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Epiphone EB-0 - New pickup(s) suggestion

T

Thurisarz

Aug 20, 2004
824
2
Sweden
#1
Hello!

I bought an Epiphone EB-0 last week, the bass has everything i have been looking for but, i already feel that i need a new pickup for it. It sounds like i have a pillow in the amp which is woofy, undefined and has messy low mids.

There's the Dimarzio Model One, but i have also looked into moding it for a different kind of pickup, like a "guitar humbucker" pickup like the Rio Grande Pitbull or the EMG HB. I have a spare set of jazz pickups in a drawer also.

I'm open to suggestions - money is no problem. At the moment i play in a blues/soul band and a metal band (think Judas priest and Iron Maiden). It would be nice to be able to use a 2-band onboard eq.
I'm also looking into changing the bridge for something else (opinions on that is also welcome!).

Thanks in advance! :)
 
#4
If you want to add a bridge pickup and keep it looking like a Gibson, check this out:

Link Removed

Sounds fuller than the stock Gibson bridge pickup as well, so you can actually solo it. Blends well with the neck pickup.

Its the top pickup in this photo. The bottom is a guitar sized HB.

chrome_humbuckers.jpg
 
#6
I've been thinking about my pickup issue, and i kinda like the mudbucker sound. So i'm thinking about trying Dimarzios replacement pickups. But, i've been doing a search on the Model One and the Will Power neck, it seems that the WP has a bit wider string spacing (0,3 cm) and a bit less bass/mud and more treble which sounds interesting to try. I measured on my bass and i'm not sure if the spacing will be to wide, has anyone tried the WP in a non 19mm bridge? The Model One is a safe bet spacingwise, but according to what people has said about it that it has a tad more bass and less treble then the WP i doubt if i will like it soundwise.

Which pickup do you think i should buy?
 
#7
SGD Lutherie said:
If you want to add a bridge pickup and keep it looking like a Gibson, check this out:

Link Removed

Sounds fuller than the stock Gibson bridge pickup as well, so you can actually solo it. Blends well with the neck pickup.

Its the top pickup in this photo. The bottom is a guitar sized HB.

chrome_humbuckers.jpg
Click to expand...

Near as I can tell, David is the resident expert on sidewinder pups and the typical alternatives (eg Model One).
 
#8
Guild Humbuckers, when you can find them. I have four, two of which are in my Franken-EB-0 with a Blackouts tone circuit and are incredible. The other two , that I have modded into four wire config,are up for a passive further project eventually. They have a narrow pole piece spacing that works well. They have a broader tone spectrum than the Gibson mudbucker with a midrange that is less boxy and one dimensional (IMO) than the one in the Gibson EB-0 I once owned

Another pickup I have not yet used but is also a narrow spacing humbucker is the Schaller bassbucker, as used in the Kramer "the Duke " basses. They are a much more balanced full range pickup as opposed to the super high impedence mudbuckers, they show up once in a while.

A
 

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#10
RED J said:
Guild Humbuckers, when you can find them. I have four, two of which are in my Franken-EB-0 with a Blackouts tone circuit and are incredible. The other two , that I have modded into four wire config,are up for a passive further project eventually. They have a narrow pole piece spacing that works well. They have a broader tone spectrum than the Gibson mudbucker with a midrange that is less boxy and one dimensional (IMO) than the one in the Gibson EB-0 I once owned

Another pickup I have not yet used but is also a narrow spacing humbucker is the Schaller bassbucker, as used in the Kramer "the Duke " basses. They are a much more balanced full range pickup as opposed to the super high impedence mudbuckers, they show up once in a while.

A
Click to expand...

Guide humbuckers are great for a really thick tone! I've been contemplating making some clones of those. I used to really like them.

The Schaller Bassbucker is their version of the DiMarzio Model G. The Model G was an X2N with poles instead of screws. It used the same bobbins.

I used to be a Schaller dealer back in the 80s and I also had a Duke. I didn't lie that pickup too much. I felt it was too midrangy. I rewound mine to make them cleaner sounding.
 
