seth lover n vs. 59 n

CorganIsGood

CorganIsGood

New member
i am intrigued by the soundclips of the seth lover neck model, but also hear it is "warmer" than a 59n. im not too sure what the meaning of warm has evolved into these days whether its bass or something else, but whichever neck pickup i eventually decide to buy will be paired with a distortion in the bridge of a gibson les paul standard.

I'm not a huge fan of an overly bassy neck sound, but i would like to try something different than my jazz-n. has anyone compared the two (seth-n & 59-n) or can anyone that knows more about them offer me insight/pro's/cons to how the two may potentially compare in my les pauls neck? I use a mesa boogie dual rectifier as well.


if i could offer details of what styles of music are similar to what I play, i would say tool / a perfect circle / alice in chains / soundgarden, but primarily like a perfect circle. I tend to go to great lengths to get the sweetest tone possible... whether thru pickups, technique etc... the seth lover clips sounded good man.

advice appreciated, thanks.
 
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

I've tried both a Seth and a '59 in the neck position of my LP Standard. I settled on the Seth.

The Seth has considerably less bass than the '59, which I find to be an advantage in the LP neck position. The Seth never gets overly boomy or 'wooffy'. The '59 is a great pickup too but requires more careful adjustment and EQ-ing in my experience.

I think the 'warmth' of the Seth is essentially a midrange focus that gives the impression of softer lows and highs.

Remember that Seths are unpotted - if you are considering high gain / high volume styles you might also want to look at the Alnico II Pro and Pearly Gates neck models.
 
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

I agree. I hear the 59N (and Jazz N too!) as having a brighter top and more bass than the Seth. The Seth has a thicker, fatter tone with more mids and, IMO, because it has less bass I find it easier to get a warm, clear rythym tone from the Seth than I do the 59N.
 
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

CorganIsGood said:
is an unpotted pickup more prone to humming/buzzing?
Click to expand...

No. But the nickel cover might resonate if you're facing a loud amp and that's what wax potting a humbucker helps prevent. Lew
 
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

Lewguitar said:
No. But the nickel cover might resonate if you're facing a loud amp and that's what wax potting a humbucker helps prevent. Lew
Click to expand...

Agreed. If you are facing that massive Mesa rig in your Avatar pic, you might get some squeeling. However, there are others that have not encountered that problem.
 
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

i have a boss ns-2 noise supressor on my pedal board would that totally eliminate the "unpotting noise" or just potentially mildly ease it a bit?

should i avoid the whole unpotted pickup thing and get something different?
 
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

My suggestion would be either an APH-1 or a PG. And you might be able to get more bottom out of the bridge models if you so desire.
 
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

CorganIsGood said:
i have a boss ns-2 noise supressor on my pedal board would that totally eliminate the "unpotting noise" or just potentially mildly ease it a bit?

should i avoid the whole unpotted pickup thing and get something different?
Click to expand...


No. Unpotting noise as you call it is also called "bad feedback/squeals like a pig". It is nothing like constant hum or buzz.
 
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

will an aph-1 in the neck be able to keep up with a distortion bridge very well? my jazz left a little to be desired, but maybe it wasnt due to the output as much as it was to the eq specs.

i like your icon korova, what is the story behind limecat & his/her existence?
seriously, i am hypnotized by that icon and must know!
 
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

I have my Recti set to Vintage High, Pre 6, Bass 2 and Mid 7 to 8. A couple of fuzzes in front, one for more gain same tone and one for a treble boost which I don't need with the JB or DD. There's really no boosting that preamp. Any boost just turns into sweet compression. I'd drop an a2 or a3 in the Jazz before moving on to another pickup...seriously.
 
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

Lightning said:
I have my Recti set to Vintage High, Pre 6, Bass 2 and Mid 7 to 8. A couple of fuzzes in front, one for more gain same tone and one for a treble boost which I don't need with the JB or DD. There's really no boosting that preamp. Any boost just turns into sweet compression. I'd drop an a2 or a3 in the Jazz before moving on to another pickup...seriously.
Click to expand...


in my comment of the jazz, I refer to my schecter c1-elite loaded with a DD/Jazz set. My les paul still has stock burstbuckers,but i'd like to use a distortion bridge because i am fond of it. I apologize for my lack of clarification sir. the jazz isnt a bad pickup, i'd just like to try something different...maybe a lil more bass ...little more balls. swapping a magnet in the jazz might be a possibility, is it difficult?

korova, im still waiting for the 411 on limecat
 
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/barmagswap.htm.

