The Best PAF Clone! [Seymour Duncan Seth Lovers & Righteous Sound Pickups RAF Shootout]

[@imlostinthewoods]

Excellent video and a great advertisement for the Seth Lovers even along side the other pickups. The SLs are phenomenal pickups and truly the sound of vintage rock but you also did an excellent job of bringing out their warm clean tones as well. Thanks!

[@KennyEchizen]

Thanks! Yeah Seth Lovers is definitely a classic pickup and a great example of what a good PAF sound like. The RAF to me really brings out the punchiness that the SLs sort of lack, but it's all in taste of course. I love them both!

[@imlostinthewoods]

Kenny Echizen yes, truly a subjective conversation whenever we talk about what "sounds good" to our individual tastes:-) I have the Seth Lovers installed in a similar instrument, an Eastman T386 semi-hollow, which is a glorious guitar. I have ordered a second set to install in my Vintage V100 LP copy. I can't wait to hear how they sound in that one! Keep up the good work, you're a great player and the world certainly needs more intelligent gear reviews like this one! Subscribed!

[@KennyEchizen]

imlostinthewoods eastmans are great! I’m sure it’ll sound amazing with your LP style. Thanks for encouraging words!!!! Much appreciated

[@JC-11111]

I was looking at these and the Parsons Street hb's from StewMac because they were on sale for like $60 but knowing what I know about StewMac, I couldn't be certain that they aren't selling a $25 pickup that's marked WAY up like 90% of their stuff is. I think it's back up to $90+. Whatever normal price is. For instance, they want $125 for a pre-wired set of pots and unwired jack and switch. That's like $50 worth of parts at the most. And you can literally find the exact same thing for 1/3 of the price they list theirs at(pre-wired pots, jack, & switch). Same parts. Same CTS pots. Same switchcraft jack & switch. 1/3 of the price. So I couldn't bring myself to buy the Parsons Street pickup. Not with what I know about them jacking up their prices. Ended up getting a SD '59 Model bridge pickup for a once-in-a-lifetime type deal. $59 for a brand new, single conductor with nickel silver cover. Those usually go for $99 at the least. It came from a somewhat local guitar manufacturer that had overstock that they purchase at mfg's cost. So they passed that savings on to me. 👍

[@chadhudson2046]

I preferred the Seth’s. Glad you found the sound you wanted though. Everybody’s ear and feel is different with guitars.

[@KennyEchizen]

Thanks! & yes, SL sounds great and nothing against it. You're absolutely right about player's preference.

[@luthravin4774]

That was an awesome review of the RAF’s and a sound demo of both.. I just ordered a Seth Lover Bridge for my Epiphone 58’ Korina Moderne because the bridge pickup in it is so brittle sounding..hopefully this will cure that issue.. thanks again for sharing

[@KennyEchizen]

Glad to help!!!!

[@bayougtr]

I hear more highs and high mid congestion with the RAF. The Seth’s sounded richer and clearer. I’ve noticed with a majority of PAF boutique winders is that the low E string disappears, adding lots of mids and treble.

[@KennyEchizen]

The Seth Lovers did sound a little scooped compared to the RAF so I can definitely understand what you're hearing!

[@sterlingmcvay2469]

Thanks!! Great Comparison demo on RIGHTEOUS SOUND PIKUPS. How about one on Josh's, Soapbar Pickups in an SG STYLE Guitar?

[@KennyEchizen]

Thanks! I have his Ella’s on my SG and the Ninja P90 on one of my Les Pauls and I love it! He makes the best pickups.

[@sterlingmcvay2469]

@@KennyEchizen Thanks, that's good to know. I'm a Lefty and looking at putting together an SG KIT down the road and I'm going to use some of his on it. I understand their effectively Noiseless, the P90's..? Do you do Demo Reviews For BLACKSTAR? I'm really Liking their Product Line.

[@KennyEchizen]

@@sterlingmcvay2469 yes his noiseless are amazing. I’ve had Fralin Noiseless before and IMO there is no comparison. And yes I do demos for Blackstar. Studio 10 shootout between the EL34 and 6L6 will be up soon!

