Replacement for a '59 Model?

[LaXu]

I've got a '59 Model (SH-1) in the bridge position on my Yamaha Pacifica 812WX along with two SSL-1 singlecoils. I like the SSLs but the SH-1 is not quite what I'm looking for. It tends to sound kind of thin and nasal for single note lines. Works fine for rhythm but leads have this nasty nasal high mid thing going on that is hard to dial out with the amp's controls.

So basically I'd like something that is not nasal and is a bit thicker sounding, perhaps with slightly more output as well. A trembucker model would also be in order...

The guitar has an alder body, maple neck with a rosewood fretboard and a Wilkinson trem. Here's a pic:

I love the PATB-1 I have in my basswood bodied Ibanez RG550 and was thinking maybe I should slap one of those in the bridge position? Or maybe the Custom 5 would be the ticket?

 

[dd12939]

Re: Replacement for a '59 Model?

Before I read the end of your post, I was going to recommend the PATB-1, as I love it in my Strat. Another option is the PATB-3 - IIRC, just about everyone who has tried it really loves it.

 

[MattPete]

Re: Replacement for a '59 Model?

If you like the PATB-1, that might be good. Alternatively, you might try the PATB-3 Blues Saraceno or the Custom. I would stay away from the Custom 5 if you think the 59 sounds thin.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Replacement for a '59 Model?

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!

If you like the PATB-1, that might be good. Alternatively, you might try the PATB-3 Blues Saraceno or the Custom. I would stay away from the Custom 5 if you think the 59 sounds thin.

Absolutely, the C5 is like a 59 but overwound. I would go with the Pearly Gates trembucker or Custom Custom Trembucker. Either has more output (not much in the PG's case) and both have an A2 magnet for a smoother sound.

Pearly Gates---the PG is a PAF style pup with uneven coil windings which makes it sound a bit "rude". It has a push in presence/cut knob range on your amp.

Custom Custom---The CC has the same coil configuratin as the Custom but with an A2 magnet giving it smooth lows and highs and a large mids push. It will warm up any guitar and give you more oomph.

A Custom will sound good too and have more low and high end than the Custom Custom.

Luke

 

[BlueGuitar]

Re: Replacement for a '59 Model?

... I like the SSLs but the SH-1 is not quite what I'm looking for. It tends to sound kind of thin and nasal for single note lines. Works fine for rhythm but leads have this nasty nasal high mid thing going on that is hard to dial out with the amp's controls...

Is there a chance that the SH-1 is damaged or wired incorrectly? If you have a digital meter you might want to measure the resistance- the bridge SH-1 should be ~8.13k while the neck SH-1 would be around 7.43k. A reading of half those values would suggest that only one of the coils is working; a reading of 1/4 of those values would suggest that the pickup has been wired internally in parallel instead of in series. (You can make rough measurements of the resistance by setting the selector switch to bridge, turning all of the controls to 10 and then plugging a cable into the output jack.)

I guess that you have already tried raising it up or lowering it to see if you can get better sounds from it.

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: Replacement for a '59 Model?

No help here. I love 59's and I have never heard them described as nasal. JB's yes but never the 59. A CC worked great in my strat. Give that a go I guess.

 

[LaXu]

Re: Replacement for a '59 Model?

Is there a chance that the SH-1 is damaged or wired incorrectly? If you have a digital meter you might want to measure the resistance- the bridge SH-1 should be ~8.13k while the neck SH-1 would be around 7.43k. A reading of half those values would suggest that only one of the coils is working; a reading of 1/4 of those values would suggest that the pickup has been wired internally in parallel instead of in series. (You can make rough measurements of the resistance by setting the selector switch to bridge, turning all of the controls to 10 and then plugging a cable into the output jack.)

Measured and got the right values, it's definitely humbucking. I think thin might've been a wrong word to use, maybe I should've said that it doesn't have the sort of sweetness that my other humbucker guitars have. It has more of a "half-****ed wah" sound to it on single notes. I just noticed that turning the tone pot down a couple of notches helps a bit, but the single coils obviously lose clarity. It's definitely something with the voicing on the humbucker, in position 2 (middle plus split hb) there's the same nasal thing but switching to just the middle pickup fixes this.

I've got the '59 Model neck version in the afore-mentioned Ibanez RG550 and it definitely doesn't sound anything like the bridge model in this one. The PATB-1 in it does get nasal if you go overboard with the mids on the amp but the Yamaha tends to sound a bit nasal no matter what the settings.

I guess that you have already tried raising it up or lowering it to see if you can get better sounds from it.

Tried that too, didn't help for that.

 

[LaXu]

Re: Replacement for a '59 Model?

bump

 

[mrid]

Re: Replacement for a '59 Model?

CC, definitely.

 

[Artie]

Re: Replacement for a '59 Model?

btw - Nice axe.