I have this terrible obsession with swapping pickups. After alot of experimentation, I have a '59 set in my Les Paul Standard. I'm re-considering a '57 Classic Plus/'57 classic set. I'm finding the '59's just a bit gritty these days. Any direct comparisons out there to refresh my memory?
'59 set vs. Gibson '57 set
- Thread starter JWR
- Start date
Reckless Abandon
New member
Re: '59 set vs. Gibson '57 set
57's are a little warmer but I felt could be a bit muddy when compared to the '59. It has more bass and mids to my ears.
57's are a little warmer but I felt could be a bit muddy when compared to the '59. It has more bass and mids to my ears.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: '59 set vs. Gibson '57 set
I Like the 59s better,but I did use the 57 and the Classic +. I felt the Classic + was harsh but I Liked the 57 Classic..In the end and as usual,the SD stuff always wins out for me!
I Like the 59s better,but I did use the 57 and the Classic +. I felt the Classic + was harsh but I Liked the 57 Classic..In the end and as usual,the SD stuff always wins out for me!
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: '59 set vs. Gibson '57 set
If you think the 59s are gritty I don't know if you'll like the 57s. I always thought of them as sounding gitty, like there was sand in your tone, or stringy. I think they sound pretty good clean, but dirty I just wasn't happy with them.
Luke
If you think the 59s are gritty I don't know if you'll like the 57s. I always thought of them as sounding gitty, like there was sand in your tone, or stringy. I think they sound pretty good clean, but dirty I just wasn't happy with them.
Luke
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: '59 set vs. Gibson '57 set
Jeff.....I feel most of Seymour's pickups have a smoothness to them that I don't find in other pickups...Like warm sand on a California beach! :laugh2:
Jeff.....I feel most of Seymour's pickups have a smoothness to them that I don't find in other pickups...Like warm sand on a California beach! :laugh2:
Jeffrec
New member
Re: '59 set vs. Gibson '57 set
John,
That's a great analogy:laugh2: ...Especially since it's in the upper 20's here and I'm sick of winter:yell: :yell:
John,
That's a great analogy:laugh2: ...Especially since it's in the upper 20's here and I'm sick of winter:yell: :yell:
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: '59 set vs. Gibson '57 set
LOL.....:laugh2: :smack: :laugh2: It was 37 here in Florida when we woke up today at my Fire Station! Yikes for all of us here! Beats snow though! :laugh2:
LOL.....:laugh2: :smack: :laugh2: It was 37 here in Florida when we woke up today at my Fire Station! Yikes for all of us here! Beats snow though! :laugh2:
gripweed
Jolvisologist
Re: '59 set vs. Gibson '57 set
Don't worry most of us have a similar obsession
. Try the '57's. I believe they will have an a2 magnet which you might like better than the a5 of the '59. I've not tried them so I can't recommend them. I suspect they are mismatched. If you don't like the '57's, you might like the Seths as suggested elsewhere. Great pickup and pretty smooth. The a2pros might also be an option, also very smooth.
Don't worry most of us have a similar obsession
. Try the '57's. I believe they will have an a2 magnet which you might like better than the a5 of the '59. I've not tried them so I can't recommend them. I suspect they are mismatched. If you don't like the '57's, you might like the Seths as suggested elsewhere. Great pickup and pretty smooth. The a2pros might also be an option, also very smooth.
Jeffrec
New member
Re: '59 set vs. Gibson '57 set
Can't argue with that!
And now........back to the thread:laugh2:
Can't argue with that!
And now........back to the thread:laugh2:
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: '59 set vs. Gibson '57 set
I guess I'm the oddball here.
I like the Gibson '57 Classics better than the Duncan '59's. That's not saying I don't like the '59's because I do, I just prefer the '57 Classics over them. Yeah, the '57 Classics are a little gritty, but in a sweet way. They have more mids than the '59 and I feel that they just cut through the mix better.
I guess I'm the oddball here.
I like the Gibson '57 Classics better than the Duncan '59's. That's not saying I don't like the '59's because I do, I just prefer the '57 Classics over them. Yeah, the '57 Classics are a little gritty, but in a sweet way. They have more mids than the '59 and I feel that they just cut through the mix better.
cyberpunk409
New member
Re: '59 set vs. Gibson '57 set
man, i was going to post this EXACT same topic 2 days ago but then changed my mind! weird.
i had a SD'59 in the neck of my LP for about a year, loved it! Then one day i came across a bargain i couldnt refuse... an epiphone SG-310 with gibson '57 classic in the neck and Angus Young in the bridge, for $300 AUD (approx $222US). That's a steal over here, worth the p'ups alone (the guitar turned out to be pretty decent so i've kept it as a beater and put $30 AUD p'ups in it).
