which humbucker for Yamaha SG500B

**nick_wolf** · 12-29-2018, 08:06 AM

Dear all I recently bought a (second hand) yamaha sg500b, the guitar is really nice all mahogany (solid body) with rosewood fretboard.
The only problem is that the pickups it came with are crazy high output... that distort all the time.
I am now going to change them... but the option are quite a lot.
I am between something of low or medium output... either alnico II or V.
I am not interested in buying boutique expensive humbuckers... I am between:

S duncan alnico II
S duncan 59
Bare knuckle old guard
Bare knuckle true grit.

Any pros and cons you can mention? I aim to have a versatile guitar... not just a jazz machine. I got bare knuckle true grit for my telecaster and they are an incredible versatile set. I wonder if this also applies for the humbucker set?!??
thanks in advance.
NW

**John A.** · 12-29-2018, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by nick_wolf

Dear all I recently bought a (second hand) yamaha sg500b, the guitar is really nice all mahogany (solid body) with rosewood fretboard.
The only problem is that the pickups it came with are crazy high output... that distort all the time.
I am now going to change them... but the option are quite a lot.
I am between something of low or medium output... either alnico II or V.
I am not interested in buying boutique expensive humbuckers... I am between:

S duncan alnico II
S duncan 59
Bare knuckle old guard
Bare knuckle true grit.

Any pros and cons you can mention? I aim to have a versatile guitar... not just a jazz machine. I got bare knuckle true grit for my telecaster and they are an incredible versatile set. I wonder if this also applies for the humbucker set?!??
thanks in advance.
NW

I can't really offer pick-up recommendations (I haven't done any swapping), but have you tried lowering the pickups? IME, that can make a big difference and go a long way to taming a pickup.

John

**blille** · 12-29-2018, 12:03 PM

Big fan of SD Alnico II, one of my fave pickups. Similar but with even more fans are the SD Seth Lovers.

Seth Lover – set | Seymour Duncan

**nick_wolf** · 12-29-2018, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by John A.

I can't really offer pick-up recommendations (I haven't done any swapping), but have you tried lowering the pickups? IME, that can make a big difference and go a long way to taming a pickup.

John

Dear john, I tried that yes. It is a good thing to do.... but honestly it doesn't make enough difference to me.
I don't think these pickups are of good quality... or if this is alnico 2 or 5 or ceramic or what... (check attachments)
best,
N

**nick_wolf** · 12-29-2018, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by blille

Big fan of SD Alnico II, one of my fave pickups. Similar but with even more fans are the SD Seth Lovers.

Seth Lover – set | Seymour Duncan

Can you explain why you are big fan? That's the kind of input i am looking for with this post.
And please also mention in which guitar (body, neck and fretboard wood) and if they suit you in a particular style or any more details you can provide.
thanks and best,
N

**blille** · 12-29-2018, 12:58 PM

I’m speaking about the neck position since it’s what I have more experience with. I find the A2Pro is warm yet still clear. It’s very versatile and I’ve used it in solid bodies (Tele neck) and semi hollow (335) guitars I am sure it would translate well to a hollowbody as well. I assumed you were more interested in jazz, which is what I used them for but they are also popular in classic rock.

**nick_wolf** · 12-29-2018, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by blille

I’m speaking about the neck position since it’s what I have more experience with. I find the A2Pro is warm yet still clear. It’s very versatile and I’ve used it in solid bodies (Tele neck) and semi hollow (335) guitars I am sure it would translate well to a hollowbody as well. I assumed you were more interested in jazz, which is what I used them for but they are also popular in classic rock.

That's correct yes... I am more focus to jazz. But i am putting the pickups in a "SG" so i would like it to be useful for other things as well... classic rock, blues, funk. I do not aim to play hard rock or metal (i don't like that to be honest).
Thanks for the reply. I guess alnico II is a very good choice. However, some known cats, like Mike Stern, use S Duncan 59 which are alnico V and I found that sound reaaaally nice.
N

**blille** · 12-29-2018, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by nick_wolf

That's correct yes... I am more focus to jazz. But i am putting the pickups in a "SG" so i would like it to be useful for other things as well... classic rock, blues, funk. I do not aim to play hard rock or metal (i don't like that to be honest).
Thanks for the reply. I guess alnico II is a very good choice. However, some known cats, like Mike Stern, use S Duncan 59 which are alnico V and I found that sound reaaaally nice.
N

Cool. It works great with hollow bodies and Gibson scale. They are pretty popular in Les Pauls and like I said for classic rock.

I love stern but I find the stock 59 too scooped for my taste but it depends on your taste and gear.

I have a SD 59 in my jazz Tele but I swapped in the magnet for an A2

I’m really happy with it.

It’s very easy to swap a magnet so if you can’t make up your mind you can get the 59s and swap the magnet like I did.

**nick_wolf** · 12-29-2018, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by blille

Cool. It works great with hollow bodies and Gibson scale. They are pretty popular in Les Pauls and like I said for classic rock.

I love stern but I find the stock 59 too scooped for my taste but it depends on your taste and gear.

