EB-0 or EB-3 mudbucker/sidewinder pickup

[B-Mac]

I own an Eastwood EB-1 which has a humbucker under the large chrome plate.
When looking for the real thing what should I look for? I don't want to get the modern pup that is currently in the Gibson SG.

Just because someone says its a mudbucker or sidewinder doesn't mean that it actually is. Aside from something vintage taken directly out of an EB-0 and EB-3 what should I look for brand new replacement from say AllParts or Guitarpartsfactory?

 

[Axstar]

You want a big bad DC resistance value like 30 k ohms. This is making assumptions about the gauge of wire used in the pickup, as well as the magnets used, but is indicative (generally) of the output and resulting muffled tone of these pickups. An Epiphone EB-0 pickup has a lot lower resistance than this.

There is a lack of good quality production-line mudbucker pickups. The Artec copies are cheap, and built to the correct specs and topology. The coils are situated horizontally along a metal plate that intersects a vertical 'core' with the polepieces running through it. The magnets powering the pickup sit on the outer edge of the coils. However these pickups sometimes roll off the production line with the magnets incorrectly aligned, or with the coils in the wrong phase. I've owned two, and they were fragile.

There then isn't really anything until you get to custom winders like Curtis Novak. The Dimarzio Model One is basically the only thing from the crop of mass production builders like Seymour Duncan, Dimarzio, EMG, etc. It was designed to replace mudbuckers, so has a lower output and more balanced tone. It is also visually very different, so you can always tell when a swap has taken place.

The modern Gibson pickup is a Thunderbird pickup of sorts, and the poles are fake!

 

[B-Mac]

You want a big bad DC resistance value like 30 k ohms. This is making assumptions about the gauge of wire used in the pickup, as well as the magnets used, but is indicative (generally) of the output and resulting muffled tone of these pickups. An Epiphone EB-0 pickup has a lot lower resistance than this.

There is a lack of good quality production-line mudbucker pickups. The Artec copies are cheap, and built to the correct specs and topology. The coils are situated horizontally along a metal plate that intersects a vertical 'core' with the polepieces running through it. The magnets powering the pickup sit on the outer edge of the coils. However these pickups sometimes roll off the production line with the magnets incorrectly aligned, or with the coils in the wrong phase. I've owned two, and they were fragile.

There then isn't really anything until you get to custom winders like Curtis Novak. The Dimarzio Model One is basically the only thing from the crop of mass production builders like Seymour Duncan, Dimarzio, EMG, etc. It was designed to replace mudbuckers, so has a lower output and more balanced tone. It is also visually very different, so you can always tell when a swap has taken place.

The modern Gibson pickup is a Thunderbird pickup of sorts, and the poles are fake!

What do you think of these?
Unfortunately there are no 'under the hood' pics.

EBC-4G Gold Alnico 5 Sidewinder Mudbucker Neck Pickup Gibson EB Bass® | eBay

EBC-4N Chrome Mudbucker Neck Pickup for Gibson EB Bass® 4 String Bass | eBay

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

'real one'
GIBSON 1968 pickup for EB3 Bass | eBay

 

[B-Mac]

You want a big bad DC resistance value like 30 k ohms. This is making assumptions about the gauge of wire used in the pickup, as well as the magnets used, but is indicative (generally) of the output and resulting muffled tone of these pickups. An Epiphone EB-0 pickup has a lot lower resistance than this.

There is a lack of good quality production-line mudbucker pickups. The Artec copies are cheap, and built to the correct specs and topology. The coils are situated horizontally along a metal plate that intersects a vertical 'core' with the polepieces running through it. The magnets powering the pickup sit on the outer edge of the coils. However these pickups sometimes roll off the production line with the magnets incorrectly aligned, or with the coils in the wrong phase. I've owned two, and they were fragile.

There then isn't really anything until you get to custom winders like Curtis Novak. The Dimarzio Model One is basically the only thing from the crop of mass production builders like Seymour Duncan, Dimarzio, EMG, etc. It was designed to replace mudbuckers, so has a lower output and more balanced tone. It is also visually very different, so you can always tell when a swap has taken place.

The modern Gibson pickup is a Thunderbird pickup of sorts, and the poles are fake!

So the main thing to look for is the higher resistance rating?
30 k ohms

 

[gfen]

Those Artec pickups are wound authentically, but both examples I've had hum like hell. Seems I am not the only one who had the problem, either, as there are threads on here about them if you hunt.

 

[B-Mac]

Those Artec pickups are wound authentically, but both examples I've had hum like hell. Seems I am not the only one who had the problem, either, as there are threads on here about them if you hunt.

So who makes non hum like hell ones?

 

[gfen]

Gibson in the '60s and '70s. $99 in the ebay link right up there. Honestly, I'd do it if I were in the market just to have the "real thing."

People have fixed the Artecs by reversing a set of magnets and the leads off teh coils, I think. I didn't ever try because I lost motivation. Some of the alternate threads (there's a pretty long one with lots of helpful info from a now-banned user in it) explain what needed to be done.

You could also opt for a DiMarzio Model 1. No, it's not the same, it's not nearly as oppressively dark, and upon looking at the Eastwood EB-1 I'm not sure I'd want the real thing solo. It's a seriously dark, woolen, muddy affair. Not that I'm going to tell you what you want or are looking for, but the "real" mudbucker, insofar as I've experienced, is every negative thing they say about it.

I stuck mine in another bass with a whole other pair of pickups on an alternate circuit so I could blend the two outs. It's cooler to look at than it sounds, to me at least.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Sentell has a mudbucker replacement. Its not a copy and I know you said you wanted an original style pickup. Just putting it out there in case you decide to go a different route. I have not tried this pickup but I have used some of his other bass and guitar pickups and liked them.

Sentell Pickups bass guitar pickups

 

[ctmullins]

Sentell has a mudbucker replacement. Its not a copy and I know you said you wanted an original style pickup. Just putting it out there in case you decide to go a different route. I have not tried this pickup but I have used some of his other bass and guitar pickups and liked them.

Sentell Pickups bass guitar pickups

Yep, I have one of those! Great pickup. About as “un-mudbuckery” as could be. Looks cool too!

 

[Axstar]

Sentell has a mudbucker replacement. Its not a copy and I know you said you wanted an original style pickup. Just putting it out there in case you decide to go a different route. I have not tried this pickup but I have used some of his other bass and guitar pickups and liked them.

Sentell Pickups bass guitar pickups

"This pick-up does not fit under a
chrome cover"

Shame about that!

 

[Copperhead]

So the main thing to look for is the higher resistance rating?
30 k ohms

Pretty much. The closest thing to it not Gibson is the Guild Mudbucker from the same era, but they too go for ridiculously high prices relative to their limited demand.

I replaced the TB Plus in my 2014 SG with a Schaller Bassbucker. They have two sets of hex pole pieces one of which will line up perfectly in the holes of the chrome cover.
It took some custom fitting, which I'm fine with doing, but they too are pretty rare.
One of the downsides of the TB plus was phony pole pieces, the Schaller solved that and is a very good sounding, much better balanced pickup.

 

[Doner Designs]

Those Artec pickups are wound authentically, but both examples I've had hum like hell. Seems I am not the only one who had the problem, either, as there are threads on here about them if you hunt.

I had the hum problem but was able to fix it by reversing some wires and/or flipping magnets around. Long time ago but the threads are out there including the fix steps. If you can afford it, the Novak is probably the way to go.

 

[amphlett7]

Sentell has a mudbucker replacement. Its not a copy and I know you said you wanted an original style pickup. Just putting it out there in case you decide to go a different route. I have not tried this pickup but I have used some of his other bass and guitar pickups and liked them.

Sentell Pickups bass guitar pickups

Came here to say this!

Jerry has the coolest stuff. Massively underrepresented.