[@kennyh5083]

Seymour Duncan bought the old hand pup winding machines when Gibson upgraded to modern manufacturing! So his pups are more vintage oem than most others! Scatter winding by hand is the only way to reproduce those old vintage pup tones!

[@KennyEchizen]

Cool!!

[@nickblack5933]

Nice demo! Love the Heritage!

[@KennyEchizen]

Thanks! Me too!

[@tobiusmanning7336]

I like aspects of both. The clarity and jangle of the RAFs and the warmth of the SLs. Final decision the SL's win for me. Though the SLs got a bit muddy at times, the clincher was around 11:10 when you were wow'd by the note separation with the RAFs and I was like it cuts but is a jumbled mess, if it wasn't so cutting it would be a muddied mess but this was more like razor blade porridge to my ears.

[@DS-nw4eq]

I love the Seth Lover pickups… They say not to use them in tube amps exceeding 50 watts. Make sure you avoid them/replace them.

[@KennyEchizen]

Seth Lovers are still great! I really dug it with the 535. Josh insisted to try and I was sold. It just had the extra 10% of what I was looking for. But yes if you're playing through a loud amp you really have to be careful or else it'll be squeal-feedback town.

[@goswo]

Wow these RAF sounds really great. I have a theory: If your ears generally are tuned for singlecoil sound, I understand why the RAF’s sounds very pleasing. I think a humbucker tuned guy could find them too bright/nice. Dont know… but I really really like them :-)

[@KennyEchizen]

Thanks! In my experience, lower output unpotted pickups tends to have more top end as to the alternative. I’ve played many real PAF’s and although all of them sounded ever so different, they all did have a common ‘bell like’ sound. It reminded me of a Tele bridge pickup but little more meat.

[@goswo]

@@KennyEchizen 👍🏼

[@juliankirby9880]

I have a legit question for all y’all who like the high treble strat sound. Have any of y’all ever had a hearing test to see if or how much damage has been done to your ears? I have tinnitus. But it’s in the mid range/human voice frequency, and before the tinnitus I could not be in the same house as a person playing a strat. So much treble it’s like a knife to my ears.

[@CBGypsy03]

SETHS ALL THE WAY!

[@monkeyxx]

11:42 nice lick! cool pickups, I like them a lot better than the Seth Lovers I think. I'm not a fan of the heavy microphonics either, like you said. Sold my seth lovers. Might pick up some RAF2s.

[@KennyEchizen]

Thanks!!!!! Yeah the SL’s weren’t bad at all! Just all preference, but my ears and fingers definitely liked RAF’s

[@Birchblaze]

Both are unpotted.😁

[@donarmando916]

Yes those RAF seem to be great for clean sounds. Much more defined i have to admit, but i'm not sure what editing was done between the two recordings.

[@KennyEchizen]

Definitely has more definition. I didn't do any post editing.

[@HiHello-ku1fl]

I really liked the Seth Lovers but definitely would go for the RAF's for my style. I like how the RAF's don't sound shouty in comparison. They really let the natural sound of the guitar come out because they aren't pushing too much bass....you get more of what the guitar really sounds like. You can play more dynamic with your hands having more variation on volume etc. That's why you thought they were punchy because you could hit it harder without the pickup over reacting....if that makes sense??? I think the RAF's are great sounding and I might have to get a set. They really do fit that guitar and that style of playing better. Easier on the ears for sure and you can hear those nice harmonics playing nicer with each other than with the Seth's. I do like the Seth's as well but I'm realizing I'm liking lower output more and more lately.

[@KennyEchizen]

Makes total sense! And yes, the RAF really fits well with the 535. I have a RAF-2 on my Les Paul and it has great mids and quick attack. Josh really makes incredible pickups that fits well for any type of guitars and styles.

