Made Another Pickup Change - 59'

[Jeff_H]

I recently bought a 59' neck from Kevlar with the original intention being to nickel cover it and put it in my hardtail to test agains't the APH II I love so much. I just haven't had the heart to take the APH out, and I have a Seth just sitting in a box begging to go back into the neck also, which I love only 2nd to the APH. So what to do with the 59? .......answer....... :arms:

Put it into the bridge position of my Alvarez, replacing the Dimarzio PAF Pro I put in a month or so ago. This is a floyd equipped guitar, so obviously the spacing isn't correct, but damn does it sound fine. So crunchy and articulate...it just has life in it for lack of a better word. The PAF Pro was a great improvement over the custom single coils that were wired as a humbucker from the factory. I never did like the bridge sound of those.

(For those of you who don't remember, this is the Alvarez Scoop that had 3 single's crammed together at the bridge position and then a seperated neck pickup, an odd configuration to say the least).

So the PAF Pro was a big improvement, but just lacked the mojo I was looking for. It had a good, even response, smooth highs and very decent lows....but just sounded a little lifeless compared to what I've become used to with Duncans. Even though the 59' is a neck pickup rated just under 8k, it sounds so nice. Brighter than I am used to for sure, since I've mainly played A2's for the last 2 yrs or so, but in a nice way. I need to hook up the singles and reconnect the tone pots, and then I think rolling off the tone a little will really help.

Anyway, a fun little experiment that worked out. I really need a tremspaced 59' at some point, but this will more than work for now. I'll see about getting a clip or 2 up later. :banana:

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

I just got my strat up and running again, with a 59 in the bridge
With a standart trem and an alderbody this pickup really sounds great.
Classic rock in spades.
Balances nicely with my SSL-1's.

 

[jeremy]

just cause something is a neck or bridge model doesnt mean it needs to be put there. the jb or demon in the neck seems to be more common as of late, ive used the 58b in the neck a bunch as well

 

[Thames]

STOP USING THAT D-A-M-N BANANA THING!!








:banana::banana::banana::banana:

Aren't they the coolest thing around ?

 

[Steve_R]

The only reason that I sold that pickup was to replace it with a nickel covered 59n that I got from Lew.. cool, all in the family so to speak

 

[Lewguitar]

I've only talked to Seymour once...I asked what humbucker to use in a Strat bridge position with vintage style Strat neck and middle pickups. He told me to use a 59N or Jazz N as a bridge pickup. The 59 is still one of my faves...but I use the 59 Trembucker in my Strat because the polepiece spacing matches Fender bridges better. Still, I'll bet that neck 59 sounds great in your ax. I've used other neck pickups as bridge pickups too...I especially like the JB JR neck used as a bridge pickup. It's brighter and janglier...sounds great with SSL-1's as the neck and middle pickups. Congrats Jeff!
Lew

 

[\m/(00)\m/]

STOP USING THAT D-A-M-N BANANA THING!!








:banana::banana::banana::banana:

Aren't they the coolest thing around ?

unfortunately, they are!

 

[Jeff_H]

Cool story about Seymour you've got there Lew. Sounds like a really nice guy to talk to from what I've heard. It's interesting that he recommended several neck pickups for the bridge position. I've heard quite a few stories about bridge pickups in the neck, but can't say I remember a neck at the bridge. Guess most folks are looking for more power, not less. I dig the lower output vibe.

I must say again how really impressed I am with this pickup. If you look closely you can clearly see that the treble string spacing is way off, but it doesn't appear to affect the sound any. I've tried bending and it sounds fine all along the top 3 strings. From 3 feet away you can't tell it's off, and most people would never notice anyway...we're just anal.

I am having a problem hooking up the middle and neck position. Since this thing was wired with 4 single coils originally, I think the internal wiring from pot to pot and from switch to pot is different. Everytime I hook up the middle or neck, it is combined with the bridge...no matter what. I'm not enough of a wiring expert to trouble shoot it, so you'll probably be seeing me Lew. I've need to suck it up for a long time and make the hour drive up to Boulder to meet you and have you do some work for me.....I'm just lazy when it comes to driving. I'll need to pick up some SSL1's, or APS or maybe even Texas Hots to match the 59', and all 3 pots on this guitar are 500k, and I have a feeling I'll need 250k for the SD singles.



:banana: :banana: :banana:

Love the Bananna!!!!!