I have a SD 59 in my jazz Tele but I swapped in the magnet for an A2

I’m really happy with it.

It’s very easy to swap a magnet so if you can’t make up your mind you can get the 59s and swap the magnet like I did.

Changing the magnet can be a solution... but i am not very eager to do it.
That's why i wonder about the bare knuckle option... they are supposed to have a wider range in tone without loosing warm or clarity. Maybe i will experience with alnico II in the neck and alnico V in the bridge.
I will see, there is no rush. ;-)
N

**blille** · 12-29-2018, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by nick_wolf

Changing the magnet can be a solution... but i am not very eager to do it.
That's why i wonder about the bare knuckle option... they are supposed to have a wider range in tone without loosing warm or clarity. Maybe i will experience with alnico II in the neck and alnico V in the bridge.
I will see, there is no rush. ;-)
N

Definitely. You can optimize neck for Jazz and bridge for rock.

**mad dog** · 12-29-2018, 01:34 PM

I had a SD Alnico II in the neck spot of a really nice partscaster tele. It was a nice, smooth p/u, good sound. Just as with blillie, my preference does go to the Seth Lovers. I've not heard the Seths in solidbodies, but have many times in semis and archtops. There's a certain twang you can get from the seths that really appeals, while the neck only sound is so sweet for jazz and non-distorted types of things.

By contrast, I've not liked the 59s in any guitar. Had them in several. A LP, a Guild X-500 for example. The 59s feel different. Louder, kind of stiff somehow. Maybe it's the wax potting that does it.
MD

**nick_wolf** · 12-29-2018, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by mad dog

I had a SD Alnico II in the neck spot of a really nice partscaster tele. It was a nice, smooth p/u, good sound. Just as with blillie, my preference does go to the Seth Lovers. I've not heard the Seths in solidbodies, but have many times in semis and archtops. There's a certain twang you can get from the seths that really appeals, while the neck only sound is so sweet for jazz and non-distorted types of things.

By contrast, I've not liked the 59s in any guitar. Had them in several. A LP, a Guild X-500 for example. The 59s feel different. Louder, kind of stiff somehow. Maybe it's the wax potting that does it.
MD

I had alnico 2 pro (telecaster neck) and it was a sweet and smooth pickup (sometimes I miss that sound...

)
Maybe i will go to the option of alnico 2 but with bare knuckle old guard, this have a good wide tone.
N

**JaxJaxon** · 12-29-2018, 03:13 PM

you could try to Degause the pickup some and make it less magnetic.

**lawson-stone** · 12-29-2018, 04:21 PM

I have never been disappointed with the Seymour Duncan Seth Lover. I put one in the neck position of a MiK Epiphone Broadway and got exactly what I hoped for. Likewise, I picked up an Epiphone Zephyr Regent Reissue (ES165 copy) and put the SDSL in there, and again, the sweet, low/moderate output, singing PAF tone was there.

I actually have one of the StewMac PAF copies that I need to try out in some guitar just to see how it stacks up. If it's great, it would be a very economical alternative.

**nick_wolf** · 12-29-2018, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by lawson-stone

I have never been disappointed with the Seymour Duncan Seth Lover. I put one in the neck position of a MiK Epiphone Broadway and got exactly what I hoped for. Likewise, I picked up an Epiphone Zephyr Regent Reissue (ES165 copy) and put the SDSL in there, and again, the sweet, low/moderate output, singing PAF tone was there.

I actually have one of the StewMac PAF copies that I need to try out in some guitar just to see how it stacks up. If it's great, it would be a very economical alternative.

I don't doubt about the seth lover set. But unfortunately are quite expensive.

**lawson-stone** · 12-30-2018, 12:50 AM

This afternoon I switched out the SDSL on my MiK Epiphone Broadway and installed instead the StewMac "Golden Age Parson Street" humbucker with the A2 magnet. I have to say, it sounds great. I seriously doubt I could tell the difference between it and the SDSL. I hate to admit it, frankly, but to my ear there is very little difference. And the StewMac pickup costs $50 give or take, depending on nickel or gold.

**nick_wolf** · 12-30-2018, 04:58 AM

Originally Posted by lawson-stone

This afternoon I switched out the SDSL on my MiK Epiphone Broadway and installed instead the StewMac "Golden Age Parson Street" humbucker with the A2 magnet. I have to say, it sounds great. I seriously doubt I could tell the difference between it and the SDSL. I hate to admit it, frankly, but to my ear there is very little difference. And the StewMac pickup costs $50 give or take, depending on nickel or gold.

I just checked and it is definitely a very interesting option for the price.
Golden Age Parsons Street Humbuckers | stewmac.com
I just wonder what are the importation tax since I don't live in the USA

**lawson-stone** · 12-30-2018, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by nick_wolf

I just checked and it is definitely a very interesting option for the price.
Golden Age Parsons Street Humbuckers | stewmac.com
I just wonder what are the importation tax since I don't live in the USA

Hey it’s also sold on Amazon. Maybe in your location you could order through Amazon?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

**nick_wolf** · 12-30-2018, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by lawson-stone

Hey it’s also sold on Amazon. Maybe in your location you could order through Amazon?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Sadly not.

