'59 Bridge Replacement

Degradation Trip

Degradation Trip

New member
Wanting to change the stock bridge '59 in my Heritage H-150. Sometimes I think it sounds great and other times too bland and boomy. I recently got a LP Standard in a trade with a BB Pro in the bridge. Compared to the '59, the BB Pro is a much more aggressive, bite-y, tighter pickup and more scooped, though I feel it's also congested in the mids/highs compared to the '59 and doesn't do as well when the volume is rolled down. I think my ideal pickup would be closer to the BB Pro but less congested and less scooped. What pickup am I looking for?

I've tried adjusting pickup height etc. but there is just an inherent boom and lack of bite to the '59 that I want to change.

Would a Seth Lover be more suitable at all? Or maybe I should be considering a Pearly Gates or even a Gibson pickup or something else
 
A Seth Lover is a great choice here, since it isn't scooped and has this slightly honky mid thing that works really well if you use multiple gain ranges. Believe it or not, a Black Winter set is also a great choice, as it has mids, isn't boomy at all, and works well for all kinds of music from dead clean to absurdly distorted.
 
Mincer said:
A Seth Lover is a great choice here, since it isn't scooped and has this slightly honky mid thing that works really well if you use multiple gain ranges. Believe it or not, a Black Winter set is also a great choice, as it has mids, isn't boomy at all, and works well for all kinds of music from dead clean to absurdly distorted.
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Is the Seth Lover being unpotted an issue if I use it with higher gain?
 
If you use a lot of preamp gain, lots of volume, and you are close to the amp, it will squeal. An alternative might be the Whole Lotta Humbucker. It is a little less honky than the Seth, but isn't scooped like the 59.
 
Hate to be this guy again but an EQ pedal before your amp could address this. When the pup sounds great, leave the EQ pedal off. When the pup sounds boomy and bland, turn the EQ pedal on, cut the bass and bump up the gain or upper mids.
 
OP , since you like the 59B try changing the magnet to an A2 first , might save you from going down the pickup rabbit hole .
And a lot cheaper on the wallet too .
 
Brobucker. It's a sweeter Seth with some juice to it. The mid-point is not honk, but chime. Sings on leads, chimes on clean chords. Another option would be one of the Bonamassa sets, either Magellan or Skinner. Sweet PAFs. From production, perhaps A2P. Has a wider mid-bump than a BB or Seth, but doesn't spike in any particular frequency. To control the boom and have more bite, I use Jazz set, or just get a Jazz bridge. (It's an A2P with an A5 magnet.)
 
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Based on the OP I was going to suggest the Pearly Gates. Definitely not bland or boomy, it'll bite and sustain well on lead lines.

I you're going Custom Shop, the Brobucker is a great rec. Singing and chimey is a perfect description.
And while it isn't muddy or boomy, it doesn't lack for body either. Ideally voiced for a PAF-plus type.

Another strong bridge PAF with a very nice balance of cut and sweetness is the Wolfetone Marshallhead.
 
I love Seth Lovers, but I 2nd the idea of trying some different magnets in there first. It's cheap and easy. I really liked A4 59s in my Epiphone Dot. I also tried an A2 59 in my LP Standard, and that was pretty similar to Seths.
 
Whole Lotta Humbucker.

To my ears, you'll quite possibly lose enough low end with the PG and the Seth to make them feel lacking. But, that's the problem i have with the PG & Seth-- it may not matter as much with you.
 
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gsammo79 said:
Whole Lotta Humbucker.

To my ears, you'll quite possibly lose enough low end with the PG and the Seth to make them feel lacking. But, that's the problem i have with the PG & Seth-- it may not matter as much with you.
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Good point. I use PG set on a quite full sounding Les Paul. My To-Go set are an Ant set 8.5k with an UO A5, but the Whole Lotta humbucker is the same ballpark.
 
I vote for either mag swaps or the WLH. A3 will reduce boominess, scoopiness, and blandness. I would give that a shot.
 
good suggestions so far (pearly gates, WLH).
what about the demon?
i put it in one Les Paul after the 59b and although the 59 wasn‘t bad, the demon added a lot which shifted the guitar from ok to great.
it‘s tighter than the 59. bass is tight and deep (also works in the neck).
not congested.
more bite than a 59b.

maybe not enough mids for you? i don’t know?

for moderate to high gain i prefer it to the 59 and PG.
i do prefer the PG for low gain crunch, though.
for anything higher gain i prefer the demons reduced midrange and deeper bass.
but haven’t tried all PUs in all LPs of mine. the proper match is key
 
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Demon is one of my favorite pups, especially with a UOA5 for the neck. I like the Demon with an A8 for the bridge. Another favorite of mine is the Jazz bridge pup in the neck and a Jazz A8 in the bridge. Both of those give great all around well balanced tone and are extremely versatile.
 
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