| Author |
Message |
    
Hazy
Username: Hazy
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 8:31 pm: | |
I just bought a pair of Super 58s, gold covers, from The Bay. He said that he got them out of an Artcore Custom AS103. Did they ever put Super 58s in those? Could there be another explanation?
He said that the pickups are marked: "S58 N", "S58 B". Does that sound right. I don't feel so good all of a sudden.  |
Acetan
Username: Acetan
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 - 10:18 pm: | |
I think you are safe. I had an AF105NT which was of the same series as the AS103 and it had the same kind of S58's as you mentioned. |
Chucke99
Username: Chucke99
Registered: 2-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 12:47 am: | |
The specs for the AS103NT say Super 58 Customs. I was watching those too, but $80 seemed a bit too high for brand new pups. I wanted them for my AS103NT, which came with replacement pups. Instead, I'm putting some Greco Super 70s into it (I have new gold covers on the way).
-Chuck |
Talajuha
Username: Talajuha
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 6:37 am: | |
Super 58 Customs are marked as was told to Hazy and as far as I know Super 58's cover is not marked.
Super 58 Custom is not same as Super 58.
These Customs have ceramic magnets and Super 58s have alnico magnets. Customs are on Artcore Customs and ARC/X500. The only current (new) guitars I know having Super 58s are AR300, JSM100, GB200 and PM100. PM120 has Silent 58s and GB10/15 have GB Specials, both somehow related to Super 58.
I don't know the market price of Super 58 Customs but they are good (enough?) pups for the price of Artcore Custom guitars.
Juha |
Hazy
Username: Hazy
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 7:31 am: | |
So...are all of you saying that they are Super 58 Customs and NOT Super 58s?
Customs or NOT Customs?
Thanks,
Rick |
Hazy
Username: Hazy
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 7:54 am: | |
Hey guys and girls,
The guy said that they came out of an Artcore AS193 and I told him that they never made such an animal.  Oops. I found reviews of AS193s on H-C and they did have Super 58s.
Any opinions?
Thanks,
Rick |
Talajuha
Username: Talajuha
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 8:22 am: | |
AS103 never had Super 58 but always Super 58 Custom. Artcore United AS193 is a different thing and had/has Super 58 but with chrome covers and no text on them.
There is a typo in the picture tittle ("AS192").
http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM04/Content/Ib anez/PR/Artcore-United.html
Juha |
Gemberbier
Username: Gemberbier
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 8:49 am: | |
I noticed that the hardware was described as "chrome" for the AS193.
So I checked:
http://www.t3-kundenserver.de/htmlpages/redasys/_c ore/databases/t_meinl-uploads/2003-artcore.pdf
And yes, the hardware is chrome. But on the AS103 the hardware is GOLD.
So... does this AS103 have golden or chrome pickups? If they are gold, they don't come from a AS193. (Which would be a stupid move btw, because you would be dismanteling the best of two guitars to improve the cheaper one... doesn't make sense).
The cheapest Chinese models with Super 58 pickups are the JTK (JetKing) models. But they are chrome too.
What's possible, is that they borrowed the Super 58's from a Korean Artstar AS120. Then they would have been moving the Alinco sound to the flame box and the Ceramic sound to the non-flame box, that would make sense, especially when the AS120 was a red one. Not a necessary move IMO, but defendable.
If you have an AS193 however: keep it original!
Ginger |
Talajuha
Username: Talajuha
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 9:17 am: | |
Ginger, Ginger
This thread is about pickups bought from eBay. Not a guitar is involved, except from which guitar they were taken.
Super 58 Custom has golden cover with "S58 N" (neck) or "S58 B" (bridge) marking.
Picture of neck pickup from Hoshino Japan
Juha |
Hazy
Username: Hazy
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 6:18 pm: | |
Thanks, Talajuha.
No guitar involved. So, the AS193 had chrome pickup covers not gold. AND, if the markings are "S58 N" & "S58 B" they are Super 58 Customs. Right?
I can send them back if they are not Super 58s. What would you boys & girls do? I really wanted a set of Super 58s.
Rick |
Talajuha
Username: Talajuha
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 7:37 pm: | |
On my AS103 the markings are "S58-N" and "S58-B" on goldplated covers and they are Super 58 Customs. As far as I know Super 58s have markings only on their back/botttom (or whatever you call it). So you bought Super 58 Customs.
Hard to tell what to do with them. I have no idea how much they cost at retailers.
Hoshino Japan has messed with the pictures. In the picture above is bridge pickup upside down. And in their picture of bridge pickup there is neck pickup.
Here are the pics in right order
Neck
Bridge
Juha |
Hazy
Username: Hazy
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 9:17 pm: | |
Talajuha,
Thanks. Do you have an IBZ or other with Super 58s that you could compare to the Custom 58s? If not, how do you like the Custom 58s?
