Pup questions---150 & 535

[Scooter]

Have a couple questions:

 

1) I'm assuming that the same pickup arrangement (let's say Seths) in a 535 and a 150 would still have some tonal differences being that these guitars have signigicant differences structurally. I often assume wrongly and I don't have experience with this. So I ask you: What is your experience with this?

 

2) Which pups to choose for a 535 and a 150? Which pickups can push hard rock (Rush; not metal) well and yet still can be versitile to cover other styles well; a good all-arounder? [Would '59s do the job well on one or both the 535 & 150 or a combo of different neck and bridge pickups? What's your experience?]

 

Always love to hear what you guys have to say and appreciate your input. Thanks.

 

Scooter

[tulk1]

Scooter,

 

I have a Millie SAE, a 535 and a Prospect, all with lowly Schallers. I have yet to find a musical genre` (that I can actually play) that these guitars don't fit into. Not near as exotic as getting Seths or ThroBaks, etc. But they do the job and do it well. Adminttedly, my pickup experience on Heritages is a bit limited. But don't rule these bad boys out.

[pushover]

In regard to Q1. I have 59's on both a 157 and a 535, and yes they do sound quite different. The 535 sounds pretty close to the sound sample you can find on the duncan site. The 157 is really much darker.. Dunno why, but it is.. So yes it's likely to be different. IMHO the 59's on the 535 are much more versitile than on the 157, but I think that's because the 535 is more versitile.

 

For Q2. that's purely gonna be a matter of your own opinion in terms of what sounds good to you. I think 59's will do the job nicely. On paper they're exactly what you want, but some people just don't like 'em.. There are a number of other choices to choose from that will also work well but will sound a little different. The Phat-cats had a really nice sound to them, a little brighter and I had one of them in the neck of the 157 and liked it a lot. But there are a whole bunch of others to choose from, and you can drive yourself nuts trying pick the best one. I pretty much did My experience is that there are other parts of the equation such as, amps, pedals, your playing... So listen to a few options pick one you like, and then do the rest with tweeking the amp, pedals, etc. Don't overthink it like I did...

[High Flying Bird]

Joe had 59s in his 150 and it didn't give the tonal range he was looking for. We slipped a set of Schallers in there and his is quite pleased with them.

[Millennium Maestro]

if your are looking seymours...

 

Seths are unpottted reproductions of of the original pAF

59's are very close and wax potted...better for higher volumes.

Add a little output and hair you have the most popular JB bridge pickup.

I personally like the Custom Custom in the bridge which is even hotter with a 59'er in the neck

 

I am a fan of HRW's, not a fan of plain shallers.

Big fan of Bill Lawrence 500's, they are very well balance... and cheap!

 

personally a semi hollow would have seths in it for my taste.

 

M.M.

[Scooter]

Thanks, guys, for some input. I know it's a bit subjective of a topic but I think there's room for advice. Like pushover said the sheer amount of pickups out there can be overwhelming and you can drive yourself nuts trying to make a choice. I don't get much chance to get out and spend time at music stores to test things out for myself or else I would. So your input is much appreciated and gives me an idea, at least.

 

Scooter

[Kuz]

If you can flip it and want authentic PAF tones, Throbak pickups are by far superior to any other PAF out there (and I have owned Seths, Lollars, Wolfetones, ect).

[Spectrum13]

for #1. I have Seths in my 150 and millie with the same pots and different caps. Fantastic in the 150 for anything from Mike Bloomfield to Gibbons. In the 155 they sound like a little L5 on the neck and kind of 535 ish on the bridge. Different construction same pups, different sounds.

 

for#2 Too many great bucker pups to choose from but I trust Kuz did enough R&D on this subject plus I love the Throbek products I have purchased. Personnaly I'm a big fan of the Lollar P90s.

[Mikenov]

I didn't have any specific problems with my 59s. I wanted a little more output for the neck pickup but there is a real possibility I could have addressed that with a pickup adjustment. I just like the Alnico PRO II's better. Just more output and a rounder sound in the neck. It was like a 59 but a little more.

The Seth's in my 150s have a really good sound which is AGAIN very much like the 59s and Alnico Pro IIs but a little sweeter. I like them allot too. Really all of these pickups are versions of the vintage humbuckers from the classic les pauls (RIP) so they all sort of sound similar with some small differences. I would be pleased with any of them.