Duncan '59's in semi-hollow guitar

[Mr Natural]

I'm about to buy a cheap semi-hollow guitar to see if I like one, maybe a low-ball Ibanez or an Xaviere. I'm thinking a set of '59's would be a good versatile set of pickups for this style guitar, but didn't see any recommendations for hollow-bodies in the Duncan description. I'm looking for a big, wide open sound that the '59's can deliver, but can they be too big in a semi-hollow???

I'd like to hear from anyone who has used them in a similar application.

Thanks

 

[Demanic]

Re: Duncan '59's in semi-hollow guitar

I wonder. You could try a Screamin' Demon in the neck. It should stay tight enough, even in a semi-hollow, and the brightness might help. Then maybe a Custom Custom or APIIPro in the bridge.

 

[Sensates]

Re: Duncan '59's in semi-hollow guitar

I tried a pair of 59s in some 335 copies and thought they can be a bit strident without rolling down the tone a bit.

I prefer Seth Lover for that, but liked Fralin PurePaf the best in that guitar.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Duncan '59's in semi-hollow guitar

Seths are really good vintage PAF, though unpotted, so they feedback, either desirably or undesirably, depending on your taste/goals. They won't cover up a cheap instrument, however. You can still hear differences between the wood/guitars they are installed in.

Whole Lotta Humbuckers seem to be a bit immune to differences in wood; semi-hollow/chambering vs solid, etc. They produce "that sound", a really good PAF, a little bit of squish to them, not biting or toppy at all. Not the most versatile pickup there is, however, but a really good vintage PAF. They certainly make a cheap instrument sound expensive.

I haven't put my '59s in yet, so I can't comment on those.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Duncan '59's in semi-hollow guitar

The 59's were very woofy in the Epi dot I had......especially in the neck slot. I'd go for the Seth lovers myself, or else swap the mags to A2 in the 59's. The Seths will just sound better fullstop.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Duncan '59's in semi-hollow guitar

The 59's were very woofy in the Epi dot I had......especially in the neck slot. I'd go for the Seth lovers myself, or else swap the mags to A2 in the 59's. The Seths will just sound better fullstop.

+1. I've also experienced a boomy '59N in a 335. Seth's would be my first choice.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Duncan '59's in semi-hollow guitar

Cheap semi-hollow is cheap; Don't forget that.

That said, righteous pups can do wonders for anything.

59's are the obvious answer to me, but I'm not really a 335 guy.

Seth's are apparently loved by many.
If neck boom is the issue, a PG neck and a 59b may be what you want.
A2P's for jazz/fat blues
Don't underestimate a Jazz set….

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Duncan '59's in semi-hollow guitar

A stock '59 set can go in a semi-hollow, if you can manage to set the p'ups very low.

Having said that, if you're willing to change the magnets, and use any of the following mag combos:

* neck A2 bridge A2 "Smooth Vintage/Jazzy Traditional"
* neck A3 bridge A2 "Classic Vintage/Jazzy Bop"
* neck A4 bridge A4 "Real Vintage/Jazzy Modern"
* neck A4 bridge A8 "Modern/Universal"

...your tone possibilities are almost endless, without any mud in the neck position but the first one, which is dependent on the p'ups' setup.

HTH,

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Duncan '59's in semi-hollow guitar

yep 59s are good in a 335. So are pearly gates and APH's. any vintage output set will sound great. It just comes down to what set best suits the inherent acoustic qualities of the axe you are putting them in. All 335s are not created equal of course and what works in one might not be the best for another - especially if its a copy of a 335. Having said all that, i reckon your best bet is a set of 59's for a couple of reasons:
1. they will sound good. guaranteed. We are all pretty o.c.d. about pickups and stuff on this forum and sometimes just can't leave well enough alone. Your guitar will sound great with 59s for sure.
2. if you decide that the particular type of great that the 59s give you is not the exact type of great that you imagine in your mental tonal nirvana, then you can swap the magnets to fine tune them to your preference. They work great with pretty much any magnet combination. This is a good thing because swapping magnets on a 335 is a truckload easier than replacing the pickups.
one last thing....especially if its a cheap and cheerful axe...spend a few bucks and install good quality 500k pots and replace the jack, switch and capacitors. Do it once and do it right. then enjoy the tones.
if you can't get a guitar to sound good with 59s then you don't need new pickups, you need practice.

 

[Inder_Cine_Mann]

Re: Duncan '59's in semi-hollow guitar

The 59n in my semi hollow was almost perfect for the tone I wanted from it. I put an A4 in it, and it's pretty damn sweet.

 

[SoundAt11]

Re: Duncan '59's in semi-hollow guitar

I had a set of covered 59's in an Epiphone Sheraton. With spin-a-splits, it was very versatile for rock and blues. In that guitar (maple body, maple neck), the tone was clear and bright. I never had any muddiness. With the spin-a-splits, you could get some thinner and brighter tones that mimic a Filtertron, Single Coil, Mini-Humbucker, or P-90.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Duncan '59's in semi-hollow guitar

I've had 59s in two semi-hollows, a Hamer Echotone and a Gibson 335 Fatneck (basically a Memphis '59RI). The set I installed in the Echotone were open-coil double blacks because I had them sitting in my parts bin at the time. The neck pickup sounded really good, but the bridge was the slightest bit boomy. Overall it sounded quite good and I was able to get convincing mid-70s Alex Lifeson tones running through a Marshall. I ended up selling the Echotone because I didn't like the skinny neck, and the 335 Fatneck took its place.

I really hated working on the Echotone and I was afraid of open coils being a bit bright, so I procrastinated until I found a good deal on a covered set. After waiting an additional year or so, I installed them last weekend along with new 500K pots and Orange Drop caps (.015/.022) wired 50s style. I'm just blown away by the neck pickup; it really straddles the middle ground between a Les Paul and a Strat. The bridge seems a bit bright, but I haven't really tweaked anything yet. I need to get action & pickup height set correctly, and then maybe I'll look into magnet swapping.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Duncan '59's in semi-hollow guitar

The bridge seems a bit bright, but I haven't really tweaked anything yet. I need to get action & pickup height set correctly, and then maybe I'll look into magnet swapping.

'59B's are bright. I put UOA5's in mine and it's a big improvement.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Duncan '59's in semi-hollow guitar

Bright is good! Clear, crisp, cutting.

And there is that continuous modifiable treble reduction system. What is that called? Oh yeah - TONE knob.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Duncan '59's in semi-hollow guitar

Bright is good! Clear, crisp, cutting.

Other adjectives for bright: piercing, shrill. Bright is not always good.