How Can I Tell If They're Super 58s?

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Author Message Hazy Username: Hazy Registered: 10-2006 Posted on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - 9:21 pm:    To all: I just got an Artstar AS120. I took the pickups out and there are no markings that I can see to identify them as Super 58s. The AS120 is a 1995 MIK. I did a search and could not find any pictures of the back side of the Super 58s. Any ideas? I took some pictures if that would be helpful. Thanks, Rick Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Thursday, October 26, 2006 - 2:36 am:    Last week we discussed Super 58's and there appeared to be at least 3 or 4 different Super 58's. Nobody would replace them if they weren't broken. They look just like normal PAFs but with 50 mm spacing. And they sound so good, that you don't even think about replacing them. Measure the resistance and compare them to Mike's measurments: 7.86 KOhm was what he wrote, I believe. Same year other factory. Probably same parts. Put everything back in and start playing! Did you read my story about the gold plated MAXIMA and OPTIMA strings? Not cheap but no corrosion and great looking on a white semi with gold hardware. (no I have no shares). Ginger Hazy Username: Hazy Registered: 10-2006 Posted on Thursday, October 26, 2006 - 7:38 am:    Ginger, The Ibanez site wiring diagram for 1995 lists Super 50s as the pickups on the AS120. What are they? Here are pictures of the pups: Any ideas? Thanks again, Rick Fiveoclockfriday Username: Fiveoclockfriday Registered: 07-2006 Posted on Thursday, October 26, 2006 - 11:02 am:    Rick, I haven't double checked that model to see if it has Super 50 pickups, but I have a '94 MIK AS-80 with those. They are definitely different than the Super 58s. I don't like them much at all, and am planning on replacing with a PAF style from SD or Dimarzio (or possibly the p-90 Phat Cats). They are (for me) extremely microphonic, and don't have good detail between strings on more complex chords. It's not a terrible pickup by any means, but really just mediocre. When I play the guitar unplugged I love the sound, but when plugged in it's just sort of "blah". -Eric Hazy Username: Hazy Registered: 10-2006 Posted on Thursday, October 26, 2006 - 7:26 pm:    Thanks FoF. I'm kind of bummed. These were definitely microphonic when I played out last week...and it's wasn't acoustic controllable feedback - it was microphonic high-pitched feedback. I could wax pot the pups to get rid of that...but, if the group's consensus on the Super 50s is blah, it might not be worth the work. Ideas? Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Thursday, October 26, 2006 - 7:57 pm:    Hi Rick, I've just checked it. In the European 1995 catalogue is the AS120 VS made by Cort with Super 58's: http://www.t3-kundenserver.de/htmlpages/redasys/_core/databases/t_meinl-uploads/ 1995_gesamt.pdf And in the USA catalogue is the AS120WH made by Samick with Super 50's: http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1995/95025.jpg Your ears are the best judge: replace them by Korean Super 58's. They're good and the price is reasonable. Ibanezfreak1960 gave a price list in some other thread. I'm sorry, I didn't know that the Samick made AS120 had other pickups, it wasn't in the European catalogues. Mike has the Cort made AS120 from a few months later with Super 58's. Now I understand that there was a conflict with Samick. A guitar of this price level should get decent pickups and a decent quality control. These whities should never have left the factory without replacing the pickups. So, now it's up to you to do this. And I would if I were you, because this wood really has potential! Ginger Hazy Username: Hazy Registered: 10-2006 Posted on Thursday, October 26, 2006 - 9:41 pm:    Thanks, Ginger. I'll go on the lookout for a pair of Super 58s for a while on The Bay. Honestly, I really like the sound of the bridge pickup except for the microphonics. Also, the neck pickup is woody in a good way. I might wax pot these over the weekend and see what happens. I have a pot with bees wax/candle wax at 20/80% that I use and it kills the microphonics...dead. Doesn't kill the tone. Rick Ratfinks3 Username: Ratfinks3 Registered: 11-2004 Posted on Saturday, October 28, 2006 - 2:34 am:    Rick and Ginger I sent you guys some pics of my pickups on the Cort AS120 made in 1995. I was unsure how to post them here. You are welcomed to post on ICW of you wish. They are very different than the super 58's on my AS80's from the Samick Factory in 2001, and also different than the new 58's on the AS73G which I finally played yesterday. The Artcore, sounds great and has a nice body but the neck is like a ball bat cut in half. Some guys like them that way. It was like they tried to reproduce the late 60's Gibber necks on the ES models back then. I liked the arch as it faded into the horns, but the quality was even lesser than last years Artcores. The price was $350.00 USD. I was going to get one to put the Roland GK3 pickup on, but I just could not forfeit the sound and playability of my 120, so I mounted it on the pickguard and it looks ok, and mounts well, and I did not drill any holes in the beauty. Hated to install it but had to for the band. I'll send a pic. I used the Roland bridge mount. I was concerned about changing the sound with the different type of metal on the mount, as it's aluminum. You can't hear any changes as I was supprised. My bridge still rest on the post very tight is most likely why. Not bad. I am really stoked on this 120, I may need some therapy or meds to get me off it. Ever finally find the perfect guitar for your tast, ear and hand. I'm 49yao and just did two weeks ago with this AS120. I'll stop sleeping with her as soon as my wife gets back from Hawaii. Mike Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Saturday, October 28, 2006 - 12:17 pm:    Ratfinks3: You're making me feel bad. I just rewrote the FAQ on including images in messages and posted a detailed tutorial on how to make them small enough for uploading using a shareware program called Faststone Image Viewer. Here it is: http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/FAQMain.html You'll need to invest about 1/2 to 3/4 hr. to read the FAQ, download and install the program and then upload your first images. Hey, you passed up time in Hawaii with your wife to tinker with a guitar? Boy, you are hooked! Ratfinks3 Username: Ratfinks3 Registered: 11-2004 Posted on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 - 3:02 am:    Hey I'm an old surf rat. You'll be there some day. Actually I hate flying and even worse a cruise ship. So I stayed in Florida. Hawaii is just like Florida with mountains and no snakes. Then the mountains have the hot stuff that bubbles out the top and burns your feet, and the bottom of the ocean is coral and eats you up when you wipe out. So.... stay home and play as loud as you like anytime you like, and buy some super 58's with some mad money your old lady don't know you got. lol You guys must be from the North. Oh yea, the flowers they put around your neck gives you a rash, and the hulla girls don't always look like the movies. Mike

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