Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

[Gearjoneser]

I'm thinking that the next humbucker I should try is the Whole Lotta Humbucker, since it falls within the specs I like the most in a bridge pickup.
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/vintage-output/whole_lotta_hum/

I generally like pickups like the Brobucker, C/59, 59, C5, Seth Lover, etc. So the Whole Lotta sounds like something I want to try with a PGn in my LP & SG, as well as my Fenders.

Anyone compared the Whole Lotta to a 59b, C5, '78, or C/59?

 

[CountFeedback]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

I too am very excited about the Whole Lotta Humbuckers, especially want to try the bridge pup in my Hamer USA Explorer :scratchch

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

I think you have your answer right here haha.

players
C'mon, you know who.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

I've had a set in my '91 LP Classic for a couple of months and I like them a lot.

The best way I can describe them is like '59s with more mids and a more even response. The DC resistance may be higher but they're not noticeably hotter - the bridge pickup sounds fatter, the neck pickup sounds more even. The perception is less bass, more mids and retained treble.

"Like '59s with more mids" seems simplistic but I'm struggling to describe them better, and I guess a '59 is a good reference point.

They are really nicely balanced humbuckers for blues and classic rock styles.

 

[Condemnedsoul]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

Saw the video for the WLH set when it was first posted, and decided that these pick ups were worth a try. So I had a set installed in my SG Standard.

At the store, I tried it with a Blues Jr. and didn't touch any on the controls. The SG sounded like a throw back to an earlier time, and I decided that they might be keepers.

Once home, I started with my Express still set up for my LP and didn't change any setting. I plugged in and started with the bridge - more mids, the highs and bass were not as pronounced. Then I flipped to the neck - nice, a bit more power and again good mids. The bass wasn't lumpy or boomy and the treble wasn't shrill. The bridge, both together, and neck were much more even sounding than the respective 59's

These are classic rock pickups and they can venture into some other styles nicely think blues rock and blues.

Lastly, these pickups split were pleasant to my ears - not shrill or missing something. They sounded firm and not overly bright. Made me want to play "Hey Joe."
Aint no Hendrix and not a Fender admirer/owner, but the WLH'ers sounded good as single coils.

As you can tell, I'm far from a pro-reviewer.


Have tried 59's in several of my guitars and except for one, I didn't like them. My two biggest gripes with them were humpy bumpy bass / no midrange and hard to set up an amp for both the neck and the bridge.

The WLH set seems to solve the shortcoming with my current set up and am very satisfied with them in the SG.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

Don't know yet. Ordering a set for my Studio in the next couple weeks. Still debating on black or nickel covers though.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

I've had a set in my '91 LP Classic for a couple of months and I like them a lot.

The best way I can describe them is like '59s with more mids and a more even response. The DC resistance may be higher but they're not noticeably hotter - the bridge pickup sounds fatter, the neck pickup sounds more even. The perception is less bass, more mids and retained treble.

"Like '59s with more mids" seems simplistic but I'm struggling to describe them better, and I guess a '59 is a good reference point.

They are really nicely balanced humbuckers for blues and classic rock styles.

That's what I wanted to hear most - a comparison to 59's. More mids, slightly less bass and treble, and similar output. Same thing Condemned soul stated. At least I know it's in the same ballpark, with the frequencies shifted around a little. I know I like roughcast mags more than polished.

One of my other favorite pickups is the C5 with unoriented roughcast A5 magnet. It adds a tiny bit of mids, and un-hypes the bass and treble a bit. I also have a slightly overwound 15.3K Custom 5, but the unoriented roughcast C5 is better sounding.

 

[J.C.R.W]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

I've had a set in my '91 LP Classic for a couple of months and I like them a lot.

The best way I can describe them is like '59s with more mids and a more even response. The DC resistance may be higher but they're not noticeably hotter - the bridge pickup sounds fatter, the neck pickup sounds more even. The perception is less bass, more mids and retained treble.

"Like '59s with more mids" seems simplistic but I'm struggling to describe them better, and I guess a '59 is a good reference point.

They are really nicely balanced humbuckers for blues and classic rock styles.

+1, this is exactly how I would describe the set. I got the Jimmy Page Custom Shop pickups in my LP (they are supposed to be the same as the WLH set) and they definitely have a more balanced response. I used to have a C5/59 configuration but I am much more happy with the JP setup!

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

Why dont you get that the Jon Bonamassa one since you have a raging old guy crush on him.

lol!





