Antiquity bridge humbucker question

[toneseeker74]

I got a good deal on an Antiquity bridge humbucker for my SG. Measures about 3.8k on my Fluke meter. Tried it out at different heights, but no matter what I do it sounds pretty bland. No woodiness. No "air" in the tone. The guitar is wired 50's style with 0.022uF Mallory caps. CTS pots that all measure between 470k-480k.
I had a set of Seth Lover's in the guitar in the past, and these were much livelier with "air" around every note. I realize that Antiquities have degaussed A2 magnets, but should they sound so dull in comparison to the Seth's?

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Antiquity bridge humbucker question

It measures only 3.8k? I suspect that's only working on 1 coil, my Ant reads around 8k from memory. Did you check the reading before you fitted it or after?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Antiquity bridge humbucker question

i hope thats a typo, if its 8.3k then its fine. the antiquitys are rounder and have less output on average than the seths. swapping in a full strength a2 will brighten it up if thats what you feel is missing

 

[toneseeker74]

Re: Antiquity bridge humbucker question

It measures only 3.8k? I suspect that's only working on 1 coil, my Ant reads around 8k from memory. Did you check the reading before you fitted it or after?

Doh! I meant 8.3k.

 

[toneseeker74]

Re: Antiquity bridge humbucker question

i hope thats a typo, if its 8.3k then its fine. the antiquitys are rounder and have less output on average than the seths. swapping in a full strength a2 will brighten it up if thats what you feel is missing

Thanks. Yes, it is definitely missing some brightness and the 3D quality that my Seths had.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Antiquity bridge humbucker question

Thanks. Yes, it is definitely missing some brightness and the 3D quality that my Seths had.

Which is why I have 5 or 6 sets of Seth's in guitars, and my one Ant set was pulled and is sitting in a box. In spite of any hype from people who've never actually owned them, to me Ant's take a back seat to Seth's. It's a common assumption that 'Ant's must be even better than Seth's!' But the great PAF tones of the late '60's/early '70's were with relatively new PAF's (like Seth's), not ones 60 years old (like Ant's).

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Antiquity bridge humbucker question

I got a good deal on an Antiquity bridge humbucker for my SG. Measures about 3.8k on my Fluke meter. Tried it out at different heights, but no matter what I do it sounds pretty bland. No woodiness. No "air" in the tone. The guitar is wired 50's style with 0.022uF Mallory caps. CTS pots that all measure between 470k-480k.
I had a set of Seth Lover's in the guitar in the past, and these were much livelier with "air" around every note. I realize that Antiquities have degaussed A2 magnets, but should they sound so dull in comparison to the Seth's?

Seths and Ants sound different, being the Ant the more clear and "polite" of the two.

I'm suspecting a cold solder joint somewhere in the Ant's path, assuming the second-hand p'up you got was not tempered with.

HTH,

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Antiquity bridge humbucker question

You should've opted for a neck version instead. The bridge is lackluster to say the least (to my ears). Assuming your wiring is good, I suspect a mag swap in your future.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jeremy]

Re: Antiquity bridge humbucker question

i have plenty of paf type pups and i still love my antiquitys, especially the bridge. they work great in the guitar i have them in. the seths are great too but not as good a match for the guitar they are in so will probably be moved. the seths are brighter for sure but i dont hear them as more 3D or anything like that

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Antiquity bridge humbucker question

First toss the cover, then get some different magnets like Full charged A2, A3, rough cast A4, rough castA5 and A8, then swap them in. You get new world of sounds, they take mag swaps nicely. I have 2 set of Ant and none is with the stock mag now.

 

[toneseeker74]

Re: Antiquity bridge humbucker question

Thanks, all. I have a bunch of different magnets so I have been thinking of magnet swapping. But then I wonder if the Antiquity just isn't my cup of tea, and I'd rather not take it apart if I end up selling it anyway. Buyers tend to not like imperfect tape around the coils and unoriginal solder on the pickup covers.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Antiquity bridge humbucker question

Thanks, all. I have a bunch of different magnets so I have been thinking of magnet swapping. But then I wonder if the Antiquity just isn't my cup of tea, and I'd rather not take it apart if I end up selling it anyway. Buyers tend to not like imperfect tape around the coils and unoriginal solder on the pickup covers.

True, you may or may not find different mags give you what you want. Personally, I'd sell the Ant and get a Seth.

 

[toneseeker74]

Re: Antiquity bridge humbucker question

I think you're right, blueman. I put the Antiquity back in tonight...still not doing it for me.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Antiquity bridge humbucker question

Yeah, for some, the Ants just don't work. I like Seths better, but if I was doing Les Paul-style jazz (the man, not the guitar), I can see it working. Or even for a few that use LPs for country. But for jazz, blues, non-MV amp-type stuff, the Seths win for me.