59's for Gibson Explorer

DI_IORIO

DI_IORIO

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Hello brothers.. I've just ordered a pair of 59's for my Gibson Explorer. I was playing with a Dimarzio Super Distortion bridge and a Gibson 496 R neck. They were ok, but too heavy for my taste. I want to nail a old Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, old Molly Hatchet, ZZ top (I know about the pearly gates..but i don' t want to copy his tone exactly, just an idea), Led Zeppelin, James Gang (Joe Walsh era) Foghat, Humble Pie tone.. classic rock and blues stuff. Are the 59's the best choice for me? Thanks in advance!
 
Re: 59's for Gibson Explorer

For old Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, old Molly Hatchet, ZZ top Foghat, I'd go a2-- maybe a Seth or a2P. That would cover those nicely. For Led Zeppelin, James Gang, Humble Pie I'd go '59's. Either way I think you'll like the '59's. Any of the vintage style Duncan buckers would get you in the ballpark. They might not get you a homerun depending on the exact sound you've got in your head, but you'll be close.
 
Re: 59's for Gibson Explorer

Thanks man!

I basically want to have that old classic gibson sound... PAF sound, like old les pauls and explorer
 
Re: 59's for Gibson Explorer

I use a '59 in my Pauly Deluxe for all that type of stuff you list, plus some jazzy clean (with the Gibby minibucker in the neck). Also a good pickup for the harder stuff, ala Alice in Chains & BLS.
 
Re: 59's for Gibson Explorer

the 59 is great for the stuff your describing. so are the Jazz and pearly gates pickups as well. I like the way vintage pickups sound with distortion cuz to me they enhance the tone instead of trying to replace it. I think Slash and some of the other big time rock players have ended up going to more vintage style pickups for the same reason.
 
Re: 59's for Gibson Explorer

You may find the 59b a little too twangy and mid deficient...but otherwise a pretty good choice. I think I'd be inclined to go at least an A2 bucker in the neck just cos an explorer is not as thick or complex in the mids as say a Les Paul.

But overall..good choice. My original 76 explorer had T-tops and they are somewhat similar to 59s (not as much bass, a little less hot, glassier), and the T-tops worked very well for that kind of stuff.
 
Re: 59's for Gibson Explorer

I love Humble Pie!

I also think that you will like the '59s for the material you've described
 
Re: 59's for Gibson Explorer

i would go either 59's or PG's
the PG is a little hotter (not much) then the 59, with more mid spank, its brighter. basically, if you're into a smoother, AC DC/ Eric Clapton tone, go 59

if you REALLY want the skynard/zeppelin/zz top tone, PG all the way. ive got a PGb and it NAILS it. ive got it in a korina explorer, with a tap on it too. i dont think many people know but in a korina guitar the PG split sounds INCREDIBLE, but when you kick it into full humbucking mode...dear lord, its splurge out your ears:):):):)
 
Re: 59's for Gibson Explorer

The thing you have to remember - when those dudes were making those records, the standard stock pup WAS basically a Duncan 59. Only 30/40 years later do we call a particular sound the "old PAF" tone. Same thing with guitars. Clapton was playing a strat that was basically a Fender 50's strat.

If you want the older than the hills sound go for the A2p. Or for some flexibility, A2P in the neck for big fat smoothness and a 59 in the bridge for something a little more cutting. I'm partial to PG's myself (and LP's) so I cant say what would specifically be good for the Explorer. But back in the Day, 59's wer what you had, A2P's are what they would become, and PG's were beatiful accidents. They are all awesome. The 59's are the best all around, though. The A2P and the PG are more extreme at either end - both in a good way.
 
Re: 59's for Gibson Explorer

actually it was thanks to iceman that i got the PGb, it was that or the 59, but i realized earlier after having a burstbucker pro bridge that it lacked mids, which i LOOOOOOOOVE (to a degree, of course). if you're guitar is fairly warm with a beefy bottom end( which it probably is, because ive played 10+ kinds of explorers and they all have good oomph) then the PG is right up your alley.

QUESTION FOR ANYONE
what pickup would you say falls between a 59 and PG, and a PG and A2pro
 
Re: 59's for Gibson Explorer

thanks for the tips everyone!! I'm waiting to get the guitar back..maybe this week it will be in my hands..then i'll post some reviews! I think i'll enjoy the 59's. After years playing with Super distortion, JBs or stock gibson pickups (500t/496), i'll try something different with vintage sound. As I said.. I don't want any particular tone..just some good drive to play some loud rock n roll and blues
 
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Re: 59's for Gibson Explorer

the great thing is, if you dont like it, you can take it back and get another. thank you seymour duncan return policy:)
 
Re: 59's for Gibson Explorer

I hope it will crunch like Angus old tones, or Gary Rossington and Allen Collins old tones on the first records
 
Re: 59's for Gibson Explorer

Today I received a call from the luthier who is taking care of the changes in my guitar and he said that the 59's with nickel covers sounded too muddy and whimpy (is this correct?). Without the nickel covers, they were ok.. but he told me he had another possibility: Try an alnico 2 pro (neck) and a JB (bridge) with nickel covers. I explained my tastes for heavy blues and classic rock, and he said that's a good combo. I always took my guitars to him since i was younger and never had any problem..so, I trust him. I didn't checked out for myself because it's another city. I only experienced the JB once on a basswood Jackson, and it was killer for hard rock riffs.. but not so "classic" (It was under high gain). I use to play with less gain, how the JB can sound under a vintage mid gain distortion?? thanks a lot!
 
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Re: 59's for Gibson Explorer

I would want to play it and hear it for myself in the original way that you ordered it - with the 59s.

-Mark
 
Re: 59's for Gibson Explorer

Well.. I don't mind trying the JB.. the Alnico 2 pro, as you people say here, is one of the best choices for neck. The JB is still a 70's humbucker pick up... maybe in the 80's it had more popularity, but the folks on hard rock bands used it with lots of gain and mostly superstrats. I just need a good humbucker bridge overdrive, nothing too strong but not very weak. Also, I read some interviews with Rickey Medlocke and he said he always used JB's on some old les pauls and hamer explorers
 
Re: 59's for Gibson Explorer

59s...MUDDY?

If 59s are muddy, wait til you hear a JB & AP2.

59s are brighter/clearer than both. Me thinks something is up.

If you didn't like the SuperD, you def won't like the JB as its more grinding in tone, and hotter. More similar to the 500T (and about has hot)

You'd best go listen to it yourself.
 
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