Need some expert opinions . . .

[GuitarStv]

I have had an Epiphone Dot (a big red semi-hollow body guitar) for about five years now, and am thinking of replacing the pickups. I have been researching pickups for the last few months and have gone through all of the sound examples on the SD website to finally narrow it down to two pickups I like the sound of. The SH-1 '59 in the neck, and the SH-55 Seth Lover in the bridge. I have a few questions though:

- I've read that the Seth Lover has a tendancy to feedback and be microphonic at high volumes. Now, I don't play metal, but I need to be able to do loud, convincing Zepplin/Marley/Hendrix/Pixies/Cream covers. Does anyone have experience using this pickup at gig levels of volume?

- Would these two pickups go well together? Are the volumes roughly matched correctly? I need to be able to use all three pickup selections during a show without too much fiddling with volume.

- Does the '59 that is sold with the cover on it sound the same as the '59 without the cover? Or does it change the sound?

- This may be a little vain I know, but is it possible to get '59s with two creme bobbins? I've replaced the pickguard and pickup rings with a creme set and was hoping to kinda keep the theme going . . .

- (I know that this is a question about another company, but here goes) Do Dimarzio Virtual PAFs sound the same/similar to '59s? (A friend recommended them to me and I know that they have double creme bobbins)

- Finally, does anyone have experience replacing pickups on a semi-hollow body guitar? I figure that I can just solder the new pickups to the wires in the cavities where the old pickups were to try and avoid any fishing through the f-holes. Is this a bad idea?

Anyway, I know that that's a really long post and a lot of questions, but I would really appreciate any helpful responses that you could give me. Thanks a whole bunch in advance,

- Steven

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Need some expert opinions . . .

Dimarzio has copyright on creme pickups. You can order a seymourduncan pickup with a cover and two creme bobbins however, then take off the cover. The problem then is cleaning up all the wax with a hair dryer if it's wax potted. The seth isn't wax potted though...

 

[John Wymore]

Re: Need some expert opinions . . .

The 59N & Seth is a great combination for that guitar. The only other option I would recomend would be Seth's in both positions.

The feedback thing is brought up a lot but in normal situations is not a problem.

 

[mrfjones]

Re: Need some expert opinions . . .

you can just solder the new leads on to the old ones and tape, it is not the best solution but in this case i would say go for it. I have done it with no adverse effect on the sound of the guitar.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Need some expert opinions . . .

Thanks a lot for the quick responses! I think that I'll keep checking this thread for a couple of days to see if anyone else has anything to say, then make my descision . . .

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Need some expert opinions . . .

To me, the Seth has more mids and the 59 has more bass and treble. If you combine them in one guitar, you'll probably want to add more bass on your amp for the bridge Seth Lover and then that might tend to make the 59N sound like it has to much bass.

I'd go with a pair of Seths or a pair of 59's...that way you'll be able to dial in a tone on your amp that compliments both the bridge and neck pickup.

Getting a fat ballsy tone from the bridge humbucking pickup is never a problem for me but retaining clarity for chords and rythym from the neck humbucker is always a problem for me...especially with a A5 neck humbucker.

Just go for a pair of Seth Lovers....you'll be glad you did!

If you'd like them potted, I can pot a pair for you.

But if they're potted, that makes it almost impossible to remove the covers...

The odds are about one in three that under the covers of a Seth Lover you'll find a pair of double cream coils...unless you special order them that way.

Lew

 

[tone4days]

Re: Need some expert opinions . . .

you're wiring scheme sounds fine ... carefully reusing the wires (as long as you consider the coloring scheme properly) can save hassle with the dental floss fishing through the F holes ...

i agree with the notion of using a matched set - either both 59s or both Seths ... i've heard that one can special order covered pickups <cough cough> and they frequently <wink wink, nudge nudge, say-no-more> have double cremes under the covers which might be easily removed
good luck
cheers
t4d

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Need some expert opinions . . .

It's a hassle replacing pickups in a semi hollowbody. Best method is to attach string, fishing line or ??? to the switch, pots and output jack and them pull them through the bridge pickup hole rather than scratching up the finish on the F Hole. The F Hole is to small for an easy job of it anyway. Do your work and then just pull everything back into place again. Lew

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Need some expert opinions . . .

