Suggestions for replacing pickups in an Ibanez AS-103 semi hollow body

brownmouse · 17th November 2007, 04:32 PM

Hi guys and gals,
I am thinking about replacing the pickups in my Ibanez As-103 semi hollow body electric. I was hoping to get some suggestions. I am looking for something a little more Gibson 335-ish in nature.
Thanks,

bcarr · 20th November 2007, 05:10 PM

I have an Ibanez Aritist from the 80's and I replaced the pick-ups with Seymour Duncan Pick-ups. Don't remember the actual model (something that you would put in a jazz guitar). I have been really happy with them. Wonderful sound.

FFTT · 22nd November 2007, 01:13 PM

Wondering the same thing about my AF105NT.

Very interested in Timbuckers and also want to look into Fralins.

The guitar itself is amazing quality for the price.

FFTT · 24th November 2007, 09:56 AM

Update:

Today I went over to my buddy's house to check out his new St. Blues Tele
configured with P90's and just WOW!

We A/B'ed the sound of this little tone monster against 3 80's Dot Neck LP Studio's,
his Tele and his Strat.

The HB's were much softer and the bass on the HB's was just mud by comparison.
Against the Tele, the Tele sounded thin by comparison.
The Strat clearly had more quack than the P-90's, but that was to be expected.
However, once again the bottom end of the P-90's made the similar settings
on the Strat sound flabby.

The tonal response of the P-90's went from this incredible warmth in the neck PU
with the treble control rolled all the way down to a very pleasing sparkle and clarity
once you added treble.
Switching to the bridge PU treble setting gave you plenty of bite, but
it was fatter like a HB bridge PU only with far more clarity and richness.

From very warm woody jazzy/blues to a warmer richer strat/tele quack and twang.
The variation of tone between neck and bridge switch settings was amazing
with so many in-between tones depending on the knob setting.

They give you everything you like about the HB's without the mud
and a much warmer/woody single coil sound without getting too shrill.
Very responsive to attack and control settings.

So now that the P-90's are my new favorite PU, how to get some to fit the standard
HB routing with no mods.

I went to TGP and got turned on to the Harmonic Design Z-90's
Gibsons

What's cool about these is you can go from vintage to hot depending on
how high or low you set them against the strings.

With these PU's you should be able to turn these rather nice Ibanez guitars
into a cross between a ES-335 and a Vintage Casino.

POIFECT!

brownmouse · 24th November 2007, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FFTT

Update:

So now that the P-90's are my new favorite PU, how to get some to fit the standard
HB routing with no mods.

I went to TGP and got turned on to the Harmonic Design Z-90's
Gibsons

What's cool about these is you can go from vintage to hot depending on
how high or low you set them against the strings.

With these PU's you should be able to turn these rather nice Ibanez guitars
into a cross between a ES-335 and a Vintage Casino.

POIFECT!

Cool! Let us know how they sound in your Ibanez. Thanks for the input!

FFTT · 24th November 2007, 05:57 PM

Will have to see if Santa can work some Elfen magic.

Also need to find someone who can work on this guitar without screwing it up.

If I'm upgrading the PU's I'll probably go ahead and talk to RS about
an electronics upgrade at the same time.

No access plate will make it a bit tricky.

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17th November 2007, 04:32 PM	#1
brownmouse Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,224	Suggestions for replacing pickups in an Ibanez AS-103 semi hollow body Hi guys and gals, I am thinking about replacing the pickups in my Ibanez As-103 semi hollow body electric. I was hoping to get some suggestions. I am looking for something a little more Gibson 335-ish in nature. Thanks, __________________ Joshua

22nd November 2007, 01:13 PM	#3
FFTT Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: A stoned throw from ground zero Posts: 2,932	Wondering the same thing about my AF105NT. Very interested in Timbuckers and also want to look into Fralins. The guitar itself is amazing quality for the price. __________________ Don't look at me in that tone of voice

24th November 2007, 09:56 AM	#4
FFTT Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: A stoned throw from ground zero Posts: 2,932	Update: Today I went over to my buddy's house to check out his new St. Blues Tele configured with P90's and just WOW! We A/B'ed the sound of this little tone monster against 3 80's Dot Neck LP Studio's, his Tele and his Strat. The HB's were much softer and the bass on the HB's was just mud by comparison. Against the Tele, the Tele sounded thin by comparison. The Strat clearly had more quack than the P-90's, but that was to be expected. However, once again the bottom end of the P-90's made the similar settings on the Strat sound flabby. The tonal response of the P-90's went from this incredible warmth in the neck PU with the treble control rolled all the way down to a very pleasing sparkle and clarity once you added treble. Switching to the bridge PU treble setting gave you plenty of bite, but it was fatter like a HB bridge PU only with far more clarity and richness. From very warm woody jazzy/blues to a warmer richer strat/tele quack and twang. The variation of tone between neck and bridge switch settings was amazing with so many in-between tones depending on the knob setting. They give you everything you like about the HB's without the mud and a much warmer/woody single coil sound without getting too shrill. Very responsive to attack and control settings. So now that the P-90's are my new favorite PU, how to get some to fit the standard HB routing with no mods. I went to TGP and got turned on to the Harmonic Design Z-90's Gibsons What's cool about these is you can go from vintage to hot depending on how high or low you set them against the strings. With these PU's you should be able to turn these rather nice Ibanez guitars into a cross between a ES-335 and a Vintage Casino. POIFECT! __________________ Don't look at me in that tone of voice

24th November 2007, 05:57 PM	#6
FFTT Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: A stoned throw from ground zero Posts: 2,932	Will have to see if Santa can work some Elfen magic. Also need to find someone who can work on this guitar without screwing it up. If I'm upgrading the PU's I'll probably go ahead and talk to RS about an electronics upgrade at the same time. No access plate will make it a bit tricky. __________________ Don't look at me in that tone of voice

20th November 2007, 05:10 PM	#2
bcarr Gear Head Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 61	I have an Ibanez Aritist from the 80's and I replaced the pick-ups with Seymour Duncan Pick-ups. Don't remember the actual model (something that you would put in a jazz guitar). I have been really happy with them. Wonderful sound.

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