I Put Boutique Pickups in My $800 Guitar
Вставка
- Опубліковано 10 лис 2019
- 🎸 Break through the lost intermediate plateau in 2023 - Bulletproof Guitar Player 2.0 coming soon ➡️ bit.ly/Bulletproof2023 🔴 MY ONLINE COURSES ⬇️
✅ Bulletproof Guitar Player Part 1: Master the Fretboard - bit.ly/BGPPart1
✅ Bulletproof Guitar Player Part 2: Advanced Concepts - bit.ly/BGPPart2
✅ Spicy Licks Package 1 (10 Licks Inspired by Joe Bonamassa & Eric Johnson): bit.ly/SpicyLicksPackage1
Progress to an advanced level of guitar playing - bulletproofguitarplayer.com Learn more about MojoTone:
www.mojotone.com/
Today we’re taking a look at a set of boutique, aftermarket pickups from MojoTone. I got these for my D’Angelico Premier DC - a semi-hollow 335-style electric that I’ve really enjoyed playing since I got it back in February of this year.
For a while I had been considering a pickup swap for this guitar. The original Duncan Designed humbuckers that come stock with the Premier DC are good quality pickups for the price that the guitar sells for, but I was looking for a set of humbuckers that would provide me with a vintage tone and more clarity all round. Basically, I was looking for PAF style humbuckers like you would find in a 1959 Gibson Les Paul.
Since I had been introduced to MojoTone earlier in the year, I decided to hit them up to see what they would recommend. Luckily they had exactly what I was looking for and so they generously sent me a set of their low output 59 clone humbuckers. I had a local tech install the pickups for me, and after having had the guitar back for a week now, I can safely say that they are EXACTLY what I had in mind for it.
Huge thanks to MojoTone for supplying me with these pickups! If you are considering a pickup swap for a guitar of your own, I would recommend checking out what MojoTone have to offer.
If you liked this video, hit the like button and click 'Subscribe' for more!
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
FACEBOOK: / rcampbellguitarist
INSTAGRAM: / rosscampbellguitarist
TWITTER: / rosscampbellgtr
Thank you for watching!
R.
x
Love it dude and your playing.
Thank you mate!
Sounds amazing! You're right. The original pickups weren't bad at all, but the Mojo Tone PUs are just next level. They sound incredible and really make that guitar come to life.
Perfect upgrade to my ears. The clean tones on the neck and the dirty on the bridge are to die for. Thanks for the demo, educational and enjoyable at the same time.
$800 guitars (i'd even say $500) these days provide basically all you need as a player in both playability and tone. If you pay more, you usually pay for luxuries.
I'm sure there are. I love this guitar.
Said a guy that never played a properly set up $7k guitar.
@@jomamma1750, my main is Gibson LP Standard with PLEK setup. Not 7k, but expensive enough for me. I just know that I could spend much less money for similar playability and tone, but I also wanted all those nice extra things, including awesome smell.
@@ThorneyedWT My point-- proven
@@jomamma1750 lolwut. There is NOTHING you can make on $7k guitar to play and sound better that you can't do on $800 guitar.
I bought this same combination of guitar and pickups and I'm really satisfied with it. It's perfect for pretty much any style, from rock to Neo soul. I really recommend it to anybody who wants to get a versatile humbucker guitar.
Ive never understood "hot" pickups like PRS or the like as I can always drive my low output signal w a neve style pre amp or boost pedal but its really hard to dial back a hot pup to recover the articulation and dynamics
PRS isn't really well known for making "hot" pickups. Some models are wound hotter than others, but in general, the pickups on most of their core models are fairly low output.
Sounds really amazing and does sweet justice to the Blues! Awesome work!
They sound amazing. Very round and mellow. The middle position kicks ass when clean.
Cheers, bro'
This is one of the best video comparisons I’ve seen anywhere. You’re playing and musical touch is incredibly inspiring!!! Subscribing to your channel! PS : the mojo tone 59’s have more presence for sure. Much sweeter top end
Got my Premier DC without F-holes to do the work myself and changed to some PAF masters. Little did I know the backplate was so small it was still a hassle to do it with push-pull pots. Neck pick up wasn't long enough to run to the tone controls so had to push-pull on the volume pots. 6 hours later I'm happy. Great video and sound. 👍
When I heard you play the main theme from Isbell's 'Cover me up' that sealed the deal for me man. I have been looking at this guitar for months now and just found out that the guitar I was watching you with was that (this) guitar! I got a great Strat, an even better Tele and now I want a semi-hollow!
