GOLDWING68NV
New member
hey guys-how 'bout some input on using a "59" trembucker in the bridge slot of a strat-styled guitar for hard rock/80's metal,etc...
"59" - for hard rock & metal???
- Thread starter GOLDWING68NV
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ErikH
Well-known member
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
There's this guitar player from CA who pulled a PAF from an old 335 and put it in a strat-style body. Through a cranked Marshall he changed everything and became one of the most influential players of our time and pretty much set the pace for the 80's rock scene.
Smartass answer, I know, but it's the truth. The 59 can pull that stuff off with no problem at all.
There's this guitar player from CA who pulled a PAF from an old 335 and put it in a strat-style body. Through a cranked Marshall he changed everything and became one of the most influential players of our time and pretty much set the pace for the 80's rock scene.
Smartass answer, I know, but it's the truth. The 59 can pull that stuff off with no problem at all.GOLDWING68NV
New member
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
thanks for the reply...that's EXACTLY what i am hoping for.got a 59b coming from seymour duncan any day now.exchanged a "jb" for it.didnt care much for the jb upper-mid spike and it was just plain muddy!!! i seem to be attracted to the low-medium output pickups out there.clarity and open tone.yeah,baby!!!
thanks for the reply...that's EXACTLY what i am hoping for.got a 59b coming from seymour duncan any day now.exchanged a "jb" for it.didnt care much for the jb upper-mid spike and it was just plain muddy!!! i seem to be attracted to the low-medium output pickups out there.clarity and open tone.yeah,baby!!!
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
The 59 is one of my favorite pickups. I have the Little 59 in my Strat and couldn't be happier with it. It just has this huge tune but it's open sounding and boy does it like my Marshall.
The JB isn't for everyone. It takes the right wood and the right tone cap. I used to have one but recently sold it in favor of lower output models, one being the 59 that will be going in my superstrat, or frankenstrat.
The 59 is one of my favorite pickups. I have the Little 59 in my Strat and couldn't be happier with it. It just has this huge tune but it's open sounding and boy does it like my Marshall.
The JB isn't for everyone. It takes the right wood and the right tone cap. I used to have one but recently sold it in favor of lower output models, one being the 59 that will be going in my superstrat, or frankenstrat.
WICKED LESTER
New member
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
you can do metal with a 59 with the right amp:beerchug:
to hear what i mean plug in a 59 tb-1 loaded axe into a 5150:laugh2:
you can do metal with a 59 with the right amp:beerchug:
to hear what i mean plug in a 59 tb-1 loaded axe into a 5150:laugh2:
LesPaulRules
New member
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
A few months ago, I took out a JB and replaced it with a 59b (Les Paul).
This guitar can easily do everything from Zeppelin to Whitesnake. With the right amp, I was even getting in to Pantera territory (Vulgar Display and Cowboys from Hell).
I love the 59b for classic rock tones, but the right amp lets this pickup be a Metal Monster. (and totally agree with Wicked Lester).
A few months ago, I took out a JB and replaced it with a 59b (Les Paul).
This guitar can easily do everything from Zeppelin to Whitesnake. With the right amp, I was even getting in to Pantera territory (Vulgar Display and Cowboys from Hell).
I love the 59b for classic rock tones, but the right amp lets this pickup be a Metal Monster. (and totally agree with Wicked Lester).
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
Another EVH pickup trick is the Hybrid that Bachtorock turned alot of us onto...It's the 59B screw bobbin matched to the Custom's slug bobbin...Voiced to flavor using either the A2,or the A5...I like this better than just the stock 59 which at times I feel lacks the balls I need in my bridge positions..Just a thought and you can try it?
I Just did another review about this pickup upon pulling out a 59B and going back to the hybrid in my LP...
Another EVH pickup trick is the Hybrid that Bachtorock turned alot of us onto...It's the 59B screw bobbin matched to the Custom's slug bobbin...Voiced to flavor using either the A2,or the A5...I like this better than just the stock 59 which at times I feel lacks the balls I need in my bridge positions..Just a thought and you can try it?
