Darker Neck Pickup For H150

[daybed]

So Ive had my H150 for a couple of months now and mine is loaded with Duncan Seths. I love the bridge pickup, It really cuts through but I find myself wanting a little darker tone out of my neck pickup. It seems really brite and I cant get that really dark jazzy thing happening that I've heard on some other LP type guitars. Any suggestions? I play clean most of the time, was thinking maybe a 59 in the neck? I have also heard that changing the pots to 250K may darken the tone but im not sure.

 

Thanks,

 

Nathan

[GuitArtMan]

Yes changing the pot to a 250K will darken the tone, so will turning down your volume unless you have a treble bleed circuit in there. Why not just roll the tone control back some? Does that not accomplish what you want? That said, the Pearly Gates was one of the darker neck pickups I've tried, at least clean. I came alive when cranked up and was great for coppin' the "Still Got The Blues" tone - too bad I can't cop all the licks!

[FredZepp]

I would guess that you have spent some time working with the adjustments that can be made on the neck pickup? ( lowering the pickup, adjusting the pole pieces )

 

There would be a lot of potted pickups that will be darker, as long as you don't pick anything too hot. And the pot might tame it a bit...

[Kuz]

Wow, I think this is a first on any guitar forum that someone has a neck pup that is too bright.

 

FWIW, I think Seth Lover's Neck pups are one of the best out there. I always thought the bridge was too Shrill and bright for me.

 

I say try rolling off the highs on your amp first.

 

Good luck.

[daybed]

Wow, I think this is a first on any guitar forum that someone has a neck pup that is too bright.

 

Yeah im weird.... I think the sound that most people call muddy is what I like. Everyone's ears are different i guess....

[Guest SteveC]

Maybe try a wcr filmore in the neck. www.wcrguitar.com

[drfie]

FWIW I have 59's in my 150 Special and I think they are plenty bright in both positions. However it has a poplar body, maple neck and RW board, and 25.5 scale, so it differs a bit from stock.

 

dan

[mtpatty]

Maybe try a wcr filmore in the neck. www.wcrguitar.com

 

yea that or a Bare Knuckle Mule!

[Wolfi]

I think daybed must not change the neck pup. I used Seth Lovers in my H 555 and the neck pup for me was totally ok. Sometimes I turned down the tone knob a bit more or less and I had that warm jazzy tone.

I have 59s now in my H 555, they are a bit less brite. But as mentioned above. Don't invest work and money in changing the neck pup, just use the tone knob.

Here comes an advice from Snowy White: "Don't forget there are tone knobs on your guitar."

 

Keep it up!

[daybed]

here's the thing, on my other guitars I use the tone controls alot. Im always tweaking, but on the H150 I cant get that fat dark sound that I can get out of other guitars with the tone rolled down. It just kinda goes from full open to mud without much variation. Maybe there is a mod to the tone control I can try? Anyone know what can be changed around in there?

 

Nathan

[bolero]

you can also experiment with different capacitor values in the control cavity....10c is a low investment compared to new pickups!!

 

also there is the "vintage" way of wiring the tone & vol controls, vs the "modern" way, which interact differently when you adjust the tone

 

and the tone potentiometer could even be a dud....if you get a 500k tone pot I find there is a wider range of adj between bright/mud than a 250k

 

I'll see if I can find some reference on cap values

[slider313]

Try a Rio Grande "Texas" or a Duncan "Jazz".

[metalmaniac93]

I would try the Lindy Fralin Humbuckers. I have them in my Hertiage 150-CM and love them. I had Seth Lovers and the HRW and they seamed a bit to shrill and thin to me. You can order any output level. I believe I have a 7.5k for the neck and a 8.0k for the bridge. it has been a while since I have had these put in. Sometime around 2001 or so. I love these pickups!!!

 

http://www.fralinpickups.com/humbuckers.asp

[602a]

I have two 150's, the gold top has Duncan 59's and the Sunburst has Pearly Gates. I took the Seth lovers out to get two totally different sounds.

[NoNameBand]

The SD '59 has a more scooped mid than the Seth Lover and the Pearly Gates. According to Seymour Duncan description of the Pearly Gates;

"Originally designed as a recreation of the pickups in the '59 Les Paul® Standard that defined the raw, rebellious sound of Texas blues-rock. The Pearly Gates is sweet, but slightly rude, with great sustain and a bright top end that make harmonics jump out of the guitar.

 

The '59 may be a good choice for the neck pup. It is also the most recommended neck pickup for a Les Paul by Seymour Duncan.