Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

[robo]

Howdy pickup wizards! I need a little help. I have bought a 90's Korean made Epi Sheraton. I really love it but not the pickups so much. I decided to use Duncan Seth Lovers in the guitar. I had a spare bridge pu so I put it in the guitar. Then my band went to the studio and recorded (live in studio) with the Seth Lover bridge/Epi original neck config. I was def gonna buy a neck Seth and replace the stock Epi. But then the project came to a halt during Christmas and New Years. The album was released and when I listen to it now, I don't really think there's a reason for switching it. The stock neck sounds quite all right with the bridge Duncan Seth Lover. Have my ears been accustom to the recorded sound, or do these pickups really match in this guitar?

Listen to this song for an example: first part of solo on the neck stock Epi pickup, and for the second turn I change to the Duncan Seth Lover. I'm perplexed, please lend me your pickup wizardy ears.

https://open.spotify.com/track/44WXNM1acSCDvIODAUsbuO?si=XVFw9r4cQn-8Ll1245crig

Kind regards, looking forward to your feedback!

 

[AlexR]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

Our ears don't matter.

Only yours do for your likes.

 

[robo]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

Our ears don't matter.
Only yours do for your likes.

Well yes and no. I'm afraid I'm a bit biased after mixing the album. I'm used to the guitar sounding this way now.
And let's agree that "used to" and "actual good" is not the same thing. That's why I wanna lend your ears. Give me some input, if you please.
Kind regards!

 

[superpete]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

i can't speak for you or your rig, but i greatly prefer seths to any epi hb.

 

[Johnny-DK]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

i can't speak for you or your rig, but i greatly prefer seths to any epi hb.

+1 and in particular on the old Epi pickups without the Pro designation.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

Well, thing is, if any mod makes you *feel* like you sound/play better, it is worth it. If you like the sound now, don't change it. But is that because you are used to it after mixing *and* it inspired you to play your best?

 

[robo]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

Well, thing is, if any mod makes you *feel* like you sound/play better, it is worth it. If you like the sound now, don't change it. But is that because you are used to it after mixing *and* it inspired you to play your best?

Well really it’s the other way around. I didn’t like the tone and was gonna change the pickup. But after mixing the recording and not playing the guitar for a while I’m starting to maybe like it. But then is that because Im biased after hearing it a lot during mixing or does it really sound OK? I dont really know anymore. Thats why I asked for advise. This forum have hepled me before so why not give it a shot, I thought. A second opinion is always nice.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

Well, if you like it, you like it. It doesn't matter why. If that is the sound you have in your head, it is unlikely you will match up to that. Just seeing if a swap is 'better' isn't enough to spend the money to do it, for me. If you were trying to correct something you didn't like, then go ahead and swap.

 

[robo]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

Well that is the thing really. I don’t know. I didn’t like it. But now Ive listened to this sound so much that maybe I do. Its all kinda blank to me now. Was hoping for some input to get me out of the loop and make a decision. Need to makenup my mind. Thanks for your thoughts on this matter.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

Upgrade to another Seth. Keep the receipt. You have 30 days to decide if it's an improvement. I can't see any stock Epi pickup in the same class as one of the great PAF's made today.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

Lots of really good players use stock epi pickups and they sound just fine.
Personal preference tho....I would rip those things out (and all the stock electronics) as quick as possible.

 

[robo]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

Huh! Never thought of the receipt advice. That's really a super idea. Thanks!

 

[robo]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

That was my initial idea. The thing im pounding now is wether they match. And I think they do. I dont know, I got a bit lost really. Been listening too much I guess…

 

[AlexR]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

Start playing the guitar, not listening to the recording (but maybe give it a few days for the ears to normalise).
Studios can make tone-deaf singers sound good, so its no surprise they can make dull pickups sparkle with the right additions. But you have to play the guitar night after night without that magic to equalise out problems, so you have to be happy with the tone out of the amp and in the band mix live.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

Start playing the guitar, not listening to the recording (but maybe give it a few days for the ears to normalise).
Studios can make tone-deaf singers sound good, so its no surprise they can make dull pickups sparkle with the right additions. But you have to play the guitar night after night without that magic to equalise out problems, so you have to be happy with the tone out of the amp and in the band mix live.

+1

I have a 90s Epiphone Dot . . . and really didn't think that the stock pickups were all that good in it. I put a Seth in the bridge and '59 in the neck, and the guitar really came alive. Stock the pickups were bassy, dull, and woofy. YMMV though, if you're happy with what you've got don't change it. But if you find yourself rarely using the neck pickup because it sounds so dark . . . maybe check out some of your options.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

The p'ups found in Korean Epis are known as "worst stock p'ups known to mankind".

Let it sink for a moment... now hear again and decide if you still like it.

/Peter

 

[robo]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

Yeah! That's probably it. I played through the studio owners 1971 Fender Deluxe Reverb Silverface, so maybe it was the amp that made the neck pickup sparkle.
Now I'm back to my Blues Deluxe Reissue and don't really know what to make of it. Great advice just to give it a few weeks and just play and not think so much.

 

[robo]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

The p'ups found in Korean Epis are known as "worst stock p'ups known to mankind".

Let it sink for a moment... now hear again and decide if you still like it.

/Peter

Well maybe, but then on the other hand. You hear what you hear. You listen to the link in the original post. The first part of the solo is on that sock Epi Korean humbucker. I'm thinking of switching it but come on its not THAT bad sounding?! Nevermind the playing. I just did what I felt like at the time – we recorded live and no overdubs – so it is what it is.
But if that sound is the "worst stock p'ups known to mankind" then worst is a pretty good word, isn't it?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

Judgments of tone can be highly personal, and extremely subjective. If you think the guitar sounds good, then that's all you need.

Sure, it can help to get some distance from a project you've been heavily involved in, in order to judge it more realistically. But that is still something that you need to decide yourself.

My number one bit of general advice is simple and classic: If you think something sounds good, then don't mess with it. "Sounds good" can often be a frustratingly fugitive place to reach. If you're already there, then consider yourself blessed, and just leave well enough alone.

 

[robo]

Re: Seth Lovers over 90's Epis

Judgments of tone can be highly personal, and extremely subjective. If you think the guitar sounds good, then that's all you need.

Sure, it can help to get some distance from a project you've been heavily involved in, in order to judge it more realistically. But that is still something that you need to decide yourself.

My number one bit of general advice is simple and classic: If you think something sounds good, then don't mess with it. "Sounds good" can often be a frustratingly fugitive place to reach. If you're already there, then consider yourself blessed, and just leave well enough alone.

Yeah that's a good idea. My problem is a bit more intricate though. I didn't like the pickup. I was gonna change it. But had to record and didn't have time to swap the pickup. Then after mixing and listening to it a lot of times, maybe I'm starting to like the sound of it. But I can't really tell if it's the recorded tone I like and somewhat hear when I play now. So I don't really know. All of you say baiscly the same thing: your own ears is all that matters. But I've been listening and listening so much these past months I don't really know what to make of it. That's why I asked for other peoples opinions. To get some thoughts to get me out of the loop of the pickup confusion. But maybe this is the wrong forum for that?