zookroo1 Posted April 24, 2009 Posted April 24, 2009 Hey guys. I know pickups are probably an over discussed topic, but as I continue learning about what Heritage offers and has offered I get a bit confused. These are the pickups I come across when looking at the 535s: Schallers Seth Lovers HRW Seymour Duncan 59s I hope to visit Wolfe's eventually to check out some guitars in person, but even then I don't know if I'll see all the different configurations. I'd like a tone something in the vein of Buddy Guy or SRV amongst other things. I realize the player, the amp and other factors play a big role in your sound, but would any of these pickups lean more towards that type of sound? My electric guitar now is a custom strat S/S/H style, so with this one I just want something with a different style. I hope to know what I'm looking for when I'm ready to finally buy one so I don't have to worry about changing pickups later on. Thanks!!
fxdx99 Posted April 24, 2009 Posted April 24, 2009 I really really REALLY like seth lovers in my 535 for blues. No scratch that - I LOVE seth lovers in a 535 guitar. Had Schallers before and they were a nice clean sound. Seth's are a lmore open, gritty sounding. I've had 59s in another semi (and solid) and prefer seths over them as well. Have not had a guitar w/HRWs. Having stated a preference/opinion towards seths/535, I don't think of it's tone within an SVR or BG reference, tho. Your strat should get in their tonal range, but a 535 w/seths would be a great compliment to it. and as an aside, changing out pickups is a pretty straight forward swap. Should you find a guitar that plays well in a finish that you like, I wouldn't hestitate to get it and just swap pus.
Paul P Posted April 24, 2009 Posted April 24, 2009 It sounds like you like single coil pickups on Stratocaster type guitars Heritage no longer makes this kind of guitar but they did in the past, see the Stat and H-160V and even the H-204DD and H-207DD : http://www.heritageguitar.com/No%20Longer%20Made.htm Maybe you could find a used one somewhere.
RJLII Posted April 24, 2009 Posted April 24, 2009 I think you'll be hard pressed to ape a Buddy Guy or SRV tone without a Strat. Now if you're looking for BB King, Otis Rush, T-Bone Walker, Louis Jordan, John Lee Hooker, etc., a 535 with Duncan 59's will get you there. I've heard the Seths are nice too, but no personal experience. I'm underwhelmed by the Schallers in my H550. P90s will get you a little closer with the added top end, but the only thing that will sound like a Strat is a Strat (or Strat clone).
zookroo1 Posted April 24, 2009 Author Posted April 24, 2009 I figured I'd probably get some strat love since I mentioned SRV and BG. So scratch that. I guess I'm just looking for a good compliment to the other guitar with a nice blues/jazz feel to it. The look of the semi-hollow just screams blues and good old style rock and roll to me. I am looking forward to hearing the Seths since I've heard a lot of good things about them.
SouthpawGuy Posted April 24, 2009 Posted April 24, 2009 I have Seths in my Prospect and '59s in the 535, both sound great. The 535 has a fatter tone and is less inclined to feedback. The Prospect has a clearer tone, with more edge or bite. Yesterday I was trying a G&L Legacy, through an AC30 with effects, and getting a great tone. I played that for a while and then took out the Prospect. Woaah ! The sound was way fatter and fuller than the Legacy and being a semi I could actually feel the guitar vibrate with the notes. So I cranked it up a bit more until it was starting to feedback, and turned on a booster pedal >. Those Seths certainly can squeal if you let it get away from you ! Mind you I was sitting directly in front of the amp about four feet away ! 8)
Paul P Posted April 24, 2009 Posted April 24, 2009 [table][tr][td][table][tr][td][table][tr][td][/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][/table] I have Seths in my Prospect and '59s in the 535, both sound great. The 535 has a fatter tone and is less inclined to feedback. The Prospect has a clearer tone, with more edge or bite. I would have thought a 535 would have been more prone to feedback with its larger surfaces ? Yesterday I was trying a G&L Legacy, through an AC30 with effects, and getting a great tone. I played that for a while and then took out the Prospect. Woaah ! The sound was way fatter and fuller than the Legacy and being a semi I could actually feel the guitar vibrate with the notes. So I cranked it up a bit more until it was starting to feedback, and turned on a booster pedal >. Those Seths certainly can squeal if you let it get away from you ! Mind you I was sitting directly in front of the amp about four feet away ! Say what ?? [table][tr][td][/td][/tr][/table]
SouthpawGuy Posted April 24, 2009 Posted April 24, 2009 [table][tr][td][table][tr][td][table][tr][td][/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][/table]I would have thought a 535 would have been more prone to feedback with its larger surfaces ? Say what ?? [table][tr][td][/td][/tr][/table] The '59s are wax potted, the Seths are not. The 535 is also constructed with a solid centre block and the Prospect has a floating centre block, which leaves the body to really start vibrating at volume. Hence my little "test", when it did let go and start squealing I could not control it, well not from four feet away directly in front of the amp ! I must conduct a similar "test" with the 575 .... :angel:
