Like the 59 set in my Hamer, but...

[austin]

I have a Hamer Studio that came with a set of 59's in it. I've had the 59 neck in a few guitars before, but I always thought it got a bit muddy under high gain, and always swapped it out for something or other. However, it sounds so good clean and under light distortion, that I think I'll be keeping it in this guitar.

The 59 bridge was a big surprise for me; output wise it balances great with the neck position and it's got a nice snarl too it. However, I think it's a bit bright. I can make it sound good if I roll down the tone a bit, but the Studio only has a master tone, so the 59 turns to complete mud when I do that. Does SD (or anyone else) make a pickup with a similar output to the 59 and the same snarl that is a bit less bright. The Seth Lover has more mids, so it might fit the bill, but it's unpotted, so I don't know if it will howl at high gain. The Alnico II Pro has a higher resonant peak, but seem to have more bass and mids, so it might sound darker?

Anyway, I'm open to suggestions. BTW, magnet swaps with the 59 isn't an option; the pickups are covered and I'm pretty sure my soldering iron isn't powerful enough to deal with getting them off.

-Austin

Oh, I suppose another alternative would be getting a slightly brighter neck pickup, but I'm not exactly sure where to there either; a Pearly Gates perhaps?

 

[ponch]

Re: Like the 59 set in my Hamer, but...

Maybe you can have it potted, or do it yourself.

 

[ponch]

Re: Like the 59 set in my Hamer, but...

Oh, the pearly gates might be too bright, I kinda wanna say maybe a jazz? Or a 59 and jazz hybrid?

 

[Iron Horse]

Re: Like the 59 set in my Hamer, but...

Screamin' Demon with standard polepieces in the bridge could work.

I think that PG for the neck is G-R-E-A-T. It's not the fattest of them, but you can adjust it. It's got good output and clarity.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Like the 59 set in my Hamer, but...

Umm Pearly Gates tends to be bright in it's bite, but fuller with nicer sounding lows than the 59 under high gain (hmm or should I say similar???? hard to say - they are on the same team, y'know)

If you want the 59 feel, which I think you do, but don't need the mids - get a good tone control and try the Custom 5 - very clear and nice crunch.


In the neck, I would say the APH1 is kinda muddy IF IF IF you find the 59 muddy. Try the Jazz model - it matches the C5 pretty well.

I personally use the APH1 set in my LP, and APH1/PG in my PRS

 

[Curly]

Re: Like the 59 set in my Hamer, but...

a brighter neck is a Jazz

a warmer bridge is an APH-1

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Like the 59 set in my Hamer, but...

I've got a simpler solution. Switch your pot configuration to a master volume and two tone pots. This way you can roll off the bridge without affecting the neck.

 

[austin]

Re: Like the 59 set in my Hamer, but...

I've got a simpler solution. Switch your pot configuration to a master volume and two tone pots. This way you can roll off the bridge without affecting the neck.

I find having 2 volumes more useful than having 2 tones though. Plus for a person with my limited soldering skills, buying one pickup would definitely be easier than replace a VVT setup with a VTT setup . I think I'll keep my eyes out for a PG neck and a APH-1 bridge and just try swapping in whichever one I can find first used.

-Austin

 

[ponch]

Re: Like the 59 set in my Hamer, but...

Ok, ask benjy_26 He would know the better than some of us on this.

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: Like the 59 set in my Hamer, but...

Oh, the pearly gates might be too bright, I kinda wanna say maybe a jazz? Or a 59 and jazz hybrid?

Actually I don't think so. Its vintage bright but the highs aren't as hard and piercing with the a2 mag. I think it may be worth a shot

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Like the 59 set in my Hamer, but...

Dunno about the PG's in the Hamer Studio's. I have an /81 special that I installed my fave set of PG's in. They came out of there in a big hurry. Too much upper mid sizzle in that guitar. In my Special, the best Duncans I've used to date are the APHn/Demon combo. The neck is smooth but retains good jangle, the bridge has good bite with tight lows and plenty of growl to the mids.

I'm currently using a 59n/JB set in mine and it works very wel for dirty leads. It's smooth and fat and has enough mids so that it almost plays itself. The rythm tomes aren't the greatest though, as the JB is kindo of flabby in the lows and the 59n used to be way too boomy. I've recently installed Artie's de-mud mod and all seems well with the 59, but I'm waiting unitl after this weekend to do a full review (will be playing at high volume with a full band).


Beleive it or not, the best all around combo I've had in my Hamer was a APHn/Super Distortion combo. Go figure. :burnout:

 

[blueman335]

Re: Like the 59 set in my Hamer, but...

I have a Hamer Studio that came with a set of 59's in it. I've had the 59 neck in a few guitars before, but I always thought it got a bit muddy under high gain, and always swapped it out for something or other. However, it sounds so good clean and under light distortion, that I think I'll be keeping it in this guitar.

The 59 bridge was a big surprise for me; output wise it balances great with the neck position and it's got a nice snarl too it. However, I think it's a bit bright. I can make it sound good if I roll down the tone a bit, but the Studio only has a master tone, so the 59 turns to complete mud when I do that. Does SD (or anyone else) make a pickup with a similar output to the 59 and the same snarl that is a bit less bright. The Seth Lover has more mids, so it might fit the bill, but it's unpotted, so I don't know if it will howl at high gain. The Alnico II Pro has a higher resonant peak, but seem to have more bass and mids, so it might sound darker?

Anyway, I'm open to suggestions. BTW, magnet swaps with the 59 isn't an option; the pickups are covered and I'm pretty sure my soldering iron isn't powerful enough to deal with getting them off.