Wow. Significant difference! I'd read great things about the Mojo low outputs, but hearing this demo sold me. Outstanding playing, BTW.
Everything sounds boutique with your fingers Ross 😀
You're too kind good sir.
Ross Campbell you are very welcome!
I Agree !! Stellar playing ... i kept waiting for him to breakout and start riffen Cliffs of Dover ! :-)
what amp
@@RossCampbellGuitarist A good player always adjusts ...
Ross I really like the stock pups, but the replacement was a success. I have my good headphones on, and there was a moment I thought the new ones were just louder maybe, but no they are a little better than the already good stock units. It’s a good recording too!
Thanks for that, thinking of upgrading my Sire Larry Carlton pickups, like this. The difference is sound is like the difference between a raw recording tracked roughly, and one tracked and mixed by a good engineer. Much more polished, refined and smooth; more like a finished record basically. Not necessarily sound brighter or with more dynamic range. I hear less spikiness and more controlled transients, making it much more pleasant and making the stock pickups sound slightly spikey and a tad harsher by comparison. Makes it sound like a much more 'expensive' guitar. Biggest difference I heard was on dirty middle setting. Wasn't sounding too good on the stock, very dark and muddy. But lovely on the Mojotones.
Excellent video and great playing! Thanks Ross!
Man the dirty tones come alive and definitely more articulate with the 59 Clones!
Nice! I have the same guitar! (Different color) and I just ordered some Planet Tone humbucker sized P90s to install and I don't think I have the patience to do it myself!
I'd be afraid to upgrade pickups, but you definitely made a great choice. They sound great!
Wow even through UA-cam compression you can hear the difference. Especially and more so on middle position clean. The stock sound as though the tone knob is rolled back to about 6!
It's a little more challenging but not too hard to change pickups on those. I had no problem my first try. Just used some string. Sounds sweet btw!
Sounds awesome Ross! That guitar really is just perfect for your style imo..aside from that infamous LP you jam on :) Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you Christopher!
Great Update and Demo, I appreciate you taking the time to share. \M/
Thank you!
I custom build a lot of instruments. The trick to getting the pots through the F hole is to use fish aquarium tubing on the end of the pot and just feed it through works like a charm
just heavenly tones. thanks so much for the vid.
Nicely played. And a good move on the upgrade. It sounds great, man. Sweeter is exactly the right word, every note is better articulated, but rich and without any muddiness. Well worth the price?
Wow. Yeah. Sounds great. Great tones and playing.
Im kinda in the same situation w/ a semi hollow I purchased for right around the same price. This is very useful and Im going for the pickup swap! 😬
Really enjoyed your tasty playing! Great demo! Curious as to the wiring harness... 50’s style? Tone cap info? (22uf ?) Continued success! 👍🏼
Hi Ross, it's nice to see your video, your tone was absolutely awesome,
I wonder, how you record your guitar playing? Is it directly from Head amp into loadbox and soundcard, or came from cabinet that captured by microphone? Thank you..
The stock pickups weren't bad, but the Mojotones sure add clarity, articulation and that typical "nasal" tone one gets from PAF-like pickups. Thanks for the video ! Cheers
Great demo with both!! The Mojos sound Great!!
Thanks!
Stock, still sounds great and at a sweet value price point. With the pickup swap, the tone is not only brighter and more articulate, it brings an open, airy sound that's missing with the stock pickups. Definitely a nice, notable step up to my ears.
Sounds insane man! So good!
One of my favorite Jason Isbell Songs :-) Love your playing!
Mine too. Thank you!
Thank you, Your video sold me on those pickups. Beautiful tone.Exactly the sound I like. And you are a killer player too.I bet you like Robben Ford. So do I, who doesn't ? LOL I am a bass player but I started on guitar about 50 years ago.I'm starting to play more guitar these days. I just bought a Firefly ES338 it plays great and I think those pickups will make the guitar even better.
Thank you. Can confirm I am a fan of Robben Ford.
