Which pickups sport my 575?

[HenryO]

Hi - Thanks for having me here!

 

I own a H-575 from 2001. Does anyone know which pickups were used back then? And: My guitars does have the H tailpiece. Does that mean that it was a special model, or did Heritage use this tailpiece throughout the whole catalog back then?

 

Greetz from Germany,

Henry

[Genericmusic]

They look to be stock Shaller. Pull one out and look at the bottom.

[tulk1]

One double mounting screw - that one is definitely a Schaller.

One single mounting screw - that could be anything, even an original Schaller with one screw.

[ajdownunder]

Henry, I have the same question. Can anyone help ??? ... If you had to replace them, what would be the better brand of quality pick-ups to suit a 575? ....any idea of cost to purchase in the USA ?

Cheers. AJ

[Hfan]

Henry, I have the same question. Can anyone help ??? ... If you had to replace them, what would be the better brand of quality pick-ups to suit a 575? ....any idea of cost to purchase in the USA ?

Cheers. AJ

Welcome to the HOC ajdownunder.

 

Some of us like the Schallers and some don't. Do you currently have them on a 575?

 

I have the Schallers on a solid body Heritage and like them ok, never heard them on a 575. On my 575 I have Seths and like them ok as well. Guess I'm easy that way. There seems to be quite a few 575s with Seths.

 

I suppose it depends on what tone you are after. Lots of opinions incoming I bet.

[HANGAR18]

Use a long dental mirror and a flashlight to look at the underside of the pickups.

 

I say that because pickups seem to get changed over time and I would be nervous about the bridge getting moved out of position if the strings were all removed at once.

[Stringman]

I've had Schallers and really don't like them. My H-576 sports SD '59's and they are great, in my humble opinion. Every Heritage I've owned with Schallers have gotten new pickups.

 

As an example, I liken the Schaller pickup to the SD JB pickup. Kind of strident and harsh and to me they never mellow out. That is as amateur of an opinion as you'll ever get.

 

I do like: SD 59's, SD Custom Custom, SD Seth Lovers, Gibson Burstbuckers, Gibson '57's, PRS McCarty pickups and PRS Dragon II pickups. One of my favorite combinations is a SD Custom Custom in the bridge with a SD '59 in the neck.

 

Pickups are a matter of taste, of course.

[tulk1]

Use a long dental mirror and a flashlight to look at the underside of the pickups.

 

I say that because pickups seem to get changed over time and I would be nervous about the bridge getting moved out of position if the strings were all removed at once.

When I change my mandolin strings I use blue painters tape to mark the position of the bridge. And for good measure, I tape that sucker down, too. Not sure this applies to hollow body arch tops with wooden bridges, but on the mandolin/violin family the < f > cutouts in the f holes are your starting point for the bridge feet. Line up with the points on the F's and you'll be very close. Then small adjustments from there.

[Genericmusic]

I've seen luthiers use a grease pencil to mark bridge placement, then "erase" it with a Q-tip afterward.

[Teeky]

I use those re-useable adhesive bookmarker tabs (semi-transparent with a colored tab) right along the ends of the bridge and in line with its front face. You get perfect realignment every time and no marks left on the body.

 

I occasionally mention what I believe to be the stock StewMac Golden Age pickups on my 575.

No one, but no one, ever mentions them, but I find them really super, for jazz work anyways. They have superb bass response and separation which is absolutely ideal for comping with bass lines or slipping in the odd bass fill in soloing.

 

StewMac Golden Age rah rah rah!