Pickups for 535

[DaveWalker]

Hi,

Although I've been playing for over thirty years I've just bought my first semi. A vintage sunburst 535 and I absolutely love it.

I feel very privileged to own such an instrument.
I apologise if this question has been asked before. I am really struggling to search the archive on my tablet.

In my other guitars I have Fralin pickups installed so obviously I am very tempted to swap the Duncan 59s for Fralin pure PAFs.

To give credit where it's due the Duncan sound pretty good to me.

On your opinions would the Fralins be a significant improvement. I have no problem spending the cash if they improve the tone as much as they have done in my other guitars.

Also what will the pots be like in my guitar? Is it normal to change them out as a matter of course?

Thank you so much for your help.
Dave

[SouthpawGuy]

Hi and welcome to the HOC.

 

You'll probably get lots of different answers and opinions, I like the '59s in my '07 535. The '96 535 has P-Rails installed, they're very versatile. Can't really go wrong with Fralins either.

[bolero]

Fralin's are GREAT pickups....I borrowed a friends '62 Gibson 345 loaded with Fralin PAF flavoured pups, and it KILLED, just amazing

 

 

--->that experience inspired me to get a 535, which came stock with duncan 59's...but I thought they sounded a bit dull, maybe because they're potted & don't have the character of unpotted pups.......so I have Lollar Imperial's in there now and I love it

 

you can't go wrong with Fralins...if I had a set they probably would be in the 535, at least to try

 

otherwise I am a fan of Wolfetone Legends, Throbak SLE-101, and aforementioned Lollar Imperial's, for PAF style sounds

[H]

The pots should be 500K, give or take a bit, which is the right value for humbuckers. Heritage usually put .022 caps into the mix (yellow radial caps that may be Mallory) and, unless you have to have exact matches on pot values and exotic cap brands, I'd say they'll most probably do a pretty good job for you

 

Changing pots or caps on a semi is not a trivial job, I've done it and it was a relief to finish!

 

Welcome to the HOC

[DaveWalker]

Thank very much for your advice and warm welcome.

 

I need to have a good think if I want to change to the Fralins. To me a feel I might be missing a little clarity and mid range with the sd59s. But to be honest I'm not sure what to expect from a semi, do semis normally sound a little scooped? The 535 is a totally new animal to me.

 

Yes I am not particularly keen on the idea of replacing the pots and caps if I don't have to. Do I need to remove the whole wiring loom to replace the pickups? Of course I will want to sell the duncans on so cutting the conductors isn't really an option.

 

Thanks again for your help. It is really appreciated.

[slider313]

A low wind alnico IV would work well. You could have Lindy do an underwound Pure PAF. Tom Short offers a Fleetwood A4 in 6.9k neck and 7.9k bridge. I had the Fleetwoods in my 535 and they sounded great. Jack Briggs thought my 535 sounded like the 335 Clapton used with Cream. There are many great winders out there with many amazing choices.

[58super]

I just put Sheptone Tributes in my 535 and I'm quite pleased with them.

[pressure]

Talk to Billy at Rs Guitarworks about the pots and caps. I think Rs Guitarworks electrics are Fab.

[bolero]

fwiw I replaced the stock pots & caps in my H150CM with RS guitarworks, but I preferred it stock!!

 

I changed it back, sold the RS kit

 

I did however change the stock wiring to vintage 50's style, which I prefer

[yoslate]

A low wind alnico IV would work well. You could have Lindy do an underwound Pure PAF. Tom Short offers a Fleetwood A4 in 6.9k neck and 7.9k bridge. I had the Fleetwoods in my 535 and they sounded great. Jack Briggs thought my 535 sounded like the 335 Clapton used with Cream. There are many great winders out there with many amazing choices.

 

Dave, welcome, and congratulations! 535's are just extraordinary! Now, to the post above: Listen to slider. He knows whereof he speaks. Not only that but slider knows to listen to Jack Briggs. And Jack listened to Tom Short's pickups. I've listened to all of these guys. There is a wealth of knowing in those cats!

[H]

Do I need to remove the whole wiring loom to replace the pickups?.

As far as I recall, if the pots and jack are undone and dropped through their holes, the switch can stay fixed to the top and there'll be enough play in the wiring to bring the volume pots through the bridge pickup route to do the soldering work. That's how I did mine.

 

If the switch is undone, take care with the earth wire connected to it. If that were to come off, I can't see a way of reestablishing a connection to it without pulling the bridge studs. I'm hoping someone will enlighten me before my next foray into 535 pickup swaps

[GuitArtMan]

For me it's hard to beat the Duncan Seth Lovers in a semi-hollow body. They have the classic PAF tone in spades.

[DaveWalker]

Thank you to everyone for your advice. It is really appreciated.

