Pickups in SE Hollowbody Piezo vs S2 594

[Johnhe]

I was under the impression that both these guitars came with identical 58/15S pickups. But the pickups sound very different (I only received my S2 594 today). I measured both sets, and here is what I saw:

SE HB Bridge: 7.9
SE HB neck: 7.6
S2 594 bridge: 8.5
S2 594 neck: 8.1

So how on earth can these be the same pickups?

anyone else know what their 58/15S pickups read?

 

[show_a_little_faith]

I don't have any measurements on mine, so nothing to offer there. I know all of the "S" pickups are made overseas, but are they all made in one factory? Or, like some SE guitar's are made in Indonesia, some in China, etc. are the pickups also made in multiple countries? Obviously I'd like for the same model pickup to have the same specs regardless, but maybe there's some differences that way.
Obviously, besides their output measurements, of course there's also the differences you'll hear in a solid body vs hollowbody. Finally, how closely are the pickup heights matched on both guitars? I've found they're very responsive to small adjustments, so if yours aren't at equal heights that will affect things too

 

[SinSir]

They're going to sound different regardless, being two different guitars but Interesting on the readings. I half wonder if its to mimic the 58/15 LT in the 594 hollowbody? Did you pull them to look at the markings to see if they are exactly the same?

 

[dmatthews]

I don't think the HB pups are splitable. Could that be the difference?

 

[SinSir]

I don't think the HB pups are splitable. Could that be the difference?

I always assumed that was the wiring, but I also figured they were the same. Shows what I know. I have a HB2 on order, supposed to arrive in May. I guess I'll find out then.

 

[chicagoslim]

I also own a SE Hollowbody II and S2 McCarty Singlecut 594. I love the pickups in the Hollowbody II, they are just okay in the S2. I don't care that the SE isn't splitable. Every extra POT in the circuit effects the tone in a negative way. I learned this years ago, modifying Strats. I would rather have fewer good sounds, than a lot of different sounds with a bunch of POTs and switches. I really didn't want the piezo, extra circuitry, battery, extra Volume Pot, for this reason. I've owned a lot of hollow bodies. When I bought a Gretsch G6120, I went with the Setzer model with just a single Volume control. YMMV!

 

[dmatthews]

I always assumed that was the wiring, but I also figured they were the same. Shows what I know. I have a HB2 on order, supposed to arrive in May. I guess I'll find out then.

My used WL 594 came with a 3rd party pup in the bridge and a spare 58/15 LT.
When I looked at the 58/15 I saw it was 2 wire only.
Found out that's what they put in the core HBs.
Got a local luthier to split it for me and install it.

 

[SinSir]

My used WL 594 came with a 3rd party pup in the bridge and a spare 58/15 LT.
When I looked at the 58/15 I saw it was 2 wire only.
Found out that's what they put in the core HBs.
Got a local luthier to split it for me and install it.

I didn't know that either! Interesting. I've never looked at the LT seriously cause of the silly secondary prices.

I really wanted a 594 HB but after last year's guitar splurge it's not in the budget. Then I noticed the new color faded blue burst on the se and I pulled the trigger that night.

 

[Johnhe]

OP here. I’ve only had the S2 594 for one day, so my comments should be taken with a pinch of salt. But I really like the pickups in my SE Hollowbody Piezo. I’m not saying the S2 doesn’t sound as good, but I certainly prefer the sound of the pickups in the HB right now.

i totally understand that the guitars will sound different. I also own a 335, a 339, and a couple of Les Pauls.

I'm pretty sure that the S2 594 is a keeper (I bought it because I have a broken shoulder and im struggling with my heavier Les Pauls). But I’m not sure that the pickups will work for me In the longer term.

 

[aphantomvaper]

I've had both the S2 594 DC and SE HB II Piezo. The pickups definitely sound better in the HB to me. I did sell the S2 594.

Haven't pulled the pickups for the HB but they are both 58/15s according to spec. I did pull the S2 594 and made a post here a couple years ago of that with measurements.

The HB is off to the PTC and I will pull the pickups someday for inspection when it returns.

Last I will say is there are many more factors than just resistance that makes a pickup sound different. In this case I truly believe the SE HB II makes the 58/15s pickups sound better than in the S2 594.

 

[SinSir]

OP here. I’ve only had the S2 594 for one day, so my comments should be taken with a pinch of salt. But I really like the pickups in my SE Hollowbody Piezo. I’m not saying the S2 doesn’t sound as good, but I certainly prefer the sound of the pickups in the HB right now.

i totally understand that the guitars will sound different. I also own a 335, a 339, and a couple of Les Pauls.

