Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

[RaulRiera]

Hello awesome people.

I have a mahogany LP styled guitar (AL-3100) with ebony fretboard and this amazing SH-15 on the bridge.

I'm totally sold with this one (SH15 Alt-8). But the stock neck pickup (Alnico V) feels lacking volume, already bassy and brittle but not many mids nor beef, so it's notably overpowered. Have tried many pickup heights and polepiece configurations.

I'd like to have an Alnico 2 on the neck. I use it just for cleans and leads and wouldn't mind some Slashy mojo on that. But I'm afraid an Alnico 2 pro neck pickup isn't hot enough. The Alt-8 is about 17K and I think I need more output of a neck pickup...

My options are (from low to high output):

SD Slash neck pickup (7,6k)
SD Alnico 2 pro bridge pickup (7,8k)
GFS "Classic II" Alnico 2 neck pickup (7,8k)
SD Slash bridge pickup (7,85k)
GFS "Classic II" Alnico 2 bridge pickup (8,2k)

I don't mind putting a bridge pickup on the neck position because the Alt-8 is loud enough (17k). But will it be too dark if I go with some of the hotter options on the neck?

When is enough for you and when is too much?

Thank you!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

What neck pup is in your guitar currently?

You say it has an A5 magnet in it, what is its resistence reading? You may be able to just put an A8 magnet in it to beef it up a bit...smooth the highs, add much more mids, solid bass. But there is usually nothing wrong with putting a bridge pup in the neck position...it will usually have more output and more mids than a neck pup of the same type.

The Slash bridge pup is actually 8.5k (not 7.85k) and would be a fine selection.
The Pearly Gates bridge is also a good neck pup.

My favorite neck pup which would be terrific for what you want is the Screamin Demon (even though it has an A5 mag) at 10.0k. It's not as hot as it might seem with that output, and is very articulate with an even EQ.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

Raul, FYI, a 17K p'up, wound with AWG44 wire like that SH-15 of yours is NOT twice as powerful as a 7.5K p'up wound with AWG42 wire, like the '59n.

DC reading alone does NOT equal output.

My advice for a both tone- and output-wise match is an A4 modded '59n or APH1n. The rest is to set'em properly, something left to a pro if you don't have experience doing it, at least the first time, so you can have a good starting point to fall back into, if you're own attempt in trying to properly set'em should fail.

In my case, I've used a Jazz bridge and a '59 bridge in the neck position, thinking that if it reads higher it should be better, right? Well, I've been quite happy for even several years... until I've tried instruments with both a Jazz neck and '59 neck in the neck position. THEN I came to realize that output is not that important when you have the right tone. And that neck p'ups exist for a reason!

HTH,

 

[blueman335]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

I came to realize that output is not that important when you have the right tone. And that neck p'ups exist for a reason!

+1. You have amps for output and volume. PU's should be selected for tone.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

You don't need a high output neck pickup in a Les Paul. But that's just my personal opinion.

 

[orpheo]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

I think an alnico2pro bridge in the neck of a les paul is too much, but it works amazingly well in a strat.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

Output wise you should be fine. I pair an A2 Pro bridge in the neck with a high output bridge pup no problem.

 

[elelpe]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

I think an alnico2pro bridge in the neck of a les paul is too much, but it works amazingly well in a strat.

I think it could be true. Never tried in a LP, but I did put A2P bridge in the neck of shorter scale Epi Dot and it was mushy.
SD Slash neck should goes well with Alt8. I use Alt8 - Screamin' Demon myself but I think SD Slash and also Fullshred would give less contrast EQ.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

I think it could be true. Never tried in a LP, but I did put A2P bridge in the neck of shorter scale Epi Dot and it was mushy.

