Bridge pickup for my Hamer Artist

[TRex]

Hey,

I'm looking at replacing the JB currently sitting in my 1999 Hamer Artist 25th anniversary. All mahogany, partial semi hollow. 24.75" scale, 2 humbuckers, TOM bridge.

I love the old 59' in the neck, so I want something that would pair well with it in the bridge. The JB is just not enough like a PAF for me, and my Epiphone LP already has a JB to cover high gain sounds.

I mostly play AC/DC, Black Keys, Led Zeppelin, Cream, BB King (neck pup) and various bands from blues rock to hard rock. Heavyist I go is Mastodon and Megadeth/Metallica.

Would the Antiquity Humbucker Bridge work well with the 59' neck? Should I spring for a 4 conductor version so I can wire a parallel switch as well?

How long do floor shop customs typically take to complete? A couple weeks?

When I get back in town I need to check if my 59' is also a 4 conductor or a 2 conductor. If 4 conductor I might grab some triple shots while I'm at it.

I'm not too worried about keep the value by keeping it solder original, as I have had to replace the switch and Jack already. Not to mention it is not really vintage or that collectable (yet?).

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Bridge pickup for my Hamer Artist

for what you have and what you're describing, check out a 59 Model bridge. bonus points if you can find an older one (as in, a label with something like 59BJ) or put a rough cast A5 in a new one for a similar effect.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Bridge pickup for my Hamer Artist

WLH?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Bridge pickup for my Hamer Artist

I would not put an alnico 2 "PAF" humbucker in that guitar. Not enough solid bass...not enough treble...not enough output.

IMO.

I would put an alnico 5 59B in there though.

Especially if you change the polished A5 magnet to Roughcast A5.

 

[TRex]

Re: Bridge pickup for my Hamer Artist

for what you have and what you're describing, check out a 59 Model bridge. bonus points if you can find an older one (as in, a label with something like 59BJ) or put a rough cast A5 in a new one for a similar effect.

If I could find a old one, I would think yes. I didn't like the newer 59 neck in my Epiphone without an a2 or a3 magnet.
It was really scooped, and had too much bass

The Whole Lotta bridge sounds good too. It and the Antiquity sound like good drop in replacements.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Bridge pickup for my Hamer Artist

If I could find a old one, I would think yes. I didn't like the newer 59 neck in my Epiphone without an a2 or a3 magnet.
It was really scooped, and had too much bass

yep, like in post #2, the RCA5 addresses that. I tracked mine down about a year ago and they are worth looking for. just a little patience.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Bridge pickup for my Hamer Artist

i love the antiquity buckers but matching a bridge with a 59n might work better with a mag swap. rca5 would be a better match than the aged a2. i love the aged a2 tone but the a5 in the 59 will be pretty drastically different eq wise.

im in the opposite boat at the moment, i swapped an antiquity bucker in the bridge of my hamer monaco elite recently to replace a pgb and the antiquity had a rca5 swapped in by the previous owner. i love the pgn too much to change it and the rca5 antiquity sounds great but im putting an a2 in it to better match the neck. i would just put the pgb back in but the antiquity is double cream and i love the look

 

[Mincer]

Re: Bridge pickup for my Hamer Artist

59/Custom Hybrid. It can handle the harder stuff, too. Under a lot of gain and volume, an unpotted humbucker can squeal, so I'd recommended potted if you are gonna do any chuggy stuff. I think the Hybrid is the one that balances vintage & modern, and is still versatile, and dynamic.

 

[TRex]

Re: Bridge pickup for my Hamer Artist

yep, like in post #2, the RCA5 addresses that. I tracked mine down about a year ago and they are worth looking for. just a little patience.

Yea, I'm just not sure if a new one with a RCA5 is the right fit. The demos of the stock don't sound quite right to me, and rough cast can only change so much.

i love the antiquity buckers but matching a bridge with a 59n might work better with a mag swap. rca5 would be a better match than the aged a2. i love the aged a2 tone but the a5 in the 59 will be pretty drastically different eq wise.

im in the opposite boat at the moment, i swapped an antiquity bucker in the bridge of my hamer monaco elite recently to replace a pgb and the antiquity had a rca5 swapped in by the previous owner. i love the pgn too much to change it and the rca5 antiquity sounds great but im putting an a2 in it to better match the neck. i would just put the pgb back in but the antiquity is double cream and i love the look

An Antiquity with a RCA5 sounds interesting. Changing all that I

might just wanna get a Custom Shop pickup made.

I guess that would be like the Whole Lotta humbucker anyway though.

I really love the tone of the Antiquity from what I have seen in demos and reviews. A2 pickups in general tend to appeal to me more.

Still thinking out loud. It's a tough call.

59/Custom Hybrid. It can handle the harder stuff, too. Under a lot of gain and volume, an unpotted humbucker can squeal, so I'd recommended potted if you are gonna do any chuggy stuff. I think the Hybrid is the one that balances vintage & modern, and is still versatile, and dynamic.

That's also a option, but a tad hotter. My Epiphone is always there for the chuggy metal stuff, so I was thinking of going with a vintage output bucker.

How hot does the 59CH "feel"? It sounds in a way very 80's to me, possibly due to the output.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Bridge pickup for my Hamer Artist

Yea, I'm just not sure if a new one with a RCA5 is the right fit. The demos of the stock don't sound quite right to me, and rough cast can only change so much.

I hear ya. finding an original 59BJ should still be no more than finding a "current" one. just a little patience.

I can say that the "current" ones gave me the same impression that you and others have suggested. finding an older set really changed my opinion of that product.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Bridge pickup for my Hamer Artist

An Antiquity with a RCA5 sounds interesting. Changing all that I might just wanna get a Custom Shop pickup made.

I guess that would be like the Whole Lotta humbucker anyway though.

I really love the tone of the Antiquity from what I have seen in demos and reviews. A2 pickups in general tend to appeal to me more.

i have the wlh as well and while it is in a different guitar and has a cover, it doesnt sound all that similar to me in the scope of paf style pups. the wlh is more middy and less open than the antiquity with the rca5. i love the antiquity with a full strength a2 which would be better fit than the stock aged magnet. again, i love the tone with the aged magnet but i dont know how well it would match with the 59n

 

[TRex]

Re: Bridge pickup for my Hamer Artist

i have the wlh as well and while it is in a different guitar and has a cover, it doesnt sound all that similar to me in the scope of paf style pups. the wlh is more middy and less open than the antiquity with the rca5. i love the antiquity with a full strength a2 which would be better fit than the stock aged magnet. again, i love the tone with the aged magnet but i dont know how well it would match with the 59n

Yea, definitely hotter.

I'm thinking old 59 or if I can't source one, Antiquity

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