I'm pretty sure that the S2 594 is a keeper (I bought it because I have a broken shoulder and im struggling with my heavier Les Pauls). But I’m not sure that the pickups will work for me In the longer term.

Slap some 57/08 in there and enjoy! Or the 59/09 in the bridge and 57/08 in the neck.

 

[chicagoslim]

OP here. I’ve only had the S2 594 for one day, so my comments should be taken with a pinch of salt. But I really like the pickups in my SE Hollowbody Piezo. I’m not saying the S2 doesn’t sound as good, but I certainly prefer the sound of the pickups in the HB right now.

i totally understand that the guitars will sound different. I also own a 335, a 339, and a couple of Les Pauls.

I'm pretty sure that the S2 594 is a keeper (I bought it because I have a broken shoulder and im struggling with my heavier Les Pauls). But I’m not sure that the pickups will work for me In the longer term.

I think that the S2 594 is more Mid focused, with less high overtones. Instead of swapping pickups, I found that the Vox like settings on my Bad Cat or Tone button (that boosts upper Mids & highs), on my NexTone Stage, did the trick. My amps were setup for added Mids, for when I used my single coil Strats. I found it more of a guitar/amp combination for me.

How would you describe the sound between your Hollowbody Piezo and your ES335 and ES339? When asked, I've described it as different, but familiar. YMMV!

 

[Johnhe]

I think that the S2 594 is more Mid focused, with less high overtones. Instead of swapping pickups, I found that the Vox like settings on my Bad Cat or Tone button (that boosts upper Mids & highs), on my NexTone Stage, did the trick. My amps were setup for added Mids, for when I used my single coil Strats. I found it more of a guitar/amp combination for me.

How would you describe the sound between your Hollowbody Piezo and your ES335 and ES339? When asked, I've described it as different, but familiar. YMMV!

Thanks for the input.

Regarding the SE HB vs my 339 (I just sold the 335). the SE HB is my first fully hollow guitar. It definitely feels more “hollow” than either the 339 or 335. it feels like a new experience for me, and I’m loving it. I have to confess, I’m nervous about how the SE HB will cope with very high stage volumes with some of the bands I play with. My 339 is definitely brighter sounding. But I’m pretty sure I could record both the HB and the 339 and no one could tell the difference between them. The HB definitely has that old-school, vintagey, Gibson-esque type thing going on. It sounds excellent to my ears.

 

[dogrocketp]

You should be pleasantly surprised about the SE. Remember, it’s laminated, so it can handle mare volume than a lot of Hollowbodies. Also, where you stand in relation to the amp can affect feedback either positively or negatively. Enjoy it, I think it’s the best thin stage Hollowbody I ever played or owned.

 

[CipherHost]

"anyone else know what their 58/15S pickups read?"

SE HB Bridge: 8.0K
SE HB neck: 7.5K

 

[DogPhishHead]

Slap some 57/08 in there and enjoy! Or the 59/09 in the bridge and 57/08 in the neck.

Yes...the 57/08s in my McCarty have ruined all other humbuckers to my ears. I put Seth Lovers in my SE Zach Myers and wish I hadn't now.

 

[gtrman100]

I didn't know that either! Interesting. I've never looked at the LT seriously cause of the silly secondary prices.

I really wanted a 594 HB but after last year's guitar splurge it's not in the budget. Then I noticed the new color faded blue burst on the se and I pulled the trigger that night.

Love my SE Paul's guitar in faded blue burst.

 

[Bud1904]

I also own a SE Hollowbody II and S2 McCarty Singlecut 594. I love the pickups in the Hollowbody II, they are just okay in the S2. I don't care that the SE isn't splitable. Every extra POT in the circuit effects the tone in a negative way. I learned this years ago, modifying Strats. I would rather have fewer good sounds, than a lot of different sounds with a bunch of POTs and switches. I really didn't want the piezo, extra circuitry, battery, extra Volume Pot, for this reason. I've owned a lot of hollow bodies. When I bought a Gretsch G6120, I went with the Setzer model with just a single Volume control. YMMV!

I was pleasantly shocked by the tone coming from my SE HBII. It's great. I saw another Grey one at GC yesterday and almost bought it. I had to escort myself off the premises to cut the GAS.

 

[Bud1904]

They're going to sound different regardless, being two different guitars but Interesting on the readings. I half wonder if its to mimic the 58/15 LT in the 594 hollowbody? Did you pull them to look at the markings to see if they are exactly the same?

What does the "LT" mean? Thanks.

 

[show_a_little_faith]

What does the "LT" mean? Thanks.

Low Turn. Fewer windings on the coil, results in a lower output signal. The idea is supposed to make them sound closer to the original PAF pickups ("Vintage warm, clear tone").