Rick |
Gemberbier
Username: Gemberbier
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 10:42 pm: | |
Juha,
you're right. I should have stayed in bed today. There's some kind of virus here. The kids are not well either. We all feel tired even if we do nothing. Did my best to get the youngest one to school, who seemed pretty recovered, but I still felt like a bag of potatoes today.
Ginger |
Wildfield
Username: Wildfield
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2007 - 11:07 pm: | |
Hey Ginger,
Hope you and your family are feeling better soon. Get some rest!
Best regards,
Darryl |
Talajuha
Username: Talajuha
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 6:59 am: | |
I have Super 58s on my FG100. I can only say they sound different but also the bodies and the strings are different. FG100 sounds darker. I am happy with Custom 58's on my AS103. They do their job as do ACHs on my AGS83. But I am afraid I am not experienced enough for further estimation. Ask Ibanezfreak. He has an AS103 and other (Ibanez) guitars and he is a pro.
Ginger, Get Well Soon! 
Juha |
Hazy
Username: Hazy
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 7:04 am: | |
Juha,
Thanks again.
Ibanezfreak el al,
Any thoughts on the difference between the Super and the Custom 58s? Anyone else?
Thanks,
Rick
P.S. Hi, Ginger. Hope you feel better soon. I'm going to the doctor this AM for a throat "thing" that's been hounding me for a week. |
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 7:36 am: | |
This is a sore subject for as my AS103 had recived its 1st ding yesterday after I took it to a students housse. Any way I like both the S58 custom and the original super 58. I like the 103 sound and have o reason to change the pups. They sound great to me. They can get mellow or they can bite depending on where you have the volume levels set. |
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 8:27 am: | |
Oh and the difference. The originals in my ST proto and on my AR3000VV are a bit mellower that the customs but the ST has duo sound that splits the pups hum/single and those are aged 25 years and in my opinion they sound better than the AR3000 for that reason. Its kind of like comparing aged wine to new if you get my drift. The 3000 58's are not bad at all they sound very sweet also. I have a Jet King with 58's also. They are decent but not as good as the Japan 58's.
I think both versions are good. The customs sound way better than the the pups in my AF85VLS. Hope this helps. |
Hazy
Username: Hazy
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 8:35 am: | |
Ibanezfreak,
It does help. Would you say the Customs have a PAF tone, woody and open? I have Super 50s (that's right, in my Samick AS120) and I love them. Would you say the Custom 58s are keepers or should I look for Super 58s and hold out?
Thanks,
Rick |
Johns
Username: Johns
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 10:11 am: | |
Interesting that Freak uses the wine analogy and Hazy asks if the pickups are "woody and open", another wine-like description. Maybe we should start sniffing the pickups and describe their "nose" or "bouquet"? |
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 11:36 am: | |
Hazy on Ibanez.com the Customs are $44.00 each. I would say you broke even providing they didn't shorten the leads.I really can't make the decision for you as keeping them or not I can only say that they sound nice in a semi hollow. |
Talajuha
Username: Talajuha
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 1:38 pm: | |
There is some talk about vintage Super XX picups at
http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/discus/messages/17 /1002843.html?1191034820
Juha |
Acetan
Username: Acetan
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 2:01 pm: | |
Sorry Hazy, I thought S58 and S58 Custom are the same. I liked the S58 Customs on my FA105 and liked the S58 on my AG and AF United's. The United's sound mellower but I thought it was the wood. |
Petruz
Username: Petruz
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 2:38 pm: | |
hey, and how about silent 58s? i guess nobody ever saw them (PM120s are so rare...) |
Hazy
Username: Hazy
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 2:38 pm: | |
Acetan,
The Super 58s (S58) have alnico 5 magnets and the Super 58 Customs (S58 Custom) have ceramic magnets. I believe that the S58 Customs are also only made in China.
That being said, the Customs could sound great; it's just that I have never played them...actually, I've never played the S58s either. (I just thought that the guy on The Bay REALLY had Super 58s.)
Now, I'm just kinda loking for a comparison between the two from those out there that have played both. Acetan, it sounds like you have played both and liked them. Any other differences?
Rick
Rick |
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 4:32 pm: | |
John if we sniffed pups I believe we would become good at identifying them! |
Talajuha
Username: Talajuha
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 5:09 pm: | |
To make this more complicated I remind that Super 58s have been made in Japan and in Korea during different years. There are 2 and 4 wire versions and so on.
Which of them should we compare to Custom 58?
Super 58s have been installed to various guitar types, hollowbody, semihollow, solidbody ...
So have Custom 58s.
AS103 with Custom 58s and JSM100 with Super 58s are semihollows but is it fair to compare them. JSM100 costs three times AS103's price (almost?).
