SD '59s versus Seth Lover, in older H150

[nuke]

Anyone have direct experience swapping out a pair of Seymour Duncan 59's for a pair of Seth Lovers SH-55 pickups? 

I have a '98 H150 that was a special run with SD59's and standard tune-o-matic bridge/tail from the factory.  It's also a lighter one, about 8-3/4 lbs. I've owned it for over 20 years now. Use it as a work-horse. 

The 59's are ok-ish, but I find them a bit aggressive and in general, I find they have in this, and many other guitars, a treble peak that's a bit harsh. It isn't overly bright, but it just has a peak in the wrong place to my ears.

The original pots from Heritage were like the Norlin era-Gibson, 100k tone and 300k volumes, which darkened it up quite a bit. When a couple of the pots showed wear, I changed them to the more typical 500k and "50's wiring" since I like to roll the volumes up and down a lot while playing. 

I like the low-output PAF sound a lot, clear, articulate, bright but not harsh. A friend put throBaks in his Gibson R9 and that's the direction I'd like to go, but not $900 in that direction.

 

 

[rwinking]

I have the Seth Lovers in my H-535 and I think you are right as far as them being smoother (If that is what you are saying?) especially on the top end. I have  Dimarzio Anniversary PAFs in a couple of other guitars and they seem to have the same great tone and an identical high end. I am not sure that I could tell the difference btw the Seth Lovers and the Dimarzios. I love them both.

[tsp17]

To my ear, Seths are much better, but that’s just me.  I haven’t done a direct swap, but when I’ve played similar guitars with Seths, i notice the musical and textural difference.  Seths are more articulate, organic, smoother and just sound better for what i am looking for.  You may have a different experience.  I’ve had 59s in multiple guitars and only found them to sound great in one.  Even in that one i swapped for a Benedetto B-6 and it was better for my use.  That said, 59s sounded VERY good in that specific guitar (H575).  

 

[eljay]

fwiw, I have a 535 with 59s and one with Seths. The Seths are sweeter and smoother. I plan to sell the 59-equipped guitar but will keep the 535 with the Seth Lovers.

[nuke]

Thanks guys, it is really hard to describe "tone", but I want that nice, bright, but not harsh top end. The 59's are good, especially with more gain/distortion. But I tend to play on the edge of break up most of the time and even sometimes quite clean and bluesy.  The 59's seem to have a peak in the 1khz-2khz frequencyrange that grates a bit on my ears. 

I wish I had money for the ThroBaks, they sounded so incredibly sweet in my friend's R9. 

Now to find a deal on a set...

[bolero]

check out Wolfetone Legends too. I have set in my '97 H150 & they are the bomb

I like Seth Lovers as well

Edited Saturday at 11:12 PM by bolero
well

[eljay]

On the subject of Wolfetones, I have a brand new set of Wolfetone Dr. Vintage, box never opened, that I'll sell for $190, shipped, lower 48. Dr. Vintage are similar to Legends.

Edited Sunday at 01:40 AM by eljay

[DetroitBlues]

Can't say I've swapped for them... 

But my 2023 H150 has SD '59 in the neck and bridge and my 1985 H140 has a SD '55 (Seth Lover) in the bridge.  I gig with both of them.

Tone wise, they both sound great, but I get a lot more feedback with a Seth Lover when I've got the gain up a little high.

Either one works well for just about anything, just be mindful of the unpotted Seth Lover's.

Pic for reference:

Edited 1 hour ago by DetroitBlues