Members blingdogg Posted October 7, 2008 Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 I had these in my Ibanez guitar and it sounded really good. But I'm seeing a lot of hate on these pickups, people saying they're dull, not better than stock pups. I took these out of my Ibanez because I'm curious to try out the GFS retrotron liverpool pups. Now I got an Epi LP standard, and I'm thinking of putting the Vintage 59's in it. Has anyone put vintage 59's in an Epi LP? Or are the Fat Pats a better pickup? I haven't tried the fat pats. p.s (yeah I know these GFS threads have been done before, some of you are tired of them, but it's time for some new answers!!!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jack harper Posted October 7, 2008 Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 i have them 59 in my epi lp. they are a noticeable upgrade from stock, nothing thats going to make you drool but a step in the right direction, there is a vol difference between switching between the pickups tho, nothing drastic, but noticeable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members iansmitchell Posted October 7, 2008 Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 Can't comment on bridge pup or sound in solidbodies.Have one in the neck of my dot. VERY defined, warm, full, round tone. Roll off and it gets jazzy. I also have it on a split, which is good, little more shrill, but defined. And reversed phase, it mixes GREAT with a mean 90, really neat sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bek1 Posted October 7, 2008 Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 I bought a GFS Vintage 59 to replace the SD JB in my Hamer Archtop (it had a 59/JB combo); the GFS sounded a lot like the SD 59 in the neck. I didn't use it long, as I replaced them with a pair of quality handwounds, but it was still very good and I would think they would be outstanding in an Epi LP, especially if you want more or less classic PAF tones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wagdog Posted October 7, 2008 Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 I have a gfs vintage 59 in the bridge of my HHH bullet strat - I really like it, good articulation and overdrives very well. I had one in my les paul for a while and it sounded good there as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CanIBDom Posted October 7, 2008 Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 Jay recommended either the '59 or a Dream 180 to bring a dull-sounding basswood guitar to life. Even though there was a '59 on clearance last week I went with the Dream because the positive reviews are overwhelmingly in its favor. It's out for delivery today, so we'll see how it does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wagdog Posted October 7, 2008 Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 I've been curious about those dreams myself. Let us know how you like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blingdogg Posted October 7, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 I'll try out the Vintage 59 in my Epi LP and see how it sounds. Should be good, as I liked them in my Ibanez. If I don't, I'll switch them out, but it's at least worth a try; tone is a matter of opinion after all. Thanks guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members A-20 Posted October 7, 2008 Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 Jay recommended either the '59 or a Dream 180 to bring a dull-sounding basswood guitar to life. Even though there was a '59 on clearance last week I went with the Dream because the positive reviews are overwhelmingly in its favor. It's out for delivery today, so we'll see how it does. I don't think you will be dissapointed in those 180's. They make this guitar my fave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members A_Gitarman Posted October 7, 2008 Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 I don't think you will be dissapointed in those 180's. They make this guitar my fave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ancient Mariner Posted October 7, 2008 Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 I have a couple of sets: the nickel versions were in a Heritage Les Paul for a year or so (replaced duncan '59s, big improvement) and the naked verions in a switch 'plastic' guitar. Their biggest failing is that they're a little bland. Tonally they are extremely balanced, warm, smooth and reasonably well defined. Split or parallel they sound acceptable, though a little sharp-edged. Under fairly high gain they seem to retain clarity better than burstbuckers (direct comparison, Heritage side by side with a Les Paul Standard). What's not to like? Well, they don't have a lot of character or bite and they don't really crunch, so if you want to do the guitar, cable and amp only thing then they're a bit lacking. However if you use effects a lot for your basic tone or you play through a modeller then they are pretty good. I replaced the GFS with some old Gibson pickups (a 'patent number' and a T top) and they DO crunch, while doing everything the duncans tried to do but failed at so badly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CanIBDom Posted October 7, 2008 Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 I don't think you will be dissapointed in those 180's. They make this guitar my fave. Nice! I went with the Dreamtron