Juha |
Chucke99
Username: Chucke99
Registered: 2-2007
| | Posted on Friday, October 05, 2007 - 5:13 pm: | |
I'm having vintage Super 70's put into my AS103NT today. I got the guitar with some "retrotron" pickups in it, the guy who replaced the original Super 58 Customs didn't have those anymore. I got the Super 70's out of a 1970's Greco LP and just got some shiny new gold plated covers for them. They ought to look great and sound great once installed. I'll send pictures.
-Chuck |
Hazy
Username: Hazy
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, October 06, 2007 - 3:26 pm: | |
Final Note:
I'm sending the Super 58 Custom pickups back - he already refunded my money with shipping both ways! I'm going to order a set of pickups from a guy on the LPF, Zhang. I have two sets of his pups (P90s and HBs) and he does a great vintage job for a reasonable cost. I'm giving up on my quest for Super 58s. I'll just enjoy the Super 50s in my AS120.
Rick |
Talajuha
Username: Talajuha
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, October 06, 2007 - 4:22 pm: | |
Hazy,
Now you have to buy an AS103 to enjoy Super 58 Customs on their original chassis. I bet it is (one of) the best semihollow(s) for the money, and it is also beautiful.
You can buy new Super 58s at Ibanez retailers. For vintage Super 58s try WTB ad at ICW's Free Classifieds.
Juha |
Wombat
Username: Wombat
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 7:12 am: | |
Hi, I am interested in your discussion.
So, I sent an email to Ibanez company in Japan
about the pickups of my AS103SM(Chinese made) and As120(Korean made).
Today, He/She (An Hoshino Gakki stuff) replied me as follows (original message is written in Japanese),
--
The factories which manufactured Super58 pickups are changed with time to time, however the basic specification of this pickup does not change.
Therefore, the Super58s installed in present ARTCORE CUSTOMs are also using alnico magnet(alnico 3).
How do you think this reply?
wombat |
Talajuha
Username: Talajuha
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 9:35 am: | |
Hm, interesting but I suspect you got the answer from their information and puplication department and perhaps they don't know the difference between Super 58 and Custom 58.
ibanez.com announces IBZ Custom 58 as the pickups of AS103 (in USA) and ibanez.co.jp OH BOY, there it is. If you choose Japan as your country it says IBZ Super 58 (same for JSM100!) but again if you choose Finland (and some other European countries) it says Super 58 Custom. So, it is possible that AS103 with Super 58's is sold on the Japanese market and later worldwide.
Juha |
Talajuha
Username: Talajuha
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 9:47 am: | |
Wombat,
Do your AS103's pickups have the "S58-B, S58-N" markings, which has been on Super 58 Customs? Did you get any info about markings on current Super 58's?
Juha |
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 5:35 am: | |
Well the specs in the USA pricelist has them as ceramic pups! Thsi is not the 1st or the last time you will and hear different specs from different sources. I certainly will not be opening my pups to see whats inside them so I am going by what the USA specs say and by what my ear tells me they are! Ceramic. |
Talajuha
Username: Talajuha
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 7:23 am: | |
Freak,
I know my AS103 has Super 58 Customs which have ceramic magnets, and apparently all AS103s on international market have had them from the beginning. The question is: Has Hoshino's information and puplication department (or such kind) made a mistake because their Japanese webpage says "IBZ Super 58" on current AS103 and they share the same info via email (Wombat's post)?
I am happy with Custom 58s, but it would be interesting to try an AS103 and other Artcore Customs with Super 58s. Colour doesn't affect sound but AMB looks nice in pics.
Juha |
Wombat
Username: Wombat
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 10:28 am: | |
My AS103SM has the "S58-B, S58-N" markings.
And Ibanezfreak1960's messages are too difficult to
understand for me, not English native (sorry!).
Anyway I sent an email about it to Hoshino gakki again now.
Please wait for their reply.
wombat |
Chucke99
Username: Chucke99
Registered: 2-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 11:45 am: | |
I got my AS103 back a couple days ago after having some old super 70's put in it. (OT: I have a couple "Retrotrons" for sale if anybody wants them.) I love the sound in the guitar now. There is quite a lot of tonal variation from the neck to the bridge pups, and my favorite sound comes from having both on at the same time. Very clean, very nice for a semi-hollowbody. Then of course, I step down on the distortion pedal and it's all Alex Lifeson/Rush, baby! |
Wombat
Username: Wombat
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 - 9:20 am: | |
Hi all,
I received an official reply about Super 58 PUs from the Hoshino Gakki staff today.
The email said that (in Japanese);
As a result, Super 58 PUs installed in the ARTCORE CUSTOM series have "Alnico magnets"(alnico 3).
And the description of the catalog in the United States about PUs is a mistake. So, the department of product development
is now asking to US staff to correct the catalog description.
(Because the department of product development is now in Japan not in US, so this mistake was made.)
The catalogs except US does not describe such expression.
--I believe this email.
Wombat |
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 - 2:35 pm: | |
Hmm lets ask the Capppy about this he has some Japan contacts. |