Whole lotta humbucker or Seth Lover bridge

Woodeks

Woodeks

New member
Doing a lot of the humbucker shuffle with pickups lately and I'm down to my last install ( for now ).

Going in a Les Paul. I have a pearly gates neck so far (man I love em '), and have a couple of options based on what I have currently on my bench for the bridge.

Any bridge suggestions for me to install? I have a whole lotta humbucker bridge, a Seth Lover bridge, and a Demarzio super distortion bridge. What do you think would best pair with the Pearly neck? I have another Les Paul with a full set of Pearlies, and love the neck, so what do you guys suggest?

I'm not partial to either, so any ideas/thoughts before I bite the bullet and "eeny meeny miny moe this decision? Just like some input. Thanks!
 
Re: Whole lotta humbucker or Seth Lover bridge

What do you plan on doing with this guitar?

There isn't a bad combo in the bunch. Seth might be a touch light for the bridge, but easily fixed with a little screwdriver tinkering...


Rock/Metal = SuperD
Classic Rock = Whole Lotta
Pop/Anything goes/great sounding wood = Seth
 
Re: Whole lotta humbucker or Seth Lover bridge

Thanks! So the Seth bridge is a little thin? I play blues and classic style rock so that's the style of playing. Haven't experienced the Seth bridge or dimarzio, and the WLH bridge which I've tried, just hasn't wowed me like the Pearly gates. Logic would say to get another PG for the bridge, but before I get another PU ( sheesh, I'm sitting on a pile of PUs!), I'd like to try the other great PUs I have on hand. Besides, my LP Standard has the PG combo.

Not a big deal for me to check them all out, but it is kind of a commitment to change.

Thanks!
 
Re: Whole lotta humbucker or Seth Lover bridge

I say try the Super Distortion. To me medium or high output always sounds better than vintage output in bridge position.
 
Re: Whole lotta humbucker or Seth Lover bridge

Aceman said:
What do you plan on doing with this guitar?

There isn't a bad combo in the bunch. Seth might be a touch light for the bridge, but easily fixed with a little screwdriver tinkering...


Rock/Metal = SuperD
Classic Rock = Whole Lotta
Pop/Anything goes/great sounding wood = Seth
Click to expand...

Too light for Classic Rock? I have Seth's in my 2000 LP Classic. I replaced a set of Duncan '59s after a dozen years with them. I wanted a lighter and clearer sound for most of what I play. I am now playing an Orange amp, so I don't need distortion pedals, per say, the amp does a lot of the work for me. I don't think I'd choose Seths for Metal tones, but who knows! It might work with pickup tweaks with a handy screwdriver.


Studioplayer
 
Re: Whole lotta humbucker or Seth Lover bridge

I said a "touch" not "IT's too EFFING light!!!!"

And I am a fan of slightly sportier output for the bridge. And yes - it might be the BEST ion cutting through a crap-ton of processing is where you are at.

I say he goes with the Whole Lotta and really twerk on height/poles to get where he needs it.
 
Re: Whole lotta humbucker or Seth Lover bridge

I use the Whole Lotta in my Paul and I play everything from blues to very heavy metal. The WHL is a very versatile pickup and will give the Dimarzio Super D a run for its money when it comes to punch.
 
Re: Whole lotta humbucker or Seth Lover bridge

The Seth bridge is great in a Les Paul, but might be underpowered in relation to the PGN. The Super D makes a great Les Paul bridge pickup, but might be too brash and high output depending on how much difference you want between bridge and neck. The Whole Lotta is a good in-between choice, but does have a slightly different personality than the PG's A2 Magnet. If I were in the same situation, I would sell one of the ones I did not need, and try to get the Bridge from a Slash A2Pro set. I like the PG neck, but the bridge is too bright in comparison.
 
Re: Whole lotta humbucker or Seth Lover bridge

You can't go wrong with the Seth or the WLH, as both will give you the tone you need. If you play loudly directly in front of your amp, the unpotted Seth might be a concern. You won't know until you try. Also, if you plan on splitting the humbucker, the Seth is out, too. But the Seth is slightly more touch-sensitive than the louder WLH. I'd try both for a week or 2, and pick which serves your needs better. Both are great.
 
