Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

Question for all the clean tone expert.

I find that my neck Seth Lover is a fair bit fuller/warmer sounding than my A2P neck.

Would that be the general observation / consensus among the rest of the forum members ?

Granted, they are in two very diff guitars.

A2P in a Gibson SG, 24.75'' scale (one piece body) with 11-52 strings.
SL in a PRS SE Santana, 24.5'' scale, also with 11-52 strings.

Both pick ups are set up, so that they are exactly the same distance from the strings.


Alnico 2 Pro / 7.5K [neck] : https://www.seymourduncan.com/single-product/alnico-ii-pro-hb?pa_position=neck

Seth Lover / 7.4K [neck] : https://www.seymourduncan.com/single-product/seth-lover?pa_position=neck

(I always assumed (yikes) that the A2P neck unit would be one of the warmest neck pick ups out there, regardless of brand.)

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

The A2P sounds warmer to me since it's smoother. The Seth is a little more cut up with mids and grit but still pretty warm.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

If your SG has the typical construction with the neck pickup pushed away from the fretboard end, thats where your difference is. There is a noted difference between a pickup at the end of a 22fret guitar and a 24fret one.....which is the effective position of the SG neck slot.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

Out of those 2 clips I think the A2P sounds best.
The Seth just doesn’t have the same roundness and warmth.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

If your SG has the typical construction with the neck pickup pushed away from the fretboard end, thats where your difference is. There is a noted difference between a pickup at the end of a 22fret guitar and a 24fret one.....which is the effective position of the SG neck slot.

I think you are most deff onto something.

SG bridge to neck pick up screw pole pieces : 137mm

PRS bridge to neck pick up screw pole pieces : 155mm

 

[Golem]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

The Santana is 25 inch like most PRS, isn’t it?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

The Santana is 25 inch like most PRS, isn’t it?

No. It's 24 1/2". I thought it was 24 3/4, like a Gibson. But I just looked it up and it's 24 1/2.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

The Alnico II Pro is warmer to me, but the Seth is more touch sensitive, and if you have an especially warm guitar, the Seth does translate that pretty well.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

Yep,it's the difference in placement. Two centimeters can make a world of difference.
I once moved a bridge humbucker a mere quarter of an inch and the change was quite noticeable.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

PRS has a slightly shorter scale length and the neck pickup farther away from the bridge pickup. These are two things that equal fuller and warmer, even if the differences are minor.

Interesting to see a 24.5" guitar. The first set neck I built, about 20 years ago, was my own design, and it used that scale length. Until reading about the Santana being 24.5", I had not heard of another.

The A2P is the Poor Man's Seth; I have said that for years. They are not identical sounding, but they are close enough that pickup adjustments and amp settings can get them to do effectively the same job. The Seth is if you want butyrate bobbins and the old winding machine. Otherwise, get the A2Ps.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

The Santana is 25 inch like most PRS, isn’t it?

. . . i believe it is 24.5 inch scale.


https://www.prsguitars.com/index.php/electrics/model/se_santana_2019

 

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

The Alnico II Pro is warmer to me, but the Seth is more touch sensitive, and if you have an especially warm guitar, the Seth does translate that pretty well.

Good to know. Thanks Mincer.
The stock pick ups did NOT work for me . . .
Sounded thin . . . made me think the guitar is more of a brighter instruemnt.
The Stock SE pick ups vs Seth Lovers are NIGHT & DAY !

 

[The JEM Ghost]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

If your SG has the typical construction with the neck pickup pushed away from the fretboard end, thats where your difference is. There is a noted difference between a pickup at the end of a 22fret guitar and a 24fret one.....which is the effective position of the SG neck slot.

I completely agree with this, positon of the pickups is the key in what you hear as a difference.
The closer the pickup is to the neck, the warmer and fuller it will be sounding.
Another nice example of why not to compare pickups that are in different guitars, it often leads to the wrong conclusions.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

I prefer Seth Lovers or Antiquitys. I have Seths in my SE Singlecut, and if you remove the covers and you're lucky you might find this:

 

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

I completely agree with this, positon of the pickups is the key in what you hear as a difference.
The closer the pickup is to the neck, the warmer and fuller it will be sounding.
Another nice example of why not to compare pickups that are in different guitars, it often leads to the wrong conclusions.

. . . sooo true !

 

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

I prefer Seth Lovers or Antiquitys. I have Seths in my SE Singlecut, and if you remove the covers and you're lucky you might find this:

Sweet single cut Lew <3

Seeing as you prefer both Seth Lovers & Ants . . . how would you say they differ in their tonal qualities / characters ?

 

[zizyphus]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

I prefer Seth Lovers or Antiquitys. I have Seths in my SE Singlecut, and if you remove the covers and you're lucky you might find this:

Oh man... what are the odds??? (15 to 1, but you get my point...)

The Seth is if you want butyrate bobbins and the old winding machine. Otherwise, get the A2Ps.

:18:

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

I prefer Seth Lovers or Antiquitys. I have Seths in my SE Singlecut, and if you remove the covers and you're lucky you might find this:

Lew, I'm intrigued by that chair. Did you make it? Got more pics?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

When I compared them in a 335-type, the Seths had slightly more mids. The Ants were clearer, and seemed to have even more touch-sensitivity, if that is possible. Ants are absolutely more scooped.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

Re: Surprising Neck pick up observation. A2P vs. Seth Lover

When I compared them in a 335-type, the Seths had slightly more mids. The Ants were clearer, and seemed to have even more touch-sensitivity, if that is possible. Ants are absolutely more scooped.

Great info - thank you very much.
According to your personal experience . . . looks like i have made the right choice, in getting the Seth Lover set, and not the Ant set.

Much Appreciated Mincer