I thought i'd swap out the SD'59 for the Gibson '57 Classic in my LP's neck to see what i thought, if i didnt like it i could always go back right? Well i did end up liking it. To my ears it seems smoother, creamier than the SD'59. It has a bit more more mid range as well, and the bass seems rounder.
In the end i went from being 90% happy with the SD'59 to about 95% happy with the Gibson Classic. I dont think i'll ever be 100% satisfied until ive tried out at least 20 neck p'ups and decided on the best one. To date, ive only tried out 4, and am happiest with the Gibson one.
It has an A2 mag, which is perfect because i have the APH-1 in the bridge, which also has an A2 mag. It felt weird being the only on this forum with an A5 in the neck and an A2 in the bridge.
I've thought about chucking in the Angus Young p'up into the bridge... dont know though. Im happy with the Alnico Pro II for now me thinks (after going through stock, SH14, and JB).
man, i was going to post this EXACT same topic 2 days ago but then changed my mind! weird.
i had a SD'59 in the neck of my LP for about a year, loved it! Then one day i came across a bargain i couldnt refuse... an epiphone SG-310 with gibson '57 classic in the neck and Angus Young in the bridge, for $300 AUD (approx $222US). That's a steal over here, worth the p'ups alone (the guitar turned out to be pretty decent so i've kept it as a beater and put $30 AUD p'ups in it).
I thought i'd swap out the SD'59 for the Gibson '57 Classic in my LP's neck to see what i thought, if i didnt like it i could always go back right? Well i did end up liking it. To my ears it seems smoother, creamier than the SD'59. It has a bit more more mid range as well, and the bass seems rounder.
In the end i went from being 90% happy with the SD'59 to about 95% happy with the Gibson Classic. I dont think i'll ever be 100% satisfied until ive tried out at least 20 neck p'ups and decided on the best one. To date, ive only tried out 4, and am happiest with the Gibson one.
It has an A2 mag, which is perfect because i have the APH-1 in the bridge, which also has an A2 mag. It felt weird being the only on this forum with an A5 in the neck and an A2 in the bridge.
I've thought about chucking in the Angus Young p'up into the bridge... dont know though. Im happy with the Alnico Pro II for now me thinks (after going through stock, SH14, and JB).
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: '59 set vs. Gibson '57 set
Nope, you're not the only one. Custom Custom bridge/Jazz neck here in my LP. The CC was a C5 for a little while but I decided to put the A2 mag back in. I like it better that way.
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: '59 set vs. Gibson '57 set
You're not alone, I used to have a Jazz
A2P(b).
Luke
You're not alone, I used to have a Jazz
A2P(b).Luke
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: '59 set vs. Gibson '57 set
An A2 59 is what I have in my PRS' neck slot right now and it's a great pup!
Luke
An A2 59 is what I have in my PRS' neck slot right now and it's a great pup!
Luke
Re: '59 set vs. Gibson '57 set
Well both magnet types do have their merits, but I'm just not about to get into swapping, that would really drive me nuts. There is a gap in the Duncan line between say 8.4 and 10. I really do like the '59's. I'm just very interested in the observations of other members that have had the opportunity to compare the two sets.
Well both magnet types do have their merits, but I'm just not about to get into swapping, that would really drive me nuts. There is a gap in the Duncan line between say 8.4 and 10. I really do like the '59's. I'm just very interested in the observations of other members that have had the opportunity to compare the two sets.
Re: '59 set vs. Gibson '57 set
I installed the Classic Plus/Classic in my Les Paul tonight and I really like them. I do like them better than the '59 set. I did try a PG set before these '59's and although I liked the neck, I did not get on with the bridge. I think the Gibsons are for lack of a better word, creamier. I think I'm hearing more highs with the bridge pickup and a real nice balanced neck pickup.
I installed the Classic Plus/Classic in my Les Paul tonight and I really like them. I do like them better than the '59 set. I did try a PG set before these '59's and although I liked the neck, I did not get on with the bridge. I think the Gibsons are for lack of a better word, creamier. I think I'm hearing more highs with the bridge pickup and a real nice balanced neck pickup.
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