**nick_wolf** · 12-31-2018, 04:08 AM

This seem like the correct choice! not expensive and well made.

I made the order yesterday, both alnico V since my guitar can be quite moody (all mahogany)...
I will post again once installed in the guitar.
Thanks for the recommendation lawson-stone
happy new year cats!

**lawson-stone** · 12-31-2018, 06:33 PM

I have now had a couple days during the holiday to give this StewMac Golden Age Parson Street PAF clone pickup a good workout. It's on a 1990's Peerless made MiK Epiphone Broadway with stock pots/caps, but a guitar that has always to my mind been a superb player with a great sound. Anyhow, I have played this through a Fender SuperChamp X2 head with a 12" cab, through several species of Polytones, through the DV Mark Little Jazz, and through my favorite, the DVMark Micro50 through a 4-Ohm 10" speaker. I've also played it side-by-side with a Gibson L5ces, a Gibson ES175 VOS1959, a Gibson ES175 "figured", and an Epiphone Zephyr Regent Re-Issue fitted with a Seymour Duncan Seth Lover. My office building is abandoned during the holidays, so I've been able to open up the volume a bit too.

I am ready to give the StewMac pickup a very strong recommendation. It's right up there with the SDSL and the Gibson Classic 57 for tone, and actually it has some features I like better than the Classic 57 (not enough to change, but still...). This pickup is certainly as good a performer, to my ear, as the SDSL, and at its price point, it's a better deal. You can get it in Alnica II or V, mine is the Alnico II.

No doubt others have more discriminating ears than me, certainly more experience than me, and clearly these kinds of opinions are subjective, but right now if I were buying a new humbucker for any of my guitars, from the L5 on down, I'd probably buy the Golden Age Parson Street PAF copy. The others are not discernibly (to me) better to justify the much higher cost.

**patshep** · 12-31-2018, 07:55 PM

seth lover or other paf style pickup would work, maybe lollar low wind imperials?

**lawson-stone** · 01-01-2019, 03:06 PM

I decided to make a clip with the MiK Epiphone Broadway with the StewMac Parson Street Golden Age PAF clone in the neck position.

I'm playing into a DVMark Micro50 head with a 10" 8 Ohm speaker, mic'ing the cab with a Shure SM57. that and the backing track go to a PreSonus AudioBox iTwo and from there to my iPhone 6s. I edit for audio balance in Screenflow. I have the Volume and Tone on the guitar at 10, and all controls on the amp are at 12 o'clock.

I honestly am not sure this gives a representative idea of the tone, but though some information is better than none.

**lawson-stone** · 01-02-2019, 12:00 PM

Just for fun I recorded the same solo I used with the StewMac PAF using my L5ces with the 57 Classic pickup. Superimposing the two clips and switching back and forth, you can hear the differences and similarities, at least to the extent that YouTube allows you to--their processing seems to mash a lot of subtle sounds close to the center makes things sound more similar than they really are. Also, the two guitars are rather different. The Epi is a laminate, 3" depth body, the L5ces is solid carved, 3.25" depth.

Still, if you expect to her $4000 worth of difference, you might be surprised. The L5ces is worth having, but it's not solely a matter of tone.

The StewMac Golden Age Parson Street pickup remains a strong over-performer in the PAF copy market, in my view.

**nick_wolf** · 01-02-2019, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by lawson-stone

I have now had a couple days during the holiday to give this StewMac Golden Age Parson Street PAF clone pickup a good workout. It's on a 1990's Peerless made MiK Epiphone Broadway with stock pots/caps, but a guitar that has always to my mind been a superb player with a great sound. Anyhow, I have played this through a Fender SuperChamp X2 head with a 12" cab, through several species of Polytones, through the DV Mark Little Jazz, and through my favorite, the DVMark Micro50 through a 4-Ohm 10" speaker. I've also played it side-by-side with a Gibson L5ces, a Gibson ES175 VOS1959, a Gibson ES175 "figured", and an Epiphone Zephyr Regent Re-Issue fitted with a Seymour Duncan Seth Lover. My office building is abandoned during the holidays, so I've been able to open up the volume a bit too.

I am ready to give the StewMac pickup a very strong recommendation. It's right up there with the SDSL and the Gibson Classic 57 for tone, and actually it has some features I like better than the Classic 57 (not enough to change, but still...). This pickup is certainly as good a performer, to my ear, as the SDSL, and at its price point, it's a better deal. You can get it in Alnica II or V, mine is the Alnico II.

No doubt others have more discriminating ears than me, certainly more experience than me, and clearly these kinds of opinions are subjective, but right now if I were buying a new humbucker for any of my guitars, from the L5 on down, I'd probably buy the Golden Age Parson Street PAF copy. The others are not discernibly (to me) better to justify the much higher cost.

Amazing feedback! and thanks for the video! nice playing by the way.

I made the order with alnico V already.