Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

B

Bakuna

New member
Today i spoke to SD Guy who suggested as a 1st choice Alnnico II Pro(not slash one) or SL's as a 2nd choice - since soft maple has lots of high mids adding extra mids might be to much , i agree with him on that . i defiantly don't want any more mids.my Korean 1995 Aria Pro II 335 copy has plenty. so i was wondering if somedody has A2P'S in 335 type semi-hollow. High's are not too dull? how they would suit clean Jazz style , sometimes with little extra gain ala Scofield ?


many thx...
 
Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

I have A2P bridge in my Epi Dot. It replaced that trebly '59 bridge successfully. The high isn't dull at all. I think it's great bridge pu for all maple 335 body and maple/rosewood neck like Dot. I have no experience with A2P neck (my Epi Dot has '59 neck) or Scofield stuff though. I use A2P-'59 for application like this guy did.
 
Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

elelpe said:
I have A2P bridge in my Epi Dot. It replaced that trebly '59 bridge successfully. The high isn't dull at all. I think it's great bridge pu for all maple 335 body and maple/rosewood neck like Dot. I have no experience with A2P neck (my Epi Dot has '59 neck) or Scofield stuff though. I use A2P-'59 for application like this guy did.
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thx elelpe . if your Epi is Korean , most likely body is made of Soft maple which
is choice of Korean axe manufacturers . lots of high mids. its hard to find right
pups for soft maple guitars but i'm getting there , done lot of research , narrowed it down to A2P or SL - but i'm leaning towards A2P's. would be great to hear
from guys who use A2P N in their Semi's clean Jazz comping and SCO sound really ...
 
Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

I have a chinese Hagstrom Viking semi hollow with a covered Pearly Gates neck. A friend of mine who plays exclusively jazz comp style really likes the sound of it and he's super picky. I have the slash Ahp-2 set in a Hagstrom solid body. If the AHP-1 sounds anything like the AHP-2, I'd think you'd like the Pearly Gates better. Initially I thought the Pearly Gates would be too bright, but it has just the right balance in this guitar.
I've been reading about the hybrid pickups, 59/custom bridge, 59/jazz neck and am going to try those when I get a chance. Maybe you should look into a 59/Jazz hybrid.
 
Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

A2P's have a lot of mids, kind of on the warm/dark side, with the A2 magnets. Doesn't sound like that's the direction you want to go. The most popular recommendation here for 335's is a pair of '59's, which would be good for jazz, blues, and rock.
 
Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

A2p's are full of bottom and mids. Big round highs. CLASSIC Jazz tones. The key to soft maple is that it's MAPLE. What is the neck? I'm thinking that guitar is bright period.

I'd think A2P's would just get huge fat jazz tones. When i'm jazzing I look for mids to get the articulation.

As Blueman said, however, the answer "59's" is NEVER wrong in a semi hollow.

All around = 59's - I'd go here if you play blues/rock/jazz/pop
Fat = A2P's - I'd go here for jazz/blues/classic rock
Bite = PG's - I'd go here for blues/rock
super balanced smoothness and complexity = Seths. I'd go here for a seriously complex toneful woody guitar. And then play anything except metal.
 
Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

Aceman said:
Fat = A2P's - I'd go here for jazz/blues/classic rock
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Jazz/Blues would be application in my case so i more and more leaning for A2P's.
body Soft Maple , neck Maple ( not sure soft or hard) instrument is bright but i'd describe it more as Mid Highs then highs . less bottom. i have to start somewhere i think i'm gonna try A2P's

Blues man , i was thinking 59's before i spoke to SD guy . he was very confident that A2P's would be right choice for SoftMaple Semi, he sounded like he had experience with that material so he changed my choice direction . hope he's right.
Suchapinch , PG'rS i haven't considered or were suggested for my particular guitar i need to do more research on them. thx for you 2c


thx for heads up everyone!
 
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Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

Lets put it this way:

SLs are a rounded version of 59,
PGs are fat
A2Ps are super Fat.

I currently use a PG neck.
 
Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

I'd be great if somebody could post some A2P on semi video or audio demo . only demos i could find dude's shredding their Les Paul's out :)) on the YTube
 
Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

hamerfan said:
Lets put it this way:

SLs are a rounded version of 59,
PGs are fat
A2Ps are super Fat.

