Onto the next project... X160 Rockabilly (in Road-worn shape)

Mapleman54 · Dec 1, 2021

So this lovely but pretty beat Guitar has had a life...I got it on EBay from a chap in Maine who had played it ...a lot! Accordingly it really has a lovely sound, and the Tennessee Orange is iridescent making it beautiful but wise looking! The big call is whether to restore the original DeArmond 2000’s which the previous owner had replaced with some very useful GFS humbuckers (KP-GFS NYIII). Anyone got experience comparing these with the reissue DeArmond 2000’s? It’s an easy swap as GFS very thoughtfully made the mountings fit overtop of the original holes, so can be restored easily. The previous owner mentioned a low frequency hum which caused him to make the substitution in the first place. Grateful for any thoughts....

GGJaguar · Dec 1, 2021

If you like the sound of the GFS pickups, why not just leave them? They certainly look "correct" on the guitar. I did not care for the sound of the original DeA's on my X-160 (too thin and a bit wimpy) so I swapped them for TV Jones T-Armonds. Much better now. The hum problem with the original pickups could be due to a bad ground. Good luck with your project, the guitar looks great!

Mapleman54 · Dec 1, 2021

Thank you GGJ...that is great advice, specially as you've worked with them before, and kind of backs up what the previous owner said. There's a bit of money to spend tidying up the guitar as is (new nut, bit of fret work, binding reglued at the waist) and I didn't pay extra for the DeArmonds so don't really feel obliged to use them...great, thanks! Also Hans already has the previous pickup change noted on his database, it turns out!

parker_knoll · Dec 1, 2021

Personally I like both the new Dearmonds and the '60s versions, but there's a big price difference between the two

KuuKOO · Dec 1, 2021

I didn't like the 2000s one bit and had to shim them up to get a decent tone. I'd keep the hums or look for a worthy DeArmond substitute.

Walter Broes · Dec 1, 2021

If you're going to put something else on there, I'd go for T-Armonds, Duncan custom shop "Dynosonics", or old DeArmonds. Those 90's 2000's are wimpy.

GGJaguar · Dec 1, 2021

Walter Broes said:
Those 90's 2000's are wimpy.

Agreed. However, to throw another one into the mix, the Korean-made DeA 2000s as used on the X-175 Special are much better sounding (wound hotter) than the ones made in the late 1990s and early 2000s. I like them just fine in my X-175 Special and will leave them as is. Much better than the ones in my X-160 Rockabilly.

sailingshoes72 · Dec 1, 2021

Cool Guitar! That’s a great find. I love the orange finish… a rockabilly machine!

parker_knoll · Dec 1, 2021

W

GGJaguar said:
Agreed. However, to throw another one into the mix, the Korean-made DeA 2000s as used on the X-175 Special are much better sounding (wound hotter) than the ones made in the late 1990s and early 2000s. I like them just fine in my X-175 Special and will leave them as is. Much better than the ones in my X-160 Rockabilly.

weirdly I really like the ones in my M70. They just seem to suit the guitar. Plenty of top, plenty of bottom

Walter Broes · Dec 1, 2021

GGJaguar said:
Agreed. However, to throw another one into the mix, the Korean-made DeA 2000s as used on the X-175 Special are much better sounding (wound hotter) than the ones made in the late 1990s and early 2000s. I like them just fine in my X-175 Special and will leave them as is. Much better than the ones in my X-160 Rockabilly.

They áre hotter, but they're still not quite "right" - A/B'd them with an old one, and ...well...

And the 2000's don't sound bad, I've recorded with them, but they lack oomph - they don't cut in a band situation onstage, not for me anyway.

Mapleman54 · Dec 1, 2021

Thanks Everyone...fabulous to be able to call on such experience! I think my call is made...get the guitar into good working order and leave the GFS hums where they are.

Shakeylee · Dec 1, 2021

GFS also makes a single coil version of that pickup that has a P-90-ish sound. that's the second best pickup i can think of for the application,if you want the guitar for playing rockabilly.

the best choice would be a 60's dearmond 2000,but ,they're quite pricey now.

a dearmond in the bridge and a P-90 in the neck would be fun.

TV jones pickups underwhelm me, but some people like them.i like GFS better.

Mapleman54 · Dec 2, 2021

Shakeylee said:
GFS also makes a single coil version of that pickup that has a P-90-ish sound. that's the second best pickup i can think of for the application,if you want the guitar for playing rockabilly.

the best choice would be a 60's dearmond 2000,but ,they're quite pricey now.

a dearmond in the bridge and a P-90 in the neck would be fun.

TV jones pickups underwhelm me, but some people like them.i like GFS better.

Thanks for that Shakeylee...I had never hear of them before, but am impressed! I'm going to leave them on for the moment so when the guitar is sorted out this week I'll be able to give it a good play and work out what I want from it, and them. Very helpful reflections, thanks!

Onto the next project... X160 Rockabilly (in Road-worn shape)

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