To me, the Seth has more mids and the 59 has more bass and treble. If you combine them in one guitar, you'll probably want to add more bass on your amp for the bridge Seth Lover and then that might tend to make the 59N sound like it has to much bass.

I'd go with a pair of Seths or a pair of 59's...that way you'll be able to dial in a tone on your amp that compliments both the bridge and neck pickup.

Getting a fat ballsy tone from the bridge humbucking pickup is never a problem for me but retaining clarity for chords and rythym from the neck humbucker is always a problem for me...especially with a A5 neck humbucker.

Just go for a pair of Seth Lovers....you'll be glad you did!

If you'd like them potted, I can pot a pair for you.

But if they're potted, that makes it almost impossible to remove the covers...

The odds are about one in three that under the covers of a Seth Lover you'll find a pair of double cream coils...unless you special order them that way.

Lew

Where can I order the Seth Lovers and specify the creme coils? Is there anywhere online? And I'm still wondering if the tone will change at all if I remove the covers of the pickups . . . doesn't that big hunk of metal on top change the sound at all? (If so I would love to hear from someone who has played with a Seth Lover with the cover taken off . . .) I have covers on the old pickups that I was going to remove, so could I just take those off and put them overtop of the '59 in the neck?

As for the different tones produced by the pickups, I was checking the website and according to SD, the Seth Lover has an eq of 6/4/8 while the '59 has an EQ of 6/3/8 which I though would be close enough for me to use the same EQ on my amp . . . is this wrong? I need to be able to switch from bridge to neck while playing . . . And I was also wondering, is there a big difference between the alnico II and V magnets? Like would they not sound good together or somthing?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm kinda new to the world of replacement pickups . . . I just finally found a guitar that I like the feel of and I want it to sound as good as it plays.

- Steven

 

[Armotron]

Re: Need some expert opinions . . .

I find that the Alnico II magnets are smoother, less quacky pickups, compared to Alnico 5s when ive compared them in Strat Pickups. Basically caused by a weaker magnetic field in Alnico2 magnets. But, Humbuckers, im not really sure.

To order, id say go with Lew, at www.lewsguitars.com. I just bought antiquities and im very happy with how helpful he was in helping me choose and getting them to me very fast.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Need some expert opinions . . .

Where can I order the Seth Lovers and specify the creme coils? Is there anywhere online? And I'm still wondering if the tone will change at all if I remove the covers of the pickups . . . doesn't that big hunk of metal on top change the sound at all? (If so I would love to hear from someone who has played with a Seth Lover with the cover taken off . . .) I have covers on the old pickups that I was going to remove, so could I just take those off and put them overtop of the '59 in the neck?

As for the different tones produced by the pickups, I was checking the website and according to SD, the Seth Lover has an eq of 6/4/8 while the '59 has an EQ of 6/3/8 which I though would be close enough for me to use the same EQ on my amp . . . is this wrong? I need to be able to switch from bridge to neck while playing . . . And I was also wondering, is there a big difference between the alnico II and V magnets? Like would they not sound good together or somthing?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm kinda new to the world of replacement pickups . . . I just finally found a guitar that I like the feel of and I want it to sound as good as it plays.

- Steven

The Seth neck pickup in my Hamer Monoco was tested by me both with the cover on and off. It's brighter and more present with it off...warmer and jazzier with it on. I can get you a set of cream Seths if you're willing to wait a month or so. I have some 59N's in stock that are cream but no Seths that I know are cream. PM me if you like.

I mix a2 and a5 pickups all the time. You just have to know what the two sound like ahead of time so you get the balance right.

No matter what the tone chart says, most of us here agree that the Seths have more mids, looser bass and softer highs and the 59's have less mids, more and tighter bass and brighter treble.

Lew

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Need some expert opinions . . .

I've pretty much decided that the seth lover pickup is going to be my bridge pickup . . . and I think that I could get usable sound out of the '59 and SL combination. I was really only looking for a creme '59 because I love the sound of the uncovered '59 and don't want to spend an extra 20$ or so for a metal cover that might change the tone of the pickup at all. (I figure if the pickups really seem unbalanced to me, I can start messing around with pole positions, height screws, and try taking the cover off the seth lovers). I think that I'll take you up on your offer and try to bang out a deal with Lew . . . thank you all very much for your help . . .

- Steven