Swapping Super 58 on Ibanez Artcore Expressionist AFJ95

**Giovanni Goria** · 11-02-2016, 01:34 PM

Hi guys.

I am currently waiting for my new guitar to arrive tomorrow. I've read all the review and comments about this guitar, and decided to buy it because of the positive review of the guitar. I am so excited, yet wondering, do i have to swap the stock pickup, which is Super 58, and replace it with some PAF pickup such as ThroBak or something else, as i am looking for a dark yet woody sound.

This is my first hollow bodied guitar, before this i am using PRS SE 245 and Fender Telecaster Standard. I'm not really satisfied with both guitar, because i am looking for a "jazz" tone from a hollow body guitar, and the Ibanez kinda match my budget for new guitar.

Hope you guys can give some advice.

Thanks!

Gio from Indonesia.

**newsense** · 11-02-2016, 01:52 PM

Play the guitar for at least 2 months before even thinking about swapping the pickups. Get to know which strings you prefer; find your favourite amp settings. Once you feel you really know the quitar and it sounds as good as it can, then, and only then, consider whether you are dissatisfied with the tone.

I have swapped the pickups on two Ibanez guitars. The first time it made a big difference to swap out the ceramics pickups. The second time I swapped a Super 58 for a Gibson 57 - it made not so much difference. The third Ibanez, I just left the Super 58s in and was very happy.

**Giovanni Goria** · 11-02-2016, 02:01 PM

Hello! Thanks for the reply!

Indeed, i am not going to swap the pickup immediately, but i am looking for any suggestions, as some people dissatistifed with the Super 58.

Do you still own your Ibanez?

**Giovanni Goria** · 11-02-2016, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by newsense

Play the guitar for at least 2 months before even thinking about swapping the pickups. Get to know which strings you prefer; find your favourite amp settings. Once you feel you really know the quitar and it sounds as good as it can, then, and only then, consider whether you are dissatisfied with the tone.

I have swapped the pickups on two Ibanez guitars. The first time it made a big difference to swap out the ceramics pickups. The second time I swapped a Super 58 for a Gibson 57 - it made not so much difference. The third Ibanez, I just left the Super 58s in and was very happy.

Oops, sorry, am new to this forum, so i'm still learning how to post and reply on this forum 🙂

**Gitfiddler** · 11-02-2016, 02:49 PM

I have owned a few Ibanez semi-hollows with Super 58's and like them a lot. I even swapped out the original Super 80 pickups in my old Ibanez 2630, and dropped in a pair of 58's. Great tone! Also, keep in mind that their high end Scofield JSM100 comes standard with 58's.

You might check and see if your incoming AFJ95 is equipped with Japanese Super 58's or Chinese Custom 58's. The latter are not a well regarded as 'real' Super 58's.

Bottom line, play the guitar for a while and after adjusting the existing pickups to taste, then determine if you need to replace or not.

Enjoy!

**Giovanni Goria** · 11-02-2016, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Gitfiddler

I have owned a few Ibanez semi-hollows with Super 58's and like them a lot. I even swapped out the original Super 80 pickups in my old Ibanez 2630, and dropped in a pair of 58's. Great tone! Also, keep in mind that their high end Scofield JSM100 comes standard with 58's.

You might check and see if your incoming AFJ95 is equipped with Japanese Super 58's or Chinese Custom 58's. The latter are not a well regarded as 'real' Super 58's.

Bottom line, play the guitar for a while and after adjusting the existing pickups to taste, then determine if you need to replace or not.

Enjoy!

I guess it's the Chinese version of the Super 58. For a $450 guitar, i think it's quite impossible to put a high end $300 Super 58 that is usually found in Ibanez's high end guitars.

I am still waiting for the guitar to arrive, hopefully, i'll love the sound of the pickup. If not, pickup swap is always possible! SD Seth Lovers, ThroBak and other decent pickups will PROBABLY get me the tone i really want.

Anyway, thanks for the reply! Hope you always enjoy your Ibanez.

**miken** · 11-02-2016, 03:34 PM

I picked up an AFJ95 earlier this year kind of by accident. I went into a store to buy a Godin 5th Ave acoustic and saw this at the same price. I played it and didn't even go look at the Godin. I have had several "budget" level guitars over the last couple of years including a Hofner, 2 Epiphones and currently have an Eastman AR371 and a Loar that I have fitted with an imported Kent Armstrong pickup. The Ibanez is clearly the best of the bunch.
The Super 58's are the custom (Chinese) ones. But, they are great. Clear, articulate and have a great range from bright to dark. My Eastman has a Duncan Classic 59 and doesn't have any range at all. It sounds good, but, I can't seem to get a dark tone out of it.
My point is, I have not found any reason at all to change the pickups. I think that you'll find that you really like the guitar as is. I've always been more of an Epiphone guy, but, I'm quickly becoming an Ibanez guy.

