advice needed on SD '59's in an H150

[donnie]

Guys,

 

I considering a 150 that has the Duncan '59's in it from the factory. I'm just not familiar with how they sound and would appreciate it if anyone could enlighten me a bit. As a frame of reference I have an H535 now with Seth Lovers in it and I love (really love) the sound, but I thought I'd try something different this time around. Not getting rid of the 535, just possibly adding to the stable. Would the '59's in a 150 be different enough from the Seth's in a 535 so as to be noticeable?

 

I mostly play clean-ish stuff, usually nothing more than right up to the edge of breakup. Just enough so that you can call it fat if you know what I mean. But no high gain stuff. Think early Allman Brothers as being about as gainy as I get. Mostly I love blues and blues-based rock, vintage '60's-'70's. The amps I use most are my Swart AST, Dr. Z Carmen Ghia and a Vintagesound 112P Princeton clone.

 

I know pickups are easily changed but I'm way past that after many years of chasing the perfect pickup in my Teles only to come back to the basic Broadcaster sound. And it seems my ears have gotten kinda old on me so the one thing I hate the most is mud-especially in the neck.

 

Any advice or opinions would be appreciated.

[tbonesullivan]

anything in a H150 will sound a lot different from an H-535. The H150 is a big hunk of mahogany with a maple cap. The H-535 is a laminated maple semi hollow body with a mahogany center block.

 

In the same guitar, the '59s are a bit higher output, and a bit more "modern" sounding. They have a bit more clarity and won't have the microphonics issues that seth lovers might have. I find that the Seth lovers in my H158 are a bit "twangy" at times, but are just awesome pickups. My H150CM has '59 pickups, and they are just awesome in that setting. They are great pickups for that guitar, and will get you "that" sound easily: the les paul sound. They'll sound good clean or dirty. They aren't super high output so they are good for pretty much all applications.

[mtpatty]

I think the SD '59's are terrific, but I actually prefer Bare Knuckle pickups...try either their Stormy Monday's or Mules, or WCR pickups make a Filmore model or a crossroads model...go to their websites and give them a listen...I also think that Gibson '57's would be nice for what you are describing.... also, I hear that the SD Antiquities are very nice...

 

http://www.bareknuck...ups.co.uk/main/

 

http://www.wcrguitar.com/

 

good luck

 

Mark

[fxdx99]

Yup, what they said wrt the solid vs semi design and their voicing. I like seths over SD59s myself and if you like seths, I'd stick with them if between the 2. Especially since you don't play high gain. The 59s are wax potted which would help w/squeal if you did play with a lot of gain/volume, but given your amps imho think the more 'open' sound of the seths would work well.

[donnie]

anything in a H150 will sound a lot different from an H-535. The H150 is a big hunk of mahogany with a maple cap. The H-535 is a laminated maple semi hollow body with a mahogany center block.

 

In the same guitar, the '59s are a bit higher output, and a bit more "modern" sounding. They have a bit more clarity and won't have the microphonics issues that seth lovers might have. I find that the Seth lovers in my H158 are a bit "twangy" at times, but are just awesome pickups. My H150CM has '59 pickups, and they are just awesome in that setting. They are great pickups for that guitar, and will get you "that" sound easily: the les paul sound. They'll sound good clean or dirty. They aren't super high output so they are good for pretty much all applications.

 

Them being potted as opposed to the Seths would seem to give you the option to play a little louder if you wanted to. But even though you say they are a bit higher output than the Seths you also say they aren't super high output and that appeals to me. You can tell I'm obviously no pickup expert but I think that the lower output of the Seths is part of why I like them so much in the 535.

 

Like I say, it isn't an either-or deal since the 535 is hopefully never going anywhere. I was just looking to expand my tonal possibilities a little.

[smurph1]

I've never heard SD-59s, but I do like different tones in my guitars..My 535 has Seths as well but I really wouldn't want another guitar with those pickups..Viva La Difference!! My 2 cents YMMV..

[High Flying Bird]

I find the 59s to be muddy. I didn't like the way they cleaned up. I had Seth's in a 150 and liked it and I like the Phat Cats in the 357.