[@stratolestele7611]

My favorites have been Burstbuckers, especially 61s. Love them. Just got a D'Angelico Brighton Deluxe with Seth Lovers. I'm a huge fan. I knew I'd love them already though. The microphonic edge is something I love. It forces me to be extra disciplined. Between them and my plexi, there are no places to hide. Every mistake is out there! BUT, every ounce of great tone and every success is there too. That's the magic spot! As for the RAFs - they sound good - really good. They are simply a good humbucker with a different eq than the Seths. FWIW, I prefer the crispy quality of the Seths and the, on-the-edge of squealing tendency of them. Update 5/24: I should qualify my original comment. I prefer the Seths in the *right guitar*. I've got a semi-hollow that I think would love them. I'm also curious about how they would do in one of my Les Pauls that's on the darker side. Nice comparison. Thanks

[@KennyEchizen]

Love the Burstbuckers 2 & 3's!

[@user-cd2cz3tv3u]

I hate my 61 burstbuckers that came in my 60s LP standard…to me they sound very unbalanced/uneven (they lows are too boomy and they just lack a bite/growl on the bridge…they sound messy, not much sustain, just not for me. Im looking to swap them for something similar to my 490/498t sound i get out of my SG stardard, but more of a full/open sound/with that “Les Paul sound/tele on steroid” sound. Figured id look towards PAF clone type(wizz PaF’s, monty PAFs…but incase the PAF clones do sound to similar to 61’ burstbuckers, i was thinking of swapping for SD Slash anlico ii pro pups. Hard to find seth lover or monty paf vs 61 bb’s lol. Any help would be great!

[@KangYuLu]

Great video and awesome play! But why that sounds so clean and quiet even those pickups unpotted? I thought it will be get a lot of hum and feedback

[@KennyEchizen]

Thanks! You can still play an unpotted pickup but you just have to be careful with the amount of volume and gain (and if you are cranking, just ride the volume knob/pedal). If you're playing super high gain/metal style I wouldn't suggest it, but anything lower (gain-wise) you should be okay with unpotted pickups.

[@markcap8287]

What model is the Righteous Pickups

[@KennyEchizen]

RAF

[@adoregospelguitars504]

Thank you so much. Love those Seymore duncans. Great on that guitar. Well balanced tone. Did not like the other. Maybe on a Les Paul. But on this guitar to me I liked SD better.

[@KennyEchizen]

SD is great! Not bashing on them at all.

[@aeguitar9294]

Are they noiseless??

[@KennyEchizen]

AE Guitar they are humbuckers so yes. Although you might get some noise and hum depending on where you are, but that goes with any pickups, even noiseless ones :) thanks for the comment!

[@ConcezioPellegrini]

Seth’s ALL THE WAY, EVERY DAY.

[@ltvddvtl]

Indeed!

[@evianx1]

Low wind pickups are desired by a lot of guitarists. They have much more headroom

[@chrisdanner1173]

Nice demo! The RAF sounds a lot better in my ears, more definition, more articulation and string separation... Had the seth lovers in a es at some point and didn't like em, really like to try the RAF at some point...

[@KennyEchizen]

Thank you! I agree with the note separation. Very clear! SL are great too, nothing against them at all, but the RAF definitely brought the sound I was looking for!

[@HugoDeFainia]

RAF is nearly $400 a set. Seth is closer to $200 a set on eBay. Hard to justify the price difference based on what I heard here. Great comparison though, thanks!

[@killereverb3928]

Confirmation bias at its worst. Your OMG facial expressions notwithstanding I really enjoyed the first set better. Granted, it was difficult to endure your “Oh Wow” and “are you fing kidding me?!” mouthed and near constant “smh” bias without asking myself “is this guy truly impressed that much with the new pickups?” They definitely sound different - but IMHO not better. In my view different isn’t better, better is better. The first set were awesome balanced, more lively and absolutely more pleasing to my ear. They also captured the sound of an amazing guitar. It is a remarkable sounding 335 type guitar hands down. I know that thanks to the first set of pups. It’s clear to me the 2nd set at least felt better to you - but I couldn’t hear what you felt. Interesting comparison well worth watching and hearing. I was reminded when I tore out a set of 57 Classics and put in Duncan Alnico Pro IIs. Played for 10 minutes and told my repair guy to keep his bench open I need my 57 Classics back. Why? Because those Duncan Alnico Pro IIs sounded like your 2nd set of Duncan’s. Never regretted going back to the 57 Classics. Not one bit.

