'59 vs Air Classic?

Re: '59 vs Air Classic?

Still don't know what to get, there's so much choice and no way to try anything out before buying..

I might have to rephrase what i want: A JB with a little less mids/output that cleans up well with the volume knob and is plenty dynamic.

I've been trying to find a bridge humbucker that i liked clean AND dirty but i don't think i'll ever find one, the 59b sounds great clean but it's just too thin/polite with distortion.

I used to have a custom 5 in this guitar (it came with one actually) and i quite liked it, until i got obsessed with trying to find a bridge humbucker that sounded good distorted AND clean
 
Re: '59 vs Air Classic?

I might have to rephrase what i want: A JB with a little less mids/output that cleans up well with the volume knob and is plenty dynamic.

You just described a DiMarzio AT-1.
Bought one a couple months ago and I
love. It’s output is similar to the JB but
doesn’t seem like it at all. There is no
upper mid spike like the JB. The mids
are focused much lower and the highs
are sweeter. Cleans up very well and
responds well to my touch. Check it out.
 
Re: '59 vs Air Classic?

I might have to rephrase what i want: A JB with a little less mids/output that cleans up well with the volume knob and is plenty dynamic.

I've been trying to find a bridge humbucker that i liked clean AND dirty but i don't think i'll ever find one, the 59b sounds great clean but it's just too thin/polite with distortion.

I used to have a custom 5 in this guitar (it came with one actually) and i quite liked it, until i got obsessed with trying to find a bridge humbucker that sounded good distorted AND clean

That sounds more like a Dimarzio to me - Norton.

The SD Demon will give you good cleans and distortion and harmonics..
 
Re: '59 vs Air Classic?

which duncan would be closest to the "alnico classic plus" they put in epiphone dots? i used to have one of those and quite liked it.

I think the specs are 14k but i'm not sure about that
 
Re: '59 vs Air Classic?

which duncan would be closest to the "alnico classic plus" they put in epiphone dots? i used to have one of those and quite liked it.

I think the specs are 14k but i'm not sure about that

Something like that- my guess it would be close to a Custom 5.
 
Re: '59 vs Air Classic?

Well, the EQ of a JB doesn't have a lot of 'PAF-ness' in it, to me. The Custom is more like a very overwound PAF.
 
Re: '59 vs Air Classic?

Agree. '59B's are on the bright side and in many (most) guitars have a good deal of edge to them. I don't hear PGB's as being brighter or having more edge, but as having more upper mids than a '59B. The guitar/wood/amp combination will have an impact.

For more edge, I'd look at the '59/Custom. Unbalanced coils means more high end.

+1 to the 59/Custom. I use one in the bridge of a Les Paul, and it does have a noticeably more aggressive edge than a 59, without going over the top.
 
Re: '59 vs Air Classic?

which duncan would be closest to the "alnico classic plus" they put in epiphone dots? i used to have one of those and quite liked it.

I think the specs are 14k but i'm not sure about that
I had those (Alnico Classic Pro's) pickups in a semi-hollow Epiphone, theyre 'OK'.
They sound nothing like a Duncan. I saw a YouTube video of a guy playing them and with a comparison of the Gibson 57 in a 335 - from the video recording they sound very similar on clean. But if youve played both these pickups - theyre very different - Epiphone ones use A5 mags the Gibson ones use A2. Some say the Alnico Pro's are based on the Gibson 57's others say theyre based on the 490's - anf the Alnico classic Pluss on 498T. I'd say the Custom would be worth a look. But also, if you have cheep covered pickups - for me one of the bigest sound improvement is in the metel of the cover!
 
Re: '59 vs Air Classic?

Agree. '59B's are on the bright side and in many (most) guitars have a good deal of edge to them. I don't hear PGB's as being brighter or having more edge, but as having more upper mids than a '59B. The guitar/wood/amp combination will have an impact.

For more edge, I'd look at the '59/Custom. Unbalanced coils means more high end.

Agree. Wanted to love that as I like the custom on it's own, and the 59b on it's own, but it was just a bit shrill for me. (59/Custom). Could've been the guitar..A2 hotter wound worked better in that one. (basswood)
 
Re: '59 vs Air Classic?

I had those (Alnico Classic Pro's) pickups in a semi-hollow Epiphone, theyre 'OK'.
They sound nothing like a Duncan. I saw a YouTube video of a guy playing them and with a comparison of the Gibson 57 in a 335 - from the video recording they sound very similar on clean. But if youve played both these pickups - theyre very different - Epiphone ones use A5 mags the Gibson ones use A2. Some say the Alnico Pro's are based on the Gibson 57's others say theyre based on the 490's - anf the Alnico classic Pluss on 498T. I'd say the Custom would be worth a look. But also, if you have cheep covered pickups - for me one of the bigest sound improvement is in the metel of the cover!

That doesn't make sense to me. Believe the Duncan A2's pre-date the 490/498 Gibson pickups.
Believe they're essentially Jazz pickups with different magnet load. A2 Pro's are fantastic IMO.
 
Re: '59 vs Air Classic?

Yeah I dont think the Epiphone Alnico Pros sound like tue Gibson 490s either! The Alnico Pros have more of a PAF voicing! I didnt think they felt like the Gibson 57's either - not as stiff or thin feeling.. but I saw this video..
Im sceptical about videos because you dont know how they've recorded the audio - unless they tell you.. and usually they don't!
Check this out!
 
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