Updated by Bobby
Updated on May 18th, 2023
Per our conversation in the comments section, it's clear that the amount of modification required to put an active pickup in a Gibson (or Epiphone) ES-335 would be significant and not practical for most DIY jobs. We've reworked this article to focus on passive pickup options for the ES-335, and made note of this concern in the "active vs passive" section. Hat tip to Brian in the comments.
Best Pickups for An ES-335 Upgrade (our top picks)
Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates
Though we'd love the smoothness and balance of an active pickup here, like the Fishman Fluence, we'll go with the Pearly Gates set from Seymour Duncan for a far simpler installation process and a hotter, higher-output tone that balances out nicely with the warmth of the semi hollow-body design. Think sweetness and warmth but with some added grit on more aggressive picking movements.
We're looking at some of the best pickups for an ES-335 upgrade, which you might want to consider for a couple of reasons: Either to improve tone quality or to adjust your tone to a specific style or sound.
Because there are two different versions of the ES-335, with very different pickups:
- The Epiphone version
- The Gibson version
The Epiphone version costs between $550 and $600 and comes with stock Epiphone pickups, which are a great candidate to be replaced for something nicer. With the Epiphone ES-335, the issue is quality, unless you just want to live with the stock pickups from Epiphone.
Read more: Best guitar pickups overall
On the Gibson ES-335, the issue isn't one of quality as much as style.
Hovering between $3000 and $3700, the T-Type humbuckers that ship with the Gibson ES-335 are decent pickups, though we'd prefer to see something like the Gibson-branded Burstbucker, like in the picture below:
Front shot of a Gibson ES-335. What are some of the best pickup options? Flickr Commons image via Mental Rudi
Even then, if you want to put in your own humbucker to be more accommodating of your own style, the ES-335 is a great candidate for a pickup swap, regardless of the Epiphone/Gibson distinction. You might just be swapping them for different reasons.
In this article, I'll make recommendations of humbucker sets for an ES-335 pickup swap, highlighted in the table below.
Best Pickups for an ES-335: Top Replacements
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PICKUPS | Name | Rate | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates Set
| n/a | |
 | Seymour Duncan Seth Lover Signature Set
| n/a | |
 | Gibson Burstbucker Pickup Set
| n/a | |
 | Seymour Duncan Saturday Night Special
| n/a | |
 | Seymour Duncan Custom Shop High Voltage
| n/a |
A closeup of the Gibson ES-335 with Gibson-branded humbuckers.
Pickups We've Used and/or Tested
We've either used or tested all of the pickups recommended in the above table. And we like them for the ES-335 - either the Epiphone or Gibson version - because of their high overall quality, and because of how well they respond in hollowbody electric guitars with a warmer tone.
Clean tones will sound big and punchy, while distortion will sound smooth, full and saturating.
We just want to be clear that if we've left something out, it's because we just haven't been able to verify it first hand. Our picks are derived from gear that we've actually used and tested ourselves.
That's where you come in.
If you've tried a pickup or humbucker set with the ES-335 that we didn't mention here, share your story in the comments section below.
Can active pickups work?
Though we'd love the combination of the ES-335's tone and active pickups, it seems that in most cases the DIY job would be an extremely heavy lift. Issues with running pots, an input jack, and a battery compartment would require significant mods to the body of the ES-335, which could potentially derail the tone quality of the guitar, which we're trying to preserve/improve in the first place.
So while there are examples of this working, they're few and far between.
We'd recommend sticking with passive pickups, whether you're dealing with ceramic or alnico magnets.
For more info on this, check my conversation with Brian in the comments section.
Distortion VS Clean
How will these pickups respond to distorted and clean tones?
When testing and analyzing pickups, we tend to focus on a base clean tone more so than distortion. Because if you get clean tones right, the distortion will usually sound good as well.
However, we have also used these pickups with modest amounts of gain from distortion pedals and dirty amplifier channels.
For testing, we used Fender Tube amps and a Mesa Boogie Rectoverb, giving us a vintage overdrive and modern distortion to work with. With the ES-335, we think it sounds best clean, or with just a slight amount of bluesy breakup. Thus, we'd recommend the following:
- Played cleaned with ES-335 volume and tone knob wide open
- Cleaned with a slight gain boost and breakup from an amp channel or overdrive pedal
What pickups does the Gibson ES-335 come with?
If you buy direct from a company like Sweetwater - assuming you're buying brand new - the Gibson version of the ES-335 comes with the following pickups (both are humbuckers) at the bridge and neck positions:
- Calibrated T-Type Lead Humbucker
- Calibrated T-Type Rhythm Humbucker
Installation Guide
For installation you'll need a two humbucker, two volume, two tone, and three-way switch wiring diagram. We'd recommend starting with this one:
The wiring diagram we'd recommend for humbuckers on the ES-335, Gibson or Epiphone. Image via Seymour Duncan
Do I need a soldering gun for installing the pickups?
