How does the Lil' 59 compares to the 59b?

[Sly_D]

OK, my SX Strat is routed s-s-s (damn! I just bought a Custom from kjrocks), so I'll have to go with a SC-type humbucker.

My two favorite SD humbucker are the Custom and the 59b.

Now, is the Lil' 59 very close to the 59b in tone or is it very different?

I'm not necessarily looking for the exact same thing, I know this is a Strat-type guitar and I like it that way. But I really want to beef up that bridge and get that same vintage vibe as the 59b.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Travis]

Re: How does the Lil' 59 compares to the 59b?

It's close, but not quite the same. If your Strat is routed S/S/S, then that might be the closest you'll get. However, prefer the looks of the Cool Rails, and the tonal differences are extremely subtle, if they even exist.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: How does the Lil' 59 compares to the 59b?

I had the Lil' 59' in a USA Strat, and also had the Lil' Demon. Here's my take for what it's worth.

It does a very decent job at replicating the sound of a fullsize 59', but it does fall short. I found it to be thinner, with more pronounced upper mids and highs, and lacking in low end response. I attribute this mainly to the use of ceramic magnets as opposed to the A5's in the fullsize version. If I had to put a number on it, it's about 75% of what a fullsize 59' is. I found the Lil' Demon to be even brighter and more shrill. Again, for what they are, they do a very decent job.

There is a Lil' 59' made in the custom shop that uses an A5 magnet instead of the standard ceramic mags in the production Lil 59's, and I'm curious about those...although I've never tried one.

If you want to hear some very rough clips of the Lil 59', click on my soundclips down in my sig, and scroll down towards the bottom. I did some dirty clips and some clean clips. They're rough with no effects, but they give you a better idea of the true sound than the clips on the site.

Hope this helps a little.

 

[Sly_D]

Re: How does the Lil' 59 compares to the 59b?

Thanks a lot for sharing Jeff, very interesting. I'll listen to your clips for sure!

 

[Gary T]

Re: How does the Lil' 59 compares to the 59b?

I like them, they sound great and they are not VERY different. Some claim they are different in the midrange and high's. I like them and don't really see a big difference. I put a Lil 59 in the bridge of a Samick Ash bodied Strat style guitar. Used a AlnicoIIPro in the neck and a Fender Hwy-1 neck Tele pup in the middle. Guitar sounded great. Natural Ash with body mounted pups. Lipstick pups in the neck and mid with the LIL-59 in the Bridge. Guitar was pretty and sonically sound. I sold it for a decent profit. But its one of those guitars I regret selling every now and then. The neck was dead-right on that Samick. Which is the real reason it would be a keeper. But that was a odd pup configuratuion that qworked out well.

 

[MDS]

Re: How does the Lil' 59 compares to the 59b?

I have a lil 59 in my strat. I've never used a full sized 59, so I'm not sure how it compares.

The lil 59 is pretty killer in my guitar. I get a big, biting, fat tone that saved the day for me many a time. This pickup made my strat ultra versatile. I suspect it isn't as big sounding as a real humbucker, but it is a god send for guys with SSS routing or who don't want to mess with the looks of their strat too much. I may put a real humbucker in some day, or I might go twangbanger, but nothing about the lil 59 is making me rush to try these options out.

Mike

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: How does the Lil' 59 compares to the 59b?

I agree with what the guys have said. What the Little 59 and JB JR. have going for them is much of the tone of thier full size counterparts in a single coil size. So you won't have to rout your guitar for a full size pickup. Also, the output of the Little 59 and JB JR is a better match for stock Strat single coil neck and middle pickups as full size 59B's and JB's tend to overpower stock Strat single coils. The downside of the Little 59 and JB JR is that they really don't pack quite the wallop of thier full size counterparts and won't push the amp into overdrive as easily. They're an excellant compromise though if you can't fit a full size humbucker into your Strat. Lew

 

[fretburner]

Re: How does the Lil' 59 compares to the 59b?

Which sounds thicker -- the lil 59 or JB Jr.?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: How does the Lil' 59 compares to the 59b?

The JB JR. sounds thicker.

 

[strat_master]

Re: How does the Lil' 59 compares to the 59b?

i havent tried the lil 59 or the jb jr, but i do own a hotrail in the bridge of my strat and that thing is pretty intense. Ifim not mistaken it has just as much output as the ful sized jb if not more, but i could be wrong. When i added that pickup iw as oringally lookinf for an invader but i didnt route by guitar so i decided on the single coil humbucker. It seems to have worked out pretty good. Just remeber i think duncan has a 15-30 day policy or something like that check it out.

 

[fretburner]

Re: How does the Lil' 59 compares to the 59b?

The JB JR. sounds thicker.

Awesome. I have the JB Jr. and was quite worried for it sounding thin. I wish I had the CoolRails though. That pup sounds best to me as far as the soundfiles on the site go.

 

[Sly_D]

Re: How does the Lil' 59 compares to the 59b?

Thanks a lot guys! I think I'll go with the Lil' 59 because I don't like the
voicing of the full size JB and I'm afraid I won't like the JB jr.

I'll now be hunting for a black Lil' 59.

Cheers!