switching system. A 535 is not going to truly sound like a strat with the differences in construction, but you can definitely add a new level of sonic versatility with coil tapping and pickups that are designed to be tapped.

[donnie]

Phat Cats?

[H]

Phat Cats?

I've just put Phat Cats into my 535 and while I love that sound, I doubt they're going to produce the sort of sound the OP is looking for.

 

P-Rails or coil-splits are the closest I think.

[tulk1]

Phat Cats in the Custom Prospect sound like a more open Humbucker than single coils.

[bolero]

you could do what Alvin Lee did...put a single coil pup inbetween the HB's

 

actually he had a sig Heritage for a while, you could try finding one of those

 

http://tenyearsafter...5_alvin_lee.htm

 

 

otherwise I think the only way to get close to a tele/strat with a 535 is coil splitting pups

 

 

that's the reason I keep my old G&L Legacy kicking around

[yoslate]

Can't imagine much overlap, there...a guitar that'd be neither fish nor fowl. I gig a 535 with Seths, and a Tele with Tom Sort's Windy City's. Got it covered...no matter what "it" might happen to be.

[H]

Can't imagine much overlap, there...a guitar that'd be neither fish nor fowl. I gig a 535 with Seths, and a Tele with Tom Sort's Windy City's. Got it covered...no matter what "it" might happen to be.

What if "it" is death metal, Rob? The Tele or the 535?

[yoslate]

What if "it" is death metal, Rob? The Tele or the 535?

 

I'd just grab an SM-58, give front of house the thumbs up, for more volume, and abrade the mic on my zipper...really fast...? (Sorry, Howard. Answer just came to me, as if in a vision....) More to the question: Would it even matter...?

[H]

...and abrade the mic on my zipper...really fast...

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