85/15 vs 57/08 vs 59/09

[alantig]

Clean or distorted? And through what signal chain?

Duh - distorted. Elephants have no use for clean.

And they don't play fingerstyle. Why? No thumbs.

And tapping has proven disastrous to necks.

 

[rugerpc]

Actually, they are angry they cannot 'moo' and take it out on Fender necks....

...and cars.

 

[guitarman001]

I'm DYING to try the new pickups!
Been playing the 57/08s vs 59/09s vs the Suhr pickups in my S4.
57/08s definitely sound the coolest - a tad muffled but in a good way. Very raw and rocky, bit like a Les Paul.
59/09s are clearer, louder and higher gain - not as "vintage" as the 57/08s.
Suhr pups sound fantastic and yes there is a lot of tonal variation but it's an HSS guitar with large distance between pups so I guess you'd expect all of that! The 57/08s and 59/09s have their own sound which doesn't change much when switching pickups - it's more like a little EQ has been applied as opposed to the dramatic variation I hear on the S4 (bridge humbucker crunch to single coil quack) - but it's all cool... the pickups sound absolutely amazing. Seriously good.

 

[rugerpc]

The 57/08s and 59/09s have their own sound which doesn't change much when switching pickups - it's more like a little EQ has been applied as opposed to the dramatic variation I hear on the S4 (bridge humbucker crunch to single coil quack)

And.... We're back...

Expecting a humbuckler to 'quack' makes about as much sense as trying to get an elephant to 'moo'.

Alan???

****

I wonder if we can get Chris to append his shootout vids with newer pup offerings...

 

[alantig]

Alan???

I don't know - seems like it's more a picking style and a clean tone to get a bit of a quack of a humbucker.

I have heard a dog go meow, though.

Had to put it in a freezer for a few days, then run it through a band saw, but it really went meeee-ooowww.

 

[guitarman001]

Sorry guys

 

[László]

Well, even though I don't quack (I do walk like a duck but that's another matter), I'll remind everyone that what makes a guitar quack is the out-of-phase signal that comes from a middle pickup blended with another pickup. No middle pickup, and it's just not going to really quack.

This is why an SAS will, and a Custom won't. It's why an HSS guitar or an HSH guitar like a Suhr will also.

It's just physics, guys. Nothing more.

 

[11top]

Last week, I got a PS with covered 58/15s (my first experience with the new pups). In order of tonal preference, I'd rate my pickup choice from least to most favorite: 53/10, 58/15, 57/08, 59/09.

 

[ozboy]

THere's a stone when we are looking for 85/ bones. Please atone, or join da ramones

 

[Buildermike]

Last week, I got a PS with covered 58/15s (my first experience with the new pups). In order of tonal preference, I'd rate my pickup choice from least to most favorite: 53/10, 58/15, 57/08, 59/09.

Wow, very interesting Mr. P.

 

[AaeCee]

Last week, I got a PS with covered 58/15s (my first experience with the new pups). In order of tonal preference, I'd rate my pickup choice from least to most favorite: 53/10, 58/15, 57/08, 59/09.

Which just shows to go ya……with the exception of the 58/15's because I've never tried them, my preferences are the exact opposite, with the 53/10's leading the way.

So to the OP, this further confirms the idea that in this guitar world of infinite potential iterations, it all comes down to personal preferences above all.


I am right about the pickups however. ; - ))

 

[László]

I really don't have much of a pecking order for the pickups; horses for courses.

I love the 53/10s, but don't currently have a guitar with them; the 57/08s sound great in my Singlecut, and the 85/15s are great in the CU24. I like the Artist V pickups a lot, too, they're fantastic pickups with a vintage vibe but plenty of bite. Ever since the 57/08s, I've loved PRS pickups.

 

[aristotle]

Expecting a humbuckler to 'quack' makes about as much sense as trying to get an elephant to 'moo'.

As usual, I'm siding with Les. My 3 pickup Les Paul Custom quacks with the best of them. Set the pickup control to the center position, play the opening lick of Sweet Home, and you'd swear that it's a Strat. It's way more quacky than a Tele for example, even though it's all humbucker. It's all a function of the pickup placement and how the magnetics work out. There isn't anything "split" with a 3 pickup custom. It's the physics of how the pickups interact. In any case, if you're really looking to dup a strat, go with a 513 or a 305. I still say that a 30th CU24 in position 4.... or a 408 with the volume dialed back to around 6 will cure you of wanting to dup a strat though...

 

[aristotle]

I really don't have much of a pecking order for the pickups; horses for courses.

I love the 53/10s, but don't currently have a guitar with them; the 57/08s sound great in my Singlecut, and the 85/15s are great in the CU24. I like the Artist V pickups a lot, too, they're fantastic pickups with a vintage vibe but plenty of bite. Ever since the 57/08s, I've loved PRS pickups.

A CU22 or a P22 with 53/10s is second to none.....

 

[11top]

I'm not trying to suggest that one pickup is better than the other. The determination will be based upon the genre of music played, and what your ear wants to hear. I typically play songs with more gain, and I prefer a more smooth silky tone. While I think all are great pups, the 53/10s and 58/15s, have too much bite for me. However, for clean chimey (is that even a word?) tones, I can see those pups being a good choice. And, I will admit that I have tried neither in my bands, but it wouldn't surprise me if both did a good job of cutting through the mix. I have (on that rare occasion :creep been known to change my mind. :tongue:

That said, for me the 59/09s are numero uno.

 

[guitarman001]

What's the difference between 85/15 and 58/15?

 

[django49]

^^^^

Uncovered vs covered.

 

[kingsleyd]

85/15s in action. Definitely my favorite of the bunch, but that's because I strive for clarity.

 

[FJ4]

Thanks Kingsleyd, beautiful playing!

 

[guitarman001]

Oh! Does covered vs uncovered make such a big difference?