-Austin

Oh, I suppose another alternative would be getting a slightly brighter neck pickup, but I'm not exactly sure where to there either; a Pearly Gates perhaps?

Magnet swaps aren't out for you, or anyone else. Use a dremel to cut the solder on the covers; sometimes the solder breaks on its own with a little pressure from a screwdriver. An A4 nicely takes off the brightness of a A5, and boosts the mids for a balanced EQ, probably just what you're looking for. Why make it more complicated, and spend the money on another PU that you might not like in some way? You don't want to get into the trap of buying PU after PU, and selling the previous ones at a loss. A dremel works out to be a lot cheaper.

The pots & caps are also part of the formula. On a 3 pot guitar, I wire two 250K pots for the bridge PU (volume & tone) with a .100 MF cap; takes off the high shrill edge. For the remaining pot, I make it a 500K for the neck volume.

The solutions are in front of you, and inexpensive. If you're reluctant to work on your guitar, you're going to spend a lot more money chasing your magic. This forum is here to help you make mods.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Like the 59 set in my Hamer, but...

Hi

I have a Hamer Studio Custom that came with 59's. It was good but i knew it could be better. I built and installed a pair of hybrid pickups after reading BachToRock's incredible thread on exactly that subject. (The all-time most-viewed thread on this Forum, i believe). I went with his recommendations.....a 59n/Jazz n for the neck and a 59b/Custom for the bridge. After a brief experiment with A3 magnets, i went to A5 and that nailed it!

The sound is more three-dimensional and complex than anything i've ever heard before, and as the Hamers are such resonant pieces of wood to begin with, it is an amazing experience. There is an incredible harmonic richness, and i feel that there is barely a genre that this guitar wont do, and do stunningly well. It excels at everything from vintage Brit blues and blues-rock through EVH and up to contemporary sounds (of course amps, effects and playing techniques come into play). The neck pickup would be wonderful for serious jazz playing, too. Even under hefty distortion the complexity and richness shines through.

The Studio's have, in recent times anyway, 300K pots. I chose to stick with those to begin with, and they are fine. But of course you could brighten the neck pickup by changing it's volume pot to 500K.

I truly cannot recommend the hybrid pickups enough. They make all other models seem flat and one-dimensional by comparrison....(well....except the BareKnuckles single-coil set i just put into my Strat, but that's another glorious story....).....

One thing i've noticed after much reading on this site.....i don't think i've ever seen a post where anyone has said...."I USED to have a hybrid in this guitar....".... that may speak volumes.

 

[BTMN]

Re: Like the 59 set in my Hamer, but...

This tag came with the Hamers in the late '70's early '80's. Try them they sound cool with the way Hamer does the wiring. Even on newer models due to the VVT setup. I have a '59/'59 in a Warmoth Korina Paul and it sound wonderful. I set the pickup levels by a lil thing I learned on Bill Lawrence's site.

"...For the bridge pickup - put a nickel on top of the pickup under the high E string and play the highest note on that string. Adjust the height on that side of the pickup till the string touches the nickel. Repeat the same with the low E string, but use two nickels on top of each other. If this gives you too much output, you can reduce the height slightly. Don't forget that twice the distance will reduce the output by about 60%, and the sound will lose some lows. NOW, you can adjust the neck pickup to match the output of the bridge pickup. For the sound test, use stage volume....." I use the same nickel thing on the bridge pickup. :cool2: :approve:

Try these two things and tell me what you think.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Like the 59 set in my Hamer, but...

Hi

I have a Hamer Studio Custom that came with 59's. It was good but i knew it could be better. I built and installed a pair of hybrid pickups after reading BachToRock's incredible thread on exactly that subject. (The all-time most-viewed thread on this Forum, i believe). I went with his recommendations.....a 59n/Jazz n for the neck and a 59b/Custom for the bridge. After a brief experiment with A3 magnets, i went to A5 and that nailed it!

The sound is more three-dimensional and complex than anything i've ever heard before, and as the Hamers are such resonant pieces of wood to begin with, it is an amazing experience. There is an incredible harmonic richness, and i feel that there is barely a genre that this guitar wont do, and do stunningly well. It excels at everything from vintage Brit blues and blues-rock through EVH and up to contemporary sounds (of course amps, effects and playing techniques come into play). The neck pickup would be wonderful for serious jazz playing, too. Even under hefty distortion the complexity and richness shines through.

The Studio's have, in recent times anyway, 300K pots. I chose to stick with those to begin with, and they are fine. But of course you could brighten the neck pickup by changing it's volume pot to 500K.

I truly cannot recommend the hybrid pickups enough. They make all other models seem flat and one-dimensional by comparrison....(well....except the BareKnuckles single-coil set i just put into my Strat, but that's another glorious story....).....

One thing i've noticed after much reading on this site.....i don't think i've ever seen a post where anyone has said...."I USED to have a hybrid in this guitar....".... that may speak volumes.

Let me be the first.

I used to have PG+/C5 hybrid at the bridge of my Hamer. It didn't have enough push for me. YMMV

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Like the 59 set in my Hamer, but...

Let me be the first.

I used to have PG+/C5 hybrid at the bridge of my Hamer. It didn't have enough push for me. YMMV

Which coil was hotter? If the screw coil was hotter, no wonder...

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Like the 59 set in my Hamer, but...

Which coil was hotter? If the screw coil was hotter, no wonder...

The stud coil came from a C5 and the screw from a 8.7k PG+. It wasn't smooth or punchy enough in my Hamer, but it sounds fab in my LP.