Hell yeah man!! Glad you finally got a set of Mojos. The ‘59s are my absolute favorite. I have the low, standard, and hot output sets in my guitars
My man! Thank you for hooking me up with them!
Ross Campbell anytime dude! So glad you’re liking em :)
Excellent demonstration, I could even tell the difference on my phone. As a lover of chords I don't need distortion built into the sound source. Maybe I should have tried this conversion on my own D'Angelico before selling it but that would still leave the problem of its crappy tuners. Luckily I was able to buy a Hagstrom Viking with the Mojotones already installed, which solved the problem of the tuners as well.
I have the Premier DC Mini with the same stock pickups and I love it. But those Mojo Tones? You just never need to sound better than that! The neck pickup with some dirt especially was really something. I was also expecting you to say they were $400+ though who knows maybe they are now! Great review!
The more I hear those pickups the more I want it! They sound phenomenal!
I think articulate is a pretty accurate word. Definitely a good upgrade if you ask me. I'll tell you what, I really enjoyed the character of the stock p'ups too though
Those 59 clones have that Stapleton chime when clean and are night and day with the dirty tones. Well chosen
hey man, great vid and great tone... what amp and pedals are you using? sounds so good
I liked the stock bridge pickup and found the replacement (this particular version of the 3 on offer) thinner/brighter than I liked - could have been that the Tone control on guitar was maxed to treble and been turned down a bit to cure. Stock neck pickup was the problem (assuming the Tone control wasn't turned down most of the way) - too dark/muddy. Replacement neck pickup was great. Curious to know how the middle position would have sounded with stock bridge and replacement neck, but that's not feasible given the labor involved to swap.
Amazing sounds mate, what did you use for overdrive sounds? Amp?
Great tones, great playing!
Thanks Paul!
Big difference, like day and night. Like a thick veil being lifted from the sound , allowing the tone to breath.
Night and day. Definitely a massive improvement, some great playing too :-)
Thanks Gary!
Stock sound more "toney" and the Mojo brighter, with yes, more clarity. Both sound like a pretty amazing player utilizing them. I'd say you chose wisely in both changing them, and not doing it yourself. Stay Well Groovy One!
Very good comparison video. As a hobby I enjoy swapping low to medium output pickups in my Les Pauls and 335. I was really impressed with the improved clarity, usually the difference isn't that dramatic. They sound really articulate. Did you change the pots also or just pickups?
Thanks! Just the pups.
The stock ones sound more focused and more mids. The Mojo's sound more open and aged and "breathable"
Definitely an improvement in tone. Thanks for the video!
Thanks!
I noticed a similar improvement with my Epiphone Bonamassa Flying V when I switched in the Seymour Duncan's. It's in the attack. I had recorded before and afters with UAD Apollo/Logic ProX. It's subtle but I think when you can FEEL the difference, it's worth it.
Yeah man, it's for sure something you'll notice the most when it's you playing.
...and not to discount the aural experience, either. I definitely had the same thing happen there with my test and I hear it in your video here. Basically, it's as if you pulled off a thin blanket from the speakers when you switched them out. There's more "there" there.
The stock bridge dirty was the Eric Johnson sound! Very nice. Ever consider going to a mini dc?
great tone fantastic playing
Nice review. It sounds like the EQ of the original pickups is kind of flat, and the Mojo pickups have more of everything while still sounding clear.
Those D'Angelicos aren't bad guitars for the price. The stock pickup is usually a JB and I think a 59 neck (if not it's a jazz, but this sounds like a 59). I always thought the JB was a little bit too aggressive for the market for a semi-hollow. The '59 clones sound right at home, and great highs.
What's the dirty effect you're using? It sounds amazing. Is it an amp or a pedal?
What distortion and delay were you using? Sounds SO good! ✊🏽🎧
Good demo thanks.
Hello Ross I just happen to be looking for a 335 type guitar but didnt want topay the big $ my limit is $1400 found one on sale new just like you play in video for $449.00 $350 .00 off regular price. Jumped on one (walnut) because I been looking hard and it was between this guitar or a Epi Sheraton Pro II . I love this stock set of SD buckers and have them in 2 other guitars. I thought no way you could beat the sound of the S Duncans but damn you pulled it off. I have set of Mojotone Johnny Winter mini buckers in a guitar and ready to put a Mojotone Widerange neck PU in another (yea that guitar) Have lots of pots & switches etc from Mojo and could probably think of a few other things. A great company!!! Anyway after a month or so of searching your modded D'anny is the first guitar I have gotten excited about.You have great ears for tone and a great style. Now I just have to find another axe to put the soon to be orphaned Seaside Duncans in. The best ALL AROUND pickups ever made. Thanks for a perfect video just when I needed one.
