• Registered: 2012-08-21
  • Posts: 2

Topic: SD Bonamassa signature pups in a Gibson Bonamassa ES-335

Anyone try this?  I just got the Bonamassa ES-335 and wondering if the signature pups would be better than the 57's that come with the guitar?

  • From: Fairfax, VA
  • Registered: 2009-09-11
  • Posts: 1,337

Re: SD Bonamassa signature pups in a Gibson Bonamassa ES-335

kpryan1 wrote:

Anyone try this?  I just got the Bonamassa ES-335 and wondering if the signature pups would be better than the 57's that come with the guitar?

Welcome to the forum.  I have the ES-335, but the Bonamassa pickups are in my JBLP so I haven't tried them.  I actually like the 57's in the 335.  Let us know if you try it out.

What serial number do you have?  We try to keep track of all Joe's "children", we have a registry here:
https://forum.jbonamassa.com/viewtopic.php?id=21015

Also, you can tell us a little bit about yourself and how you found Joe over in Introductions
https://forum.jbonamassa.com/viewforum.php?id=21

Jim

ES-335 #37
Pictures http://www.flickr.com/photos/jclark42796/sets/
More pictures https://picasaweb.google.com/114580443759038003888/
  • Registered: 2012-08-21
  • Posts: 2

Re: SD Bonamassa signature pups in a Gibson Bonamassa ES-335

Thanks Jim,

If I had a Les Paul, I would get the pickups without question.  But I'm just wondering if they are designed more for an LP than a 335.  I have no doubt they would sound great in an LP but I'd hate to go through the expense and work to swap only to find they really shouldn't go in a 335.

  • From: Adelaide, South Australia
  • Registered: 2011-10-14
  • Posts: 1,339

Re: SD Bonamassa signature pups in a Gibson Bonamassa ES-335

kpryan1 wrote:

Thanks Jim,

If I had a Les Paul, I would get the pickups without question.  But I'm just wondering if they are designed more for an LP than a 335.  I have no doubt they would sound great in an LP but I'd hate to go through the expense and work to swap only to find they really shouldn't go in a 335.

Hey kpryan! smile

They're a direct copy of a set of original PAF's so it's pot luck that they ended up in a Les Paul and not a 335 back in 1959, so the JB pickups will be equally at home in a 335.

All the best and the best of luck,

- Stefan

http://www.stefanhauk.com

stefanhauk's Website

5 Reply by Chrisuk (edited by Chrisuk 2012-08-22 16:30:47)

  • From: West Sussex
  • Registered: 2011-05-17
  • Posts: 307

Re: SD Bonamassa signature pups in a Gibson Bonamassa ES-335

stefanhauk wrote:
kpryan1 wrote:

Thanks Jim,

If I had a Les Paul, I would get the pickups without question.  But I'm just wondering if they are designed more for an LP than a 335.  I have no doubt they would sound great in an LP but I'd hate to go through the expense and work to swap only to find they really shouldn't go in a 335.

Hey kpryan! smile

They're a direct copy of a set of original PAF's so it's pot luck that they ended up in a Les Paul and not a 335 back in 1959, so the JB pickups will be equally at home in a 335.

All the best and the best of luck,

- Stefan

Actually they aren't - they are a set of pickups Joe voiced to make an R9 sound like his own '59 burst - that's not quite the same thing as a copy of the pup itself - not at all.

I agree there is no reason at all why they shouldn't sound great in a 335 - but yes to some extent the JB pups were voiced for a Les Paul.

  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 1,996

Re: SD Bonamassa signature pups in a Gibson Bonamassa ES-335

If measuring, reproducing with period correct materials, and winding on vintage equipment does not qualify as a copy?  What does?

