Replace 57 Classics with BK Stormy Mondays in a 335 Historic Reissue?

[StuartMac]

I have a 63 Historic 335 Reissue, which is my main guitar. I'm wondering whether I'll get just a bit more out the guitar with a pickup swap, and Stormy Mondays intrigue me.

Don't get me wrong, the guitar sounds great, and I have no complaints (other than a very slight ice-pickiness on the bridge pickup from time to time) but I just wonder if I can squeeze even more tone out of it.

[Dashface]

I've had plenty of experience with BK, and all of it good. I'd say go for it.

[Bhodie]

Maybe I got lucky.. but I would not change a thing with my 59 Historic 335.. not pots, wiring, pickups, bridge, NADA.. I am afraid I might mess up something and never get it back! The only thing that ever changes are the strings (well.. same type of strings just newer!)

[Carl_Tone]

I personally would do it, especially if you like the sound of the 57's adjusted a bit away from the strings, and perhaps yearn for more clarity and articulation.

They are like a refined seth lover, wound a little lower than the seth.


Heres a 'fordish' clip / yamaha 335 Inside Out

Here is a jazzy clean one Tell Me a Bedtime Story

(There is also a bone nut, callaham bridge alum. tail, and pot / splitting on this guitar.)

[jdolll]

I just put some stormy Monday's in my 335 and they are great, they list them as the logical upgrade if you like 57's but just want a little more clarity and dynamics.

[StuartMac]

Did you feel it was a significant upgrade? It's either them or Mules.

[dspellman]

I think "a little more" describes it far better than "significant." Unless you're describing price. I wouldn't bother subbing them for a good pair of '57s myself.

[bluesjuke]

Adjustments to pickups, it seems especially, on a 335 go a very long way.
Try that first if you haven't yet, might even end up going in the opposite direction than you thought.

[Jon C]

what Bodie said ....

though I don't hesitate to switch when it's called for, on my 335 Historic (and 355 Ltd.) I have left the 57s alone (for 10 yrs. now on the 335) ... to my ears (and everyone who's played these 2) they sound excellent as is... just as a general comment. I haven't tried the specific ones you're thinking of but I have a set of Fralins and a set of Antiquities which have both sat unused while the 57s get the snot played out of them ... depending on the amp, if the bridge is a tad trebly, don't hesitate to bump the tone control down a bit, it's very usable that way...

[Jon C]

Originally Posted by Carl_Tone

They are like a refined seth lover, wound a little lower than the seth.

that sounds like a good thing ...

[Hoth]

I'm working on changing the Classic 57's in one of my guitars. I just can't bond with them. I am pretty sure that it's the sound of the pickups but we'll see when the replacements come in.

[AJ Love]

I love the '57 Classic plus bridge pickup. The '57 Classic neck pickup, the jury is still out on that one for me, though I'm still making adjustments on height and such with it... very close to getting a Duncan Antiquity neck humbucker

[jdolll]

Originally Posted by StuartMac

Did you feel it was a significant upgrade? It's either them or Mules.

What's significant is different to every person. For me, it was worth every penny.

[Ricardo Nobrega]

I got an Alnico 4 calibrated set of Stormy Mondays in my 00' Dot Reissue after Tim's recommendation. It is great. It cured the tone and volume imbalance I had with the original 57' Classics and made the guitar sound clearer yet warm.

It was a big improvement IMHO.

[Dashface]

Mules are great too - I have one in the neck of my old explorer and it sounds like a piano when you play that thing clean. Just huge. But the stormy's are the pure classic tone.