Has anybody replaced the pickups in a 2019 60th Anniversary R9 yet?

[Netwarrior]

Hi Folks,
has anybody replaced the stock pickups in a 2019 60th anniversary R9 with boutique PAFs and experienced improvements?

The reason why I'm asking this, is that I've recently purchased a 2019 60th Anniversary R9 that I've selected in a high end guitar shop after an afternoon playing a lot of different custom shop les paul (including other 60th anniversaries, true historics and collector choices) and it's by far the best lester I've ever played.

It sound so good that at the moment I don't feel any need to replace the stock pickups, even if I have a set of Throbak SLE-101 plus laying around, that have been removed from my 2016 R8 before trading it in. I also had the idea to replace the stock pickups with a zebra set to mimic the look of 9 1228 Sandy but I'm afraid I might not like the new pickups as much.

I know that tone is a personal matter and I guess I could just install new pickups and see how they sound in the new R9, but I would prefer to avoid tampering with a stellar guitar if I'm not reasonably sure of the result.

Any experience you have done with pickup swapping is therefore welcome

Thanks a lot to anybody willing to contribute

 

[dc007]

If the guitar speaks to you in the fashion you describe then why change it? If you have that nice set of Throbaks laying around you have nothing to lose. I doubt you will interfere with the mojo by swapping them out if only temporarily.

 

[swampblues]

Never change Custom Buckers from any historic with them. They are a lot better for what I want than boutique pickups. But that’s just to my ear

 

[L96A1]

I smell extra cash.

 

[calieng]

I have tried OX4, Wizz, and Throbak.

OX4 are the best overall ballance. Wizz are brighter and woodier, Throbak are full range and a little more modern.

I play pure nickel strings so the A3 Custombuckers are a little too soft and lacking definition for my tastes.

 

[Netwarrior]

I have tried OX4, Wizz, and Throbak.

OX4 are the best overall ballance. Wizz are brighter and woodier, Throbak are full range and a little more modern.

I play pure nickel strings so the A3 Custombuckers are a little too soft and lacking definition for my tastes.

Thanks, this was the kind of feedback I was hoping for.
Could I ask which type of OX4 are you using? Magnets and type of wind?

 

[calieng]

I have low winds in a Wildwood Spec '57 (2019) and regular winds in a team aged '59 (2019). Both are A4.

I do not hear a big frequency difference other than slightly more mids in the regular wind and of course a bit more output volume.

OX4 readings were 7.7 and 7.8 ohms for low winds and 8.0 and 8.1 ohms regular winds so not a big difference.

Custombuckers were 8.0 and 8.3 ohms for the '59 and only 7.1 and 7.2 ohms for the Wildwood spec!

 

[1allspub]

CBs are good pickups. But, there are lots of boutique PAFs that are better. That said, if it’s already “by far the best lester” you’ve ever played, why open the can of worms. Just enjoy it is my advice (though I’m not sure I could take my own advice, ha!).

 

[integra evan]

Leave it stock, then play this:

Seriously sounds like you are enjoying the stock ones.
As for OX4s, I had them in a Traditional I had - great pickups, and yes, very balanced.

 

[calieng]

If you play modern nickel plated steel strings probably the Custombuckers are just fine. They were just too soft sounding with pure nickel strings.

 

[Netwarrior]

FYI,
Today I swapped the throbak pickups in. Hated them from the first minute. Spent the whole afternoon adjusting them. The hate didn’t go away.

Long story short, custombuckers are going back in and throbak are going for sale.

Hope this will be helpful to someone else leaning towards swapping pickups in a 60th anniversary.

Cheers

 

[Pappy58]

I'm happy with the CB's in the two Lesters I have them in. I did swap some Romain 59ers into my R8 that had BB1/2 combo, and the tone improved measurably. But I changed the pots and caps at the same time so I can't be sure all the improvements came from the Pups. My 18 R9 also got an upgrade on controls and it improved as well, so now those CB's sound awesome to me, even with pure nickel strings! But as with all things tone, it's all subjective.

 

[Netwarrior]

I'm happy with the CB's in the two Lesters I have them in. I did swap some Romain 59ers into my R8 that had BB1/2 combo, and the tone improved measurably. But I changed the pots and caps at the same time so I can't be sure all the improvements came from the Pups. My 18 R9 also got an upgrade on controls and it improved as well, so now those CB's sound awesome to me, even with pure nickel strings! But as with all things tone, it's all subjective.

It is true, electronics do have an impact on overall tone. In fact in my 2016 R8 I replaced stock electronics with a boutique vintage wiring kit. However 60th Anniversary R9s come from factory with CTS audio taper pots and Luxe bumblebee PIO capacitors so there's no need to upgrade.

It also mean both pickup sets have been tested in the same ideal conditions.

 

[Luboy]

if you do go for OX4, get the mediums. they'll be closer in output and sound to your custombuckers. i had a low output ox4 set and it was way too bright and lacking in punch. the mediums sounded much better after i switched them out. current lp has its custombuckers though, don't plan switching them out.