Gibson 60th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Reissue, Gibson LP Standard Faded CSB, Gibson Gary Moore LP Standard, Epi Joe Bonamassa GT LP, Epi Zakk Wylde LP, Dean Michael Schenker Flying V, Jackson Randy Rhoads V, ESP/LTD George Lynch Kamikaze, EVH Striped Series R/B/W, Fender/Squire John 5 Telecaster, Fender Joe Strummer Relic Telecaster
  • From: Adelaide, South Australia
  • Registered: 2011-10-14
  • Posts: 1,339

Re: SD Bonamassa signature pups in a Gibson Bonamassa ES-335

dknight16 wrote:

If measuring, reproducing with period correct materials, and winding on vintage equipment does not qualify as a copy?  What does?

My thoughts exactly, it's a pickup not a digital modeller. As far as I've always know they are a copy of that pickup.

http://www.stefanhauk.com

stefanhauk's Website

  • From: New Castle, DE USA
  • Registered: 2011-01-03
  • Posts: 1,256

Re: SD Bonamassa signature pups in a Gibson Bonamassa ES-335

stefanhauk wrote:

My thoughts exactly, it's a pickup not a digital modeller. As far as I've always know they are a copy of that pickup.

I'm with Stefan on this one.  Check out the SD page for this model:  http://www.seymourduncan.com/joeb/bonam … pickup-set

The money quote if you'd rather not click:  "This immaculately crafted and calibrated dual-humbucker set accurately replicates the P.A.F. pickups in Joe’s beloved 1959 sunburst Les Paul®."

Terrance Shuman
New Castle, DE
  • From: West Sussex
  • Registered: 2011-05-17
  • Posts: 307

Re: SD Bonamassa signature pups in a Gibson Bonamassa ES-335

dknight16 wrote:

If measuring, reproducing with period correct materials, and winding on vintage equipment does not qualify as a copy?  What does?

Yes - but thats not quite how the JBs were designed - to do what you suggest would mean that Joe's original PAF pickups would have to be dismantled piece by piece and effectively destroyed - you would need to know how many winds are on each coil, gtest the magnets, etc, etc.

They are accurately built PAF style pickups built to replicate the tone / voicing of Joe's PAFs whilst in JBs guitar as far as I am aware there was no attempt to replicate the specific details of the build of JBs PAFS for instance the magnet choice was to give the pick up a voice not neccessarily because one of Joes '59 PAF magnets is actually alnico III  (Joe might chip in and say that they are - if any one knows then he does).  By all means correct me with documented facts if this I am wrong.  Maybe its just semantics and I didn't mean any offence...

In reality they were designed by Joe and SD (both guys with fantastic ears for this stuff) to make a 'normal' Les Paul sound like Joe's '59 and will probably do that better than if you had JBs actual '59 pups in a diferent guitar.

And I'll say again I absolutely do agree with Stefan that they should sound great in the 335.

  • From: N.Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2009-03-06
  • Posts: 2,183

Re: SD Bonamassa signature pups in a Gibson Bonamassa ES-335

You know they'll sound good. End of.
There is too much discussion on the smaller details.
Get out there and gig with them...and enjoy.

  • Registered: 2010-09-30
  • Posts: 163

Re: SD Bonamassa signature pups in a Gibson Bonamassa ES-335

The '57 Classics should sound darker, rounder, and have more output in comparison to the SD's. If you feel like you'd prefer a brighter, cleaner, more articulate tone in you 335, you may want to give them a try. Nothing wrong with '57 Classics in a 335, though, IMHO. wink

Hope this helps!

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: SD Bonamassa signature pups in a Gibson Bonamassa ES-335

I had a refinished 68' 335 and it sounded wonderful.  Got it for a steal too.  Before I sold it I took the pickups out of the guitar because everybody wanted that guitars pickups.  They sounded Fantastic.  When I sold the guitar I put a set of cheap Les Paul Classic pickups in 500T and 496R pickups.  Most of you are thinking wow thats way too hot of pickup for that 335, but I swear to you that the tone of that guitar sounded just as good with those pickups as the one I pulled out of it.  BTW the pickups everyone wanted went in the Les Paul Classic and they didn't sound as good in that guitar as they did in my 335.  My point is its an ES-335 I truly believe you can stick anything you want in that guitar and its going to sound warm and fat, just the way they should sound!

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