StewMac Parsons Street Pickups -- Any Experience?

[Teh]

Another project guitar coming in -- This time an Epi Joe Pass Emperor II hollowbody. Typical muddy tone, so a full electronic rework is in order. I'm going for the traditional jazz box tone on this one, so thinking Alnico 2, but don't want to spend the money on Seth Lovers. In doing research for lower cost alternatives, I'm reading a lot of positive press on the Stewart MacDonald Golden Age "Parsons Street" humbuckers. Manufactured the same way as the original PAFs, (uneven winds, wood spacers, unpotted, etc.).

Does anyone here have experience with them? Good? Bad? At about 50% of the cost of name brand pickups, they are intriguing.

Link to description on StewMac...

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

Not with Parsons Street, but I do have Golden Age Alnico 5 humbuckers in one guitar, and they sound excellent and split quite well. I'm more than happy with them. Haven't a/b'd them any Seymour Duncan, but they are clearly a step up from Duncan Designed and probably pretty equal to a JB/95 set in my inexpert opinion.

So I would be inclined to trust the Parsons Street.

But I don't have any actual experience with them.

[Teh]

Thanks for the insight! Yeah, I get the feeling the folks there are pretty straight shooters, and everything else I bought from them has been top notch. So, I think I'm going to give them a shot. Worst case, they will still be better than what came in the guitar.

Thanks again!

[geoff_hartwell]

I dont have direct experience with these guys, but you might consider GFS pups as well.

I was really surprised with their PAF compared to the SD '59 at about a third of the price!

[jaberwock]

Never used Parsons Street, but I installed a pair of Tonerider Alnico II classics ( similar price range ) in a friends Epiphone, and they are simply outstanding for the money.

[Teh]

@ Geoff -- I'd certainly give GFS a shot. I used their FilterTron clones on a different project and liked the results fine. Their Pro series Alnico II's look good, but they only come with a Nickel cover and the hardware on this guitar is gold. I dropped GFS a note to see if they have/would make this model with gold posts/cover. At $40 a copy, it's not a big deal.

Btw, I finally got a chance to pick up the Joe Pass last night. I have to tell you, it sounds pretty good with the stock pickups. Not nearly as good as it could with Seths or another upgraded PAF clone, but nowhere near as muddy and flat as Epi's I've played in the past. Warm but with detail and decent clarity. For a jazz box, it's a nice combination. Looking under the hood, they are now using full size pots and soldered connections rather than the mini pots and Molex quick connects. That change has to contribute to the tonal improvement as well. Finally, the finish is markedly thinner than in the past. I can actually see the grain of the Spruce top through the finish! BIG difference in acoustic tone & response of the instrument.

Overall -- Not too bad! I may hold off a while on swapping out the hardware and focus instead on (Oh geez, I can't I'm about to say this...) playing the guitar!