Unless the pickup manufacturer states otherwise (some pickups have unique connection systems), you will need to use a soldering gun to solder the wires into place. You can find these at hardware stores or online at most major retailers. They're also not terribly expensive.
Should I still upgrade if I like the out-of-the-box tone?
Probably not.
If you're happy with the tone - as it sounds with the included pickups either from Gibson or Epiphone - we probably wouldn't recommend upgrading unless you have a really specific style in mind.
For example, if you wanted it to sound a little more modern and edgy, go with the Fishman Fluence pickups.
Or if you want it to sound warmer and more vintage, go with the Seymour Duncan Saturday Night Special or Pearly Gates set. Don't change pickups just for the sake of changing. If you like the ES-335 as-is (regardless of brand) there's nothing wrong with keeping it that way.
Read more: Best Seymour Duncan pickups
More questions?
Do you have additional questions about pickups for your ES-335? If so, drop them in the comments section below and we'll do our best to help out. It's easy to communicate there and it makes additional questions available to future readers so we can continue to expand on this article.
As a reminder, if you've used a different pickup with the ES-335 than what we've mentioned here, let us know how it went.
Maybe you just stuck with the stock pickups and you were happy with it?
Either way, we'll chat about it.
See you there.
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Written by GC Editorial on Guitars and Roundups
Written by Bobby on Guitars and Upgrades
hi i just a 335 epiphone not happy with sound really high pitch what about the 1957 pickups which long and mcquade said that i need do they know what they r talking about take care john
Hey John – I honestly don’t have a ton of experience with Long & McQuade. What kind of sound are you looking for? Are you just trying to balance things out so you don’t have as much high-end?
I am new in this whole guitar game. I bought an ES 335 style guitar and I think the tone is too bright for my ears. I am very treble sensitive. The guitar is not a Gibson or a Epiphone, it is a Hartwood and the price goes around €300, so I am assuming that is not the best pickups. But I like very much the feel of the guitar, it is my first one, and was hoping to get better tunes from her.
I could see the recommendations, but it does not tell why they are in that order or the specific characteristics of every set and how do they do compare with one another.
So, my question is, with my sensitivity to bright tones (and how often they become tiresome or irritating), wich of those sets of Humbucker pickups do you recommend?
Hey Igor – I’d probably go with the Pearly Gates set. That should give you some balance and keep things on the warmer side. My guess is that the pickups in the Hartwood guitar are pretty cheap. Is there a pickup selector on the guitar? Make sure it’s set to the middle or neck position. That will mellow out whatever set you have installed.
Thank you, Bobby.
I saw a couple of videos about upgrading the pickups of a guitar to help with the tones and even help with the learning process. So I am researching what will be my next step. And I am also fascinated by the idea of transform something almost without valor in a unique and personal thing. For now, the feedback on which pickup (the neck or both pickups) to use is very welcomed and I will try to apply that.
Thank you again for the feedback and the really useful article.
You may want to re-think your recommendation of an active pickup set for a 335 style guitar unless you plan on trying to shove a battery in to one of the f holes.
Should be doable with QuickConnect. These guys did it. https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/active-pickups-in-an-es-335.431447/
The Showcase 335 came with EMG’s from Gibson and was built with a battery compartment on the back as stated in the article. I’ve had the unfortunate experience of replacing a pot and output jack on a Sheraton II, and can attest that fishing the pots and harness through the f holes is an absolutely tedious affair, let alone a battery. Even if you can get one in there, how would you secure it?
One of these, I assume? https://reverb.com/item/4253639-collectors-gibson-es-335-showcase-edition-1988-extremely-rare-1-of-200-made-for-us
Yes. That’s the same model guitar as in your original link on 4/9/22, “These guys did it.”
Coming from the factory is one thing, retrofitting would be another altogether Not only would you have the battery issue, but you also need to replace the output jack and all of the pots for active pickups.
Dang man, I think you’re right. That sucks cause I think the combo of the Fluence hums and the 335 would be awesome.
I’ll update the article with just passive options.
Thanks for your thoughtful input, Brian.
Much appreciated.
I am thinking of getting an Epiphone ES 335 in Cherry. I’ve heard Pearly Gates as in your article and others. I have heard Gibson 57’s. I am looking to get as close to a Raspy Blues Tone as possible. I like the warm rich sound of the neck but I also like the tone Clapton had in the Cream Farewell Concert Film. I am aware that Amps also play a huge part in tone, so I will mention what I have. Marshall Origins 50 with a 412a Cabinet. A Fender Super Champ X2 through the same cab. A Marshall 100w solid-state and a Fender Champ 40 Practice loaded with a Can Rex. All but the 40 are played with several pedals. Just wondering if the PGs would be too hot. And, wouldthe57’s give me enough of the vintage tone.
I think if you’re going for more of a vintage tone, either the PGs or the 57s should give you a similar result. Both lean bluesy. My guess is that the 57s are a little “hotter.”