Pickups For An R9

thejbs · Aug 21, 2018

Hello,
This is my first post. I recently acquired a 2002 R9. It's a very nice guitar, but I don't like the pickups. Can you recommend some replacement pickups?

I'd like to keep the budget around$300, willing to go higher if necessary.

I play clean (no OD or fuzz) blues, jazz, soul,& rocknroll through a 65 Super Reverb Reissue.

Thanks

Monroe · Aug 21, 2018

What's in it now?
What don't you like about the sound?
What changes are you hoping to make?

thejbs · Aug 21, 2018

They are Burstbucker 2 & 3. Both are too "hot" sounding for my taste.

I'd like a pickup that has a warm vintage Les Paul tone.

Black58 · Aug 21, 2018

Monroe said:
What's in it now?
What don't you like about the sound?
What changes are you hoping to make?

Exactly. .. :hmm

Black58 · Aug 21, 2018

... oops! :##

Black58 · Aug 21, 2018

How about getting a BB1 for the neck, and moving the BB2 to the bridge? .. Certainly under $300.

thejbs · Aug 21, 2018

I thought about that, but from what I’ve read, Burstbuckers generally skew towards a hotter sound.

Black58 · Aug 21, 2018

BB1 is underwound and BB2 is average wound. I wouldn't call them "hot", but they are edgy; Which is nice because that makes for good clarity and note separation. Ya gotta remember, too ... THESE THINGS ARE ADJUSTABLE. :ganz

Triburst · Aug 21, 2018

At that price point, I'd be seriously considering a set of Seymour Duncan Antiquity Humbuckers. From your preferred tone description, in my opinion they would be exactly what you're looking for. I think they're about $270 a set.

Zentar · Aug 21, 2018

thejbs said:
Hello,
This is my first post. I recently acquired a 2002 R9. It's a very nice guitar, but I don't like the pickups. Can you recommend some replacement pickups?

I'd like to keep the budget around$300, willing to go higher if necessary.

I play clean (no OD or fuzz) blues, jazz, soul,& rocknroll through a 65 Super Reverb Reissue.

Thanks

You may not need to change both buckers. Isn't one of them close to what yiu like? Try replacing the least favorite of the two with a Seymour Duncan PAF style bucker with a lower DC Resistance.
Ive often wondered why SDs sound so good but whatever the reason SD just seems to make nice PAFs. Pearly Gates and 59s are good but there are others too. Ive even called SD and got advice on the phone.

Go checkout SDs website. They have sound demos in clear and crunch of everthing they sell.

Thundermtn · Aug 21, 2018

If you play clean you'll like the Seth Lover or Antiquity more than the Pearly's. I have a Seth in the neck of my Tele and it's the best/my favorite for clean tones I've ever heard.

Also go check out the Doug and Pat show on youtube. They have TONS of PAF tone shootout videos in direct comparison to a '58 Standard Gold Top. Your ear will know what it likes better than we can tell you.

Cliff Gress · Aug 22, 2018

SDs or Creamtone A3 Deluxe.

ChevChelios · Aug 22, 2018

I'll throw in my Vintage Inspired Pickups LOVERS, preferably with a set of VIPots :salude

Both together are less than $300.

El Gringo · Aug 23, 2018

https://www.throbak.com/paf-pickups-throbak-sle-101-mxv.html

thejaf · Aug 23, 2018

Massive rabbit hole you've uncovered here :laugh2:

A lot of the "PAF" styles are great for blues and rock because the have the upper mids and cutting high end clarity. I have a set of Voodoo 59s in my CR8, and they've been my favorite pickups over last 10 years for this very reason.

That said, my recommendation for a well balanced, smooth sounding humbucker with slightly less output than the BB set = Gibson Classic 57s. Maybe even change pots to 300K and experiment with tone caps (value, not necessarily the brand).

thejbs · Aug 23, 2018

Rabbit hole indeed! I never realized there were so many options! I had a chance to listen to some of the suggested pickups. All of them sound good.

ThroBak’s sound great, but at $600, they are out of my price range.

I like the Vintage Inspired pickups quite a bit. Also, like the Antiquities.

I have not heard the 57’s yet. I’ll give those a listen.

Does anyone have experience with Lollars or Bare Knuckle?

Black58 · Aug 23, 2018

thejbs said:
Rabbit hole indeed! I never realized there were so many options! I had a chance to listen to some of the suggested pickups. All of them sound good.

ThroBak’s sound great, but at $600, they are out of my price range.

I like the Vintage Inspired pickups quite a bit. Also, like the Antiquities.

I have not heard the 57’s yet. I’ll give those a listen.

Does anyone have experience with Lollars or Bare Knuckle?

Serious question: Have you tried adjusting the ones you have?

LtKojak · Aug 24, 2018

If I may, the arguably "best" p'up set money can buy for your R9, playing the forementioned styles of music is, without a doubt, the Electric City Pickups Freedom set. I personally play Smooth Jazz, Fusion, British Blues and Classic Rock, so the basic tonal requirements are pretty similar in both cases, that's why I sound so convinced of what I'm saying.

http://www.electriccitypickups.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=62_72&product_id=96

Well within your budget to boot. I've owned this very set for over four years and I yet have to find another one that would top it, even the ones costing more than twice its price. Plus, dealing with its owner, winder extraordinaire Bill Megela, is really a pleasure. If you tell him Pepe aka Lt.Kojak from Italy sent you, you'll even get the "Royal Treatment".

Yours very truly,

Andrew · Sep 3, 2018

Here's a video of me and my Lollar Imperial low winds. It really depends what you want. These are bright and tele-esque. If the Burstbuckers are too "bitey" then try something with more bass. I like the way those BB's sound. The idea of buying a BB1 for the neck and moving the BB2 to the bridge seems like a good bet:hmm

Black58 · Sep 4, 2018

It truly disgusts me when people don't adjust these things, or at least find someone who can! :ganz

Pickups For An R9

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