Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

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

I just put some of these in my LP Traditional. I've had them for about a week, and I like them so far. The EASIEST description of them is the aforementioned 59 with a bit more mids and less boomy. I never felt that the 59 was that trebly or bright so I don't think the Whole Lotta set has the same treble. At first they seemed kind of bright but after a while you realize that they're just clearer and a little more aggressive than a 59. Perhaps because the bass isn't as overpowering that it allows the treble frequencies to be heard more which gives that initial impression of brightness.

Let me first say that they are really good pickups. Someone mentioned the attack and I would agree that it has a better attack than a 59. I love how these pickups respond to my picking. They're probably just slightly hotter than run of the mill Les Paul pickups, but I switched from 57 Classics to these so the output is barely noticeable.

If I had any criticism it would be that although these pickups have a bit of warmth, brightness, clarity, and overall great tone, they don't necessarily stand out with character. They're just really good PAF pickups and nothing more. Sometimes I tend to like pickups like the JB, Dimarzios or something because they have a lot of character. Dimarzio makes great Les Paul pickups and they usually have a juicy midrange with vowel-like tone and an immediate attack that makes them great for shred too. The Slash signature is another distinctive pickup. However, the Whole Lotta buckers aren't necessarily like that to my ears. They're somewhat generic, but I mean that in the best way possible. They're just really good PAF pickups.

As far as I'm concerned, I'm satisfied with them and will keep them in this guitar because I wanted something rather classic but with a bit more output and these give it to me. I don't like bassy pickups so these also are great for the kind of soloing that I do. For metal music, well I have tried more unsuccessfully than most to make classic pickups sound thrashy. For most amps, you need ceramic or active pickups, but some amps like the Engle Powerball can do thrash even if you're using vintage pickups. These pickups hold up better than Seth Lovers for high gain, but they don't sound best that way. I always use Joe Satriani as a reference point when I decide on pickups and I think these can handle that stuff very well. I would say the bridge is kind of similar to a Custom/59 Hybrid, I like the neck better than the 59 neck for sure.
 
Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?


Thanks! I agree with UberMetalDood. They sound like an improved 59' set. I'm sure they can nail a lot of classic LP tones, but... I don't know. For what I have heard they don't motivate me that much for trying them yet. I believe I still tend to prefer the Slash Alnico II Pro's sound. But HEY! Who knows? Maybe I'll buy a WLH set someday and change my mind on the subject.
 
Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

They sound like an improved 59' set.

If you'd like to try the sound of a '59 set WITHOUT that pesky scoop, get a couple of Un-Oriented Ceramic magnets @ Addiction FX and be happy ever after.

If I was a boutique winder, I'd make a whole series of p'up sets using these magnets, plus they can even be used to live-up muddy, sub-par, asian cheapos.

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

If you'd like to try the sound of a '59 set WITHOUT that pesky scoop, get a couple of Un-Oriented Ceramic magnets @ Addiction FX and be happy ever after.

If I was a boutique winder, I'd make a whole series of p'up sets using these magnets, plus they can even be used to live-up muddy, sub-par, asian cheapos.

HTH,

Indeed. I have had great success with UOA5, especially in Dimarzios. I don't know why Dimarzio doesn't use them because almost every A5 Dimarzio that I replaced with a UOA5 has become even better. The PAF36th, Norton and AT-1 have been among the Dimarzio's I've modded with UOA5. Duncans have been Custom 5, Pearly Gates, Pearly Gates +, Full Shred and JB.
 
Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

Indeed. I have had great success with UOA5, especially in Dimarzios. I don't know why Dimarzio doesn't use them because almost every A5 Dimarzio that I replaced with a UOA5 has become even better. The PAF36th, Norton and AT-1 have been among the Dimarzio's I've modded with UOA5. Duncans have been Custom 5, Pearly Gates, Pearly Gates +, Full Shred and JB.

Erm... did you notice I wrote Un-Oriented CERAMIC mags?

Not my intention to be dense or anything, just making sure you got it right. Also, these mags haven't been very long on the market, mind you. :cool:

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

Erm... did you notice I wrote Un-Oriented CERAMIC mags?

Not my intention to be dense or anything, just making sure you got it right. Also, these mags haven't been very long on the market, mind you. :cool:

HTH,

Nope that slipped past me. Small cellphone screens man.
 
Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker. Who's tried them?

I think the neck WLH is pretty nice. The bridge is my favorite bridge HB right now. I have it in two guitars. Amazing tone!
 
Trying to bring life to this thread. I recently installed a set of WLH to my Les Paul and had my guitar tech put a 920D JPage harness. Im loving the neck PU. The bridge PU sounds very bright, almost tele bright. In fact its so bright and nasal that when I roll my tone all the way it gives me a cocked way sound. When I switch from neck to bridge its like all the bass disappears. I first thought maybe only one coil was working. But I can actually split the bridge PUP with the push pull and it does sound different.

Does it just sound like that and my ears aren't used to that? (I had a set of 490 498t before)
Do you think there might be a wiring issue ? ( also note when both volume knobs are off I can still hear the guitar through the amp if I play, ever so slightly)

Thank you
 
Maybe the push/pull is wired up backwards. Because the split sound should sound like a Tele.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk
 
Welcome to the forum!

Well, the WLH doesn't sound super bright nor nasal. There should certainly be some bass there. What diagram did he use? And if you can, post some clear pics of your wiring.
 
I'm just spit-balling here, but maybe your tech wired the bridge pickup coils in parallel instead of in series...? Do you have a multi-meter on hand to take some readings? Signal coming through when both volumes are off could be a grounding issue, i.e. not all the signal is being sent to ground. Perhaps a cold solder joint somewhere? As was mentioned, some clear pics of your wiring might help.
 
There is nothing bright about these pickups. I have them in my Les Paul Lite and my Les Paul Traditional. It definitely sound like a wiring issue.
 
Thanks to all for your answers. I recorded an audio of the Guitar clean straight into the amp, then added slight OD at the end. you should be able to hear me go from Neck pup to bridge/pup then bridge split.
I took a few photos of the wiring itself, its not easy to see but its the best I can do. https://imgur.com/a/YwQ6eMe
The neck and bridge PUP aren't reversed I have check that already. Unfortunately I don't have a multimeter to do any reading.

thanks again
 
The neck and bridge PUP aren't reversed I have check that already. Unfortunately I don't have a multimeter to do any reading.

Just a thought . . . isn't one of the p-p's on JP wiring a phase reversal? Maybe the tech did it backwards. Pull that knob, and see if the problem corrects itself.
 
No because the phase reversal is only when you're in the middle position. They do sound quite different , bridge vs out of phase
 
i have the wlh and while i dont find it bright, i can see how someone who is used to a hotter pup would find it so. it does have some teleish characteristics
 
i have the wlh and while i dont find it bright, i can see how someone who is used to a hotter pup would find it so. it does have some teleish characteristics

That's also what I figured. Did you listen to the audio I posted from a few posts before? does it sound anything like yours?
 
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