PU Swap

Hobo · Big Guppy Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 45

My TL60 came with a weird PU configuration. It appears to have an M22N Neck PU in the bridge position and an S60TB in the neck. According to Carvins website the S60TB is a bridge PU.

I love the way it sounds with this config. The S60TB single coil has a lot of midrange. No muddyness at all.

The M22N humbucker sounds similar to my old T-Tops in my 61 SG/Les Paul. Very warm and fat. Perfect amount of gain and harmonics and cleans up when you roll off the volume knob. Reminds me of early ZZ Top or early AC/DC. Also sounds great when you switch it to single coil mode. Not bad sounds anywhere to be found.

Everything was fine but I was curious as to how it would sound with a C22B bridge humbucker in the bridge position.
I found a good deal on a used one and bought it. Before I put it in I played my TL60 with the original PUs in it one more time. It was sounding so good that I was wondering if I should even try the C22, but, I had it here so I wired it up and plugged it into my Marshall JCM800.

What a disappointment. First of all the PU squealed when not playing. Very high gain tone. Very bright. My guitar lost that warmth that I love.
I then plugged it into my Mesa Boogie F-30. Same thing.
Gave it a good 30 minute workout and switched the PUs back.

I am very impressed with the M22N as a bridge humbucker. If I ever have a guitar that needs to be warmed up it will definitely be my first choice of PUs.

SAguitar · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:08 am Post subject:

Great review, Hobo. I don't think I even have an M22N, but I think I'm gonna have to get one. I do have a C22B in the bridge on two of my Carvins (maybe all three), so this is something I'm gonna have to look into.

Thanks,
Stan