@@xophedebx I am considering buying a used Ibanez ART 100 and installing a Dunlop Custom HB-5 (ceramic) into the bridge. I am currently playing an older 2001 Epiphone Les Paul with stock Alnico pickups. They sound ok...but still slightly muddy. I want a lighter more comfortable Les Paul style guitar with better tone. Am I heading the right direction? You are obviously a great player. How bad are the original ART 100 pickups? Also, what makes you want to play this style of guitar vs a Epiphone? I have Ibanez Artwood acoustics and love them.
Hello @malibu_guy The original ART pickups are not bad but are not enough defined when playing with lot of distortion for my own taste. I think that the current Epiphone with pro bucker pickups are closer to the original Gibson than the Ibanez. The ART100 was made in China, as the GIO series, so the quality is good but not fantastic (the bridge was sometimes rattling on my ART100). I think that Ibanez Super 58 pickups or DI Marzio PAF would sound great on it (for a 70ies sound). I have several Ibanez, and that's why I bought the ART vs an Epiphone, but Epiphone makes great guitars as well.
@@xophedebx I am considering buying a 2002 GIO GAX 70, made in Indonesia. With the stock pickups the tone is so shrill its almost unusable compared to my 2000 Epi Les Paul with Alnicos. I have a Duncan Custom pickup that I want to put in the bridge position of the GAX 70. With your experience with Ibanez and playing the GIO series line will this pickup change out make a huge difference in the GAX 70 tone and overall feel of the guitar? Thanks
Are those the stock pick ups?
Hello, no, the pickups are Ibanez INF3 and INF4 (ua-cam.com/video/8HcE7xUb-fA/v-deo.html)
@@xophedebx I am considering buying a used Ibanez ART 100 and installing a Dunlop Custom HB-5 (ceramic) into the bridge. I am currently playing an older 2001 Epiphone Les Paul with stock Alnico pickups. They sound ok...but still slightly muddy. I want a lighter more comfortable Les Paul style guitar with better tone. Am I heading the right direction? You are obviously a great player. How bad are the original ART 100 pickups? Also, what makes you want to play this style of guitar vs a Epiphone? I have Ibanez Artwood acoustics and love them.
Hello @malibu_guy The original ART pickups are not bad but are not enough defined when playing with lot of distortion for my own taste. I think that the current Epiphone with pro bucker pickups are closer to the original Gibson than the Ibanez. The ART100 was made in China, as the GIO series, so the quality is good but not fantastic (the bridge was sometimes rattling on my ART100). I think that Ibanez Super 58 pickups or DI Marzio PAF would sound great on it (for a 70ies sound). I have several Ibanez, and that's why I bought the ART vs an Epiphone, but Epiphone makes great guitars as well.
@@xophedebx Thanks for the advice. You have a great sound.
@@xophedebx I am considering buying a 2002 GIO GAX 70, made in Indonesia. With the stock pickups the tone is so shrill its almost unusable compared to my 2000 Epi Les Paul with Alnicos. I have a Duncan Custom pickup that I want to put in the bridge position of the GAX 70. With your experience with Ibanez and playing the GIO series line will this pickup change out make a huge difference in the GAX 70 tone and overall feel of the guitar? Thanks