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I plan to change the neck pickup in my AS93. It currently has the stock ACH pup, and I find that it lacks something compared to my other guitars.
I play mostly through a Mini Brute or a Silver face Twin using 12 gauge flatwounds.
I understand that the selection process is subjective and wanted to hear the opinions of the collective.
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03-01-2013 07:58 AM
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Try a Seymour Duncan '59 and be prepared to be blown away. I did exactly the same with my AS93.
The ACH pickups are mind-boggingly bad.
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I replaced the neck pickup on my AS83 with a voiced-for-jazz humbucker custom built by Pete Biltoft at Vintage Vibe pickups (Vintage Vibe Guitars). The price was very reasonable and the improvement in sound was vast.
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i've put some SD Seth Lover on my Artcore AGS83B and it now rivals my 1966 Gibson ES335.
No kidding ...
In a way, no wonder, the pickups of both guitars were made on the same machine, Seymour Duncan bought the old Gibson machines (what a mistake from this "old glory" company !!).
And since the neck on the Ibanez is just fantastic, after a few minor upgrades, tailpiece, tuners, etc... the result is that my two Ibanez are out and my ES335 is sadly in the case most of the time.
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Are you sure your AS93 has ACH pups? Ibanez's website says they are Super 58s which are good pups. You'd have to spend upwards of $90 per pick-up to get better pups.
Originally Posted by rockrink
Hollow Body Guitars -AS93 | Ibanez guitars
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Just curious ... have you tried adjusting the height of the pickups? It makes a very big difference and I always experiment with that before I think about an actual pickup change.
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oops never mind, sorry ^ ^
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Originally Posted by DRS
DRS, this is the newest version of the AS93 that just came out this year. The older AS93 comes with ACH pickups. The older AS93 headstock has either a lightning bolt or a sort of square with a plus sign of sorts through it.
Jim, I too have tried adjusting the height of the pickups... there was no point, they are really dull and lifeless. Anything different from stock will be a tremendous upgrade. The Duncan 59 blew me away in any case.
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Mine's a older one with the ACH pups, which I don't care for.
I did adjust the height and it made a big difference, but it still doesn't sound that good.
Has anyone tried the Stewmac Parsons Street pups?
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In that case it's really a matter of how much you want to spend. My stock PAF style pickup is the DiMarzio 36th Anniversary. You can get them at all the usual suspects for about $65 to $70 per pickup. It has a really nice balance between warmth and detail. For a lot more money, I also like the Bare Knuckles Mule.
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I used to have an AS93 with the ACH pickups - which have ceramic magnets. I swapped mine out for a SD Jazz in the neck and the JB in the bridge. The JB is a great rock and fusion pickup, however many find that the Jazz compromises warmth for the sake of clarity as a true jazz neck pickup. If I was doing it again, I would probably try the SD 59 in the neck for more warmth, or if feeling particularly flush, the Bare Knuckle Mule. I'm also noting Jim's Dimarzio recommendation.
In fact, I am considering it again. I took delivery of an AS153 a week ago. This is an absolutely beautiful guitar. Far better looking in the flesh than the Ibanez photos suggest. I can't believe the build quality for £650 ! However, after only a week, I'm wondering whether the pickups are just too bright. These are "Super 58 Customs". Unlike the MIJ Super 58s, which I believe are Alnico III based, the new "Customs" are made in China and based on Alnico V. I will definitely give them a few more weeks, though. My previous guitar was probably too much on the "dull" side, so I may have to educate myself to use the tone controls on the AS153 !
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Have you been to the Ibanez forum? It seems like most of the people there change pups :-)
Ibanez Forum
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I wanted to thank everyone for the suggestions. Ultimately, I went with the StewMac Parsons Street.
As many suggested, the difference in sound is remarkable.
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Second recommendation for Pete Biltoft at vintagevibeguitars.com. Pete is a custom winder whose stuff is first rate.
I have a single-coil neck P-90 pu that is built in a humbucker-sized footprint that I dropped into an 1970's Aria Pro II lawsuit 175. The single-coil pu has the "sparkle" which old-time jazz recordings have. I find most humbuckers kind of compressed, and mid-rangey sounding, to me. BTW, the single-coil is more powerful, more clear with more articulation than the Humbuckers they replaced. They are also very quiet...no problem jamming in front of the computer monitor.
Pete's prices are reasonable...the build quality is way, way better than most mass-produced stuff. I was led to him when I bought a telecaster set that I have in a roseneck tele. Also, really really great sounding pu's---kind of like Don Rich (?!), I think his name was...the fellow who was Buck Owens' brilliant #2 man in the Buckaroos band who played tele, and sang harmony vocals, and lead guitar.
Talk to Pete...he's a great guy and will work with you to help you get the sound you want. My Aria sounds great...and a heckuva lot better than some vintage Gibson 175's with P-90's which sounded harsh, noisy, and very-very midrangey, in comparison. (Not that there aren't great sounding Gibsons out there---but like all instruments, some are better than others.)
I tend to like a clean, clear tone with richness...and this guitar played through my Roland JC-77 gives me everything I want.
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What is the biggest difference? I am also looking to replace the neck pickup in my AF75. I ordered a rosewood bridge, then pickup is on my list, but other than that it is a fantastic guitar! Originally Posted by rockrink
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When I owned an Epi Joe Pass, I switched out the neck pu with an Benedetto B-6. I know it's expensive, but I got the sound I wanted. It is a bit heavy on the low end, but that's what tone controls are for.
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Wow. I've had my AS100 since '89 and never really was totally happy with it despite the raves reviews it gets. Read this and remembered back 20 years ago when I was trying to make it sound like Kenny Burrell's D'Angelio :-) I lowered the PUs. Totally forgot about it till I read this. Raised 'em up, (waxed 'em down) took a stroll thru Room 335 and after all these years remembered why I bought it in the first place - thanks man! Originally Posted by Jim Soloway
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Personally, I prefer single coils to HBs. To that end, I put a set of el-cheapo GFS Mean 90's in my Broadway, and they are fantastic. As good sounding as any of my boutique pups, no joke.
Someday I'll pull them out and try a set of Vintage Vibe CCs, but I'm in no hurry.
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Very interesting to me this. I have an Ibby AS50 - the pups are fine but always interested in the upgrade route for a better jazz sound. The neck is nice and flat for me as I have dinnerplate hands from boogie and blues playing. Like the body as well.
£500 about 5 years ago and excellent value
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I second the GFS pickups.
Incredibly good, all it takes is to get them and not get disturbed by the white noise in your brain saying that it can't be good because it's cheap.
The problem is probably more ethic, probably made in China, low wages, pollution, etc...
I have a mini jazz humbucker on an Aria Sinsonido silent steel guitar that i recycled to a travel electric guitar and it sounds awesome, fat and clear. Great when tapped too.
So i guess all their P.U.s are like this.
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