Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

[The Vault]

Hey there. I've got a mid 90's Gibson 335. The stock Gibson p/u's aren't cutting it. I've got Antiquities in my 'Am Tele' and love 'em. I was thinking 'bout placing humbucker Antiquities or Seth Lovers in my 335. I've heard Ant's in a Les Paul and loved the tone, but not sure how they would compare installed in a hollowbody.

What would you recommend?

 

[Curly]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

well, either one would sound great

I'd suggest you consider a potted Seth (or Antiquity), which would be a custom shop order. That might be a better solution for a semi-hollow.

MJ pots Seths fairly often, and I know that players are happy with the results.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

Or...

Custom Shop Phat Staple

Just for fun!

 

[The Vault]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

Thanks Stratman

In what way would the wax-potted PU's be a better solution to non-potted P/U's?

I'm also toying with the idea of placing soapbar P/U's in my 335, but it's just an idea because I'm not sure how they'd sound different to reg-sized HB, but I am leaning more towards the Ant's or SL's.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

I my opinion the Antiquities do everything the Seths do but "more". The life that is in the Antiquities is in the Seths, too, just less.

The only downside of the Ants is that IMHO the bridge wind is a little hot and it has a honky coloring in the bridge which some people might not like. The Seth bridge is a little more even, between an Ant and a regular PU. In the neck I would never choose a Seth over an Ant.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

I'd use a pair of '59's. While Antiquities may sound one way in your Tele, putting them in a completely different body/neck design & different wood will yield different results. I think the odds of you duplicating your Tele's sound in a 335 are slim. This forum is full of stories of guys putting one PU in a variety of guitars and sounding different in each.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

I'd use a pair of '59's. While Antiquities may sound one way in your Tele, putting them in a completely different body/neck design & different wood will yield different results. I think the odds of you duplicating your Tele's sound in a 335 are slim. This forum is full of stories of guys putting one PU in a variety of guitars and sounding different in each.

I don't think the OP meant that he used Antiquity humbuckers in his Tele.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

I don't think the OP meant that he used Antiquity humbuckers in his Tele.

He wsn't clear on that point. And if he's using SC Antiquities (is there such a thing?), there's even less reason to expect a similar tone in a 335.

 

[Curly]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

In what way would the wax-potted PU's be a better solution to non-potted P/U's?

... to avoid any chance of unwanted feedback that semi-hollow bodies can sometimes produce.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

This thread really jumped the shark now.

Unpotted pickups won't get any more microphonic in a semi-hollow.

The via-wood feedback that the semihollow might experience does not multiply with mechanical feedback from the unpotted coils.

You want, however, to make absolutely sure that you have a strong mount there, that means strong springs and the screw treads not noodled out.

In my opinion, amount and style of potting is one of the most important aspects of how PAFs sound. I would never have the poor thing drowned in goo unless absolutely required.

 

[jimijames]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

He wsn't clear on that point. And if he's using SC Antiquities (is there such a thing?), there's even less reason to expect a similar tone in a 335.

If by SC you mean single coil antiquities, Seymour makes antiquities for telecaster and strat, as well as an Antiquity II set for strat that is affectionately known as the Surfer (i.e. 60's surf sound)

Also, assuming the OP has played long enough to acquire a tele and a 335, I imagine he'd have the experience to realize that a telecaster and 335 will always be worlds apart - it may even by why he bought both of them

 

[Curly]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

In my opinion, amount and style of potting is one of the most important aspects of how PAFs sound. I would never have the poor thing drowned in goo unless absolutely required.

actually, you can get them lightly potted ... it's something MJ does all the time for Seths

I was offering an option, since I know that lots of folks are happy with potted Seths.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

i dont think you would go wrong with either one, i use em both and love em. to me the ants do have a little extra mojo. if i had to pick, id say go with the antiquitys.

i wouldnt worry about gettting anything potted until feedback becomes a problem. unpotted pups are more lively and if you dont need to take that 7% extra tone away then i wouldnt.

the 59's that blueman suggested are also a good choice. they are a classic long magnet alnico v paf pup that is potted. they are my favorite pups to put into epiphone les pauls, ive done it a dozen times and everytime it just works out great.

the big difference between the 59 and the seth/antiquity option is the magnet. a5 vs a2. personally im a a2 junkie but they both have their places and distinct tones. if you like big warm mids and a softer top and bottom then a2 is a better choice. if you like a bolder deeper bottom, less mids and a clear strong top end then a5 would be the choice. you can also order an antiquity with an a5 magnet but it would cost more and take longer to get.