I just ordered the same guitar...same sale....same idea......needs mojotone pups.....
New set is an improvement. Very evident with dirt on the bridge.
@rosscampbell. Is this a premier dc mini or standard size? Great video!
Big time difference for the better.
Killer playing dude...subbed
Thanks Darryl!
I agree. Great improvement.
would you recommend the mojotones for a Les Paul.. looking for PAF style HBs and a Joe Bonamassa type sound. Great video!
The stock pickups on the dangelicos have been the only reason I haven’t gotten one. This may be the way to go, premier level with pickup upgrade.
Is that Jason Isbell's "Cover Me Up" at 3:30? Loved it.
jgodin312 yup!
Great video! I have the same guitar. Great value for the money. What's your opinion regarding the nut, would you consider changing it? As regards the tuners, do you think they need an upgrade as well (swapping them with some locking ones maybe)?
I haven't had any problems with the nut, but the guy that put the pickups in for me said he made some little adjustments to it. Haven't noticed a difference. The tuners are fine as long as you tighten them up. I don't think that tuners aren't a necessity on any guitar, but they do make string changing a little bit easier so it's up to you. I'm good with the standard tuners for now.
Definitely an improvement! It was pretty good before, but now there is more midrange and highend involved, which makes it a little warmer and gives a little more "bite". More character than that "plain" creamy sound before. Great playing, too! :)
Thanks! Yeah definitely more bite with the new set.
Ok, so the difference in clean mode is pretty light, although the so called clones do sound slightly more refined to my ear. Playing the two sets along on two stricly identical guitars, I would definitely feel the difference, and opt for the "clones" set... Now, let's go for the overdriven sounds! In my system, dirty sound are "quite" similar, and i could not say I'd much prefer the boutique pups. If I were to play both sets, iI would definitely feel more difference in response, and favour the boutique set. But would I go out spending another (very reasonable) two hundred and spend two hours fiddling with the wiring? Maybe not
Thanks for showing the same lick back to back. it makes it easier to focus on the difference
Hello. Thank you for the video. Great guitar. The sound is good enough on both stock and new pickups. There is an explanation for this. When a new product is being prepared for release, the manufacturer selects all the components of the appropriate level. Seymour Duncan designed the sensors based on the tasks set by the customer. Therefore, the tool turned out to be worthy. The new sensors added quite a bit to the sound - intonation and depth. Maybe on a tube stack at sufficient volume the differences are more noticeable. I’m not sure that many will decide on such a replacement at a cost of 200 bucks. There is one more nuance. Even a guitar from a well-known manufacturer, assembled from good, seasoned materials, opens up and plays out from 12 months to 3 years. Then its potential and level, and what is worth replacing on it, becomes obvious. Or buy another tool. Overall, the experiment is interesting. Moreover, it introduces you to a noteworthy company that produces equipment. Good luck.
They sound amazing man.
thanks that was a great comparison
Ross what do you think the difference in value is between something like an upgraded D’Angelico versus a Memphis 335? Do you think they’re similar levels of quality instrument?
MojoTone's about an hour away from me...I have their wiring in a couple of guitars but man those Clones sound fantastic.
@Ross Campbell what amp were you playing through and what dirt pedals if any?
Fantastics pickups and playing. I have to check out mojo tones...
Thank you!
Best i can tell anyting mojo tones into is top shelf . Iv probably changed a100 sets of pups or more and i wouldnt try a 335 style either . Looks like ud need to b a dentist a surgeon and mayb a priest . Good call .
Subscribed to your channel ! Really nice comparison both pickups have different character ofc, but that 59 pickup omg !!! Original version of this guitar has coil split feature correct ? thank you :)
Thanks! Nope no coil splits on this guitar
Nice tone!👌
both r good sounding but the clones r a hair brighter being hand wound nice if I decide since I have premier S-S I might up grade with actual duncans a jazz in the neck and 59 in neck
Ha! When the video started there was a tiny speck of something on my screen right where your teeth are, and for a second I was like, oh my what is wrong with his mouth! Split second only, but I laughed. Ross your guitar sounds really great!
soooooo much better w the low wind pafs - Id like to buy one of those DC's do you have an affiliate link to be recognized for the referral?
