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Pickups for ES-335 Bass (Chinese)

buzzby

buzzby

Nov 20, 2020
137
140
Colorado Front Range
#1
Hello,

First, I spent an hour this evening searching the forums, because I thought for sure someone else would have asked this question, but I did not find what I am looking for.

I bought a bass kit in the style of the ES-335. The kit came with two humbucker pickups. They look like the $15 humbucker pickup sets you can find on eBay. I would like to upgrade the pickups, but I know so little about this. I did read a couple of pickup primers that covered just about everything you would want to know about pickups (Here's one of them: The Ultimate Guide to Bass Pickups for Newbies and Advanced Bass Players). However, I still have a few of questions.

1. Are humbucker pickups specific to bass or guitar use? Or is a humbucker equally good in a bass and a guitar? In other words, must I find humbucker pickups that specifically say "for bass"?

2. Also, I searched (unsuccessfully) to find out which pickups shipped with the real ES-335 basses. Would anyone be able to point me to the answer?

3. Any recommendations for pickups for this bass? I'm looking at spending a total of $200 or less on just the pickups (although I could be swayed to spend more for the right reason(s)).


Finally, I'm open to installing a set of PJ pickups instead of the the 2 humbuckers, but I prefer to stay with humbuckers to save me the additional body work. I don't believe the split-style P bass pickup will fit the humbucker cutout without some additional woodworking.

Thank you for the education that I hope is to follow!

buzz
 
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#2
A favorite subject of mine!

  1. Guitar pickups and bass pickups work on exactly the same principles. This means that you can use guitar pickups on basses and bass pickups on guitars! With a couple of caveats: first, pay attention to overall string spacing. A guitar humbucker with 2” of spread won’t work on a six-string bass with 18mm spacing between strings, obviously. But if your strings fall within the magnetic field, you’re good! Second, many “hot” guitar pickups are overwound, which emphasizes midrange and de-emphasizes treble and bass. Use one of these on a bass, and while it will work, it probably will not sound good to your ears. Instead, look for vintage or medium output pickups with a wide, relatively flat frequency response.
  2. I visited the (now-closed) Gibson Memphis factory a few years back, and got to play a Gibson 335 bass. It used their “TB Plus” pickups, which are blade pickups with a ceramic magnet. TB Plus pickups were also used in other shapes for other basses, such as Thunderbirds.
  3. I can enthusiastically recommend the Wilde L-90 pickup, in the 4H version. This is what Becky told me that Bill recommended for basses that require guitar-sized humbuckers. They have a full, thick tone with lots of upper-frequency clarity. Very musical!
 
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#3
ctmullins said:
...
  1. I can enthusiastically recommend the Wilde L-90 pickup, in the 4H version.
...
Click to expand...

Splinters,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and recommendation!

You mention the "4H" version of the L-90, but I do not know what that means.

I see the L-90 pickups are sold as the following types:
  • 2.0 = NECK
  • 2.8 = NECK
  • 4.0 = NECK (1970s design)
  • 5.0 = BRIDGE (1970s design)
  • 8.0 = BRIDGE
I do not know which to buy, or which would match with your "4H version." Do you know?

I left a message for Becky (since it's her product after all :)), but I thought I'd ask you as well, since I'm ready to buy yesterday.

Thank you again!

buzz
 
#4
buzzby said:
Splinters,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and recommendation!

You mention the "4H" version of the L-90, but I do not know what that means.

I see the L-90 pickups are sold as the following types:
  • 2.0 = NECK
  • 2.8 = NECK
  • 4.0 = NECK (1970s design)
  • 5.0 = BRIDGE (1970s design)
  • 8.0 = BRIDGE
I do not know which to buy, or which would match with your "4H version." Do you know?

I left a message for Becky (since it's her product after all :)), but I thought I'd ask you as well, since I'm ready to buy yesterday.

Thank you again!

buzz
Click to expand...

Sure - those numbers in your list are inductance numbers, expressed in Henries. The third one in your list is 4.0, or 4.0 Henries, or 4H.
 
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#7
(Hopefully) my last question on the topic:

I've read a little about inductance over the last hour, and I'm wondering if going with a 4H for the neck and a 6H for bridge would be good, or would the different inductance levels cause interference with each other?

I think I like the idea of having different inductance pickups for added tone variation, but I admit I really don't have a clue about this.

I also believe the location of each of the pickups will create tone differences, even with two identical pickups.

You went with two 4Hs, and I'm guessing there's good reason for that. I know that it's ultimately a matter of preference, and I'd value your opinion on this, if you are game (again).

