New Pickups

[Keith7940236]

I just loaded the '59s in my Eagle TDC and what a difference. The stock Golden 50's sounded OK, but man what a difference the new ones make. Very clear and articulated. Tone goes from almost shimmering to clean dark and smokey.

It's also interesting to listen to the difference between those and the floater in my GE, best of both worlds.

[Hfan]

Thanks for that information. I have the Schallers in my 157 and have considered the 59's and have wondered about what the difference would be. I am not too fond of the Schallers until I get some break up. Through my Blues Jr with some break up they provide sound almost like a single coil Fendery type distortion I like it. They sound good with my Reverb Deluxe on high volume as well. Glad it worked out for you.

[DetroitBlues]

I had the schallers in the 140 for a short time. I really did not like the tone of them at all... Seemed too "muffled" or something... I'd swap them out. '59's or Seth Lovers...

[tbonesullivan]

It all depends on your personal tastes. I have '59s in my H150CM, Seths in my Millennium, Schallers in my H535, and HRWs in my Kahuna. I like them all.

[DetroitBlues]

It all depends on your personal tastes. I have '59s in my H150CM, Seths in my Millennium, Schallers in my H535, and HRWs in my Kahuna. I like them all.

 

I'd have to agree with you that pickups can sound better or worse in different guitars... Its all about trial and error... But I tend to believe its more about me adjusting my tone controls on the guitar, amp, and pedals to acheive the best sound for myself...

[Guest HRB853370]

I always liked my Schallers, but the more I play my other Heritages with Seths, HRW's, 59's, I like them less. I am considering a pup swap, maybe ThroBaks or Phat Cats once I get my finances back in order.

[DetroitBlues]

I always liked my Schallers, but the more I play my other Heritages with Seths, HRW's, 59's, I like them less. I am considering a pup swap, maybe ThroBaks or Phat Cats once I get my finances back in order.

 

I keep reading a lot of postive stuff about the bare knuckle line. Motor City Guitar carries them... I keep thinking about trying them out...

[kidsmoke]

It's a tough call. you have to make the investment and take the time to install them, or have them installed, before you know.

 

After MUCH hemmin' and hawin', I just chose Sheptone Tributes (boutique PAF's). The range of reporting, this board included, on those has been from "great" to "the best" to "the only one that does it", and for less than the price of Duncans. I've heard at least SOME discouraging - less than great comments on all others, ThroBaks, Fralin's, Lollars.... They're due here Monday-ish. Can't wait.

 

I confess to still having my fingers crossed, however.

[kidsmoke]

 

I keep reading a lot of postive stuff about the bare knuckle line. Motor City Guitar carries them... I keep thinking about trying them out...

 

 

+1

[NoNameBand]

I like the SD '59s. Many folks don't realize that like some other boutique pups, they are also made on the original pup winders from Gibson, by hand with a lot of input from Seth Lover himself who worked with Seymour Duncan for many years. I'm not saying they're aren't other great pups, just that the SD '59s, Pearly Gates and Antiquities are all handmade on the same Gibson machines, made the same way and are underrated and often better priced. certainly worth trying. I have SD P-90 Antiquities in a Les Paul Gold Top and SD Pearly gates in my Blue H-150, love them both.

[kidsmoke]

I was leaning HEAVILY towards the Antiquities, and would add the Lovers to the list of p'ups I've not heard anything less than great about. I've had 59's in two guitars, neck only, and loved them both. In my case I really wanted to try a 'boutique' p'up, (my definition of boutique....the guy who's name is on the product answers your email and takes your order, which Shep did in spades!) and Shep recently had a sale on Tributes that made 'em ridiculously affordable, so I pounced.

 

I think Duncan, being a household name for so long, is often discounted as a more mass produced item than they are. I agree that they should be considered with the rest of 'em.

[PunkKitty]

Since I'm selling my 170 with Seths, I'm considering what I'm going to do with my 140. It currently has the stock Schallers which sound good. I have a set of 59's that I can use. I also have a set of Gibson 57 Classics that I can put in there. I'm going to have to take some time evaluating pickups over the next few weeks.

[AP515]

I have not tried a lot of the pup winders out there but I LOVE 59's. I have HRW's in my 150 and I have been thinking of puting 59's in to try. I have a set available. This thread just adds fuel to that fire.

[NoNameBand]

Since I'm selling my 170 with Seths, I'm considering what I'm going to do with my 140. It currently has the stock Schallers which sound good. I have a set of 59's that I can use. I also have a set of Gibson 57 Classics that I can put in there. I'm going to have to take some time evaluating pickups over the next few weeks.

 

I have each and love the tone of both the Gibby '57 & SD '59. I have to say I lean towards the '57s though, at least in a Les Paul/150. One of my Les Pauls has stock '57s, one has SD '59s, VSB H-150 has ShepTone Tributes (also a '57 design). I keep going towards the '57 design both from Gibson and ShepTone. But thats just me.

[DetroitBlues]

I have the Seth Lovers on my Epi Dot. I rather like them. Had a Seth and Gates on the 150 I just sold... Great tones.

[rooster]

With mine, I tried many different pickups, but ended up with Bill Lawrence (Bill & Becky) pickups in all 3 of mine. Not traditional, but this was my reasoning: I wanted the guitar to sound like the wood, more than anything. His pickups give me the full range of the guitar, without having a "signature sound" impressed over the guitar. While I liked the Seth Lovers (my favorite PAF-type pickup), they had their own tone that was imposed over the guitar itself. If I want it thicker in the mids, with less top end, I just roll back the tone control (.02uF paper-in-oil--I know, but they make a diff) a bit, and I can get a traditional LP sound when I want.

 

I just like being able to have everything, and just dial out what I don't want, rather than be limited by what was done decades ago, fine as it was.

 

rooster.

[PunkKitty]

I have a set of L-500s from Bill & Becky. I also have a set of L-90s. They look a little odd but they sound awesome. Maybe I'll just move the L-90s to the H-140.

[PunkKitty]

I just played a 57 Classic/Classic Plus set next to the Seths. There's not a whole lot of difference there. I think the Classic/Classic Plus set is going into my 140.

[Guest HRB853370]

I just played a 57 Classic/Classic Plus set next to the Seths. There's not a whole lot of difference there. I think the Classic/Classic Plus set is going into my 140.

 

I have 57 classics in a 535 and also in a G-LP. Both sound fabulous.

[MichYank]

My 575 came with '59s and they sounded good. However I swapped out the magnets to an A2 in the neck and an un-oriented A5 in the bridge and they sound amazing! Unbelievablely amazing. My wife even remarked about it and she's not a jazz guitar person at all!

 

The A2 added a bit of a mid bump and took away the bass boom and added a tad more warmth while the A5U provided more definition and warmth while keeping the output. Just amazing!

 

I also love the idea that the pickups were wound with the original K-zoo Leesona machine. Major mo-jo.

 

Thanks for reading.