I picked up a 2014 Trad last month for a few reasons. One the neck is beefy and I love it, the pickups had a very interesting tone compared to the 57s I have had in the past, and i just had to have a tobacco burst AA top. So far I really like the 59s,they are brighter than the 57s and i enjoy them much more on my Soldano Decatone than the 57s that were in my 2012 Trad and ES339. I had rewired my 339 with BKP 550k pots and .022 Treble/.015 Rhythm caps with a 50s Gibson LP tone circuit and installed BK abraxas pickups. Basically a beefed up 59 PAF. Yesterday i decided i would do a swap between the ES 339s abraxas set and the Trads 59Ts. The 2014 LP Trad got the same tone circuit as well. I am so glad I did, the LP has more chunk and power but still has that 59 PAF vibe which i love, but more bottom and mids. The 339, which has a very warm rich acoustic tone, is now beautifully balanced with the 59Ts. I have always enjoyed a brighter character pickup in hollow and semi hollow bodies, like P94s in a 335. The 59Ts handle the gain well, unlike the stock 57s which I wasnt crazy about. Once you got past blues breaker amount of gain, It just didnt stay tight enough. The 59Ts stay tight and articulate and have awesome lead tones on the neck. I wish Gibson would offer these as a regular production pickup. Definitely nothing like It being offered for aftermarket pickups from Gibson. If I find myself needing another set, I will likely buy the BKP Mule set, Alnico IV magnets and built era correct to the 59 PAFs. Would make an interesting comparison.