I don't but enjoy the guitar if you decide to get it! :)
Yes indeed, your Mojo Tone PUs are full of life. Increased clarity and articulation, superior in every way. You are a very fine player, young man. Do I detect a little Eric Johnson influence in your playing?
Thank you John! Yes, but by way of Joe Bonamassa's influence.
To my ear I didn’t hear a huge difference when clean but dirty, wow, the clones provided so much more depth
You can find sooo many "best pick ups" here on UA-cam - BUT: What Amp / technique in the back do ya guys use here? Tx for a fair reply
New to all of this, am looking at getting those pickups… am interested in the finish you got. I heard that the nickel was most authentic doesn’t it really matter?
Good pickups make all the difference in the world! A buddy of mine bought a used Epiphone SG for about $250 US and then proceeded to put Gibson burstbuckers on it. You should hear it now! It went from sounding like a cheap piece of junk to a top of the line guitar.
The stock Pickup’s were ok but it’s like I was listening from the next room over with the door closed. The 59’s sounded like I was sitting in the front row! 👍
No shit I was looking for a nice set of pups for my dangelico, these sound great
That guitar is pretty easy to upgrade the pickups are wired to a hardness. You can unplug it do the sordering out of the guitar and then install it
Wow I got to have those pickups in my 335😎🎸
I have mojotone in my PRS but honestly the original pickups sound better. Roll the tone knob off a little. The low strings sound great but the high strings are spikey, imho, mate! Nice playing!
Thanks Robert! Interesting. I will say that I'm using identical settings for these A/B clips - it's not how I would EQ the amp normally using these new pickups because as you say, the high strings are a bit harsh sounding.
Next time just turn the treble up a bit. The 59's have a little more bite and might cut through in a mix better. But the stock are just fine to me.
It would be great if it were that simple, but the stock pickups just don't show off the high frequencies in the way that these new pickups do. Turning up the treble doesn't solve it.
Did you do any post production on the guitar tone like add compression etc?
No post-production here.
I hear something like this and I want PAF like pups in my Les Paul. Then I listen to some early Iron Maiden and want Super Distortion pups in there. They can't do what low output pups can do and vice versa. Pete Thorn says to solve that by just boosting PAF style pups with a pedal. It mostly works, but there is something about a hot ceramic pup you do not get by doing that. Does that mean I need another guitar? Probably. The answer is always that I need more guitars (I actually always end up with just one, because I sell the less used ones to buy the next thing in guitar gadgets etc).
p.s. Currently I have the Seymour Duncan Jimmy Page pups. He did not want to have to pay Page, so he called them Whole Lotta Humbucker and knew everybody would know. He says he took notes when he modded Jimmy's PAFs (lots wanted their PAFs modded for some reason. Funny that). Maybe he did, but he is a salesman too. What ever way, they sound very good and are the favourite pup I have had since the 80s. Does not stop me hankering for PAFs or Super Distortion pups though. I would not mind the neck pup having a few less winds maybe. It's a little hot for the glassy cleans thing. Good for Gary Moore tones though.
We are so spoiled for choice these days huh? I remember about 1986 and one pup was a humbucker, another was a single coil, plus there were these new active ones. That is about as much as we thought about it. Choosing between Boss overdrive or distortion was easy. Then they complicated it by adding Turbo versions to the range that had an extra knob. Four pedals to choose from and then Ibanez made some too. It was getting too much, so we got rid of it all and bought rack gear that had nice easy presets. Once I could afford the rack gear Grunge happened and everybody was using pedals again --and dissing Malmsteen for being fast. The old Boss chorus pedal I had sold because I thought it sounded like a cheap Casio keyboard was in hot demand. Doh.
Aquila Rossa you should have this published bro 🤯
You missed the part where Frodo finds the ring
Ross, what else did you have in the chain? Great tones!
All Axe-Fx presets here. Dumble ODS clean at the beginning. Super Reverb for the clean tones. Marshall Jubilee/Dumble ODS mix for the dirty tones
What kind of amp setup are you playing through?