It's easy to me. After loosening the bobbins screws use a wallpaper knife (it fits perfectly in between the poles) to loosen the magnet. That's wax, not glue in there.

Torres Engineering has a2 mags. http://www.ampge.com/ has a2s and a3s.

You might be interested in a Screaming Demon in the neck...it specs out like a WCR Fillmore neck at half the price. The Fillmore is a very eloquent neck pickup, not overly bassy (it uses different #43 wire, the vintage pickups use #42 and tend to get woofy when wound out to 8k) although that's where I learned that pull the bass down on the Recti trick was from that pickup.

That trick will allow you to use a A2P bridge or Gibson 57 in the neck without them getting woofy under high gain.

I haven't played a Gibson 496R through a Recti but I've played one through an old 4 input Marshall with a TS-808 and a Chandler Tube Driver and I was knocked out. Lots of presence.

Hey...ah...you don't have to call me sir but your manners are appreciated.
 
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

CorganIsGood said:
is an unpotted pickup more prone to humming/buzzing?
Click to expand...

My two main Les Pauls have C-5/59 and CC/Seth and I really like the way both sound. To me the C-5/59 sounds like a matched set that is the most articulate and versatile. It's true that the 59N has more bass, but it's tighter bass. Alnico 5 pickups tend to be tighter sounding, so to me, that extra bass just makes the neck solo tone a very nice one.

On the other hand, the Alnico 2 CC and Seth Lover N has a great tone, which is a tad darker, but a little less crystal clear sounding. What you'll get out of this combo is a neck pickup with great character that sustains for days, and a bridge pickup that is growly and fat, even on single notes.

It's really hard to tell you which neck pickup sounds better, but my instinct tells me that a 59 or Pearly Gates would go better with the Distortion.
Honestly, I'd go with a C-5, CC, Custom, PG, or Seth bridge before a Distortion, but that's just me.

As for microphonic squealing......The unpotted neck pickups have never been a problem for me, but ALL my bridge pickups need to be potted otherwise they do ring or squeal. I'm not primarily a highgain player, but I do use a hot lead channel, so it's necessary. My unpotted Seth neck never had a problem.
 
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

CorganIsGood said:
i have a boss ns-2 noise supressor on my pedal board would that totally eliminate the "unpotting noise" or just potentially mildly ease it a bit?

should i avoid the whole unpotted pickup thing and get something different?
Click to expand...


dude dont worry about that **** man u already have a mesa half stack and a gibson les paul what else do you need just get that jb / 59 and you r set man i wish i was rich like you
 
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

rombola said:
dude dont worry about that **** man u already have a mesa half stack and a gibson les paul what else do you need just get that jb / 59 and you r set man i wish i was rich like you
Click to expand...

i'm not rich, my rig's manifestation is a direct result of me whoring myself out by making countless pizzas, selling them to hundreds of hostile customers (lots of dumb ones too), and the occasional strategically placed meth addicts trying to sell their gear half price.

... if anyone's rich... it has the be Gearjoneser :dance:
 
Last edited:
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

CorganIsGood said:
... if anyone's rich... it has the be Gearjoneser :dance:
Click to expand...

If rich means I'd do any sh!t job from the time I was 14 till now just to have the gear I need to be a semipro or pro musician, you'd be right.
If rich means anything was given to me, you'd be wrong. I ran away from home a few days after graduating highschool and have never been given a thing by anyone. I'm just a smart gear shuffler.
 
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

Gearjoneser said:
If rich means I'd do any sh!t job from the time I was 14 till now just to have the gear I need to be a semipro or pro musician, you'd be right.
If rich means anything was given to me, you'd be wrong. I ran away from home a few days after graduating highschool and have never been given a thing by anyone. I'm just a smart gear shuffler.
Click to expand...


it's cool man, it seems very apparent by looking at your gear link that you are proud of your gear and hold it very dear to you as anyone who has worked hard for it should. I can respect it.
 
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

CorganIsGood said:
i have a boss ns-2 noise supressor on my pedal board would that totally eliminate the "unpotting noise" or just potentially mildly ease it a bit?

should i avoid the whole unpotted pickup thing and get something different?
Click to expand...



You can special order wax potted Seth Lovers as custom floor models.
 
Re: seth lover n vs. 59 n

theboatcandream said:
You can special order wax potted Seth Lovers as custom floor models.
Click to expand...

do you think there would be much effect on the tone? and if so what kind of difference?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top