Does a Seth Lover....

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Onslow

New member
...not work with a solid body? Like, at all? I've taken my Epi LP to the shop 3-4 times now so the tech can try to get my SH55N to have that ultra warm, rounded out, oooooing, airy smooth tone I hear in the soundclips, youtube, recordings. I just keep getting a ludicrously prickly, shrill, tinny tone no matter what pot, cap, where the pole pieces are at, raising/lowering the pickup, anything. He's says he's running out of options and is doing the best he can. I can roll down the tone, but then it's just a muffled prickly sound. This is also getting very expensive.

I'm ready to give up on it and try to buy back my '59N from my buddy or something. It's also not my amp because the neck position sounds pretty much atrocious through anything. Or, maybe my guitar is an utter dog and didn't realize it until I tried this particular pickup.

I also must add that I've recommended the Seth Lover a few times here, because I do love their sound when they perform properly and/or sound like they're supposed to.
 
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Re: Does a Seth Lover....

Seth Lovers are gret pickups, if you don't like that pickup with your rig then it's likely something else in your rig...ie, the guitar or amp.

If you liked your guitar and amp when you were using a 59 maybe thats the answer right there...
 
Re: Does a Seth Lover....

yeah don't expect changing pickups to make an epi sound like a custom shop les paul! a good pickup is jus going to accurately communiocate the inherent tone of the guitar.

i had seths in my hamer artist then swapped them out for a 59 set.....then eventually put the seths back in! the 59's now reside in a les paul custom and are a huge improvment over the stock pickups....so maybe try them out
 
Re: Does a Seth Lover....

Well I wasn't head over heels for the '59n, but it was more exceptable than dealing with this headache. I know what the Seths are supposed to sound like and that overall sound is what I dig the most. My guitar just somehow turns the SH55n into a banshee.
 
Re: Does a Seth Lover....

You may need something ultra warm like an Alnico Pro II set, but the fact remains your guitar just may be super bright.
 
Re: Does a Seth Lover....

Have you measured the DC resistance of the pickup? And at the jack? Maybe there's a break in a coil. I had a damaged JB and that was also very harsh and bright.

A Seth definitely shouldn't be sounding bright and harsh in the neck position of that type of guitar. I can't imagine it being anything related to the actual build quality and construction. Cheap wood isn't going to make a Seth sound extremely harsh and tinny.
 
Re: Does a Seth Lover....

I kind of knew that I have an oddly bright LP. One of the many reasons I chose the Seth Lover pickup is because of the "warms up even the coldest axe" claim.

I'll have to ask the tech about the DC resistances and a possible break in a coil. I would assume he's already ran those bases, but you never know.

Thanks, folks. I'm open to any diagnostics you might have.
 
Re: Does a Seth Lover....

Onslow said:
Well I wasn't head over heels for the '59n ... My guitar just somehow turns the SH55n into a banshee.
Click to expand...

the '59s and Seths are some of the best PAF type pickups out there ... if you don't REALLY like one of those, something's odd.

have you also changed your pots & caps ?? -- I haven't owned an Epi LP, but there are many owners who change the pots & caps at the same time -- it should only be about $25 - $30 more in parts.

I suppose that the non-potting factor of the Seth might possibly be a problem with your particular guitar/ amp.
 
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Don't get me wrong, I do dig the '59 cream and it's probably my second favorite. I'm obsessed with the dark, fat, airy warmth, etc., etc. of the Seth though that I've heard out of other players and their guitar. I'm just trying to figure out why it sounds so bad and so unlike that in my own guitar. I'm actually having the pots and caps replaced this week. (I really need to learn how to completely work on my own guitar)
 
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Re: Does a Seth Lover....

First thing is don't make all kinds of desicions on what gear sounds like based on youtube clips...you might be able to get a general idea but by and larg=e those clips stink out loud...

Second, I've used Seths several times and, like ANY quality PAF clone they are not what I would call dark...
 
Re: Does a Seth Lover....

Onslow said:
Well I wasn't head over heels for the '59n, but it was more exceptable than dealing with this headache. I know what the Seths are supposed to sound like and that overall sound is what I dig the most. My guitar just somehow turns the SH55n into a banshee.
Click to expand...

Try replacing the rest of the electronics. Those pots etc are as bad as the stock pickups in the Epi's I have seen
 
Re: Does a Seth Lover....

hanumanlangur said:
Have you measured the DC resistance of the pickup? And at the jack? Maybe there's a break in a coil.
Click to expand...