style hoping that it will look good next to a big old Fender dynamic vibrato bridge, but still kinda match the black neck pup. Overthinking things? Probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blingdogg Posted October 7, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 I have a couple of sets: the nickel versions were in a Heritage Les Paul for a year or so (replaced duncan '59s, big improvement) and the naked verions in a switch 'plastic' guitar.Their biggest failing is that they're a little bland. Tonally they are extremely balanced, warm, smooth and reasonably well defined. Split or parallel they sound acceptable, though a little sharp-edged. Under fairly high gain they seem to retain clarity better than burstbuckers (direct comparison, Heritage side by side with a Les Paul Standard).What's not to like? Well, they don't have a lot of character or bite and they don't really crunch, so if you want to do the guitar, cable and amp only thing then they're a bit lacking. However if you use effects a lot for your basic tone or you play through a modeller then they are pretty good. I replaced the GFS with some old Gibson pickups (a 'patent number' and a T top) and they DO crunch, while doing everything the duncans tried to do but failed at so badly. Thanks for the great review! I found that the pups sounded pretty good too, in my cheap Ibanez SG copy. I agree they were a little bland, but not too much. I play through a modeller 99% of the time (Amplitube 2 or Guitar Rig 3) so I probably will find them okay for my needs. I'm on a really tight budget right now (after buying 4 guitars this year...) but find that I really hate the Epi stock pickups and need a quick switch. Since I got the Vintage 59s lying around, may as well put them to good use at least for the time being. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dman11 Posted October 7, 2008 Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 I have dream180'a in my SG and it's stellar sounding:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CanIBDom Posted October 7, 2008 Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 I've been curious about those dreams myself. Let us know how you like it. Just tried to install the 180...but neither the the body nor the pickguard are routed for a covered humbucker. Don't want to do any cutting into the guitar because it's gone up in value since I bought it, so it looks like I may be ordering the '59 after all unless anyone has any suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members iansmitchell Posted October 7, 2008 Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 I have a gfs vintage 59 in the bridge of my HHH bullet strat - I really like it, good articulation and overdrives very well. I had one in my les paul for a while and it sounded good there as well. Pics? HHH bullet sounds fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ten56gibby Posted October 7, 2008 Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 neither the the body nor the pickguard are routed for a covered humbucker.... so it looks like I may be ordering the '59 after all unless anyone has any suggestions. I wouldn't suggest the '59 either. If it won't fit a humbucker, why would a '59 fit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CanIBDom Posted October 7, 2008 Members Share Posted October 7, 2008 I wouldn't suggest the '59 either. If it won't fit a humbucker, why would a '59 fit? It's the chrome case around the humbucker that won't fit. An uncovered HB is nice and snug in the route. Unfortunately I don't know of any uncovered Dream 180s. I don't see why an uncovered Vintage '59 won't fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blingdogg Posted October 8, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 I have dream180'a in my SG and it's stellar sounding:thu: Yeah! I had a Dream 180 in the neck of my SG copy and it sounded pretty cool. I still got the pup, and may try it in another guitar. I'm getting a Squier Tele Custom soon, may put it in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members book_of_lies777 Posted October 8, 2008 Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 are you allowing internet buzz to trump your ears? if you like em, that's all that counts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stormin1155 Posted October 8, 2008 Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 I can't comment on the '59s, but I have a set of Dream 180s in my Artcore AS73 and really like them. Very balanced... to me they sound the way a PAF style pup should. I had a set of Fat PAFs in a hollow jazz box I had, and didn't like them. They were dull and muddy, not a noticable improvement over the stock pups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blingdogg Posted October 8, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 are you allowing internet buzz to trump your ears? if you like em, that's all that counts. LOL, yeah I feel that I am. I can't help it sometimes I think the pups are good, so that's all that should matter. I keep telling myself that, but then I keep looking up the reviews and see that some love'em, some don't. I know they made a huge difference over my Ibanez GAX75 pickups though. I'll just try it out for myself. Once they're in, I'll share my results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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