Tell me about 59b w/A2

[Hank-]

I wanted some idea about these being compared in same guitar.

Here's what I've found online:
*Regular 59 & Seths have different mags(A5 & A2)
*Seths arent potted. Otherwise they are close or the same, right?

Did those that make a A2 swap in their 59b found it useful? I don't have a 59b in hand or I'd know instead

No specific guitar in mind per say either, any input is useful

 

[lemonman]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

They are not that similar with the same magnet. The 59B wind is darker than the SethB, so the top end's not as open & bright (even an unpotted 59). The Seth is more complex clean; the 59 is a little tighter under heavier crunch. It makes a nice option between the Seth and PG.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

Seths have a midrange honk to them and some top end spank like a Fender.
59s are chunkier on the bottom end and scooped in the midrange area Seths have a bump.

IME with changing magnets in the 59 so far, magnet changes don't quite take out that general character/signature or make it a different pickup - with a magnet change it's more like hearing that same scooped source run through an EQ filter that kind of corrects it how you want (does make it much better), but you can still hear that scooped signature underneath. Hard to explain, you have to hear it. Basically a magnet will not make one pickup become another. The coil wind has a character to it.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

Seths have a midrange honk to them and some top end spank like a Fender.
59s are chunkier on the bottom end and scooped in the midrange area Seths have a bump.

IME with changing magnets in the 59 so far, magnet changes don't quite take out that general character/signature or make it a different pickup - with a magnet change it's more like hearing that same scooped source run through an EQ filter that kind of corrects it how you want (does make it much better), but you can still hear that scooped signature underneath. Hard to explain, you have to hear it. Basically a magnet will not make one pickup become another. The coil wind has a character to it.

The "scooped" and "muddy in the neck" characteristic of the '59s is due to the stock A5 magnet, and not the wind itself, which is typical of a good PAF. Truth be told, the '59s sound a lot better with any other Alnico magnet than the stock!

I'm currently using an ES-339 with a nickel covered, A3/A2-modded '59 set, which rivals many, more expensive p'ups, tone-wise. And guess what the answer is if ask me if there's even a shred of "scoopiness" or the slightest "muddyness" in the neck?

/Peter

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

The "scooped" and "muddy in the neck" characteristic of the '59s is due to the stock A5 magnet, and not the wind itself, which is typical of a good PAF. Truth be told, the '59s sound a lot better with any other Alnico magnet than the stock!

I'm currently using an ES-339 with a nickel covered, A3/A2-modded '59 set, which rivals many, more expensive p'ups, tone-wise. And guess what the answer is if ask me if there's even a shred of "scoopiness" or the slightest "muddyness" in the neck?

/Peter

So you experiences are different. I put a polished A4 in the neck of mine in a Les Paul and while it brightened up and flattened out a bit, it still had a thick low end shining through and a general scoop/dip in the mids similar to when it had the A5 but tamed by the A4.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

So you experiences are different. I put a polished A4 in the neck of mine in a Les Paul and while it brightened up and flattened out a bit, it still had a thick low end shining through and a general scoop/dip in the mids similar to when it had the A5 but tamed by the A4.

Maybe the rig you put your instrument through plays a big part of your "scooped" experience with the A4-modded '59n, not to mention the p'up's setup, and the instrument's inherent tone footprint as well. What amp, speakers and how do you set your tone controls? Do you have a fixed setting, or you change it with every mag/p'up change?

My test rig is on purpose quite even sounding, and I have several settings, the same ones I use when I go in the studio. Maybe that's how I'm able to clearly hear the differences brought by the effect of mag swapping, isolating the one variable? I also try'em on both LPs and semi-hollows, even though my my#1 is a 335.

/Peter

 

[Hank-]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

Thanks for the input guys, I have an idea of it now.

I remember not liking the 59n w/A2, so was curious what the 59b is like.

 

[TRex]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

So you experiences are different. I put a polished A4 in the neck of mine in a Les Paul and while it brightened up and flattened out a bit, it still had a thick low end shining through and a general scoop/dip in the mids similar to when it had the A5 but tamed by the A4.