Re: Whole lotta humbucker or Seth Lover bridge

Aceman said:
I said a "touch" not "IT's too EFFING light!!!!"

And I am a fan of slightly sportier output for the bridge. And yes - it might be the BEST ion cutting through a crap-ton of processing is where you are at.

I say he goes with the Whole Lotta and really twerk on height/poles to get where he needs it.
Click to expand...

I agree with Ace. The fact that you're considering a SuperD suggests to me you'll find the Seth a little light for the job. I love both the Seth and the WLH, but the WLH has a little "more", if you know what I mean. Little more kick, more mid-sy, more of an all-around rock pickup.

Should sound awesome paired with the PG in the neck.
 
Re: Whole lotta humbucker or Seth Lover bridge

PEARLY GATES - BRIDGE - why not go with the set. Smart people build these sets for very good reasons.
 
Re: Whole lotta humbucker or Seth Lover bridge

Mincer said:
Also, if you plan on splitting the humbucker, the Seth is out, too. But the Seth is slightly more touch-sensitive than the louder WLH. I'd try both for a week or 2, and pick which serves your needs better. Both are great.
Click to expand...

I had a set of Seths sent back to SD so I can have them split (4 wire). May have been a waste, but I wont know till I hear them - and I don't have to split If I don't want to (Push/pull Vol knobs). So, I currently have the Seth neck (4 wire) paired with a PG bridge in a Standard (which I absolutely love). And the full set of PGs in another Les Paul (Classic). Hence the "extra" PUs Im toiling with to be in a Les Paul Studio. And I didn't want to waste the PG neck, which, again I love so the neck is covered.

Love the input guys. Thanks! This is what I needed. From what Im gathering, I may go with the Dimarzio bridge, first, to see how it sounds with the pearly neck. If its too much, Ill change it out to the Seth, and if it needs more kick Ill put the WLH in. I just wish it was easier to change these damn things out! Like I said, it IS kind of a commitment when changes are decided on!
 
Re: Whole lotta humbucker or Seth Lover bridge

Woodeks said:
I just wish it was easier to change these damn things out! Like I said, it IS kind of a commitment when changes are decided on!
Click to expand...

Yeah, we all face that. These days, the Liberator makes things a little easier, at least.
 
Re: Whole lotta humbucker or Seth Lover bridge

Mincer said:
Yeah, we all face that. These days, the Liberator makes things a little easier, at least.
Click to expand...

I have one of those on a Strat. Its nice. Oddly enough, I don't really mind the soldering portion, its the damn strings I hate dealing with. Everything I have, has locking tuners and the larger ga. strings don't mind being "re-locked", but the smaller ones seem to get too weak after being pinched in the lock more than once. Cant just use the extra length and unwind the extra string that was wrapped around the non-locking tuners for room to remove the PUs.

Oh well. Like I said. Its a commitment. Unless im totally unhappy with my decision, ill stick it out till a string change is needed. Besides I have a few boxes of #10s sitting around in case I don't.
 
Re: Whole lotta humbucker or Seth Lover bridge

NotCardio said:
Yeah, but for me it's more of the pain-in-the-ass factor. And I hate soldering. And you never know you've f'd it up until it's all back together and you've gotta go back, jack, and do it again.
Click to expand...

in all seriousness, do you have a way that you can use to test the install before it's all back together? and I was also no fan of soldering, until I got better soldering tools and learned more about doing it better. keep at it, it'll work out fine.

all my guitars have Floyds. some have enough give to change pups without total removal. others do not. that's a few extra minutes for the sake of new tone. it's worth it.
 
Re: Whole lotta humbucker or Seth Lover bridge

After I'm done changing pickups and working on the electronics, I do the tap test. And if that works out, I'll only tighten the low E string back into place and use that to verify that everything's working, right volume, and nothing's out of phase. Instead of putting a whole set of strings back together and then having to remove or loosen them again.
 
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