59 VS Antiquity

[Ruben0910]

I think of replacing a Antiquity Bridge pickup with an '59 in my Les Paul.
Eventhough I really like the Antiquity, I just can't resist trying

Though the magnets are different (Alnico II vs Alnico V for the 59) what more can I expect to be different?

Like many, looking for the old skool EVH sound, so what would you suggest when it comes to THAT tone?

BTW:I'v read this article a million times www.legendarytones.com/vinpicup2.html but STILL curious!!!

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

I think of replacing a Antiquity Bridge pickup with an '59 in my Les Paul.
Eventhough I really like the Antiquity, I just can't resist trying

Though the magnets are different (Alnico II vs Alnico V for the 59) what more can I expect to be different?

Like many, looking for the old skool EVH sound, so what would you suggest when it comes to THAT tone?

BTW:I'v read this article a million times www.legendarytones.com/vinpicup2.html but STILL curious!!!

If you want EVH sound, I would think '78 or Custom Custom, but while I've tried the Custom Custom and it does seem to have the EVH vibe, supposedly the '78 is a better choice for him. As for switching from antiquity to '59, I'd say it's really up to you.

Just remember, though, that I'm not an EVH expert nor have I tried the '59 bridge (tried it in the neck on a Showmaster) nor the '78. I've tried a Custom Custom bridge and liked it, even though the guitar it was in sucked.

 

[Ruben0910]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

I've had the 78....great pickup but to much mids for my taste....
I have an Hybrid (Custom/59) Alnico II in another Les Paul and sounds way better than the 78.

Any other comments?

 

[hamerfan]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

I recently changed magnets in my Ants. For the bridge i first had a A5: stronger overall, more stinging highs, less mids, less warmth - quite near to a 59B only a bit looser (since it is not potted and mismatched). Than i put in an full charged - more mids, still more highs than the stock mag (weakend A2) and really amazing phat when distorted. A Custom/59 A2 Hybrid i had in this guitar was a tad smaller sounding but more modern and more overtones.
I recommend a mag swap to a full A2 that would come near your old school heavy sound.
BTW i dropped the A5 in the neck, which made it clearer and more usefull under higher gain!

 

[Ruben0910]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

You mean the Antiquity's Alnico II magnet's are weakend?

'Like a 50 year old PAF would sound like...right?'

So, If I understand correctly you would suggest replacing the 'aged' A2 magnet in the Antiquity with a new strong A2 magnet? Any thoughts were I can order a magnet only?

 

[DonP]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

I think an antiquity with a full strength Alnico II is call a Seth.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

I think an antiquity with a full strength Alnico II is call a Seth.

Wrong! There are other differences between a Seth and an Ant besides the magnet...the wire for one, the winding pattern for another...

If you go from an Antiquity to a 59 expect more output, lots more bass and treble and less mids. You will also loose that slightly microphonic character the Ants have because they are no potted and the 59's are and you'll also loose that woody tone that Ants are so good at...

 

[Ruben0910]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

Hmmm...loosing that woody tone is not what I'm after


To me the Bridge Ant's sound great but are sometimes a little to soft sounding for my taste. I just ordered a new AII magnet, so I can experiment replacing the 'weakend magnet' with an 'full AII magnet'

Would it really make that much of a difference anyway?

 

[Ruben0910]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

BTW does the 59 use mismatched coils???

 

[hamerfan]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

No, the 59 is matched. There are rumours that the PG is mismatched.
The Ants are randomly mismatched. That means the coils are not made in one run and the runs are stopped at different values. Also the overall resistance of the pup varies quite much. I have seen the bridge from round 8.4 to nearly 9k. Mine are 7.4 and 8.4, on the german Fleabay there is currently a 8.7.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

i wonder what a mismatched 59 would sound like

i bet it'd be awesome

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

Going from an aged AII to a full strength AII will give you a tad more output and a tad more balls but it will also start to loose that woody quality Ants are so good at...

FWIW, mismatching coils the little amount you guys are talking about would make little to no difference...don't get hung up on pickups specs like that just go for what sounds good

 

[Ruben0910]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

Just put the 59 AV in my Les Paul....well, my first notice: more output, agressive BUT not as warm as the Antiquity. Lots more 'in your face hights' also. Somehow the word sterile comes to mind when I compare it to the Ant with it's AII magnet

Anyway, will gig with the 59 tonight and let you all know how it sounded.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

...don't get hung up on pickups specs like that just go for what sounds good

HUGE +1.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

Just put the 59 AV in my Les Paul....well, my first notice: more output, agressive BUT not as warm as the Antiquity. Lots more 'in your face hights' also. Somehow the word sterile comes to mind when I compare it to the Ant with it's AII magnet

Anyway, will gig with the 59 tonight and let you all know how it sounded.

you just gotta dial in more mids on your amp & roll back the tone slightly

it'll come alive

 

[Ruben0910]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

Wow, I have to admit the 59 sounded awesome!!!
I had to cut some of the hights on both my AC30's because the 59 is a bright pickup.
But man, the tone I got was way more aggressive compared to the Antiquity Bridge.

Next experiment: let's see what happens when I put a full AII magnet in the Antiquity

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

Wow, I have to admit the 59 sounded awesome!!!
I had to cut some of the hights on both my AC30's because the 59 is a bright pickup.
But man, the tone I got was way more aggressive compared to the Antiquity Bridge.

Next experiment: let's see what happens when I put a full AII magnet in the Antiquity

I wouldn't bother messing with an antiquity, to be honest. If it was me, I'd just buy a Seth and sell the antiquity (but that's just me) if it didn't work for me.

 

[Fiesta Red]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

Like many, looking for the old skool EVH sound, so what would you suggest when it comes to THAT tone?

I did some fooling around with my Les Pauls and my Marshall today, and I got a nice EVH vibe going with the Pearly Gates set, and with my Wolfetone Dr. Vintage set. They also keep the "woodiness" factor you are interesting in retaining. I love both of these sets, and have a set of 59s too in another one of my Les Pauls which I love, but these PGs and Dr Vs sound like what you are after.

-Mark

 

[hanumanlangur]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

why don't you just charge up your antiquity's magnet using Zhangliqun's method? If you have a neodymium magnet, it only takes a few seconds.

 

[donahue]

Re: 59 VS Antiquity

why don't you just charge up your antiquity's magnet using Zhangliqun's method? If you have a neodymium magnet, it only takes a few seconds.

Bingo. Don't have to touch a thing. Just wave the magic disk and walah.