A4 was a strange beast ime. I didn't like it in the bridge or neck of my 59/JB loaded Les Paul. Went with an A3 and UOA5, and liked A2 in both to a degree, just not together.

Sent from my ZTE A2017U using Tapatalk

 

[blueman335]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

I've put UOA5's in my '59B's, which has worked out well for me. I leave '59N's stock unless they're in LP's, and then use an A4 to tone down the low end. I'm also a big proponent of wiring neck HB's for spin-a-split, as that adds treble and reduces mids.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

Maybe the rig you put your instrument through plays a big part of your "scooped" experience with the A4-modded '59n, not to mention the p'up's setup, and the instrument's inherent tone footprint as well. What amp, speakers and how do you set your tone controls? Do you have a fixed setting, or you change it with every mag/p'up change?

My test rig is on purpose quite even sounding, and I have several settings, the same ones I use when I go in the studio. Maybe that's how I'm able to clearly hear the differences brought by the effect of mag swapping, isolating the one variable? I also try'em on both LPs and semi-hollows, even though my my#1 is a 335.

/Peter

No Peter, my equipment does not cause any scoop in the sound. I use the same guitar and same setups when swapping pickups or magnets in order to control for that one variable as much as possible. I am a former studio owner and producer. I have a good listening environment and multiple rigs to test with and my ears are pretty good. I am certainly able to hear nuances in sound. I did not say the 59 was still scooped with an A4. I said it retained the same frequency curve but tamed by the A4 magnet change. IME the magnet is influential but not the only thing affecting the sound and frequency response of pickups. Otherwise there wouldn't be different winds.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

+1 on the UA5 in a 59B. My favorite mag swap for bridge pickups, thanks to advice on this forum.
Also worked really well in a 59/C hybrid.

 

[EmiAba]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

No Peter, my equipment does not cause any scoop in the sound. I use the same guitar and same setups when swapping pickups or magnets in order to control for that one variable as much as possible. I am a former studio owner and producer. I have a good listening environment and multiple rigs to test with and my ears are pretty good. I am certainly able to hear nuances in sound. I did not say the 59 was still scooped with an A4. I said it retained the same frequency curve but tamed by the A4 magnet change. IME the magnet is influential but not the only thing affecting the sound and frequency response of pickups. Otherwise there wouldn't be different winds.

I could not found better words to describe how A4 works ina 59n. I have that pickup in the neck slot of my #1 les paul and it is simply perfect. It retains all the characteristics 59 is famous for but that boomy behavior was moderate by the polished A4.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

I did not say the 59 was still scooped with an A4.

You didn't?

with a magnet change it's more like hearing that same scooped source run through an EQ filter that kind of corrects it how you want (does make it much better), but you can still hear that scooped signature underneath

I guess I was fooled by seeing the word "scooped" twice.

/Peter

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

You didn't?


I guess I was fooled by seeing the word "scooped" twice.

/Peter

Reread more carefully Peter - 'scooped source run through an EQ filter that kind of corrects it' and 'scooped signature underneath' NOT a resulting scooped sound.

 

[SFW]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

https://youtu.be/IA50ndpGTgE


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[Mincer]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

I wanna say that I read somewhere that Allan Holdsworth used a 59 neck pickup in the bridge, with an A2 magnet right before his deal with his signature Kiesel pickups.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

I heard Alan was using a double screw 59n in the bridge but didn't know it was a2. Cool

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

I know it was A2 for a time, but I think he had it as an A5 for a while before he corrected it.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

I will say that when Allan was using this pickup, he had the best tone of his career (a career full of great tones). However, it is hard to go by anything he used, because he was such a singular talent.

 

[Hank-]

Re: Tell me about 59b w/A2

Any ideas on which songs or album AH was using the p'up on?

I tried getting rid of the 59n once, sold to a friend & he returned it back in two weeks. Good that happened since I'm really liking it a lot in my lp copy. I had a opportunity to get a 59b some months locally but I paased on it :banghead::chairshot:butkick::smack: