Duncan Antiquities vs Gibson 57 Humbuckers in a Semi Guitar

[homesick345]

Do you have a preference or advice for one or the other in a Gibson semi hollow Howard Roberts guitar (maple body & neck, ebony fb, floating bridge)

I have access to either from a friend for a very good price; what do you recommend?

Pickups are Gibson 57 classic from late90s; Duncan Antiquity I buckers are recent (maybe 5 years old)

Thanks

 

[fjrabon]

I like 57 classics in a semi-hollow a little more than antiquities. I like antiquities a little better in LPs. 57 classics let a little more of the acoustic quacky sound come through in the middle position. Antiquities have a little more treble but a little less presence.

That being said, they're 99% the same. They're both PAF clones/tributes and sound like it.

 

[MilwMark]

I've used both in multiple guitars. On paper the specs seem similar but they sound vastly different to me.

The Gibsons are very "forward" and put a lot of emphasis on the fundamental. This could be perceived as either "flat" or "assertive" depending on your perspective.

The Duncans have a lot more harmonics and complexity for lack of a better word, but don't tend to push as hard. "Airy".

So if you have a guitar that you think is pretty complex already, you might favor the Gibsons. If the guitar is a little more flat, the Duncans.

At least if you hear things the same as I do.

 

[Antigua Tele]

The main thing about the Antiquities is that they have weakened "degaussed" A2 bars, which is already a low strength magnet to begin with, so it sounds sort of like the pickups are set lower, even when they're at a regular height.

 

[fjrabon]

The main thing about the Antiquities is that they have weakened "degaussed" A2 bars, which is already a low strength magnet to begin with, so it sounds sort of like the pickups are set lower, even when they're at a regular height.

Right, I think a lot of the differences people hear in the pickups go away if you adjust the heights on them. Most people I've seen complain about 57 classics have them really close to the strings and then complain that they're too dark and flat...

T Tops need to be almost touching the strings to sound any good. Vintage PAFs need to be a little lower, antiquities a tiny smidge lower than most PAFs (but really this varies from pickup to pickup) 57 classics a little lower still compared to antiquities. Pat #s need to be about the same height as 57 classics.

 

[jtpal25]

I had 57 classics on an es-335 and thought they sounded awesome. Good for everything I played, classic rock, blues, jazz, they were very versatile and sounded good through different amps and pedals. I hated to get rid of the guitar but I couldn't deal with the thin neck.

That being said, the Antiquity neck is my all time favorite neck humbucker for blues and jazz.

 

[Derek Kiernan]

The Antiquities have a nickel-silver cover, the 57 has nickel plated. Nickel-silver is relatively transparent. The "degaussed" element is not really desirable, but you would find them to have a more transparent tone with a sweeter highend.

 

[MahoganyStratDZ]

Both are good pickups SDs are not wax potted which should not make a difference. The 57s are a more modern take on mid range, they fall in the modern tone paf catagory. Preference really I use the 57 57 + set purely since I fell in love with it. Ive used a few Hamers with Seths and also the Ants. I believe they will also wax pot them if desired as some people hear a variation in what they consider ambient noise, the only concern might be semi-hollow feedback which honestly I haven't had a issue with. Not to say you might not have to dance around the amp a little etc. They are nice pick-ups and very close to the originals in sound testing for the price.

 

[MDent77]

Do you have a preference or advice for one or the other in a Gibson semi hollow Howard Roberts guitar (maple body & neck, ebony fb, floating bridge)

I have access to either from a friend for a very good price; what do you recommend?

Pickups are Gibson 57 classic from late90s; Duncan Antiquity I buckers are recent (maybe 5 years old)

Thanks

IMO, if you play blues rock or classic rock the Gibson 57 Classic should work great. If you play a bit more to the blues/jazz side Duncan Antiquity.

 

[homesick345]

I had 57 classics on an es-335 and thought they sounded awesome. Good for everything I played, classic rock, blues, jazz, they were very versatile and sounded good through different amps and pedals. I hated to get rid of the guitar but I couldn't deal with the thin neck.

That being said, the Antiquity neck is my all time favorite neck humbucker for blues and jazz.

How about the antiquity in the neck & the 57 in the bridge? IF my friend accepts that is?

THANKS

 

[homesick345]

IMO, if you play blues rock or classic rock the Gibson 57 Classic should work great. If you play a bit more to the blues/jazz side Duncan Antiquity.

How about the antiquity in the neck & the 57 in the bridge?

 

[MDent77]

How about the antiquity in the neck & the 57 in the bridge?

Would work for me.

 

[screamin eagle]

I've not used an Antiquity pickup that I didn't love.

 

[jtpal25]

How about the antiquity in the neck & the 57 in the bridge? IF my friend accepts that is?

THANKS

I would think that'd be a great combo. The 57 bridge was great, I could get everything from early 60's to Queensryche on that thing!!!

 

[Antigua Tele]

The Antiquities have a nickel-silver cover, the 57 has nickel plated. Nickel-silver is relatively transparent. The "degaussed" element is not really desirable, but you would find them to have a more transparent tone with a sweeter highend.

I find it hard to believe that a '57 would not have a fully nickel silver cover. Even the Epiphone Pro Buckers have full nickel silver covers. That would be a laughably cheap appointment for a premium priced pickup.

The '57 I bought for my own purposes was a brush nickel silver (I didn't care for the look much). It was nickel silver through and through, though.

 

[Nick Fanis]

If you play mostly clean go with the SDs,if you play mostly dirty go with the 57s.

 

[Antigua Tele]

I gotta say, IMO, the Seth Lover set does clean and dirty better than either the '57 Classic or Antiquity. And I believe the AlNiCo II Pro is the same thing as the Seth Lover set, near identical specs. The Antiquity is similar, but with the weakened A2 magnets that cause them to sound a little thin.

The main difference between the SD's and the 57 Classic is just that the 57 Classic is two of the same pickup, where as the Seymour Duncan options have "balanced" sets, a hotter bridge and cooler neck, which gets you more balls, and more chime, respectively. I'd go so far as to say that most of the bad reviews the 57 Classics get probably stems from the lack of balance in the set.

 

[Derek Kiernan]

They call it a nickel cover.

 

[LtKojak]

I believe the AlNiCo II Pro is the same thing as the Seth Lover set

What you beieve is wrong. They couldn't be more different, different type of wire, different TPL, different wire turns, they're wound in two completely different winding machines,The APH is vacuum wax-potted, the Seth is not... even the freaking bobbins are different!

The Antiquity is similar

Similar to what exactly? There's more wire in the Ants than either the Seths or the APHs.

 

[brookdalebill]

I've had em' both, and love em' both.
They are absolutely interchangeable, for my use.
At low volume, played clean, I can't hear much difference.
Though I rarely do this, I'd choose between the two based on looks.