Magnetic Pickups for a 1936 Gibson Black Special #4

[312JS]

Hello everyone.

I just bought a lovable 1936 Gibson Black Special #4 in an unreal condition.

I'm looking for a set of magnetic pickups for her. Preferably something sounding similar to Charlie Christian, P90 or the AlNiCo V Staple pickup.

The problem is that there is only around 6 mm clearance at the neck position.

I've already sent an email to Pete from Vintage Vibes, but he can't go any lower than 9,5 mm.

So far, I was able to find or was told about these:

• https://www.krivopickups.com/store/p...nstrument.html
• https://www.sixtus-pickups.com/produ...oustic-strings
• https://surdopickups.blogspot.com/p/gypsy-pickups.html
• http://www.nationalguitars.com/produ...ufitFOoqLPwWzE
• https://lace-music-products.myshopif...ETSB-4LMcTehmI
• https://www.thomann.de/gb/schaller_j...0X2Mg19RRXcO44

Thanks a lot in advance!

[BluesKing777]

Sorry, I can’t help with the mag pickup, but congratulations on the Black Special!

I have owned one as well, for 5 or 6 years. Mine has a ebony Schatten Bridge with an inbuilt piezo pickup, just took the old floating bridge out and put the new one in, lead run through f hole to the endpin area. Unfortunately, Schatten don’t make the pickup anymore. I don’t like the piezo sound on its own, but it sounds superb through my Tonedexter.


Oh yeah, the neck is exactly like my Waterloo V necks!


Good luck with the guitar and pickup.


BluesKing777.

[roylor4]

I use a Seymour Duncan Woody XL into a preamp pedal with excellent results.

The good thing is, it requires no drilling or modifications to the guitar either. In and out in 30-40 seconds.

[312JS]

Originally Posted by BluesKing777

Sorry, I can’t help with the mag pickup, but congratulations on the Black Special!

I have owned one as well, for 5 or 6 years. Mine has a ebony Schatten Bridge with an inbuilt piezo pickup, just took the old floating bridge out and put the new one in, lead run through f hole to the endpin area. Unfortunately, Schatten don’t make the pickup anymore. I don’t like the piezo sound on its own, but it sounds superb through my Tonedexter.


Oh yeah, the neck is exactly like my Waterloo V necks!


Good luck with the guitar and pickup.


BluesKing777.

Hello BK.
I've seen your thread about it. Lovable guitars aren't they.

[312JS]

Originally Posted by roylor4

I use a Seymour Duncan Woody XL into a preamp pedal with excellent results.

The good thing is, it requires no drilling or modifications to the guitar either. In and out in 30-40 seconds.

It's not a round hole acoustic, it's an f-hole archtop.