New WLH User

H

Humbugger

New member
Today I finally decided to install a WLH set in my LP Traditional. This was my last LP with A2P's, and while I have been pretty satisfied with them I decided I wanted to swap just to see how the WLH's sound. I also recently started installing pickups myself and frankly just wanted to redeem myself after my last install (fried my bridge volume pot).

I was on the fence with the WLH set as I didn't really like any of the demos I watched, and I seem to prefer A2 sounds when it comes to pickups. My install was a success, and I can honestly say everything I read on this site about the WLH set is true - I love them!! The tone is very warm and you can really feel the slight compression when playing. As everyone else says, they are extremely balanced - everything just sounds right. If I didn't know they were A5 magnets I would guess they were A2 - no shrill highs or scooped mids, and the bass is present but not boomy. They do have some growl or snarl in the tone, sort of like the PG, but minus the upper mid emphasis. The output is good, they feel slightly hotter than my A2P's but don't necessarily feel "hot". The cleans are better than I expected as well, they are very good - especially if you roll the volume off just slightly. Overall I am very happy and my guitar sounds great. If you are on the fence like I was give them a chance, they really are that good.
 
Re: New WLH User

I'm getting ready to try these myself. I appreciate the information, I am also on the fence about which pickups but I'm going with these.
 
Re: New WLH User

I finally pulled the trigger on WLH a couple of days ago. They are in the mail now, can't wait to get them. And OPs post didn't help one bit. ;)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Re: New WLH User

Humbugger said:
If I didn't know they were A5 magnets I would guess they were A2 - no shrill highs or scooped mids, and the bass is present but not boomy. They do have some growl or snarl in the tone, sort of like the PG, but minus the upper mid emphasis. The output is good, they feel slightly hotter than my A2P's but don't necessarily feel "hot".
Click to expand...

And this is why Seymour is Seymour, and none of the rest of us are….


I always point out that a pickup is far more than the magnet, or the wind, or the wire gauge, or whatever. When you speak of magnets, winding, etc….we are discussing generalities. I know nothing of the Alchemy of mixing them all together simultaneously - but I know that it exists.
 
Re: New WLH User

They are that good, aren't they? Demos can only go so far...it isn't your guitar or amp, or playing style or fingers. They are useful in comparing one pickup to another, but not as useful in figuring out how it will sound in your specific guitar. Buying pickups you are not that familiar with is always going to be an 'educated guess' sort of thing. I am happy it worked out so well for you!
 
Re: New WLH User

After playing on them some more I am still just as happy (if not more) than I was when I first heard them. I had to make a couple of very minor adjustments (lowered neck pickup a little, raised D screws slightly for better string balance) but they sound awesome. These pickups really seem to have a little bit of all the things I like. I feel like I have a broad range of tones available between my 2 LP's (other one has a PG set). I'm very happy - and I have to say learning how to install my own pickups has been a very rewarding and liberating experience. It's really not as hard as it looks, and each time I have learned from my mistakes and improved my process.
 
Re: New WLH User

I put a set in my PRS SC-58 last year. They brought the guitar, my favorite, to life. I agree with everything you said about them
 
Re: New WLH User

Glad you like them Humbugger and glad this swap went better!! Ive made a mistake (or 5) doing swaps too, but it gets easier and I have gotten much quicker at it. I have done dozens at this point, but Im still a horribly sloppy solderer. My biggest thing is that I think I have to make them withstand a nuclear blast, so Im sure I apply WAY too much solder. Aint always pretty, but usually works.. ; )

As far as the WLH pups. I Love mine! And TBH, I try NOT to like them every time I play them because I normally dont like "vintage" style pickups. I mean I run 59s in the neck position of a few axes, but normally for the bridge I choose something hotter. But the WLH set deliver. They clean up nice, sound sweet and can rock out too.

Again, glad to hear you like em so much!!
 
Re: New WLH User

I wish that they had a little more chewy midrange..I'm tempted to try some roughcast a2 mags in them.

That said they have quickly become my fave Duncan lower output pickups.
 
Re: New WLH User

JeffB said:
I wish that they had a little more chewy midrange..I'm tempted to try some roughcast a2 mags in them.

That said they have quickly become my fave Duncan lower output pickups.
Click to expand...

What would make me nervous about chasing the "chewy midrange" is the low end on the WLH is already loose and fuzzy (IMO) so I'd be nervous that whatever mod that may get you those softer mids would also affect the lows.

Also one of my favorite Duncan pickups.
 
Re: New WLH User

Well, good thing getting a host of magnets to switch out is cheap and easy. If you stumble upon something especially wonderful, let us know.
 
Re: New WLH User

Haven't posted on here in years, but just had to chime in and say I picked up a set of these and popped them into my LP Traditional and just love them! Clarity and tone is just very very good. And of course the middle position is just nuts......go figure!! Ha Ha.
 
Re: New WLH User

I just put a set of these in my les Paul. Crazy good pickups. I like them more than the dimarzio 36th anniversary set. The picking dynamics and the way the pick scrapes Coke through with the WLH set is unlike anything I've heard before.

I have a lot of high output pickups and wanted something traditional in my les Paul. My other traditional pickups are the Slash set in my AFD LP.
 
Re: New WLH User

Buckeyedog said:
Sherwood, how do the Slash pickups compare to the WLH's??
Click to expand...

Hi Buckeydog, I just tried both sets of pickups. The Gibson AFD and my Custom LP with Ebony board and WLH set. Both guitars have 500k pots all around and I used my Marshall JVM410H.

The Slash set are slightly darker but string to string definition is still very balanced. They feel more forgiving to me than the WLH. The Slash set is looser feeling which may account for the forgiving nature of them.

The WLH set sound louder to me but that may be due to the brightness. It's a pleasant brightness that is still very mid present. These are tight sounding pickups (not Duncan Custom tight) but more tight than the Slash Set. The WLH bridge pickup has a sensitive quality that sends every pick stroke no mater how small through my amp. It's a really cool sound that reminds me of having a noise gate set really tight. The sensitivity is so cool. I have played the slash set, duncan JB and custom and like them all. This WLH set has something extra to them that the others don't have. Don't get me wrong, I love the other pickups too and don't plan on removing them. I couldn't choose one pickup out of all of them that is my favorite although right now the WLH and Custom are really making me smile.
 
Re: New WLH User

Good response and thanks!! The slash set intrigues me for sure. I always hear great things about the custom but I worry about the ceramic mag. But it seems to get really good reviews overall. These WLH's are really good. I'm loving them big time in my Traditional. The traditional was on the block a month ago, but not now!!
 
Re: New WLH User

Hey Buckeyedog! Welcome back! Glad you dig the WLH set! I love mine! I just wanted to share a word about the custom. It is oft misunderstood if you will because of the ceramic magnet. TBH, if the spec sheet didnt say it was ceramic, I wouldnt have guessed it. Its a very good pup without any of the ceramic harshness. My personal fav go to pickup is a Custom 8. One of the Custom series pickups and put an alnico 8 mag in it. It keeps most of the eq spread of the custom, but injects alittle more vibe or soul into it. Just wanted to toss that in there..
 
Re: New WLH User

Awesome, thanks! I'd love to try the custom or custom 8 but can't bring myself to pull the WLH's out!! Ha Ha. Guess I could always swap the bridge pickup out and see. But man, these sound so good. I'll certainly keep the custom or hybrid or custom 8 in mind if I decide to try it.
 
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