Thanks!

buzz
 
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#8
Sure! I used two 4H because that’s what Becky recommended. But I’ve fooled around with lots of different pickups over the years, enough to know that the neck versus bridge positions will make far more difference than a 4H versus 6H. You can use the 6H in the bridge, no problem. Some people like a slightly higher output in the bridge pickup. With Bill & Becky’s pickup designs, they all have plenty of output and plenty of clarity, so for Wildes the difference between a 4H and a 6H will be pretty small. And don’t forget that you can adjust output and low frequency response by raising or lowering the height of the pickups as well.
 
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#9
I placed the order! I was unable to reach Becky yesterday, so I went with the L-90 4H for the neck and the L-90 6H for the bridge.

I figured that if the difference between the two would be pretty small two, I'd go for it (they're the same price).

I was also influenced by this article at Pickup Inductance, which in part states:
"To cut to the chase, a low inductance will favour high frequencies and a higher inductance will favour lower frequencies. The majority of pickups in common use have inductances which range between 1.8 Henries (a Gretsch Blacktop Filtertron) and 10 Henries (an original Bill Lawrence L500). There are also a few specialised pickups which are higher inductance than that – up to 15H for a Telecaster Hot Rail. I’ve measured over 100 pickups and tested them to see if this theory holds true. It does. Low inductance pickups are bright and twangy, high inductance pickups darker, fatter and more midrangey."
​
I thought the reference to Bill Lawrence was amazing. Before yesterday, I'd not heard of Bill.

Thanks so much for your time helping me get somewhat up to speed on this!

buzz
 
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#10
Quick update:

Becky just called me back. She said for a bass, "Bill always recommended" the L-90 2.0H for the neck pickup and L-90 2.8H for Bridge pickup.

That's different than the recommendation you received. I hope I like these. As mentioned earlier, the lower inductance seems to favor higher frequencies, so I'm not sure I get it, but I'm trusting the expert.

buzz
 
#11
Yep, that is different.

I think the phrase “favor the high frequencies” is a bit misleading. I would say “more neutral”. None of these pickups will lack lows. In fact, the lower inductance will be more full-range, flat, uncolored, and neutral, which will let the natural tone of your bass come through.

Guitar players are a funny bunch. Some of them like the artificially compressed and band-passed nature of an overwound/high inductance pickup. Can’t figure why. Personally, I want a pickup that is balanced, clear, and has a healthy output. I can do tone shaping downstream from there.
 
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#12
ctmullins said:
A favorite subject of mine!

  1. Guitar pickups and bass pickups work on exactly the same principles. This means that you can use guitar pickups on basses and bass pickups on guitars! With a couple of caveats: first, pay attention to overall string spacing. A guitar humbucker with 2” of spread won’t work on a six-string bass with 18mm spacing between strings, obviously. But if your strings fall within the magnetic field, you’re good! Second, many “hot” guitar pickups are overwound, which emphasizes midrange and de-emphasizes treble and bass. Use one of these on a bass, and while it will work, it probably will not sound good to your ears. Instead, look for vintage or medium output pickups with a wide, relatively flat frequency response.
  2. I visited the (now-closed) Gibson Memphis factory a few years back, and got to play a Gibson 335 bass. It used their “TB Plus” pickups, which are blade pickups with a ceramic magnet. TB Plus pickups were also used in other shapes for other basses, such as Thunderbirds.
  3. I can enthusiastically recommend the Wilde L-90 pickup, in the 4H version. This is what Becky told me that Bill recommended for basses that require guitar-sized humbuckers. They have a full, thick tone with lots of upper-frequency clarity. Very musical!
Click to expand...
They are a match in size?
 
#13
buzzby said:
(Hopefully) my last question on the topic:

I've read a little about inductance over the last hour, and I'm wondering if going with a 4H for the neck and a 6H for bridge would be good, or would the different inductance levels cause interference with each other?

I think I like the idea of having different inductance pickups for added tone variation, but I admit I really don't have a clue about this.

I also believe the location of each of the pickups will create tone differences, even with two identical pickups.

You went with two 4Hs, and I'm guessing there's good reason for that. I know that it's ultimately a matter of preference, and I'd value your opinion on this, if you are game (again).

Thanks!

buzz
Click to expand...
Pickup location will definitely affect your sound significantly. I used a Stingray style pickup in the Precision location on one of my basses. It sounds nothing like a Stingray and a lot like a precision. I also wired it with a series parallel switch that also has a strong tonal effect.
 
#17
Confirmed -- Gibson T-Bird Plus has standard PAF/Humbucker dimensions of 2.76w x 1.5h. Let me know if anything further is needed.

My first swap from the Tbird's is Lawrence L-90's, a significant improvement.
 
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