All Hail the Duncan 59

[jfhudak]

Hey Fellers,

I just installed a Duncan SH-1B in my 57 Reissue Les Paul Custom (3 pickup model). All I can say is, WOW! This thing sounds like a REAL PAF!!!! It even has the correct gold cover on it, and exact two conductor wire like the original! Now my reissue sounds like the real thing through my 76 Super Lead.

It sounds so good, in fact, that I'd like to replace the other two 57 Classics with SH-1 59s. I assume that there is a neck version, but what about the middle pickup? Should I just use two neck 59s?

Thanks for your input!

 

[Travis]

Re: All Hail the Duncan 59

Yes, for the middle pickup, use a 59n. And yes, the 59 is a great pickup.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: All Hail the Duncan 59

It's a good pickup, but I AM NOT BOWING DOWN TO IT!

I have played much better. I have always liked it, but found it sterile. You play with the pole pieces and it gets spikey in certain frequencies. It's one of those pickups that works for any style, it's cheap (THOUGH 4 CONDUCTOR IS EXTRA, DAMMIT!), but it's NOT special, at least not for me. I would consider other pickups at SD or even another brand.

 

[jfhudak]

Re: All Hail the Duncan 59

Well, I guess it all depends on what you are doing with it! Since I like a compressed tone with very little "hair", it works very well for me. Listen to the lead tone on the last solo of "Needle and the Spoon" or check out anything with Paul Kossoff on it. For that matter, check out any Badfinger or even Angus Young's playing. They are all fairly clean players. More honk than saturation (though Joey Molland got more grit from time to time).

I'll be getting two neck versions to replace the middle and neck pickups in my Paul.

 

[aldu74]

Re: All Hail the Duncan 59

I've always thought the 59 is a sweet neck pickup, not the ultimate in clarity, but it has great vintage tones. People talk about it being "boomy" but I don't hear it.

I wish the 4 conductor wires came stock though.