[Blunote]

My 150 Ultra delivered with 59s but had been advertised with Seth Lovers. The seller agreed to swap p'ups with me which meant I got to get familiar with the sound of both.

 

As delivered, I really liked the sound of the 59s and started to second guess whether I really wanted the Seth Lovers. However, I wound up swapping them them out -in part because of the high praise you'll see written by many HOC members. Here's my take:

• The 59's have a more scooped range with a more nasal sounding top end
• Both pickups have a vintage LP groove but the Seth Lovers do a better job providing what I think of as the Beano growl.
• The Seth Lovers have a more full midrange

All said and done, I'm happier with the Seth Lovers.

 

[MichYank]

I have 59's in my LP and really like them - great for classic rock, blues, incredible sustain & harmonics, etc. For this guitar, they really sound great. My H575 came equiped w/ 59's as well and for that guitar they're a bit too bright for my taste in a classic jazz sound.

 

To be fair, I've never had a set of Seth's but understand them to be great pup's.

 

IMO you may find the flexibility of the Seth/535 and 59/150 a fine combination.

 

Best wishes -

[bolero]

well, it's a heck of a lot easier to swap pups in a 150 than a 535!!

 

 

so it's not the end of the world if you don't like them...I'd surely give it a shot, they're not bad pups

 

I find a 535 has a deeper, ballsier ( uh...freudian slip? ) sound than a 150, so take that into consideration

[H]

I find the 59s to be muddy. I didn't like the way they cleaned up. I had Seth's in a 150 and liked it and I like the Phat Cats in the 357.

+1. I pulled the 59s from my 150 and replaced them with Phat Cats.

[jjkrause84]

I think the SD '59's are terrific, but I actually prefer Bare Knuckle pickups...try either their Stormy Monday's or Mules, or WCR pickups make a Filmore model or a crossroads model...go to their websites and give them a listen...I also think that Gibson '57's would be nice for what you are describing.... also, I hear that the SD Antiquities are very nice...

 

http://www.bareknuck...ups.co.uk/main/

 

http://www.wcrguitar.com/

 

good luck

 

Mark

 

 

I can TOTALLY vouch for BKP. I've got a Mule in the neck of my Tele (and a Brown Sugar in the bridge).

 

Put it this way: I didn't know guitar could sound this good before I installed the BKPs. WELL worth a shot (although, they are MUCH more affordable over here...gotta say).

[DetroitBlues]

Guys,

 

I considering a 150 that has the Duncan '59's in it from the factory. I'm just not familiar with how they sound and would appreciate it if anyone could enlighten me a bit. As a frame of reference I have an H535 now with Seth Lovers in it and I love (really love) the sound, but I thought I'd try something different this time around. Not getting rid of the 535, just possibly adding to the stable. Would the '59's in a 150 be different enough from the Seth's in a 535 so as to be noticeable?

 

I mostly play clean-ish stuff, usually nothing more than right up to the edge of breakup. Just enough so that you can call it fat if you know what I mean. But no high gain stuff. Think early Allman Brothers as being about as gainy as I get. Mostly I love blues and blues-based rock, vintage '60's-'70's. The amps I use most are my Swart AST, Dr. Z Carmen Ghia and a Vintagesound 112P Princeton clone.

 

I know pickups are easily changed but I'm way past that after many years of chasing the perfect pickup in my Teles only to come back to the basic Broadcaster sound. And it seems my ears have gotten kinda old on me so the one thing I hate the most is mud-especially in the neck.

 

Any advice or opinions would be appreciated.

 

Go to Seymour Duncan's website and they have all their pup's on audio clips for both clean and crunch tones.

[donnie]

I have 59's in my LP and really like them - great for classic rock, blues, incredible sustain & harmonics, etc. For this guitar, they really sound great. My H575 came equiped w/ 59's as well and for that guitar they're a bit too bright for my taste in a classic jazz sound.

 

To be fair, I've never had a set of Seth's but understand them to be great pup's.

 

IMO you may find the flexibility of the Seth/535 and 59/150 a fine combination.

 

Best wishes -

 

This flexibility you speak of is what I'm hoping for if this deal works out.

[donnie]

Go to Seymour Duncan's website and they have all their pup's on audio clips for both clean and crunch tones.

 

I have in fact done just that, thanks. But whether it's my tired ears or my computer's sound system I honestly can't tell much difference. I'd hate to be challenged to an A-B blind listening test!

[FredZepp]

I like the SD '59's in my 150.

They do seem very versatile and have a nice vintage tone with no feedback issues.

 

The Seths are more open and articulate, but the '59s do a great job with classic rock tunes. I probably use a bit more gain than you do, but I could imagine them doing a good job with some Allman Bros. tunes. I like their vintage growl.

[donnie]

I like the SD '59's in my 150.

They do seem very versatile and have a nice vintage tone with no feedback issues.

 

The Seths are more open and articulate, but the '59s do a great job with classic rock tunes. I probably use a bit more gain than you do, but I could imagine them doing a good job with some Allman Bros. tunes. I like their vintage growl.

 

Thanks Fred, this is what I guess I was hoping to hear!

[tbonesullivan]

IMHO, the Seth Lovers are better PAFs than the 57 Classics. I've got a pair, and they for some reason don't have the same sound, and seem a bit shrill. I've also read a few reviews putting the Seths and Antiquities above the 57 classics.

 

Here's a review I found helpful:

 

http://www.legendarytones.com/vinpicup2.html

[fxdx99]

I was gonna leave this thread go, but anyone a big enough ABB fan to have a mushroom tattoo... well, thought I'd chime in one more thought. There's a lot of good pickups out there - Duncans, Bare Knuckle, Tom Short, etc. I've posted this elsewhere 'round here, but in my 150 I've had SD59s, Bare Knuckle Stormy Mondays, and Throbaks. Throbaks, while pricey, are the best of the bunch... easily.

[lilkuku]

I find the 59s to be muddy. I didn't like the way they cleaned up. I had Seth's in a 150 and liked it and I like the Phat Cats in the 357.

 

 

+1. I pulled the 59s from my 150 and replaced them with Phat Cats.

 

+2 On pulling the 59's I found the 59's in my 150 to be too bright. I finally bit the bullet and changed out the pups to SD Pearly Gates in the neck w/Treble bleed and a SD JB in the bridge. It took away a lot of that high end. I like a little more gain though than you describe. The cool thing is that the 59's are an easy sell. Get the guitar and if you change out the pups you can sell the 59's easily to help with the cost of new pups.

 

Pat

[Hfan]

I think the SD '59's are terrific, but I actually prefer Bare Knuckle pickups...try either their Stormy Monday's or Mules, or WCR pickups make a Filmore model or a crossroads model...go to their websites and give them a listen...I also think that Gibson '57's would be nice for what you are describing.... also, I hear that the SD Antiquities are very nice...

 

http://www.bareknuck...ups.co.uk/main/

 

http://www.wcrguitar.com/

 

good luck

 

Mark

 

I've got BK Stormy Mondays in my 150 and stock Schallers in my 157. Recently did an a b comparison. Sorry to report (maybe I am not a tone aficenido) but both sounded good to me albeit differently good. Was able to get desirable tone for me any way from both. And the antiquities in my 535 sound fabulous but the 535 is a different beast.

 

Feeling the urge to try different ones in my 157 just out of curiosity and from reading too many p up threads.

[DetroitBlues]

I've got BK Stormy Mondays in my 150 and stock Schallers in my 157. Recently did an a b comparison. Sorry to report (maybe I am not a tone aficenido) but both sounded good to me albeit differently good. Was able to get desirable tone for me any way from both. And the antiquities in my 535 sound fabulous but the 535 is a different beast.

 

Feeling the urge to try different ones in my 157 just out of curiosity and from reading too many p up threads.

 

There is a lot of tone in your fingers too. Many people, including myself, adjust their playing technique when using different instruments. That's why some of us believe a couple similiar guitars sound the same....