I Just did another review about this pickup upon pulling out a 59B and going back to the hybrid in my LP...
WICKED LESTER
New member
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
yeah this one is perfect for a 59 flavor that will do metal
it sounds very classic like a 59 but has more going on:beerchug:
STRATDELUXER97 said:
yeah this one is perfect for a 59 flavor that will do metal
it sounds very classic like a 59 but has more going on:beerchug:
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
It creates more harmonics which fills out the vibe of the pickup because of the mismatched coils...You get the clean,crisp side of a 59,but you also get the crunchier and ballsier character of a custom bobbin...This pickup reads around 11.5k but it still very much acts like a 59B pickup but it just has a little more of everything...In my one guitar,this has been the only pickup that seems to fix my bridge tone,but I'll admit that a few guys on the forum that I respect and admire don't like the hybrid,so it's not for everyone!
I Like this pickup with an A2 magnet and I feel I get what I Like about the 59 pickup mixed with a Custom Custom...The CC alone was great,but it was a bit too warm and dark and didn't cut right..The C5's eq I didn't care for at all,in fact I've yet to keep a C5 in any of the guitars I've tryed it in...9 times outta 10,I'm putting A2 magnets in my bridge positions,except for a Demon in one of my strats and only because that guitar is a bit dark and unfocused..
WICKED LESTER said:
It creates more harmonics which fills out the vibe of the pickup because of the mismatched coils...You get the clean,crisp side of a 59,but you also get the crunchier and ballsier character of a custom bobbin...This pickup reads around 11.5k but it still very much acts like a 59B pickup but it just has a little more of everything...In my one guitar,this has been the only pickup that seems to fix my bridge tone,but I'll admit that a few guys on the forum that I respect and admire don't like the hybrid,so it's not for everyone!
I Like this pickup with an A2 magnet and I feel I get what I Like about the 59 pickup mixed with a Custom Custom...The CC alone was great,but it was a bit too warm and dark and didn't cut right..The C5's eq I didn't care for at all,in fact I've yet to keep a C5 in any of the guitars I've tryed it in...9 times outta 10,I'm putting A2 magnets in my bridge positions,except for a Demon in one of my strats and only because that guitar is a bit dark and unfocused..
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Inge Malmstein
New member
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
YES!!!!!! You just need a lot of distortion, but it's also useful for metal.
The '59 is not so hollow like a Jazz or a Humbucker from hell, but it acts well with the wood of the guitar. I found out that the tone of a guitar with a '59 through an amp gives you the same tone as a guitar sounds unplugged.
GOLDWING68NV said:
YES!!!!!! You just need a lot of distortion, but it's also useful for metal.
The '59 is not so hollow like a Jazz or a Humbucker from hell, but it acts well with the wood of the guitar. I found out that the tone of a guitar with a '59 through an amp gives you the same tone as a guitar sounds unplugged.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
I'm gonna disagree with everyone, and recommend a Custom or Distortion. Lots of guys get some great heavy tones with low output pickups.
I'm NOT one of them.
I'm gonna disagree with everyone, and recommend a Custom or Distortion. Lots of guys get some great heavy tones with low output pickups.
I'm NOT one of them.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
That's cool....Myself,I can't stand ceramic magnets in any of my pickups....They are too direct and out front to me...All projection and no sweetness...
JB_From_Hell said:
That's cool....Myself,I can't stand ceramic magnets in any of my pickups....They are too direct and out front to me...All projection and no sweetness...
Inge Malmstein
New member
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
That also was my impression when i started to play and had another amp.
I found the '50 too weak.
Of course you'll get heavier tones, but with a lot of distortion (with the right amp) the '59 also rocks hard. I think the most users here mean the tone itself of the '59 and not the output.
JB_From_Hell said:
That also was my impression when i started to play and had another amp.
I found the '50 too weak.
Of course you'll get heavier tones, but with a lot of distortion (with the right amp) the '59 also rocks hard. I think the most users here mean the tone itself of the '59 and not the output.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
That's why I like the Custom series... PAF tone with balls. It should be noted that I think the Demon is weak, and sucky for metal, too.Inge Malmstein said:
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
I agree.....It's thin and freakin bright also! Needs to be in a darker instrument.
