Is the Lil 59 supposed to sound that bad?

H

Hardtailed

New member
Ok, so sourcing a HSS pickguard seems too complicated since my Strat is not MIA (it's a Fender Lite Ash Strat).

So I bought a Lil 59 assuming I could always exchange it...

I finished installing it and I can't believe how bad the sound is! I've installed many Duncans before, I know I wired it properly, it's not a phase thing, it's definitely in serie (sounds like it too, and the hum bucking works).

But it's very weak in output (it gets overpowered by the A-2 Pro SCs) and there is no definition. When I switch to the neck SC, the output raise 30-40% and the treble goes from nothing to full on.

Now, take into account that it goes through a 500k tone pot (volume and second tone pot are also 500k). Maybe it was designed to be used without a tone pot... but I can't see it making such a difference. Or maybe it's the capacitor? (I left the old one there, which was for a SC... maybe?).

But even then, where's the output? Why is it so weak?
 
Re: Is the Lil 59 supposed to sound that bad?

Just to add, I A/Bed with my LP for kicks and the overall character is quite similar I must say, I was surprised! If I could just get the treble back and 50% more output...
 
Re: Is the Lil 59 supposed to sound that bad?

Dude, that is crazy!!! I put a Lil 59 in the bridge of my strat just this past Friday, and I LOVE the sound... I now play in 4 of the 5 positions of my strat (Can't really find a use for position 3, the middle).....

Mine goes through a Tone Pot 500k, and a Volume Pot 500k.... I have the spin-a-split mod done on the second tone pot to control how much I split the Lil 59... SO, here is what I get without drilling or replecing the pickguard....

1) Neck
2) Neck/Middle
3) Middle
4) Middle/Bridge (Turn T2 to 0 to split HB)
5) Bridge (T2 at 10 gives me HB, at 0 gives me SC)

I LOVE this setup, and the tones from the 59 are sooooo useful! I am not sure what the source could be... Not to insult your intelligence, but aside from wiring, are you sure it is setup right... Pup heights correct?
 
Re: Is the Lil 59 supposed to sound that bad?

Hmmm . . . that is odd. I'm not sure what the problem might be, but I don't have that problem with mine. I had it in the neck of a Strat, with an SSL-1 in the middle, Cool Rails in the bridge. It was definitely stronger than the SSL-1, and matched great with the CR. The only reason I took it out was to try a couple of other pups. Its going back in soon.

There's always the simple fact that not everybody likes all Duncans. I've gone through several SD's that weren't my cup-o-tea, but that others have loved. But a Lil59 shouldn't be weak.
 
Re: Is the Lil 59 supposed to sound that bad?

something is definitley wrong - the lil'59 toasts my singlecoils for volume. check you've got it at the right height, then check you havn't toasted one of your pots - excess resistance might have caused the drop in output..

tom
 
Re: Is the Lil 59 supposed to sound that bad?

I had a Lil '59 in the bridge position of my Strat and it sounded great. Definitely louder than the single coils, and it kept up with my Les Pauls. If you're sure you haven't wired it wrong and you've got it adjusted properly I can only conclude it's a faulty pickup.
 
Re: Is the Lil 59 supposed to sound that bad?

I tried playing around with the pickup height, but to get it as loud as the singles (which again are Alnico-2 Pro, not exactly ultra high output pickups!), I have to put it so high it touches the strings!

I'm beginning to hate top routed guitars! Now I have to take it all apart just to unconnect the tone pot (the volume pot is definitely not the problem since the pickups pass through it), if it was back routed, that would take like 2 minutes!

If nothing works out, I guess my next logical step is a JB Jr.
 
Re: Is the Lil 59 supposed to sound that bad?

When you take it apart use a meter to check the pot to make sure it wasn't toasted. I've done it, it's very easy to do. On lower quality imported pots it's even easier. Do you have the pup wired where it is full humbucking in positions 1, and 2? or on 1? Tell us how your wiring looks where we can make sure there are no accidental grounds (done that too).

The lil 59 should be leaps and bounds beyond the A2Ps output wise.

Luke
 
Re: Is the Lil 59 supposed to sound that bad?

I wired it the simplest way to make it easier to remove it if I decided to exchange it. So it's the basic: red/white soldered together (and masked of course), green and bare to the ground (back of the volume pot in this case) and black to the switch (which then goes to the volume pot and the tone pot, I moved the wire to the tone pot from the middle setting to the 3rd position).

I remember having a problem once with a Duncan Custom that was wired wrong from the factory! It was out of phase with itself, I think I reversed green and red or something like that and that fixed the problem. But the symptoms were totally different (no low end, very nasal tone). In current case, the low-end is huge, it's the treble that's lacking (no crispness at all), and the lack of output.
 
Re: Is the Lil 59 supposed to sound that bad?

Like I said, check the pot, if it's good you might have a bad pup.

Luke
 
Re: Is the Lil 59 supposed to sound that bad?

okkkkk do you know anyone who does, one you could borrow? When you mess with the pot does it roll off smooth? Is it strange sounding?

Luke
 
Re: Is the Lil 59 supposed to sound that bad?

Ok, so I guess the problem really was the tone pot, I simply disconnected it and bam! Full humbucker tone with detailed high end! It's late so I had to play through my PodXT with headphones but the different is night and day, can't wait to crank my Marshall!

Thanks for your help everyone

(in case you wonder: I'm just leaving the tone knob there for looks but it's gonna remain unused until I changed all the pots and the switch)
 
Ben Decho said:
You can buy one at Harbor Freight for $7 and it has a digital read-out, not just a hard to read needle.
I would suggest, if you're doing your own work with electronics, you should have a Vohm (multimeter) tester.
Click to expand...

And hopefully, in 20 years, he's been able to save that money up. :joke:
 
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