Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
So I swapped the '59B for a WLH-B in my PRS SE. Here are my initial impressions:
The WLH seems just a hair louder when clean, and it seems to drive the amp just a tad harder under gain. It seems just a tad more compressed too, but it's definitely still in that very dynamic PAF-type camp when it comes to sensitivity. I actually expected it to be hotter, but no biggie. It's still fairly strong for a PAF-type pickup.
Clean tones? Meh. It's still a bridge humbucker. I do find it just a tad less brash and more useable than the '59, but I'd much rather use the middle or neck position for that.
Drive tones? Yummy! There seems to be slightly less open, airy top-end compared to the '59, and slightly less pick attack and twang. However, it's definitely not a dark or smooth-sounding pickup by any means. There is a low-treble/upper-mid grind to it. It's raunchy and rude. It's still got a very old-school aggression. There is still that PAF-like airiness to it, just not as much as the '59. The low-end seems to be shifted up compared to the '59. It seems more throaty/growly as opposed to the '59's lower bass. It's less well-behaved in that department, but it's also beefier/chunkier. There seems to be more midrange muscle to it, but rather than being focused on core-mids, It seems to be spread wider on the highest and lowest ends of the midrange spectrum. It has, after all, still got that Alnico 5 slightly scoopy vibe.
In all honesty, I love it! I still love the '59B, but the WLH has a different vibe going on. It gives my PRS SE more of that sound that I'd expect from a fat, chunky, all-mahogany guitar.
The WLH seems just a hair louder when clean, and it seems to drive the amp just a tad harder under gain. It seems just a tad more compressed too, but it's definitely still in that very dynamic PAF-type camp when it comes to sensitivity. I actually expected it to be hotter, but no biggie. It's still fairly strong for a PAF-type pickup.
Clean tones? Meh. It's still a bridge humbucker. I do find it just a tad less brash and more useable than the '59, but I'd much rather use the middle or neck position for that.
Drive tones? Yummy! There seems to be slightly less open, airy top-end compared to the '59, and slightly less pick attack and twang. However, it's definitely not a dark or smooth-sounding pickup by any means. There is a low-treble/upper-mid grind to it. It's raunchy and rude. It's still got a very old-school aggression. There is still that PAF-like airiness to it, just not as much as the '59. The low-end seems to be shifted up compared to the '59. It seems more throaty/growly as opposed to the '59's lower bass. It's less well-behaved in that department, but it's also beefier/chunkier. There seems to be more midrange muscle to it, but rather than being focused on core-mids, It seems to be spread wider on the highest and lowest ends of the midrange spectrum. It has, after all, still got that Alnico 5 slightly scoopy vibe.
In all honesty, I love it! I still love the '59B, but the WLH has a different vibe going on. It gives my PRS SE more of that sound that I'd expect from a fat, chunky, all-mahogany guitar.
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