**Giovanni Goria** · 11-02-2016, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by miken

I picked up an AFJ95 earlier this year kind of by accident. I went into a store to buy a Godin 5th Ave acoustic and saw this at the same price. I played it and didn't even go look at the Godin. I have had several "budget" level guitars over the last couple of years including a Hofner, 2 Epiphones and currently have an Eastman AR371 and a Loar that I have fitted with an imported Kent Armstrong pickup. The Ibanez is clearly the best of the bunch.
The Super 58's are the custom (Chinese) ones. But, they are great. Clear, articulate and have a great range from bright to dark. My Eastman has a Duncan Classic 59 and doesn't have any range at all. It sounds good, but, I can't seem to get a dark tone out of it.
My point is, I have not found any reason at all to change the pickups. I think that you'll find that you really like the guitar as is. I've always been more of an Epiphone guy, but, I'm quickly becoming an Ibanez guy.

Woah! Can it produce a dark, Pat Metheny kinda tone? Would really glad if it can produce that kind of tone.

Thanks for the reply!

**Lobomov** · 11-02-2016, 03:46 PM

I jammed with a guy playing an AF105. He loved it more than life and claimed that all his GAS had disappeared once it got that. I thought it sounded ok, but no more than that. It had the super 58s.

Tastes differ. So try it. Maybe you'll love it. I have a PM100 (one pup guitar) where the previous owner has replaced the Silent58 with a SD Benedetto A6. To my taste an amazing pup and my recommendation

**Giovanni Goria** · 11-02-2016, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by Lobomov

I jammed with a guy playing an AF105. He loved it more than life and claimed that all his GAS had disappeared once it got that. I thought it sounded ok, but no more than that. It had the super 58s.

Tastes differ. So try it. Maybe you'll love it. I have a PM100 (one pup guitar) where the previous owner has replaced the Silent58 with a SD Benedetto A6. To my taste an amazing pup and my recommendation

I'm going to try, and see if i like it or not. If not, i'll consider SD Benedetto as you recommend. Thanks!

**miken** · 11-02-2016, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by Giovanni Goria

Woah! Can it produce a dark, Pat Metheny kinda tone? Would really glad if it can produce that kind of tone.

Thanks for the reply!

I'm sure that I'm not qualified to say. I can't play .001% of what Metheny can play. But, to the spirit of your question, I think that's the general direction that the sound is going.

**Giovanni Goria** · 11-02-2016, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by miken

I'm sure that I'm not qualified to say. I can't play .001% of what Metheny can play. But, to the spirit of your question, I think that's the general direction that the sound is going.

Haha, i mean, when you roll the tone down, does it produce a nice dark sound?

**Thumpalumpacus** · 11-03-2016, 05:46 AM

Originally Posted by Giovanni Goria

Hi guys.

I am currently waiting for my new guitar to arrive tomorrow. I've read all the review and comments about this guitar, and decided to buy it because of the positive review of the guitar. I am so excited, yet wondering, do i have to swap the stock pickup, which is Super 58, and replace it with some PAF pickup such as ThroBak or something else, as i am looking for a dark yet woody sound.

This is my first hollow bodied guitar, before this i am using PRS SE 245 and Fender Telecaster Standard. I'm not really satisfied with both guitar, because i am looking for a "jazz" tone from a hollow body guitar, and the Ibanez kinda match my budget for new guitar.

Hope you guys can give some advice.

Thanks!

Gio from Indonesia.

Play it before you make any decision.

**GNAPPI** · 11-03-2016, 06:17 AM

I've never read that anyone was unhappy with S58's. Look on EBAY for used ones they are VERY rare.

Gibby owners swap pups like I change socks, then pump the git thru a bunch of pedals and swear the new pups are better, but Ibanez owners seem to buy a git for what it is more than most brands.

As said above leave the 58's in, I think you will be hard pressed to improve on them.

**Joelhas10fingers** · 11-03-2016, 06:31 PM

I have an Ibanez AF. Not sure of the model, but clearly based on a 175. It has the stock Super 58 pickups. I like them quite a lot. I suppose it has a Pat Metheny type of tone. I play through a Roland JC77 or a Deluxe type amp and that changes things a lot--the solid state Roland being more pure with a little more headroom is closer to a PM sound. To my ears, Pat M had a rounder, darker tone on his first album and the early PM Group albums. He sounds brighter in recent albums, to me at least. In any case, yes, I like the stock Ibanez pickups. I'm in no hurry to replace them. I have plenty of equipment I obsess about, but not that.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**jazz.fred** · 11-04-2016, 11:55 PM

I agree with Joel. I own an Ibanez AF125 and it's a nice sounding guitar. The stock Super 58 Customs are more than adequate. Would the guitar benefit from a pickup upgrade? Probably. Would the improvement be commensurate with the cost of the upgrade? Possibly. But, as Joel observed, there's no hurry.

**qblue** · 11-26-2016, 12:11 AM

I belong to the Ibanez forum. Users there claim, as does a company rep, that there are no differences in the Japanese Super 58 and Chinese Super 58 pickups. However, the covers on the Chinese models are engraved S 58-N and S 58-B in the lower right hand corners, depending on its position. I would not change these pickups because they were made to be similar to a Gibson HB (Alnico III?) and there will not be any significant difference, except for country of production.

I checked the part numbers and they are different. The QC by Ibanez is so good that the Chinese product does not show great differences from the Japanese product. The MIJ stuff usually has more features than the MIC products. More time, features, and handiwork are noted in the MIJ guitars, and therefore an increase in price.

I like these pickups. I have played my AFJ95 for three years and feel no need to consider a change.