JB_From_Hell said:
I agree.....It's thin and freakin bright also! Needs to be in a darker instrument.
Inge Malmstein
New member
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
That's also what i wanted to state, for this reason the Custom-series is meant, but i can't get warm with the SH-5. In the wrong guitar the bass is too tight.
One option is the SH-14 with almost the same EQ as the SH-1, but it does not have that "feel" of the '59.
Yes, the Demon is not that what you'd expect. Its output very, very slighty more than the '59, but it's not so fat.
I'm gonna keep only ONE guitar, and after all the years i swapped pickups, i think
i will go with the '59 in a Gibson Explorer (or the SH-14), but sometimes the '59 could have really a bit more.
What about the DiMarzio Virtual hot Paf?
JB_From_Hell said:
That's also what i wanted to state, for this reason the Custom-series is meant, but i can't get warm with the SH-5. In the wrong guitar the bass is too tight.
One option is the SH-14 with almost the same EQ as the SH-1, but it does not have that "feel" of the '59.
Yes, the Demon is not that what you'd expect. Its output very, very slighty more than the '59, but it's not so fat.
I'm gonna keep only ONE guitar, and after all the years i swapped pickups, i think
i will go with the '59 in a Gibson Explorer (or the SH-14), but sometimes the '59 could have really a bit more.
What about the DiMarzio Virtual hot Paf?
walt
New member
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
After all the years of trying JBs, Distortions and Super Distortions, Customs, Custom-Customs, C5s, Air Nortons, Nortons, Air Zones, ToneZones, I have found that lower output pups were what I was looking for. I remember listening to early Van Halen and wondering what type of pup he was using and even before then, listening to Pete Townsend and trying to get that type of tone. I then thought that maybe a strat had the sound I was after. I hear Malmsteen's Amber Dawn and fell in love with that tone also as it was "similar under gain" IMHO to the PAF type tone I was searching for.
So what have I learned?? I have a strat with 2 - 59s in it, another strat with YJMs/HS3 in it, a Wolfgang special with DiMarzio Virtual PAF and Virtual Hot PAF, another Wolfgang that's in line for the same . I also use the med to low gain amp settings on a POD Pro (Plexi models). If I want more out of the amp model, I use an od pedal. I feel that if you use a hot amp with the gain jacked that you are missing something by using hot pickups. Hot pickups sound compressed to me and if you are using a hot amp with the gain jacked, that's compressed also. To me that's overkill and you loose tone and end up with what I call a buzz saw of noise.
All in all, I'm very happy with my guitar tone, I get compliments everytime I gig out. Be it Duncan or Dimarzio, low output pickups to me are the best. :dance:
Inge Malmstein said:
After all the years of trying JBs, Distortions and Super Distortions, Customs, Custom-Customs, C5s, Air Nortons, Nortons, Air Zones, ToneZones, I have found that lower output pups were what I was looking for. I remember listening to early Van Halen and wondering what type of pup he was using and even before then, listening to Pete Townsend and trying to get that type of tone. I then thought that maybe a strat had the sound I was after. I hear Malmsteen's Amber Dawn and fell in love with that tone also as it was "similar under gain" IMHO to the PAF type tone I was searching for.
So what have I learned?? I have a strat with 2 - 59s in it, another strat with YJMs/HS3 in it, a Wolfgang special with DiMarzio Virtual PAF and Virtual Hot PAF, another Wolfgang that's in line for the same . I also use the med to low gain amp settings on a POD Pro (Plexi models). If I want more out of the amp model, I use an od pedal. I feel that if you use a hot amp with the gain jacked that you are missing something by using hot pickups. Hot pickups sound compressed to me and if you are using a hot amp with the gain jacked, that's compressed also. To me that's overkill and you loose tone and end up with what I call a buzz saw of noise.
