The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

[calibre2001]

Hello all,

I've just had a Seth necker installed on my Ibanez Artcore 335 clone and like it so far. The bridge pup is still stock and contemplating a replacement.

So a Seth bridge comes to mind? I like a pup that's able to handle ska, reggae 'cluck cluck' clean sounds and nice crunch ala Thin Lizzy, Darkness, AC DC, rockabilly palm muting stuff. Basically on the fatter and grittier side of things. I realise that an Alnico V might be actually what I need.

Any suggestions? I'm afraid the Seth bridge might be too thin and not ballsy enough for my needs. Thanks.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

The Seth Lover bridge is not thin by any means. It has full mids and a harmonically complex tone. A little less bass than a 59B but thicker, fatter, more complex mids. If you've ever heard Clapton's tone on Fresh Cream, that's what the Seth bridge sounds like to me. It's the classic tone of a '58 Les Paul or ES 335 bridge pickup.

If it's AC/DC you want then the 59B might be a better choice as the bridge pickup in a 60's SG would be closer to a 59B.

 

[Janglin_Jack]

Re: The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

The Seth Lover bridge is not thin by any means. It has full mids and a harmonically complex tone. A little less bass than a 59B but thicker, fatter, more complex mids. If you've ever heard Clapton's tone on Fresh Cream, that's what the Seth bridge sounds like to me. It's the classic tone of a '58 Les Paul or ES 335 bridge pickup.

If it's AC/DC you want then the 59B might be a better choice as the bridge pickup in a 60's SG would be closer to a 59B.

I think of the Seths as classic Allman Brothers tone.

Jack

 

[calibre2001]

Re: The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

Therefore, the Seth bridge is the ideal 60s Classic Rock bridge bucker? and look at a 59B for the 70s?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

The Seth bridge has a nice warm open tone that has vintage output but really translates the actual sound of your guitar.

If you wanted to go up a notch in power out of your bridge, another popular combo is the CC/Seth N.

 

[gripweed]

Re: The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

The Seth Lover bridge is not thin by any means. It has full mids and a harmonically complex tone. A little less bass than a 59B but thicker, fatter, more complex mids. If you've ever heard Clapton's tone on Fresh Cream, that's what the Seth bridge sounds like to me. It's the classic tone of a '58 Les Paul or ES 335 bridge pickup.

If it's AC/DC you want then the 59B might be a better choice as the bridge pickup in a 60's SG would be closer to a 59B.

Agreed. You can get as heavy sounding as you want with the Seth IMHO. I like the Seth and the '59, but I use them for different things. If I want a sound with more mids, I use the Seth. If I want a sound thats slightly brighter with a little less mids and tighter bass, I use the '59. Both great pickups, and everyone should have one of both IMHO.

 

[Curly]

Re: The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

through the right amp, the Seths sound downright NASTY !!!

I recently posted that my Hamer Artist with the stock Seths through my tweed Deluxe gets the Neil Young tone - raw and edgy, on the edge of feedback when cranked

yes, the Alnico 2s have more mids, less bass than say a '59, but the unpotted Seth has a certain edge

 

[calibre2001]

Re: The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

Thanks guys. Has anyone had the opportunity to try out Lindy Fralin PAF bridge HBs? I'm curious about how it sounds.

 

[gripweed]

Re: The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

Thanks guys. Has anyone had the opportunity to try out Lindy Fralin PAF bridge HBs? I'm curious about how it sounds.

I have a Fralin 7.5 neck. I will eventually have a guitar with a set of Fralin HB's in them. Maybe Lew will chime in since he has experience with the Fralins.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

Agreed. You can get as heavy sounding as you want with the Seth IMHO. I like the Seth and the '59, but I use them for different things. If I want a sound with more mids, I use the Seth. If I want a sound thats slightly brighter with a little less mids and tighter bass, I use the '59. Both great pickups, and everyone should have one of both IMHO.

Thanks Gripwood-mon!:laugh2: That is exactly what I hear if I compare the 59B and Seth Lover B. Perfect description. Lew

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

Thanks guys. Has anyone had the opportunity to try out Lindy Fralin PAF bridge HBs? I'm curious about how it sounds.

My favorite set is not a set that Lindy has as a standard set. I like the 7.5K neck that Gripwood likes and I like it with a 9K or 9.5K bridge. Lindy tends to package his sets with a 1K diff between the neck and bridge but I love the clarity and articulation of the 7.5K and the clarity/articulation and super ballsy tone of the 9.5K.

But I have to admit that these days I prefer Seymour's bridge humbuckers...they just sound warmer, more comfortable and more familiar to me.

But it's hard to beat that 7.5K / 9.5K Fralin set...especially the neck humbucker...it's awesome.

Lew

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

Re: The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

I have found the Seth bridge to be a LOT fatter than the 59 bridge. I found the 59 to be a tad more tight, but quite thin sounding.
Now, I have heard comparison clips with the 59/EVH/Voodoo/Holmes 455 and they all sounded great and remarkably close, so who knows!!??
keith

 

[calibre2001]

Re: The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

Bumping up this thread

I got some off the topic question I hope you guys can help me out with.

Been thinking of replacing the stock electronics on my Artcore (pots, switch, input jack). Aside reliability, can I expect some tone improvements?


Oh, and I decided on a Seth bridger in the end, Thanks guys!

 

[gripweed]

Re: The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

I have found the Seth bridge to be a LOT fatter than the 59 bridge. I found the 59 to be a tad more tight, but quite thin sounding.
Now, I have heard comparison clips with the 59/EVH/Voodoo/Holmes 455 and they all sounded great and remarkably close, so who knows!!??
keith

I don't agree. There is nothing thin sounding about the '59. It is brighter with less mids than the Seth however.

 

[Brow]

Re: The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

I had 59s in my Gibson LP (unknown to myself) when I bought it. I kept them for a few months and then changed them for a set of Seths.

The Seths to my ears sounded alot fuller, smoother, with more mids and les 'spikey' highs.

 

[junior]

Re: The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

I love the "hollow" sound of the Sethhs- I didn't know how to interpret hollow when I was thinking of trying them, but once I heard them, hollow is the perfect word. And I mean that in a positive way, though it sounds like a negative description. I think of Jimmy Page when I hear the Seths.

 

[Stevo]

Re: The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

The SL is definitely one of my top favorites. For more beef in the bridge, go for the CC. It does not have the complex mids of the seth lover, but it is still a nice pickup with similar tone, but more power - maybe less twang.

The jazz neck is a nice match for the seth lover bridge also.

If you wanted to go up a notch in power out of your bridge, another popular combo is the CC/Seth N.

Definitely.

 

[calibre2001]

Re: The sound of a Seth Lover Bridge

Been thinking of replacing the stock electronics on my Artcore (pots, switch, input jack). Aside reliability, can I expect some tone improvements?

Bump this question.