 

[Joseph Long]

I own an Eastwood EB-1 which has a humbucker under the large chrome plate.
When looking for the real thing what should I look for? I don't want to get the modern pup that is currently in the Gibson SG.

Just because someone says its a mudbucker or sidewinder doesn't mean that it actually is. Aside from something vintage taken directly out of an EB-0 and EB-3 what should I look for brand new replacement from say AllParts or Guitarpartsfactory?

I own an Eastwood EB-1 which has a humbucker under the large chrome plate.
When looking for the real thing what should I look for? I don't want to get the modern pup that is currently in the Gibson SG.

Just because someone says its a mudbucker or sidewinder doesn't mean that it actually is. Aside from something vintage taken directly out of an EB-0 and EB-3 what should I look for brand new replacement from say AllParts or Guitarpartsfactory?

 

[Joseph Long]

I had an Eb0 with the original Gibson pickup.I sold it and ended up with and Eb3 with a DiMarzio replacement pickup at the neck position.It was excellent.I have never used anything but OEM and I can only say that the replacement was every bit as good.I have heard demos of the Epiphone Eb SG type bass Guitars and the neck pickup sounds just fine.They can be bought for under 40$,brand new.I have no experience with this pickup as a replacement.It might not work as well or as long as the DiMarzio or the Original.What made the original so great was the huge amount of copper winding for one thing.I couldn't tell you if the Epiphone is equal or not in this respect.Everyone agrees about the DiMarzio.It was designed to be a replacement for the Eb front pickup and is truly the best stuff.It is expensive.I have not researched the others.Finding an original might not be that hard.Keep your eyes peeled.Good luck.

 

[Joseph Long]

I have owned a Gibson Eb0 with the original pickup and an Eb3 with a DiMarzio at the neck.Honestly,the DiMarzio is just as good as the original and gives the same sound.If you can find an original,great.If you have to settle for a replacement,the DiMarzio is expensive but of the finest quality.

 

[Aidenn7]

I'd just get the cheapest 30ohm pickup.. And see how it sounds first.. Then mod it if I don't like it.. They aren't that expensive.. It was luck of the draw even back in the day.. It's not great pickup design.. It's imperfections are what gave it the character.. If you don't like the pickup they're are many better things out there.. Dude

 

[thanos k]

if i were in your shoes i would start searching for an authentic gibson sidewinder. i've heard most of the replacement pickups and they don't sound the same. not even the new pickup that modern sg basses have. the newest are ceramic pickups and sound different and to a certain point more user friendly, but the real thing is a monster (only if you like this .... type of sound). otherwise i would go for a dimarzio.

have a listen here to check out the different sounds of a vintage gibson sidewinder and the modern sg pickup

 

[Joseph Long]

There's a thining of both the bass and mid-range on the SG.It's a good instrument,if you don't mind that.The classic Eb3 was much more to my
liking and was like my Eb0 original or the DiMarzio replacement.Thank you for this demonstration.It was an eye opener.What is your opinion of the new Gibson Eb4 string bass?Does it sound rich in bass and mid-range to you?Its very clear that one can get more treble out of it than the vintage Eb3 design.I know it's a bit off topic but this also brings in the possibility of using a Gibson Midtown Neck pickup as a replacement as well.

 

[DaveAceofBass]

Kent Armstrong makes a really nice sidewinder he calls the “SS”. Not too many folks know about it, but I have one in a J shape in the neck position on one of my basses, and I had a soapbar before, and have a new one going into a shortscale hollowbody bass that’s in the final phases of a build. It’s in the neck position. The bridge position has a dual coil humbucker. Both can be wired with a coil tap switch to get series/single/parallel modes. It sounds great to my ears. You should contact him, he can make you whatever you want. That said, Nordstrand is making a sidewinder now, and you’ve already been recommended the Curtis Novak which looks like a pretty accurate boutique version of the original mudbuckers. I think the Kent Armstrong handwound will give you a clearer sound if you want, but still really thick and fat especially in series mode, and he can make it in any size or shape. All good options!