All in all, I'm very happy with my guitar tone, I get compliments everytime I gig out. Be it Duncan or Dimarzio, low output pickups to me are the best. :dance:
JeffB
Let it B
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
It's GOT to be in the right guitar (the 59 I mean) and paired with the right amp.
As for "bridge" position, In a bolt on strat/alder body...enjoy..great for what you seek
In an all mahogany guitar, enjoy....great for what you seek
But I've finally realized that when ever I've had them in the bridge of mahogany bodied instrument with a maple cap (My 93 black standard LP, my Heritage HC150, and now my Hamer Standard)..YUCK :yell:
TOO bright and twangy.....needs more mids. For blues rock, and classic rock ala Cream/WHO, etc, they do fine...but for late 70s, early to mid 80s metal/hard rock, they are too tame and shrill (again, in that style of guitar construction).
I think a 59 overwound to around 9-9.5K would be just about perfect for me..it would tame the highs/presence without getting too compressed and add some much needed mids/balls/oomph, while retaining solid bass response.
It's GOT to be in the right guitar (the 59 I mean) and paired with the right amp.
As for "bridge" position, In a bolt on strat/alder body...enjoy..great for what you seek
In an all mahogany guitar, enjoy....great for what you seek
But I've finally realized that when ever I've had them in the bridge of mahogany bodied instrument with a maple cap (My 93 black standard LP, my Heritage HC150, and now my Hamer Standard)..YUCK :yell:
TOO bright and twangy.....needs more mids. For blues rock, and classic rock ala Cream/WHO, etc, they do fine...but for late 70s, early to mid 80s metal/hard rock, they are too tame and shrill (again, in that style of guitar construction).
I think a 59 overwound to around 9-9.5K would be just about perfect for me..it would tame the highs/presence without getting too compressed and add some much needed mids/balls/oomph, while retaining solid bass response.
walt
New member
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
Have you tried the Virtual Hot Paf?? It's not really bright sounding and has very useable midrange and the lows are so pronounced as to being "boomy". They have tamed my Wolfie Special very much so. It might be what you are searching for (wound at 9.13k).
JeffB said:It's GOT to be in the right guitar (the 59 I mean) and paired with the right amp.
As for "bridge" position, In a bolt on strat/alder body...enjoy..great for what you seek
In an all mahogany guitar, enjoy....great for what you seek
But I've finally realized that when ever I've had them in the bridge of mahogany bodied instrument with a maple cap (My 93 black standard LP, my Heritage HC150, and now my Hamer Standard)..YUCK :yell:
TOO bright and twangy.....needs more mids. For blues rock, and classic rock ala Cream/WHO, etc, they do fine...but for late 70s, early to mid 80s metal/hard rock, they are too tame and shrill (again, in that style of guitar construction).
I think a 59 overwound to around 9-9.5K would be just about perfect for me..it would tame the highs/presence without getting too compressed and add some much needed mids/balls/oomph, while retaining solid bass response.
Have you tried the Virtual Hot Paf?? It's not really bright sounding and has very useable midrange and the lows are so pronounced as to being "boomy". They have tamed my Wolfie Special very much so. It might be what you are searching for (wound at 9.13k).
JeffB
Let it B
Re: "59" - for hard rock & metal???
If the super D doesn't work out, the VHPAF is definitely in the running, walt...I've heard too many good clips of it.
Currently I'm listening to one of VHolics clips of a DiMarzio PAF (normal one) vs 59s, and although he's not using a similar guitar as mine, it's very impressive compared to the 59...not as bright (though it is bright) and a bit crunchier/middy which is exactly what I want. I have a feeling some kind of DiMarzio may suit this guitar better.
walt said:
If the super D doesn't work out, the VHPAF is definitely in the running, walt...I've heard too many good clips of it.
Currently I'm listening to one of VHolics clips of a DiMarzio PAF (normal one) vs 59s, and although he's not using a similar guitar as mine, it's very impressive compared to the 59...not as bright (though it is bright) and a bit crunchier/middy which is exactly what I want. I have a feeling some kind of DiMarzio may suit this guitar better.
