SETH LOVER doin' jazz

[Prolik]

Hello!
I have this 335 clon guitar, which has great wood & neck profile, but as usual, stock pickups were not that great. I replaced stock neck pickup with Seymour Duncan Seth Lover.
This video shows Seth Lover neck in action:

http://youtu.be/DUBRlcs3zq8

I noticed that overall sound has much more volume, due to full frequencies this pickup has.
It's very articulate and clean, so you can hear great chord/string separation. Also, some speedy jazz lick came out very nice as well.
Only downsize to this pickup is that it's very bright sounding! I did roll of tone knob to almost all the way down. I found this to be a problem among other SD models such as APH-1, APH-2 (Slash) pickups with Alnico II magnets...

Next thing I would like to try on this guitar would be perhaps Gibson 57' classic. I once tried those in my friends ES-335 (yeah, it is better guitar & wood). To my experience, they have warmer, mellower tone, but not as articulate and responsive as Duncans.
If only one could have best of both worlds?


Tell me what you think & your opinion on Seth Lover pups

[CTN]

that sounds really nice. if you're having brightness problems, consider changing the pots in your guitar to a lower value. that'll warm it up a bit.

[jeremy]

i have a seth in the neck of my #1 guitar and i love it. i wouldnt say its overly bright but in general paf type pups and most low wind pups tend to be brighter than higher output varieties.

most jazz players that go for a big fat tone roll back their tone controls. thats what its there for. because it is a a less expensive guitar it probably has inexpensive components. a new tone control and cap will be an inexpensive way to upgrade your guitar

[bluefrog]

why not put in a bridge sh55b or a sh1b? thogether with a descent set of potis !
and I guess you will never think of another PUP

[Prolik]

why not put in a bridge sh55b or a sh1b? thogether with a descent set of potis !
and I guess you will never think of another PUP

Hello!
Seth Lover in bridge is tempting choice, but I would like wax-potted pup in there. This is semi-hollow guitar, so any amount of gain could cause bridge pickup to squeal. Duncans are quite pickups, but don't want to risk in live situation. Don't know what would be nearest choice for bridge position (but wax-potted)?

[rumblebox]

that is some awesome playing. i'd give my left nut to be able to take the time and learn jazz like that.

[LtKojak]

Hello!
Seth Lover in bridge is tempting choice, but I would like wax-potted pup in there. This is semi-hollow guitar, so any amount of gain could cause bridge pickup to squeal. Duncans are quite pickups, but don't want to risk in live situation. Don't know what would be nearest choice for bridge position (but wax-potted)?

I have one semi-hollow with a Seth Lover set and another semi-hollow with a set of Ants.

No problem with squealing, and I LOVE the controlled feedback I get from both of them.

If you anyway want a waxed set, an A2 and/or A4 '59 set is the answer to your prays.

HTH,

[AlexR]

There is a difference between squeal from non potting, and the natural feedback that occurs due to the hollowbody.

Quite a few people have used the Seth Lover for heavy styles of music and not reported any squeal due to no potting.
Hollowbody feedback will happen irrespective of the potting of a pickup. That is due to volume and room size.

[gibson175]

nice playing!
I would not recommend the gibson 57's tho. Ive removed them from two of my axes (a 175 and a 335). They are honky, with saggy bass and very little harmonic presence. Uninspiring is the best word i can think of.
If you want fat and warm, then consider a set of SD59's, but swapped with alnico II magnets (as recommended to my by Kojak). They are really full and sweet especially for jazzy tones. That's my "best of both worlds" pickup.
fwiw i have an aII Jazz in my 175, but i like the 59 best in the 335 because it has a fuller low end.

[Prolik]

Yes, I do like the overall tone of Gibson 57', but also, I must say they do sound dull. Uninspiring when playing those, as you say.

Alnico II pro (APH-1) is out of the question - had those in Slash Sig Les Paul and they were waaaay to shrill.
Actually, I might just go with Seth Lover in the bridge. I like the old vintage honk I hear in clips over the net. Just hope it wont go microphonic, at Tubescreamer gain levels??

One question - is it true that Seth Lovers have mismatched coils (as Burstbuckers for example)? I found somewhere that Seth Lovers and Pearly Gates have mismatched coils.
I would love that kind of growl in bridge position, but to still have refined, warm tone.

[Boogie Bill]

I have two sets of Seths. I had a set installed in a chambered Les Paul Supreme; a HUGE improvement over the factory 490R/498T set. Wonderful for classic rock, blues, country AND jazz. I had the pots redone with an RS Kit and the "Treble Tamer" tone pots.

The other set is on of the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary sets that I got through Musician's Friend. They are A2 mags, slightly overwound, with engraved covers. These are installed in a 1995 Les Paul 1960 Classic Plus. Again, just a great all around set and perhaps my favorite between the Seths, Pearly Gates and Antiquitys sets I have.

I use Mesa amps, and while I don't use extreme metal-type gain or volume, I can tell you that when I have gotten feedback; it has always been controllable and musical.

Bill

[LtKojak]

is it true that Seth Lovers have mismatched coils?

Without even getting my MM out, just by reading the name behind it, I pretty much doubt that.