#12
SGD Lutherie said:
Guide humbuckers are great for a really thick tone! I've been contemplating making some clones of those. I used to really like them.

The Schaller Bassbucker is their version of the DiMarzio Model G. The Model G was an X2N with poles instead of screws. It used the same bobbins.

I used to be a Schaller dealer back in the 80s and I also had a Duke. I didn't lie that pickup too much. I felt it was too midrangy. I rewound mine to make them cleaner sounding.
Click to expand...

Hmm, thanks for the extra info on the bassbucker, David.

I put mine in the neck position of a guitar once just for fun and giggles. I was impressed with how well it adapted to guitar, now I guess I go why. It pinged harmonics like crazy !

I've thought about putting it in a narrow spacing shortie like a Bronco.
 
#13
RED J said:
Hmm, thanks for the extra info on the bassbucker, David.

I put mine in the neck position of a guitar once just for fun and giggles. I was impressed with how well it adapted to guitar, now I guess I go why. It pinged harmonics like crazy !

I've thought about putting it in a narrow spacing shortie like a Bronco.
Click to expand...

Thats what I did with mine! I replaced the poles with two 1/8" thick blades and stuck it in a guitar. It sounded really good. Much better than on bass.

I used it on this track (me on guitar):

 
Last edited by a moderator:
#14
Thurisarz said:
Hello!

I bought an Epiphone EB-0 last week, the bass has everything i have been looking for but, i already feel that i need a new pickup for it. It sounds like i have a pillow in the amp which is woofy, undefined and has messy low mids.

There's the Dimarzio Model One, but i have also looked into moding it for a different kind of pickup, like a "guitar humbucker" pickup like the Rio Grande Pitbull or the EMG HB. I have a spare set of jazz pickups in a drawer also.

I'm open to suggestions - money is no problem. At the moment i play in a blues/soul band and a metal band (think Judas priest and Iron Maiden). It would be nice to be able to use a 2-band onboard eq.
I'm also looking into changing the bridge for something else (opinions on that is also welcome!).

Thanks in advance! :)
Click to expand...

I put a lane Poor pup in the sweet spot and removed the epi pup altogether on my gibby, and my epi is the same but with a bart mini in the bridge position as a Mr. Watt did. Sounds killer.
The pitbull sounds like a beast and is a good idea too.Good luck.
 
#15
I recently picked up one of the '00-'01 run Epiphone EB-3 5-strings. It's completely stock with the OBL 2-Dual Rail Bass Humbucker pickups. I would like to upgrade/replace these and was wondering if there are any options for me without routing or cutting?
 

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#16
RED J said:
Guild Humbuckers, when you can find them. I have four, two of which are in my Franken-EB-0 with a Blackouts tone circuit and are incredible. The other two , that I have modded into four wire config,are up for a passive further project eventually. They have a narrow pole piece spacing that works well. They have a broader tone spectrum than the Gibson mudbucker with a midrange that is less boxy and one dimensional (IMO) than the one in the Gibson EB-0 I once owned

Another pickup I have not yet used but is also a narrow spacing humbucker is the Schaller bassbucker, as used in the Kramer "the Duke " basses. They are a much more balanced full range pickup as opposed to the super high impedence mudbuckers, they show up once in a while.

A
Click to expand...
Do you need to re route the pick up cavity to fit the guild pickups?
 
#20
If you haven't check out the sg eb club - SG & EB Bass Club

Here is mine: 2001 epi eb0 w reissue guild bisonic and surface mount victory gold foil diamondback (ok chiseling a wider cavity but not making news ones :) ) Strangely both sound 99% same to me even though drastically different design. Haven't tried different strings beyond tapes. Just a smidge more bass w bisonic. Bought some cheap chinese pickups in different styles to temp swap into neck just to see if sound changes but haven't had time to mess with it. Too busy playing when I have time.

2019-05-16 23.05.12.png
 

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