Sent from my armored space station using Tapatalk on iPad

 

[J.LaGrassa]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

I have a set ordered should have them on Thursday, I'm real curious to check these out

 

[ExplorersRock]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

I have a set ordered should have them on Thursday, I'm real curious to check these out

I too have a set in the mail I should have by Friday. Going in my Blacktop Strat. Tried a C/59 Hybrid w/a 59n but it didn't suit the guitar. Exercised the 21 day rule, going with WLH set. VERY excited and eager to get them wired in. I will report back. It's an alder body w/maple neck and board so it's no LP. But this one has more bottom end and warmth than you would expect from a Strat. Should be interesting.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

Yeah.....whoever buys a set, report back in this thread. I'm dialing in a tele this week with other pickups.....Filtertron/mini hum neck, so I have to wait on the WLH purchase.

 

[J.LaGrassa]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

Yeah.....whoever buys a set, report back in this thread. I'm dialing in a tele this week with other pickups.....Filtertron/mini hum neck, so I have to wait on the WLH purchase.

I will post some thoughts tonight once I install them, they are going into my Les Paul Classic!

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

I love my Brobuckers and am very curious about how these Whole Lottas would perform in the same guitar against Brobuckers! And also... How would the neck compare to my 7.5K A4 59N? That's another question that has been on my mind for quite a while.

It is just that I think I already have great pickups matching the guitars they are in almost perfectly! ... So the only motivation for me to try them Whole Lottas is curiosity. It is a good reason, yet not as strong as needing...

B

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

It is just that I think I already have great pickups matching the guitars they are in almost perfectly! ... So the only motivation for me to try them Whole Lottas is curiosity. It is a good reason, yet not as strong as needing...

B

We just need a Whole Lotta more guitars!

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

I've had a set in my Korina SE since they were a 'UK only' offering. Unfortunately, you're probably wasting your time asking me to describe the tone of anything. What I can say is that there's more life about them than the stock pups, but they may well be wrong for that guitar. Depending on what you run it through, it can sound very bright and present with them in there. I think they would suit a heavier guitar rather better i.e. a Les Paul, or at least one of similar construction. I can't give you anything more detailed than that currently, as it's in Riyadh and I'm not for another week. I'll give it another try when I get back and see if I can't come up with a few fresher observations.

 

[IsakaJr]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

I have a Jimmy Page Custom Shop Set which I got from MJ at the Dallas Guitar Show. These are supposed to be the Custom Shop "Whole Lotta Humbuckers", and though I haven`t compared to the "Reg Production" set they do sound like others have described as a "59 with something more in the mids".

It is a very simplistic way of describing them, but its in this ball park. I`d describe them as "Gibson 70s" sound. Very different from PAF takes like PearlyGates or the Seth Lover. It seems like they have an emphasis on the attack in the mid section and just sings under a little more gain, but what I LOVE about mine is the Dynamics, they do respond VERY nice to picking!

I have tested mine in a LesPaul Traditional and I`m still yet to test the Splits and "funky" wiring though. They do come with a Page Wiring Diagram with the 4 push-pulls for all the Split, Series, Out-of-phase sounds. Yet to try those. I`ll report back maybe with some samples of mine...

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

Im SOOO intrigued with these.. Im trying to decide what to do on my final LP project and I cant decide tween these, a slash set or a distortion/slash neck set. I want this guitar to just DRIP and ooze tone.....

 

[J.LaGrassa]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

I just installed a set into my LP Classic last night, still doing a little tweaking to the pup heights but so far so good they are very clear sounding with a nice punch to them for being vintage output.

 

[ExplorersRock]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

Got 'em last night and installed 'em!:banana:

Quick Verdict: The overall tone is full and balanced with good strong drive.:headbang:

I'm still in the test phase but I can give some general info. First, if you want a good rock-n-roll style pickup with some vintage flavor, this is the pickups set. I think the description of them being like '59s with less scoop, tamed highs, and the lack of the boomy-bass is 100% accurate. If you like '59s but hate the scoop, you should ABSOLUTELY try these. Also, they have less of a polished sound to my ear when distorted... like more punch (as J.LaGrassa said) and a touch of grit. It's really a great and versatile rock tone. Realistically you could make them do metal, but I wouldn't choose them for that. :nono: To me what's really fantastic is that not only are the distorted sounds great, the clean tones are outstanding and keep the treble in check. :approve: I'll report more when I get to mess around with them some more.

I will say this in closing. J.LaGrassa said he's dialing in the pickup adjustments. I spent some time doing this today and they are VERY responsive to height adjustments. In fact a little movement goes a long way! Some who like the plug-and-play stuff might hate this. If you like tinkering with your gear at every opportunity (like me) in order to dial in that just right tone, this is an awesome feature of these pickups!