59 n in the bridge?

[Ed Hunter]

Re: 59 n in the bridge?

Thanks for the advice Doc. I have a few RCA2s and UOA5s to try in my JB and Custom, but I recently found the 59n. Im kinda curious to see how I would like a switch from medium/high output pups to lower-output pups.

SC, according to duncan the neck models were designed to have just a touch less output for the naturally louder neck spot other than that duncan says they are the same. so it should sound great

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 59 n in the bridge?

When you increase the output in a pup, the mids also increase slightly.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 59 n in the bridge?

I think I would prefer a 59b in the neck over a 59n in the bridge.

 

[DoniMartin]

Sorry for reviving an old thread.

I currently use an A2 '59n in the bridge position of my Vintage V62 with 250k pots.

Here's a video of me doing a play-through of one my songs with the pickup.

Hope it helps for anyone on the fence and looking for a sound sample of sort.

https://youtu.be/YyyJY5yfSAI?si=xdwMUakMx2POnEb4

 

[marcello252]

59n with A2 mag in bridge position is a very very good choice for a HSS Strat, in my opinion

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I once got a 59B that read abnormally low on the multimeter that I always suspected was a mislabeled 59N. I had in one of my guitars, and I thought it was thin and weak. Didn't like it at all. Not that the '59B sounds HUGE, but the '59N was just too much for me... or maybe, should I say, too little, LOL.

JME.

 

[marcello252]

I once got a 59B that read abnormally low on the multimeter that I always suspected was a mislabeled 59N. I had in one of my guitars, and I thought it was thin and weak. Didn't like it at all. Not that the '59B sounds HUGE, but the '59N was just too much for me... or maybe, should I say, too little, LOL.

JME.

I agree if you keep the A5, that's very sooped, once you put a A2 it's a different story, it remains however a low output HB, that's why I think it's good for HSS guitars

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I agree if you keep the A5, that's very sooped, once you put a A2 it's a different story, it remains however a low output HB, that's why I think it's good for HSS guitars

For me, A2 would further worsen the issue. You'd ease up a bit on the treble, true, but the low-end and the output would also take the toll.

I think the right single coil should be able to keep up with most vintage-output hums, even towards the hottest end of the spectrum. Unless you like single coils underwound as well, that is.

I do like PAF-y pickups, but I always seem to gravitate towards A5 types for the tightness and immediacy, but that are slightly overwound to ease up on the harsh treble. I LOVE the '59B, but I can't imagine ever wanting anything weaker. If anything, I'd prefer if the '59 would be slightly more overwound.

Each to his own, though. Not saying you're wrong. I'm just sharing my point of view. I'm the kind of troglodite that's like "the louder, the better".

 

[freefrog]

Depends on the 59 involved, on the guitar and on things like wiring / cable capacitance beside pots resistance.

As already explained in some other topics, I've recently mounted a vintage 59N in bridge position of an Explorer and it was just right for this guitar. Just like Explorer 1976's were fit with Tarback pickups - IOW: with ceramic powered 7.5k T-Tops deprived of baseplates, which have not have been changed by users like Matthias Jabs or the Edge... Work(ed) for them too, apparently.

Anyway, playing "thin" sounding pickups through a wiring with enough parasitic capacitance should tame any harshness. Or putting a cheap cap of the same capacitance than long cables from hot to ground somewhere in the signal path, before the first buffer stage...
People like Kossoff used this trick to thicken the tone of their LP's with real P.A.F.'s (not rarely way brighter than most HB's currently marketed as P.A.F. clones). Folks like Hendrix, SRV or Uli Jon Roth among others did the same to mellow the even thinner sound of their Strat's... and it was still my case yesterday : was in a vintage mood, plugged a 69 style Strat to a cranked amp through some highly capacitive coily cord and it didn't sound thin... go figure! ;-)

Reminder: https://youtu.be/4BmkaS91NHQ?si=L2SoGWBbeSjwx6Cp&t=564

NOTE - Sorry for the boring drivel: I'm an old fart...