New Pickups for an Epi Explorer

[StratDal]

I've been kicking around replacing the pups in my Epi Korina Explorer. It currently has Alnicos in it and they're okay but I'd really like to kick it up a notch. I like Allen Collins and read that he had Gibson Burstbuckers on his Explorer.

All suggestions and ideas are appreciated! Thanks!

[robt57]

Burst Bucker Pros, CLassic 57s, maybe some HB form factor P-90s. ;)

[sjtalon]

Oh ya !! CLassic 57s

[robt57]

I put a SD distortion set, and a distortion/mahem set in 2 gits recently. Not shabby by any definition. I was surprised by the bridge trembucker duncan distortion expecting it to be more compressed, it was quite articulate to my ears. Usually I expect the warm creamy compressed singing type distortion out of Hot pups. i liked it, The Mayhem was what I expected.

Some of the BB line are way different, like no potting, Alnico II instead of V magnets. Make sure what direction you the git to go tone wise before making the investment.

Not sure an alnico II PUP in a warm guitar is a great idea at the neck position, just IMO.

I think Pro are Alnico V and potted, and the 1/2/3 are not potted and have the Alnico II. The one and designation I think notate position in the Git [front rear] the 3 I have no idea...

Blah blah...

[Jakedog]

A very cost effective solution for a GREAT all around rock/southern rock/blues rock humbucker set comes from DiMarzio. I've been experimenting with loads of SD and DiMarzio hummy's for awhile now, and have finally landed on my favorite pickup set ever with a pair of DiMarzios. I'm using an Air Norton neck, and Tone Zone bridge with smoking killer results. I may change out the bridge pickup again, there are one or two more I want to try. But the Air Norton neck is officially my all time favorite neck pickup.

For reference, my main guitar is a solid mahogany hardtail with a bolt-on maple neck and maple fretboard. Main gig is a blues/R&B/Blues-rock kind of outfit, and I also do time with an country-rock/alt. country/rock outfit, and with some punk and harder rock folks. This pickup set covers it all without breaking a sweat. One of my favorite things about it is the center switch position. In neck or bridge mode, it's full out humbucker goodness, but in the center position, it's one of the biggest, fattest, most awesome strat type tones I've ever heard. Great for anything that needs a little twang and snap, but still needs to sound big and thick.

The Air Norton is amazing. I've been after this neck pickup sound for years. I've used an Air Norton before, and liked it, but I'd forgotten what a truly amazing pickup it is. Extremely open, airy, and articulate, and really, really dynamic and responsive. The tone Zone bridge might be a touch mid-heavy for my playing approach, which tends to favor strong mids anyhow, but it sounds really nice, and is super articulate, and never thin or shrill sounding, but totally avoids being muddy at the same time. And it sounds so good mixed with the neck pickup in that middle position, that I am really afraid to change it out.

This set sports a great clean sound spectrum as well as beautiful dirty tones. They might be a bit hot to get good cleans from a really low wattage amp, but I can get some really nice clean stuff out of my 30 watter, and through my bigger amps or SS amps, the clean tones are as nice as the dirty ones. Something to consider for sure.

[Chrismo]

I dig the Air Nortons...I'd like to pair one with an Air Zone someday...

[Ben Harmless]

I've never been a huge fan of Gibson pickups until recently when a friend dropped a set of the '57s into his Epi Dot Studio. Awesome pickups. Good crunch, but not so over the top that you won't get good clarity. I really like Alnico II pickups. Everywhere.

The other thing I'd think about is Duncan Phat Cats, but that's because I like sticking those in anything with a humbucker route. I love them. I really, really love them. Articulate, but punchy. Single coil though, so if you really slather on the dirt, the noise might get a bit much.

[robt57]

My absolute fav HBs, though maybe a little to tame for a rock monster [although I would do it] is Seymour SH-55 Seth Lovers. They go from clean to lean and mean, just not shred so much..

I lied, my favs are my 1974 T bobbin Les Paul PUPs I had custom rewound, but the SH-55 are on their heels. ;)

[fezz parka]

Originally Posted by robt57

My absolute fav HBs, though maybe a little to tame for a rock monster [although I would do it] is Seymour SH-55 Seth Lovers.

Ditto.

[Brandon Cur]

Originally Posted by Ben Harmless

I've never been a huge fan of Gibson pickups until recently when a friend dropped a set of the '57s into his Epi Dot Studio. Awesome pickups. Good crunch, but not so over the top that you won't get good clarity. I really like Alnico II pickups. Everywhere.

The other thing I'd think about is Duncan Phat Cats, but that's because I like sticking those in anything with a humbucker route. I love them. I really, really love them. Articulate, but punchy. Single coil though, so if you really slather on the dirt, the noise might get a bit much.

Yet again I agree with this guy, hahaha.

I just put a 57 classic (not a classic plus!) in the bridge of my sg. Holy hell. And it was replacing a vintage T-Top... The whole band kept asking me what I did to my amp, the bass player even stopped playing just to compliment me on how huge, warm, crisp, and clear it sounded.

I put a phat cat in the neck which is great if again you want warmth without sacrificing clarity. Nice gritty tones without muck. It doesn't sound like a real P-90 (at least compared to my old SG Special) IMO but it gives me what I want.

[TB72]

Originally Posted by StratDal

I've been kicking around replacing the pups in my Epi Korina Explorer. It currently has Alnicos in it and they're okay but I'd really like to kick it up a notch. I like Allen Collins and read that he had Gibson Burstbuckers on his Explorer.

All suggestions and ideas are appreciated! Thanks!

Allen Collins was long deceased by the time Burstbuckers came onto the market. I'm not sure what year his Explorer was, but odds are the pickups would have been stock (replacement pickups really weren't widely available until the eighties).

That said, there are plenty of options in this day and age for your Epi. As mentioned, Gibson's Classic 57's are nice. I'm kinda partial to Lollar Imperials myself (they have options to have them wound hotter, or more mellow, depending on your wants and desires). Unfortunately, with pickups, there can be a bit of trial and error before finding the right ones for your guitar...what sounds perfect in one guitar won't quite cut it in another (even of the same model).

I've also never met an Epiphone that didn't benefit from upgrading the electronics as well (pots, switch, etc.)

Later...

[Wardpike]

Gibson classic 57s are SMOKING hot for that type of tone. There are high output 498T and 495R pickups in my Exploder and that's great for metal, but not much else.

I'm going to swap mine out for some low output tone generators soon too. The 57s are at the top of my list.