[@KennyEchizen]

Glad to hear you found what you liked. Thanks for watching!

[@nobodyhere4860]

Not sure what your hearing abilities are? Lol but im sure his facial expressions were do to the fact the Raf's were brighter, fuller more articulate sounding. Regardless of your bias opinions on Seymour Duncan's Seth Lovers, the OP of this video wanted something different and is obviously happier with the RSP's.

[@kuttermclaughlin3631]

@@nobodyhere4860yeah, definitely brighter… no one would argue with that. Wayyyyyy brighter.

[@skeres01]

Saying you are happy with the changeover before hearing them, is bias whichever way you spin it. They both sound good to me, but my personal preference would be the Seth Lovers also. Having said that, if you personally love the pickups, that's a great outcome.

[@marvelharris9540]

Yes, underwound pickups are going to sound different....

[@JC-11111]

Ehhh. I think Thrōbak likely makes the closest PAF reproduction currently. Youll pay dearly for them, as well. But they're likely the closest thing to actual, original PAF's that you'll find. And likely wound on one of Gibson's old PAF winding machines.

[@KennyEchizen]

They’re awesome! Glad you found something you like!!!

[@rockeye]

So what did you end up keeping in?

[@KennyEchizen]

The RAF still remains in the 535, and as of now I have 10 guitars with various Righteous Sound models. Everyone has their favorite pickups but Righteous Sound is by far my favorite, and I'm not getting paid to say this!

[@bobbo2717]

Have you tried the new RS '64 pickups? I'm interested to know how they compare to the RAF pickups which sound great in the Heritage. I've got a Gibson cs 336 and would like to try something new instead of the 57 classics which I actually like. I've had the guitar 20 years and mostly play blues and classic rock.

[@KennyEchizen]

Hi Bob. I'm getting them on my Dunable Asteroid (Flying V style). The RAF and the RAF-2 is perfect for the classic rock/blues genre! Way more clarity and punch compared to the 57 Classic, which is still a great pickup.

[@bobbo2717]

@@KennyEchizen Thanks for your input. One last thing--would you recommend the unpotted over the potted version? (I see you got the unpotted pickups.)

[@KennyEchizen]

@@bobbo2717 If you don't play with super high gain I would 120% go with unpotted. It's has way more sparkle, clarity and note definition.

[@botherangel]

you should try wizz, 100 percent vintage correct and smell

[@KennyEchizen]

I’ll check them out, thanks!

[@vinceConey1]

Doyles coils or Monty's

[@fedboy21]

The neck were nice but not the bridge, i like seth bridge more...try mix them, i wanna know the mid position too...it has “that” sound on my head

[@KennyEchizen]

fedboy21 yeah I really like both!

[@topografer]

I have the SL on my 335. The RAF setsounds much better

[@dafxtone]

Righteous Sound Pickups sound better than the sterile Seymour Seth Lover.

[@janbasser]

越前さん、もっと動画あげて。参考にしてます

[@KennyEchizen]

日本語のチャンネルもあります！kzbin.info/door/WxocIcQk52jcCxBO5V-SAw

[@tkatuhiko]

あらまあ、抜けが全く違ってザラつき感が消えて ツヤが増してますなあ 良いね👍

[@KennyEchizen]

めっちゃ気に入ってます！！！！

[@botherangel]

Wizz is the best in the business!!!!

[@KennyEchizen]

I'll check them out!

[@botherangel]

@@KennyEchizen 100 percent vintage corrects using the same material just like in the 50s an no chinese parts involve

[@chrisdanner1173]

very subjective, I had Wizz and didn't like em that much, now got Brandonwound 59 Clones and they sound closer to my real PAFs

[@burningstar3466]

Seth Lovers seem overrated. They sound as if I play through an old crappy cable. the other set sounds like if I play through Mogami Platinum. Bro you could edit the video and make it real A/B style. That would be awesome

[@KennyEchizen]

Thanks!!!

[@stratolestele7611]

Seths are not overrated in the slightest. 🙄

[@ConcezioPellegrini]

Overrated. Ah. Yeah. Okay.