 

[The Vault]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

The Antiquities in my Tele are single coil, but I'm buying a separate set (HB) for the 335. I'm defo looking for a different tone than my Tele... although I love my tele and it's my #1 gee-tar, a HB sound with some SD tone is what I'm looking for. I'm hoping that I'm happy with the HB Antiquities so much that 'll wanna through some Ants in my Strat (eventually).

I like mids, and slight highs in tone. The mellow bottom end doesn't really fit what I do, although I love the sound of a clean neck P/U. in this case, I suppose Ants might be what I'm looking for, even if Seths seem very likable.

I supopse the real decision would be weather I want to wax the pots before ordering them, but a little feedback is always controllable as I use more crunch and slight overdrive instead of heavy distortion.

**EDIT**
I prob should have shared that my Tele's SC bridge Ant is paired up with an HB Jazz Neck P/U..it's a good combo and the Jazz in the Tele adds some warmth in the neck position that I was looking for, and it compliments nicely with the Tele SC Ant Bridge

 

[jeremy]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

do you plan on keeping the covers on the antiquitys? do you play with lots of gain? at high volumes?

 

[The Vault]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

do you plan on keeping the covers on the antiquitys? do you play with lots of gain? at high volumes?

That's a good question. I probably will keep 'em on... they'll sound 'hotter' without the covers on and possibly be more susceptible to unwanted noise, won't they?

But even without the covers on, the feedback and noise won't be over bearing in a hollow body, will they?

I like a crunchy sound when the volume is set to 10 on the guitar, and some extra comp or slight overdrive for solos. That being said, I am also looking for a P/U that will break and clean up nicely when I roll off the guitar volume knob

**EDIT**
My amp setting usually has a crunch setting set at about 5-8. I use various amps (Marshall/Twin Reverb and an AC30 ~ all tubes)

 

[blueman335]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

But even without the covers on, the feedback and noise won't be over bearing in a hollow body, will they?

You don't have a hollow body, you have a semi-hollow (aka semi-solid). Alvin Lee played a 335 at a million watts at Woodstock; I think you'll be fine.

 

[The Vault]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

You don't have a hollow body, you have a semi-hollow (aka semi-solid). Alvin Lee played a 335 at a million watts at Woodstock; I think you'll be fine.

My bad... cool... the only thing that was hollow on that comment of mine was my brain...

:doh:!

 

[The Vault]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

BTW, what 'k' watt pots are recommended with the Ants.. 500k?

Thanks for all the opinions and stuff guys... really cleared up some questions of mine.

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Opinions on replacement P/U's for my 335: Antiquities or Seths?

I'd use a pair of '59's. While Antiquities may sound one way in your Tele, putting them in a completely different body/neck design & different wood will yield different results. I think the odds of you duplicating your Tele's sound in a 335 are slim. This forum is full of stories of guys putting one PU in a variety of guitars and sounding different in each.

I've got Antiquities in a Heritage 535 (334 copy) and love the neck pickup, but the bridge just doesn't work for me. It sounds a bit thin for lack of a better word - could just be the guitar. For a friend, we used a Seth Lover neck and a '59 bridge in his Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II and I loved the results! The neck is warm but clear, and the bridge sounds like rock 'n roll (early '70s type).

I do think an Antiquity humbucker has a little extra going on that the Seth Lover lacks, but the Seth Lover is still a fine neck pickup for your guitar IMHO.

Chip