Utimate HB pair for blues?

Sly_D

Sly_D

New member
I will buy a semi-hollow guitar soon, and I want a pair or humbuckers especially for blues. What would you consider the best pair for this?

I have to tell you in advance that I am not a fan of the Pearly Gates, which did not work for me in my LP type guitar, so I guess it'll be even worst in a maple semi-hollow body guitar.

I'm thinking about CC bridge and AIIPro neck. Sounds good? Or maybe a pair of AIIPro... I heard the Seth Lover are nice also, but there a little too expensive.

What's your take on this? I like fat tone for blues...
 
Re: Utimate HB pair for blues?

What kind of amp are you using? What blues sound are you looking for?

To be really fat, I'd go CC/APHn (I have them in my Carvin for smooth distortion sounds).

The Seth's really have a lot of mojo in a semi, though they are a bit more expensive. I had a set in my Sheraton that rocked, but I'm trying a Phat Cat at the bridge of that axe now.
 
Re: Utimate HB pair for blues?

I don't have quite so much experience with p'ups as most on this forum, but I love the set of 59's that Lew, (LewsGuitars), turned me on to. Mine are in a solid-body, Strat style guitar, but they'll be going into a Peavey JF-1 semi-hollow body sometime in the next few weeks.

I mainly use either the neck by itself, or for a bit richer tone, the two together. I still haven't got the bridge dialed in properly yet, but since they're going into a different guitar shortly, I'm not too concerned about it.

They have that great smooth, yet full sound, without any harshness.
 
Re: Utimate HB pair for blues?

You're about right. Either an APH-1 set or a CC/APH-1 combo.

While Seths normally don't have squeeling issues, remember that you would in fact be putting unpotted pups in a hollowbody guitar (and that could cause feedback).

Might consider putting some covers on the CC/APH-1 as well, that will warm them up even more.
 
Re: Utimate HB pair for blues?

True, the Seth's might feedback, but when they do, it's usable feedback. :dance:
 
Re: Utimate HB pair for blues?

I think the CC may be a little to hot for blues ?? But it depends alot on
the amp your useing and playing style. My hollow body is setup with a
59er in the bridge and APH-II in the neck. I was just playing it today
into my Princeton Reverb. With the Vol. on 5 I was getting major crunch !!
 
Re: Utimate HB pair for blues?

I don't know anything about this pup, but what about the Blues Saraceno model?? lol the name says it all to me...
 
Re: Utimate HB pair for blues?

It's Blues Saraceno's signature model. Made for Floyd-equipped axes. It's a medium/high output humbucker that fattens thin sounding axes with floating trems.
 
Re: Utimate HB pair for blues?

Hey Sly
I put a set of seths in my 335 style washburn they soond
they sound amazing.
Check out tips Marin has some great sounding clips with Seths in a 335
 
Re: Utimate HB pair for blues?

My Heritage 535 Special came with Antiquities - essentially aged Seth Lovers from what I understand. For once, I have no desire to fool with replacing the pups on a guitar - they are great for blues & classic rock (depending upon amp, pedals, etc. oh, and your hands).

That said, the CC/APH-1 combo should be cool too - I just don't have direct experience with either pickup in a semi-hollow guitar.

Chip
 
Re: Utimate HB pair for blues?

Thanks to all... I've heard a clip with Seths in an Epiphone Dot and the sound was amazing... as much as their price :) Maybe I'll wait a little longer and buy a pair of Seths. I'm also afraid the CC may be a little hot.

My amp is currently a Tech 21 Trademarke 10, amazing little amp that allows me to have very good Fender, Marshall and Mesa sounds.

I'll keep you posted on my choice... thanks again for the various comments.
 
Re: Utimate HB pair for blues?

I wouldn't hesitate to put Seths in a 335 style guitar for blues. Blues players do not use heaps of gain, and you shouldn't have any trouble with feedback. They also sound amazing.

Incidentally, Blues Saraceno is not a blues player.
 
Re: Utimate HB pair for blues?

my advise is to save up and get the seths. they sound amazing in a hollowbody and lay down blues tones with authority
 
Re: Utimate HB pair for blues?

I have some Seths in a chambered tele and even at loud levels, feedback is not a problem. Of course, I don't use a Marshall...but the volume does get on the loud side! I can get very musical, controlled feedback by getting closer to the amp and finding the sweet spot however. The only time I had an inkling of a problem was running a 69 Fuzz into a Vox Valve Tone. Even then, it was controlable. And the tone...oh man, the tone....it was a sweet ride. More of the Trower, Hendrix school of blues with that setup, but it still worked well. For most blues styles, the Seths are hard to beat.....especially in a semi. If you can save $300 bones however, do yourself a favor and get a set of Jason Lollars Imperial Humbuckers. One of the few pickups out there that are head and shoulders above other offerings. Expensive, but well worth it.
 
Re: Utimate HB pair for blues?

Blues Saraceno is a guitarist who was "created" by Guitar For the Practicing Musician magazine in the 80s. He was a big haired shredder who recorded an instrumental album for the magazines record label, which was short lived, IIRC. It was corny as hell...in each issue they would take out like a full page ad that said "who is blues?" This lasted for months until they finally revealed him.
 
Re: Utimate HB pair for blues?

Benjy_26 said:
It's Blues Saraceno's signature model. Made for Floyd-equipped axes. It's a medium/high output humbucker that fattens thin sounding axes with floating trems.
Click to expand...

Not quite...it's more of a PAF style pickup. It has a tiny bit more output than the '59, but not much. It's most definitely not a high output pickup. It would be a nice bridge pickup for blues, but it really wouldn't look right in that guitar.

I would definitely go with an Alnico II Pro in the neck, it's the ultimate blues humbucker. For the bridge, go with a Custom Custom if you want a warm, fat, high output tone. For a brighter, more vintage type of tone, a '59 would be a good match. Seths are nice pickups, but I might recommend that you have them wax potted if you're going to put them in a hollowbody.

Ryan
 
Re: Utimate HB pair for blues?

CC/PGn would be a cool set, especially on a semi hollow. The extra highs would add more bite to CC/PGn set.

I don't have much experience with seths, used them only for 3 weeks two years ago. I liked what I heard, yet could not pass a deal to get a set of voodoo 59's for them. I should have kept the seths! :smack:

Anyway, my fav SD HB list is:

1. a5/a3 mag modded antiquities (exposed coils)
2. a2/a2 mag modded antiquities (exposed coils)
3. stock antiquities (covered)
4. PGs (especially a hot PG+ in the bridge and ~8.00K PG(b) in the neck)
5. 59s (stock bridge a3 in the neck)

B
 
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