Jump to content
Heritage Owners Club

Best substitute for HRW's


SteveB

Recommended Posts

Posted

Guys-I am new to the forum but not to Heritage guitars. I have a H-535 with HRW's that I love. I want to put HRW's in a 335 that I recently acquired but I know that they are not being provided anymore (and certainly not for the guitar I want to put them in!). I can't find the specs on the HRW's. Any help on a substitute for the HRW's would be greatly appreciated.

Guest HRB853370
Posted

I think the formula is secret like Coca-Cola's. I doubt Ren would release that data.

Posted

Welcome to the HOC. You might get lucky here and find a set of HRWs for sale. The last I looked, there is a set for sale by one of our loyal members in the "Gear Sale" entry under Non-Heritage Goods. Otherwise, I don't know what other pickup would match the HRW aura, but hopefully someone here can suggest something that will get you into that sound. Pickup selection is a subjective matter, as everyone has a sound he/she is looking for, so that it is hard to recommend something.

Posted

From memory, and it's been a while, the Duncan Custom Custom in the bridge is similar.

 

Haven't done a direct comparison, but I had a CC in a Godin LGX-SA years ago and the HRWs remind of that particular pickup.

Posted

After Ren Wall stopped producing HRW's, they switched to offering either unpotted SD Seth Lovers or wax potted 59's in 535's.

 

I think 59's are a bit closer to HRW's, but still not quite as sweet. If I had to choose between Seths or 59's I'd go with Seth Lover p'ups.

 

Only HRW's sound like HRW's to my ear.

 

Sorry SteveB, I'm probably not helping much, but welcome to the HOC anyway!

Posted

 

I've heard that a goat and the full moon were involved....

 

I heard Ren worked with a couple of Italian guys: Al, and NIco.

Posted

Thanks for the advice gents. I think I'll try the Seth Lovers and see if I can get anywhere near the mojo of the HRW's! Glad to be a member of the HOC.

Posted

Steve, I have Seths in my 535, as do a number of HOC'ers. They are just fabulous in that guitar! Should work well for you.

Posted

You're going to have to find out the old fashion way... Just keep trying different ones until you find one that works for you...

 

Keep in mind.. there's the guitar.. there's the PuP's.... and there's the guitar with the PuP's. When I auditioned PuP's for my 157 they sounded different in my guitar than they did in the guitar I auditioned them in.

Posted

Steve, I have Seths in my 535, as do a number of HOC'ers. They are just fabulous in that guitar! Should work well for you.

I have Antiquities in mine but I think I got a defective set, the finish was all faded and old looking. They do match the aged looking hardware that came with my 535 though, must be a coincidance, almost like someone planned it that way. But they sound great and and I have heard their sound is close to Seths.

Posted

If you put something like this in, it will make things much easier for you to do pickup swaps...

 

http://www.seymourdu...es/liberator-1/

 

liberator.gif

I don't know Josh, that looks like a very logical and useful invention but it just seems wrong to put that into a classic styled guitar like a 535. I want mine old school. May be easier and faster to solder then to wrestle with the tiny screw holes and getting the wire into the channels. Reminds me of a particularly unpleasant section of some of the equipment I maintained in my previous life. I'm assuming they are srewdown wire clamper thingies.

Posted

I have Antiquities in mine but I think I got a defective set, the finish was all faded and old looking. They do match the aged looking hardware that came with my 535 though, must be a coincidance, almost like someone planned it that way. But they sound great and and I have heard their sound is close to Seths.

Antiquities are an AGED pickup designed to look used with the same specs as a seth lover!

Posted

Antiquities are an AGED pickup designed to look used with the same specs as a seth lover!

Ah ha!

 

Actually it was a poor attempt at humor on my part. Guess I need the joker smilies in the future. They do sound great though and who know maybe the tarnish affects the mojo stream somehow..

Posted

I don't know Josh, that looks like a very logical and useful invention but it just seems wrong to put that into a classic styled guitar like a 535. I want mine old school. May be easier and faster to solder then to wrestle with the tiny screw holes and getting the wire into the channels. Reminds me of a particularly unpleasant section of some of the equipment I maintained in my previous life. I'm assuming they are srewdown wire clamper thingies.

 

It beats constantly heating up the pots for pickup swaps... I've seen another method too where as there is a quick connector that allows you to use the traditional pots while allowing quick changes for pickups...

 

pRS1C-2266847w345.jpg

Use something like this on the pots and pickups, you can swap everything in a matter of minutes while retaining all the vintage tone you're looking for. Why companies don't do this, is beyond me. (I believe Epiphone does this now).

Posted

I've got HRWs in one guitar and Seth Lovers in another. The HRWs are a lot hotter; many of us set the height even with the pickup rings. Both pickups sound great. I'd have a hard time choosing one over the other.

 

That said, I'm sure you'll be happy with the Seth Lovers.

Posted

Steve, I have Seths in my 535, as do a number of HOC'ers. They are just fabulous in that guitar! Should work well for you.

You got that right!! Welcome to the HOC Steve!!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...