chico Posted April 25, 2009 Posted April 25, 2009 you guys are more knowledgeable about p/ups than I, but no one has mentioned the HRWs in relation to the SLovers. I have HRWs in both my semi solids and love em. but I have no experience w/the Seth Lovers, nor do I have a H535. (yet) I have had duncan 59s in a H150
mars_hall Posted April 25, 2009 Posted April 25, 2009 You will find it difficult to groc SRV or Buddy with any humbucker pickup used in the humbucking mode. This will be further diminished by using a hollow or semi-hollow body guitar; you will need a solid-body. Heritage, in the past, has made several, most notable are the Stat and VIPs. You can coil-tap to get a single coil sound from a humbucker, but you will generally find a loss in the low end when compared to that of a standalone single-coil pickup. The output volume will be significantly diminished, but still usable. The current production Heritage guitars with Lollar P-90 will get you closer to a Strat sound, but the sound will be much fatter without the "jingle-jangle" you normally associate with a Strat. Phat Cats, as a after-market replacement, are one option for you. Seymour Duncan APH-1s in coil-tapped mode are another viable after-market option, as this pickup was originally designed as single coil pickup with a weaker Alnico II magnet i.e APS-1. I dropped APH-1s and SD Antiquity Texas Hots in my Heritage Stats and could dime the Strat sound, particularly on the neck and middle pickup positions. Hope this helps
Bluzman54 Posted April 25, 2009 Posted April 25, 2009 Seth Lovers......both my Prospect and H-535 have them. I like my Strat and ES-125 TDC for blues, but the Seth Lovers in my "H" guitars just flat out get it done no matter what tube amp I use. My "H"s have become my favorites......hard to believe after being a Strat man for 40+ years. The Seths were what made me change. JMHO Jim C
Kuz Posted April 25, 2009 Posted April 25, 2009 Throbaks are easily the best Humbucker I have ever owned. It is like Heritage is to Gibby.... the real PAF and the real PAF tone!
Hfan Posted April 26, 2009 Posted April 26, 2009 I have Seth Lovers on my 575 and I love them, great for blues. The stormy mondays (bareknuckles) are also sweet. I haven't had my SD Antiquities in my new used 535 to have a strong opinion yet but I think I like them . Don't know if this is helpful, all 3 sound great to me in their own way. Regarding the pick up swapping thing I would love to see a thread on this topic re tips like after market caps, wiring tips (use the original wiring layout or the manufacturer's) additional noise/hum reducing shielding etc. I am pretty good working on my amps (old Tech guy) but no little to nothing about guitar set up, pup replacement etc.
guitarjb Posted April 29, 2009 Posted April 29, 2009 Earlier tonight I played my H535 with the stock Schaller pickups through two of my old Marshalls: a '69 50-watt and a '72 Super Bass-converted to Super Lead specs. So of course, I had to play some Eric Clapton/Cream (Crossroads, etc...). It was the first time I played through those amps with my 535 and I have to say I was very happy with the overall sound in all pickup settings. I have been thinking of experimenting with different pickups (Gibson '57 Classics, SD Seth Lovers, SD Antiquities, etc...) but for now I am going to live with the guitar as-is for a while- because it sounds great as-is. Joe
Wolfi Posted May 1, 2009 Posted May 1, 2009 Earlier tonight I played my H535 with the stock Schaller pickups through two of my old Marshalls: a '69 50-watt and a '72 Super Bass-converted to Super Lead specs. So of course, I had to play some Eric Clapton/Cream (Crossroads, etc...). It was the first time I played through those amps with my 535 and I have to say I was very happy with the overall sound in all pickup settings. I have been thinking of experimenting with different pickups (Gibson '57 Classics, SD Seth Lovers, SD Antiquities, etc...) but for now I am going to live with the guitar as-is for a while- because it sounds great as-is. Joe From my opinion the Schallers are not bad. I have them on my 555. But I will change them next week and will use Seth Lovers. I love the SD 59's on my H 150 CM and on my 535 as well. For guitars with maple/ebony kind of wood, the Seth should be the deal.
VJonathan Posted May 4, 2009 Posted May 4, 2009 ................if you don't have it in the fingers (tone), it doesn't matter what is under those strings!!!
Wolfi Posted May 5, 2009 Posted May 5, 2009 ................if you don't have it in the fingers (tone), it doesn't matter what is under those strings!!! You're right. But I consider every member of this great forum has "the" fingers.
Millennium Maestro Posted May 10, 2009 Posted May 10, 2009 Seth Lovers are the best choice in my eyes... Take it one step further and install flat wound strings! YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED. M.M.
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