Gotta agree, this must be a case of a faulty pickup.
Maybe demagnetised ?
If you and your tech can't find anyhting wrong then ship it to SD or Jeremy or Zhang and ask them to check it out.
There's probably a hell of a lot of guys here that build pups that I don't know about that could give you a definitive answer as well.
 
Re: Does a Seth Lover....

I nearly gave up on my L.P std... it always seemed too bright and harsh with the J.B in it... then I tried a PG... still not for me. A week before I listed it I fitted a Brobucker /Seth b in neck slot and WOW. That guitar is a killer now? I guess maybe sometimes certain combinations just don't work... but the Seth sure did warm up and mellow out my L.P.
 
Re: Does a Seth Lover....

wanmei1 said:
Gotta agree, this must be a case of a faulty pickup.
Maybe demagnetised ?
If you and your tech can't find anyhting wrong then ship it to SD or Jeremy or Zhang and ask them to check it out.
There's probably a hell of a lot of guys here that build pups that I don't know about that could give you a definitive answer as well.
Click to expand...

Okay, yeah. There has to be something wrong with it. I had the pots and caps replaced and it still sounds like hell. How would I check the DC resistance on my own or should I just ship over to SD?
 
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Re: Does a Seth Lover....

you need a multi meter to measure DC resistance.

actually, your tech should have measured this if he was aware of the problems you've had
 
Re: Does a Seth Lover....

Okay, I'll have to ask him if he checked that. I would be totally surprised if he didn't.
 
Re: Does a Seth Lover....

Hi, well I think so fare too much attention was paid to electronics and pups. One guy in the beginning said something like good pups just bring out to daylight what the wood sounds like. I would like to point your attention towards this aspect. I played a lot of Epis just as quite expensive guitars.

Talking about Epis. What LP is it a standard or a custom? Where was it made? Is it a newer model made in China? If it is made in China it is most likely your guitar and a pup can`t fix that. The China made model sound really bright and crappy. I had owned an Epi Custom Chrome, a midnight special, SG Custom limited EMG, SG Custom Limited maestro, Zack Wylde Camo. They all sounded good. But of course not all Epis sound good. It is always good to have a bunch in store to choose from in order to find a good one. Since the models come from China I never found a good sounding one again.
So first thing to evaluate a guitar is to play it unpluged. Just listen to the sound of the wood. If you like what you hear the next step is to find the right pup. All Epi stock pups I have had sucked (even the emg ones in the Zack Waylde). Replacement pups always was a big improvement. But only in terms of bringeing out what the wood sounds like.

So if you have a buddy with a guitar with SH55 and you like the sound grab it and play it unplugged. Compare it to yours and you may already find your answer.

Another point is picks and cables of course. But I don`t like to open that subject. Only so fare: a great guitar with a very cheap and weak cable can`t sound good as well (but I guess that is nothing new to you).

Sorry for my english cause I`m german. Good luck for your search in tone.
 
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Re: Does a Seth Lover....

Ha! For some reason I was thinking you're German because I have a German friend, and he types emails the same way.

Anyway, yeah. It's a newer Chinese Epiphone Standard. I know those are supposed to be junk compared to the Korean made ones. You're right about playing it unplugged and it does sound very bright and jangly for a Les Paul. What I need is a good neck pickup that will mask the terrible sound of the wood then!
 
Re: Does a Seth Lover....

Well if I would be you I quit trying to make a bad wood sound good. Takes too much time and too much money with a too little result. Just think of the tech you already paid three times and so on. Just sell the guitar and find a used epiphone that sounds better and enjoy making music again.
 
Re: Does a Seth Lover....

Did the 59 sound that much different than the Seth? If it did, there's likely something wrong. What settings do you run your amp at? Is it possible you are getting some weird microphonic feedback from this one? They aren't potted and if you've got some little weird vibration going on with gain, you may be hearing that.

As others have posted, check resistence. If that reads well, pop the 59 back in. If there's no problem with that, then take the cover off the Seth, and pop it back in. If that fixes it, then before you put the cover back on, put a couple pieces of tape over the slugs and make sure the cover goes back on very snug.

Don't listen to the advice that your axe sucks all of a sudden. Too much garb about how the mighty Seth is going to enlighten you by opening your eyes to how terrible your axe is. Especially if you liked the 59. If you liked the sound before, there must be another problem.

My big concern would be 4 visits to a tech that can't figure it out. No offense to your tech, but if he/she hasn't checked any of these things, they may not be right for you. You're better to spend some time on this site, buy meter and a soldering iron, and take advantage of the stable of smart folks here.
 
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