 

As a life long Fralin fan I think I will give Lindy a call and go with a set of them and sell the sd59s. I do quite like the 59s but I feel I would prefer a little more clarity for chord work. If I don't change them it will be in the back of my mind for ever.

 

In particular thank you H for your advice on instalation. I will be very careful with the switch.

 

I really love my 535. This is the first guitar I've owned that has an owners club:-) and I do feel a little honoured.

 

Cheers

Dave

[SouthpawGuy]

Sounds good Dave, don't forget to post some pics when the job is done

[Kuz]

Yes, I would definitely say semis have a scooped mid tone. I tried many pups, but the Throbak A5s in the PG102s offered the more mids I was looking for.

[Guest HRB853370]

I am too lazy to swap anything out, so I just roll with whatever is in the guitar. My cherry 535 has 57 classics with a Mojotone wiring setup. This was done by the previous owner. Mojotone are local NC boys who know what they are doing. They have wound pickups for many well known guitar players.

 

http://www.mojotone.com/

[HANGAR18]

I am too lazy to swap anything out, so I just roll with whatever is in the guitar. My cherry 535 has 57 classics with a Mojotone wiring setup. These are local NC boys who know what they are doing. They have wound pickups for many well known guitar players.

 

http://www.mojotone.com/

 

It looks a lot more difficult in a semi hollow body than a solid body so that's why I think I' be inclined to make a change only if I was absolutely certain I didn't liek the tone from whatever was already in there.

[MichYank]

'59's are a great pickup and with the stock A5 magnet can be too boomy on the base and too scooped in the mids. An easy, in expensive fix is to change out the magnets. I have 59's with an A2 magnet in the neck and an un-oriented A5 in the bridge in my "76 335 and really love the tone! I understand an A3 or A4 can really help in the neck as well.

 

Magnets are $4 online - free shipping. Not being good with stuff like that, it cost me $20 to have a pro swap out the mag and set it up.

 

Something to think about.

[ezra1]

When it is referred to as a scooped mids with humbuckers in a 535/335....what do you mean?

Like a crybaby in the halfway position sort of?

[HANGAR18]

'59's are a great pickup and with the stock A5 magnet can be too boomy on the base and too scooped in the mids. An easy, in expensive fix is to change out the magnets. I have 59's with an A2 magnet in the neck and an un-oriented A5 in the bridge in my "76 335 and really love the tone! I understand an A3 or A4 can really help in the neck as well.

 

Magnets are $4 online - free shipping. Not being good with stuff like that, it cost me $20 to have a pro swap out the mag and set it up.

 

Something to think about.

I didn't know you could do that. Huh, interesting.

[Joey]

I put a set of Fralin Pure PAFs in my 1995 H555 two years ago and could not be happier. While the stock Schallers were not bad, the Fralins really brought my guitar to life. The tone is clean and articulate and can be dialed into playing rock, country, blues jazz etc. I found the neck pup one of the cleanest I have heard. I alao hear improved note separation when playing chords.

[iim7v7im7]

I sometimes think that we go a bit over the top when it comes to pickups (I am guilty of this myself).

 

As long as you are buying a pickup where you have some understanding of the windings/output and the magnet type you are likely in good hands with a vintage output DiMarzio, Duncan, Fralin, Lollar or Throbak (and others) with a 535 depending on your amps input stage, the type of music you play, string gage, action etc. will all push you one way or another. They are many great vintage pickups today for an H-535. People will recommend one over another, but all of those variables in their chain and euphonic preference (not yours) will make them like one over another.

 

My $.02

[TalismanRich]

The key to a pickup is to find one with the voicing that you like. Some people like the Dano sound, and that was my first guitar, some 50 years ago. I thought it was abysmal. I went through three guitars until I found my Guild, which I still have 40 years later.

 

Its like looking for loudspeakers for a stereo. Some people don't care what they are as long as they are loud and go THUMP THUMP BOOM BOOM. You can't tell the difference between an Rhodes electric piano, a harpsichord or a clavinet on them, but they are loud. Then you have people who worship at the alter of high end small monitors that really lack any bottom end at all, but you can easily tell the difference between a trumpet and a coronet.

 

In the end, its a matter of taste and preference. Luckily, if you find a guitar that plays perfectly but you don't care for the balance of the sound, it's a relatively easy thing to change (Ok, in a 535 its a little tougher.... )

[mark555]

well, I have 59'd in my 555, so no comments here other than to say that a semi solid is a totally different animal to a solid and a big welcome to the HOC - how long until you buy another Heritage??!!

[DaveWalker]

how long until you buy another Heritage??!!

Due to the risk of a divorce if I buy another guitar it will be a long long time :-(