"Public Service Announcement" (or just makin' trouble ?)

[CrimesAgainstMusic]

Thanks to another thread I posted asking for help finding dealers who post pictures of inventory so one can see what's in the box before they buy it ...

I went to the ISH Guitars site to see what was cookin' ...

There I stumbled on somethin I was not looking for, but though might be of interest to others who have S2 McCarty's 594's with the 58/15S pickup set. Now, I have this set in my Thinline, and I like them. To the point, I don't feel the need to replace them. AND, I'm looking to cop a Hollowbody, that will have the same pickup.

But ISH was featuring a pickup set I had not heard of, in a comparison to the highly regarded 58/15LT. A set that cannot be bought separately, so guys with 58/15S'es in S2 DC/ SC 594's cant get them anyway ...

But here in a Core PRS with 58/15LT's installed, they do a direct comparison to this newcomer, something called a "Lambertones" Crema ... A PAF design, with unusual magnets and relatively low DC resistance.

But killer tone in this Core PRS guitar. Here is the link https://ish.guitars/collections/new/products/2021-lambertones-the-crema-humbucker-4-wire-set

See, Its really Phil McKnight's fault where he started it all , when he liked the S2 MaCarty so much, he sold his Core, but "offed" the "S" pickups ...

So what to replace them with ? Well to my meager ears, If I had a S2 594 DC/SC (where I think the S pickups may sound different than they do in a Thinline or Hollowbody) ... these guys in a heads up comparison to the unobtainable LT's do quite well.

Would they sound better than the S's" in my Thinline ? I'm sure ! But for the asking price, I don't need them in my Thinline, but maybe if/when I cop an S2 DC ???

Check it out ...

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

Lambertones are adorned by the Praise & Worship community. They sound pretty good to my ears, clean and organic. I’m sure they are great but I’ve never tried them myself.

 

[Wakester]

Damn, had I known that when I was there last week, I would have snagged them and had them installed in the HB2. Nothing wrong with the 8515S's, but those would make an Interesting guitar awesome.

 

[Driver 8]

I liked the 58/15s better. Little more full sounding but still had great clarity and bite.

 

[GuitarJammin]

ohh Phil Mckight didn't start anything...I've been gutting S2 and SEs every time I've owned one after a couple months of playing on them, and I know I'm not the only one. I agree the pickups are great for stock pickups at the price points, but aftermarket pickups can bring a lot to the table for some players.

 

[CrimesAgainstMusic]

I liked the 58/15s better. Little more full sounding but still had great clarity and bite.

Yeah ... But those are 58/15LT's, the kind we cannot put in our S2 Guitars ...

My thinking is that if these Crema jobs sound nearly as good (or better to some) and are available for sale ?

AND will guaranteed sell for less if/when 58/15LT's become available ? , Although I think $325 is a bit much considering what else is on the market ... But these Lambertones pickups may provide a viable alternative for those who want to replace their 58/15 S models ...

This is the only head to head competition I have heard between the 58/15 LT and other candidates .There must be others. And like I have said many times before, in a Thinline, or even a Hollowbody , I think the "S" models work well.

Lets just blame that McKnight guy for throwin' shade on the 58/15S .I actually do like his" Know Your Gear" stuff, and would join his site, but one has to jump through too many hoops to post there ..

 

[Driver 8]

Yeah ... But those are 58/15LT's, the kind we cannot put in our S2 Guitars ...

My thinking is that if these Crema jobs sound nearly as good (or better to some) and are available for sale ?

AND will guaranteed sell for less if/when 58/15LT's become available ? , Although I think $325 is a bit much considering what else is on the market ... But these Lambertones pickups may provide a viable alternative for those who want to replace their 58/15 S models ...

This is the only head to head competition I have heard between the 58/15 LT and other candidates .There must be others. And like I have said many times before, in a Thinline, or even a Hollowbody , I think the "S" models work well.

Lets just blame that McKnight guy for throwin' shade on the 58/15S .I actually do like his" Know Your Gear" stuff, and would join his site, but one has to jump through too many hoops to post there ..

I see. I missed that part. They certainly didn’t sound bad... although $325 is kinda boutique land. Anyway, good luck to you S2 owners.

 

[CrimesAgainstMusic]

After sneaking back to listen to the clean portions of the demo for both sets of pickups, I come away with :

1. Both sets of pickups sound a bit brighter than my tastes, not thin or icepicky, just a tad bright
2. The Lambertones sound a tad more "mellow" while still providing the high end clarity and detail
3. Ya cant' buy the 58/15LT, and if you could, they would probably cost $500.00
4.. If I had an S2 Mc Carty 594 SC/DC that I just had to change the pickups in ... I'd cop these Lambertone things !

We get to see (hear) them in the video with a direct comparison, and we don't have to extrapolate how a demo in a totally different environment, in a totally different guitar would sound. Both sets sound good. And even if it is a "dead heat", The Lambertones are

A. Available and
B Probably cheaper !

I'll just file this all away for the day that an S2 MaCarty 594 DC is the lust target ...
BUT ... I'd be bumming that I would spend $1,800 00 on a guitar, and still have to change the pickups ...