Little 59

[dmock66]

I decided to re-evaluate my Strat. I've not been playing it much due to the gain tones not driving as hard as my humbucker loaded guitars. I'm a product of the 80s and prefer the driving gain tones to the lighter sounds.

I had a Lawrence L290S in the bridge. It's a hotter single coil wind, almost to P-90 output. However, I still wasn't getting the drive I preferred. I elected to go with a Seymour Duncan Little 59.

I soldered it in on Saturday morning and did a quick p/u height adjustment to get the output in unity with the middle/neck pickups. After a couple small tweaks I had the treble/bass sides balanced how I liked. The Little 59 is a PAF pickup. If you think it will make your Strat sound like a Les Paul you're going to be disappointed. On the other hand, if you like the character of your Strat and just want more drive from the bridge (or whatever position you choose to put the Little 59) then you're going to be very pleased with this pickup. There is no doubt that this is a "honeymoon review" as I've only played my Strat with the Little 59 in it twice - but it definitely delivers what I wanted it to.

My band played a "show" on Saturday night then our regular Sunday service last weekend. I played the Strat at both. Our bass player wrote me an email yesterday (Monday) only to say that "whatever you did to your Strat, keep doing it - your sound was AWESOME!" He's been playing in rock bands for years now and knows good sound when he hears it.

All in all, this is a very good modification to a Strat if you like the character of the guitar but just want more drive.

[Tech Player]

That's cool dmock. The pickup is perfoming as you want, and it's a good recommendation for what it is.

I have a little '59 and a JB Junior, for fun and research.

When I want the Les Paul-competitive sounds from a single coil guitar, I believe that the 4-way on a Tele gives me the big boom, similar to a full size humbucker.

Then I do similar things with Strats by making series connections between 2 or more pickups, again for the big, full and loud sound, with more attack, punch and presence, also (GAIN) power to crunch and drive, and it usually offers higher levels of sustain, longer than normal.

[dmock66]

I'd be interested in your opinion between the Little 59 and Little JB.

I debated those two and went with the Little 59 as I didn't want a "hot" pickup to combine with two normal output single coils (well, noiseless - technically stacked humbucker - Lawrence L280S). As I look down the road at adding guitars my thought is to get something similar to what I have now only make them hotter. As such I'm keeping the one L290S I have and if I can find another Strat that feels the same as the one I have, and at a good price, I'll get that and put a hotter end to end pickup set in it - like two L290S in the middle/neck and a Little JB in the bridge.

... just looking down the road a bit.

[hotraman]

I put a l SD Lil 59 in my telecaster bridge.
It did the job with giving my a nice fat rock sound.
I think Stephen may have one as well.
I took it out and went back to all stock pick-ups.
I missed the Tele quack.
SD makes nice pickups.
Enjoy yours!

[Tech Player]

The JB Junior sounds a little hotter to me, but I can't say it is fat because it could be shrill. I think I almost heard ice pick harshness. I split it to single coil, and it was weak, not truly thin, but bland and only sounding partly-there.

I also have a Dimarzio HS-3 Yngwie Malmsteen stack in a bridge position, and it is neither too loud, or shrill. I'm glad it's not shrill or sharp sounding. But otherwise, a disappointment.

I like the little '59 best because of it's realtive balance, and transmission of all frequencies more evenly with some equilibrium. It is crisp, but the added sweetness is noticeable.

None compare to a Fat Strat with full size HB. But when you split the full HB, it's on the wrong angle, and sounds "off" from true Strat tone, just a smidgeon.

BTW, I have 500K pots on the Seymour-equipped guitars. If you stayed with 250's you are bound to be a little tamer, with more pleasant sounds, could be? :)

[Ascension]

I wound up with a lil 59 in the bridge on my 94 LS 93 Washburn Silverado.
I have a Fender CS 54 in the neck and SSl-1 Duncan that is RW/RP in the middle + the Lil 59.
There was a SSL-5 in the bridge from the factory and I have also had a Lil Screaming Demon and a SSL-3 hot for Strat in this one.
The SSL-5 was the most vintage Strat like in pos 2 but lacked punch and warmth in the bridge alone.
The SSL-3 was mor e PAF like buts still was thing.
The Lil Screaming Demon was a rocker but overwhelming and did NOT work well with the SSL-1 and it also didn't clean up well with the volume controll.
The Lil 59 is fantastic in this Swamp Ash boddied maple neck guitar. It's fat and sweet with good drive but plays well with the SSL-1 and also cleans up well with the volume.
The Lil 59 is not quite as hot as a full size bucker would be but close and matches the charcter well of this guitar for me it's a winner!

[Micter]

I have a lil 59 in my ESP Strat and it sounds awesome! I really like it alot.

[Tech Player]

I have a lil 59 in my ESP Strat and it sounds awesome! I really like it alot.

Is that with or without a Sonic Stomp, bro? :dunno:

[refin]

I wound up with a lil 59 in the bridge on my 94 LS 93 Washburn Silverado.
I have a Fender CS 54 in the neck and SSl-1 Duncan that is RW/RP in the middle + the Lil 59.
There was a SSL-5 in the bridge from the factory and I have also had a Lil Screaming Demon and a SSL-3 hot for Strat in this one.
The SSL-5 was the most vintage Strat like in pos 2 but lacked punch and warmth in the bridge alone.
The SSL-3 was mor e PAF like buts still was thing.
The Lil Screaming Demon was a rocker but overwhelming and did NOT work well with the SSL-1 and it also didn't clean up well with the volume controll.
The Lil 59 is fantastic in this Swamp Ash boddied maple neck guitar. It's fat and sweet with good drive but plays well with the SSL-1 and also cleans up well with the volume.
The Lil 59 is not quite as hot as a full size bucker would be but close and matches the charcter well of this guitar for me it's a winner!


Hahahaha...hahahaha...you said "demon...." rofl

[stephen]

The ST59 1B (lil 59) is a hot pick up. It's 17K So for a single coil sized pup, its a little rip-roarin lil monster!

I love mine, especially in my Tele: It makes it a very aggressive little guitar, and that fits my style which is sorta hard rockin blues/heavy metal with a lot of punk aggression. It's a very fun pup!

But, I am now in the search for a better neck pup to get along with the lil 59. I have a 1/4 pounder in the neck right now, but it sounds anemic in comparison. I may have to go to a full size bucker.

[Tech Player]

The ST59 1B (lil 59) is a hot pick up. It's 17K So for a single coil sized pup, its a little rip-roarin lil monster!

I love mine, especially in my Tele: It makes it a very aggressive little guitar, and that fits my style which is sorta hard rockin blues/heavy metal with a lot of punk aggression. It's a very fun pup!

But, I am now in the search for a better neck pup to get along with the lil 59. I have a 1/4 pounder in the neck right now, but it sounds anemic in comparison. I may have to go to a full size bucker.

Muy Grande, Stephen, open style with giant poles!:)

Or Dirty Harry to go supersonic, I mean, ballistic! rofl

http://www.riograndepickups.com/scart/SubCategories.asp?ProductName=For+Tele&SubCatName=NECK+SINGLES

[Micter]

Is that with or without a Sonic Stomp, bro? :dunno:

WITHOUT!

[dmock66]

Sounds like the experience of this group is consistent with the general Harmony Central community - that the Little 59 is solid and the Little JB can get harsh/ice pick like. I think I made the right choice in going with the Little 59. So far I'm very happy with the results!