Got my Project EB-0 > EB-3

[eb2]

Its an Epi. Throw everything in there.  Those are made to mod.  There is no wrong.

For me, to do an EB3 that looks like an EB3, I would use this:
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/specialized/progressive/sm2_custom_mini/

Or this:
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/specialized/progressive/sm3_seymourized/

[Pilgrim]

Good suggestions coming in!

There is a pair of Guild pickups visually identical to those shown earlier currently up on Ebay.  I just don't know for sure what they sound like, nor how much they'll sell for. Anyone have more info?  I think they'll be priced out of my reach, and I'd want to get both or neither.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230393620988&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230393621709&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I admit that I'm not interested about spending 2x or 3x the cost of the bass on pickups.

Has anyone used a Gotoh pickup?  This one claims: "This is the pickup used on many of the 80s Epiphone Japan reissue models."
http://cgi.ebay.com/Gotoh-EB-2-Bridge-Pickup-for-Gibson-EB-0-3-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ380170540865QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar_Accessories?hash=item5883ee1741

The Pitbull and S-D pickups also look like great candidates...so I'll probably get thoroughly confused over the options.  For that matter, I am still intrigued by this application...I really like the placement both for sound, and because it would provide a convenient thumbrest in a spot where I like to play:

[exiledarchangel]

If you're going cheap, you might wanna try one of those fellas

http://store.guitarfetish.com/mibicomihucl.html

also found those

http://cgi.ebay.com/PAIR-OF-CHROME-BASS-GUITAR-HUMBUCKERS-FIDDLE-BASS-STYLE_W0QQitemZ200373221519QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar_Accessories?hash=item2ea72cb88f

http://cgi.ebay.com/DIESEL-MINI-MACK-HUMBUCKER-GUITAR-PICKUP-FITS-LES-PAUL_W0QQitemZ330370902841QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar_Accessories?hash=item4ceba3eb39

[drbassman]

WHile the sound might be great, I have never liked a Fender style pup on an EB or SG bass.  They just don't look right to my brain!

[Daniel_J]

I think those Gotoh's could be Epi pickups found on japanese Epi's (japanese market exclusives I think). In my last trip to Japan some years ago I ended up doing some setups and repairs on some guitars and basses of my cousin's band mates and friends and I clearly remember the Gotoh stickers on the pickups of a LP and a SG guitars.
Maybe they used Gotoh's for basses aswell.

[SKATE RAT]

i use those Guild "Sludgebuckers" they are dirty dirty dogs.super powerful and deep.i love them but if you play loud they distort. i like them a lot.

[Pilgrim]

I think those Gotoh's could be Epi pickups found on japanese Epi's (japanese market exclusives I think). In my last trip to Japan some years ago I ended up doing some setups and repairs on some guitars and basses of my cousin's band mates and friends and I clearly remember the Gotoh stickers on the pickups of a LP and a SG guitars.
Maybe they used Gotoh's for basses aswell.

Were they a good pickup?  Any distinguishing characteristics that you can think of?

This thread is going to contain a lot of info for those searching in the future.....

[Daniel_J]

Gotoh's pickups are quite good. Here in Brazil they are quite popular replacement for  stock pickups on cheap guitars.

What I can really say about it is that the Gotoh's are less squiky than stock Epi humbuckers. They sound tighter when overdriven, you know what I mean?

[Pilgrim]

I think that helps.

I always wanted to avoid being "squiky," I think.   Not sure. 

More seriously, I'm not sure what an overdriven pickup sounds like.  I think I'm looking for a pickup with a healthy output that balances the stock neck pickup, and that isn't hyper-sensitive to string spacing.  For that reason, I'm more inclined to look at a blade or soap bar than a pickup with pole pieces.

I'm thinking I will put a pair of stack knob pots on the bass so I can have volume and tone controls for each pickup individually but not have to drill another hole.

[Chris P.]

That Dutch guy stole my racing stripes idea... Well, I'm much to slow with my projects..

[Pilgrim]

That green & white bass just looks fantastic!  The stripes set it off beautifully.

[Pilgrim]

OK, my T-bird pickups are here.  They are MASSIVE!  Probably the heaviest pickups I've seen.

Any thoughts on optimal placement for the new bridge pickup on the EB-0?  I'm not sure whether there are any particular spots that are better than others...but I'm pretty sure I don't want to locate it within 1" of the bridge.

[exiledarchangel]

If I make you a suggestion, would you post some soundclips when you finish the project?

Don't put it near the bridge, it will sound extra-plonky.
I'd put it right in the middle between bridge and neck pickup, so it can double as a thumbrest and have a nice, midrangey sound that cuts thru.

edit: if you play with a pick, the position I suggest may not work for you, if you pick at that area the pickup would be in the way.

edit no2: hmmmm, you said "my T-bird pickups are here" so you've got TWO pickups? Why not put them both?

[Pilgrim]

If I make you a suggestion, would you post some soundclips when you finish the project?

Don't put it near the bridge, it will sound extra-plonky.
I'd put it right in the middle between bridge and neck pickup, so it can double as a thumbrest and have a nice, midrangey sound that cuts thru.

edit: if you play with a pick, the position I suggest may not work for you, if you pick at that area the pickup would be in the way.

edit no2: hmmmm, you said "my T-bird pickups are here" so you've got TWO pickups? Why not put them both?

Thanks - what you suggested is pretty much what I had in mind as a starting point.  And I do intend to install both T-bird pickups, which should both look and sound good.  I'd prefer thta they matched.

There was a note in another thread suggesting that the current EB-3 neck pickup is essentially a T-bird pickup.  I dunno.  Guess I'll find out eventually.  Any comments?  (I'm going to use the new pickups regardless.)

I may have to have a custom pickup ring made to fill a small gap between the new T-bird neck pickup and the base of the neck - it looks like there will be about a 1/4" gap.  But I figure that custom rings are a possibility around both pickups.

[Dave W]

There was a note in another thread suggesting that the current EB-3 neck pickup is essentially a T-bird pickup.  I dunno.  Guess I'll find out eventually.  Any comments?  (I'm going to use the new pickups regardless.)

Yes and no. It's the same coils and magnets, but the two coils are widely separated, which fills the size of the pickup cavity. And you probably already know this means that the area sensed by the pickup is much wider, so the sound will be somewhat different. How different I don't know, you would have to record a direct comparison between the two types using the same type bass.