Sh-5 and 57 Classic

implant

New member
How would these 2 work together? I pulled a trigger on a LP Studio with 57 Classic+ at the bridge and 57 Classic at neck. Thought of swapping bridge pickup for Sh-5 which I already have in another guitar, in case 57+ is too old-school for my needs (rock, punk, dirty blues, chugga-chugga metal). Would Sh-5 and 57 Classic work together or should I go for 59 or Jazz for the neck? Thanks!

Ivan
 
Re: Sh-5 and 57 Classic

You should be fine, and hey, you already have the pickup. In the future, a Jazz is great for the neck.
 
Re: Sh-5 and 57 Classic

You should be fine, and hey, you already have the pickup. In the future, a Jazz is great for the neck.

Thanks, Mincer! You don't think SH-5 would be too loud? I think both 59 and Jazz have slightly hotter output compared to 57. Or that small difference is negligible and balance would be ok?
 
Re: Sh-5 and 57 Classic

I think the balance would probably fine. I don;'t think the 59 or Jazz is significantly higher output than the 57 classic myself.

I do tend to be anti-Gibson when it comes to pickups myself though (other than the P90s which are pretty damn good).
 
Re: Sh-5 and 57 Classic

I don't think the SH- would be too loud. Paired with either a Jazz or 59, there will be a volume difference, but it won't be as great as you might think.
 
Re: Sh-5 and 57 Classic

People do the jb jazz combo just fine, the custom with 59, custom with jazz etc etc have all been used for decades as perfectly balanced options.
I think more people have balance issues with calibrated PAF strength pickups actually.....The neck overpowers the bridge in many cases without a lot of height adjustment to and froing.
 
Re: Sh-5 and 57 Classic

Yeah I think that'd be a wonderful combo. The SH5 is muscular but not overpowered and still pretty PAF-ish. Works well with all levels of gain, even clean. It pairs well with lower output pickups. Mine is paired with a 59 but it would do equally well with a 57 Classic imo. Maybe even better

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Re: Sh-5 and 57 Classic

Not a fan of '57 Classics. Dull & muddy, and the retail is way overpriced. I've had them come in several guitars I've owned over the years, and all got pulled and sold. If you've never had any other PAF-ish PU, you may think they're okay. But if you've owned a variety of PAF's you'll probably realize there's a lot better PAF's readily available (check out the Duncan line, Seymour has a passion for PAF's)
 
Re: Sh-5 and 57 Classic

Thank you, guys! If I decide to change neck pickup too, which one would you recommend, 59 or Jazz? I'd like those buttery leads, that would work for both rock and metal.
 
Re: Sh-5 and 57 Classic

Then I personally suggest the '59 in that case. My SH-5 is paired with a '59 and it's an awesome, balanced combo. Probably my favorite I've ever had. The Jazz would definitely be great too, it's a little glassier and still very "vintage" sounding but imo the '59 is more creamy and versatile. I think you'd be very happy with either one, you can't go wrong

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Re: Sh-5 and 57 Classic

I prefer the 59 over the jazz. The latter is synthetic to my ears and I think it works better in a 25.5 scale guitar. Sometimes players have found the 59 (me too) a little boomy in the neck of a 24. 75 scale guitar, like you Lester. I swapped the A5 with A4 just to tame this boomines. Anyway I love the 59. At the moment I have 5 guitars and it is in three of them.
 
Re: Sh-5 and 57 Classic

I was wondering about the A2Pro myself to go along with my SH6
 
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Re: Sh-5 and 57 Classic

The Alnico II Pro doesn't have a tight bass, but it has mids like 2 giant sticks of butter. It's a Butterbucker.
 
Re: Sh-5 and 57 Classic

The 59n & Sh5 combo I have in lp copy guitar as well. These two complement eachother well. It took a bit of height adjustment on the sh5 for me to get it balanced tonewise, the 59n has a big bottom end so getting it adjusted first to where i want was the key to get a smooth transition to the bridge sh5. For some reason the sh5 even though it has lots of highs, it doesnt get shrill sounding with playing single notes,, turning the tone a little fixes any over abundance of highs in it. The mids are perfect for an LP guitar.
 
Re: Sh-5 and 57 Classic

'59N has more character/color than JazzN, but it also has more end, which is sometimes an issue in LP's, occasionally 335's. Neither PU fits the definition of 'creamy.' They're more for treble and scooped mids.

For a 'creamy' neck PU, Mincer's suggestion of A2P is very good. Nice full tones without being muddy. Check it out.
 
Re: Sh-5 and 57 Classic

The only guitar I own with stock pickups is my 2010 LP Traditional. All my other axes are equipped with Duncans, of which I own a TB-5.

The LP cam with 57 Classic+/57 Classic combo, and after reading some reviews before I bought it, I thought to swap them for Duncans. On trying the guitar before buying it (tried 3 of them in Iced Tea Burst, mine has the less stinning top, but it sang and sustained like the other didn't) they didn't sound that bad at all, but it's plugged to my gear that I find if pickps stay or go. These ones are staying, and my tech, who also hates this 57 set on other LPs, finds that mine seems a match made in Heaven. Not boomy, not bland, not dull at all, on mine they do sound stellar. so they are staying.

I own the TB-5 on a PRS SE 30th Annivestary Custom 24 Flame Top. A beast of a pickup for gain, especially on the low mids, but I find it to be very versatile. To my ears, one of the best Duncan pickups for mahogany bodied guitars, and for those wanting a massive brdge sound with gain.

Don't quite get the "PAF on steroids" marketing stamp, though
 
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