That's the likely result using a hotter A2 PU in the neck; the characteristally loose low end of an A2 will come into play more. In general, bridge PU's in the neck slot are going to have more output (the need of which is debateable), less treble, & more mids and lows. That's going to be more pronounced in a guitar that's warm to begin with, like an LP or 335, and less obvious in a brighter one like a Strat.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

I use Alt8 - Screamin' Demon myself but I think SD Slash and also Fullshred would give less contrast EQ.

+1.

I love the Demon in the neck. Goes with just about any bridge pup. I've got my Demon paired with a DD(A2) in the bridge.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

I use a Jazz neck with the Alt8. Works fine in volume and tone.

 

[GregJr]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

A2P neck and Custom5 bridge in my Epi LP with Floyd.
SWEEEEEET!

 

[Aceman]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

Yeah - what I am really hearing here is that some serious setup of the pickups needs done first. I could be wrong...have we done that yet?

Drop that bridge a little, raise the neck, tweek some poles, etc....see if you can get the BALANCE right first (and i can't imagine you can't - never had any problems matching classic neck with hot bridge)

Then if you want the slash mojo, get an A2P, and repeat....

 

[AlexR]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

Yep, the JB/Jazz combo works, and thats a 16K/7K combo

 

[RaulRiera]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

Thanks for the input guys. I'll try what many of you suggest. Don't go overboard with the neck pickup output and focus on tone. Having a pro setup sounds good. I'll probably play it safe and get one of the neck version pickups, still digging the idea of Alnico 2 equipped pickup.

 

[RaulRiera]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

By the way, I know this is SD forum... But has anyone ever tried the GFS Alnico 2 classic neck pickup on a Les Paul? Price.-wise looks like nice bang for the buck :bigeyes:

 

[blueman335]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

Thanks for the input guys. I'll try what many of you suggest. Don't go overboard with the neck pickup output and focus on tone. I'll probably play it safe and get one of the neck version pickups, still digging the idea of Alnico 2 equipped pickup.

I know what you mean. It took me a little while to get used to A2's, after having used only A5's for many years. A5's are higher output and have a lot of bass and treble, with scooped mids, and a firm low end. A2's are the opposite: low output, heavy mids, not much treble, and a looser low end. What makes A2's so popular is the rich dynamics and texture, far more than an A5. If a PU is wound right, it can bring out the best in an A2 and downplay any shortcomings. In the neck slot, an A2 seems like an odd choice at first, but can give a bigger sound with all the mids, and can actually be bright if they're underwound or have unbalanced coils. My first A2 HB's were Gibson '57's and 490's, neither of them great examples of an A2's potential. It wasn't until I tried Duncans that I developed an appreciation for A2's. Seymour has a passion for them. Seth's have become my favorite HB, followed by A2P's. I also like Gibson BB's a lot (not BBP's). Those three set the standard for A2 HB's.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

By the way, I know this is SD forum... But has anyone ever tried the GFS Alnico 2 classic neck pickup on a Les Paul? Price.-wise looks like nice bang for the buck :bigeyes:

I haven't tried them, but the budget-priced HB I do have, and like a lot, is StewMac's 'Parsons Street' (they come with A2's or A5's, your choice). I have a set of the A2 version, which sound very nice. Great vintage specs and materials.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Alnico 2 Bridge Pickup ON NECK POSITION

Raul, FYI, a 17K p'up, wound with AWG44 wire like that SH-15 of yours is NOT twice as powerful as a 7.5K p'up wound with AWG42 wire, like the '59n.

DC reading alone does NOT equal output.

True. A narrower gauge of wire will give a higher DCR reading at the same number of turns. And it will probably sound thinner because the coil would be smaller. It's the number of turns, or to be really accurate, the total length of wire, that determines the coil's contribution to output. But because you can't take the wire out and measure its length, DCR as a spec is useful in that it gives you some idea how much wire is in there, as long as you know how to account for the effect of different wire gauges on the DCR number. For example, 43AWG will read about 20% higher DCR on the same number of turns. Oh, and don't forget the effect of temperature...