I currently use a PG neck.
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if i was to choose between SL and 59' i'd go for 59 . reason - i can't add more mids. to already very midly guitar . that's why counted out SL's in my situation
 
Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

Bakuna said:
if i was to choose between SL and 59' i'd go for 59 . reason - i can't add more mids. to already very midly guitar . that's why counted out SL's in my situation
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Then why do you want A2P's? They add mids. You really don't want any PU with A2's.
 
Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

blueman335 said:
Then why do you want A2P's? They add mids. You really don't want any PU with A2's.
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I had another listen 59 vs A2P on SD website and to my ears 59 N has slightly less mids compared to A2P N but reverse for B. SL ,59 , A2P they all sound good
but again i have to avoid mids and that is my dilemma . taught to choose right PUP thats for sure:banghead:
 
Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

i play a 335.
I play jazz.
59s are the business.
To me they are not scooped at all. I dont know where that myth comes from. Balanced is a better description. They have all the mids of a gibson pickup, but also more bass and treble. The beauty of them is that they expand the bass and treble notes around the natural bright/vocal qualities of a maple cored guitar and give it authority, girth and detail.
They dont have "less mids" than A2 pups...they just have more of the other stuff. I still only run my mids on 4. They just give you more flexibility. I use a 1967 fender twin....there are few better amps and reflecting exactly the nature of what you plug in with.
..... you can always change magnets if you feel the need, but you wont need to!
There's no need to overanalyze this stuff. Seymour did all the hard work when he designed the 59. Just get a set and see.
 
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Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

There is always the tone knob on the amp....usually.

I agree - get the pup that works with your wood. I like middy jazz tones. Others, not so much.
 
Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

gibson175 said:
i play a 335.
I play jazz.
59s are the business.
To me they are not scooped at all. I dont know where that myth comes from. Balanced is a better description. They have all the mids of a gibson pickup, but also more bass and treble. The beauty of them is that they expand the bass and treble notes around the natural bright/vocal qualities of a maple cored guitar and give it authority, girth and detail.
They dont have "less mids" than A2 pups...they just have more of the other stuff. I still only run my mids on 4. They just give you more flexibility. I use a 1967 fender twin....there are few better amps and reflecting exactly the nature of what you plug in with.
..... you can always change magnets if you feel the need, but you wont need to!
There's no need to overanalyze this stuff. Seymour did all the hard work when he designed the 59. Just get a set and see.
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This is an interesting point.

Remember: The original 59's were built to play CLEAN - no distortion really happening in 59. A low-high scooped EQ is a great curve for that sound.

Also - the LP is a mid rich guitar, so again. A pup that scoops will yeild a balanced tone.
 
Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

Bakuna said:
i defiantly don't want any more mids.my Korean 1995 Aria Pro II 335 copy has plenty. how they would suit clean Jazz style , sometimes with little extra gain ala Scofield ?
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The Seth Lover set is what you want.

They're smooth but very tridimensional. Have a look at this demo: http://www.youtube.com/user/marinblues#p/u/62/1l-sHxFKmWA

Don't forget to change the guts of that Aria of yours, as chances are, the components are not of the best quality, specially if they're stock.

500K CTS or Bourns pots, .022 600V PIO caps and while you're at it, get a harness built with vintage braided wire and get a Switchcraft toggle and jack.

HTH,
 
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Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

A2P isn't what you're looking for. I choose A2P-'59 because I want this combo add bottom and mids thus make my maple Epi Dot sounds fat and warm/dark with round high (I have tele for bright sound). And they deliver. You want 'brigther combo': Pearly Gates B and Jazz N.
 
Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

For what its worth, I also have an Aria Pro II semi-hollow (TA-100 1982 vintage), and I went with a PGn and 59b. I was looking for versatility, and this combo did it for me. The PGn emphasizes the mids and gives the guitar some much-needed punch, while the 59b provides a clean balanced tone.

I don't know how it compares to your Aria sound-wise, but mine is fairly bright. Much brighter than a typical Gibson 335. For comparison, mine has a maple top, mahogany center block, sycamore back/sides, ebony fingerboard.
 
Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

LtKojak said:
The Seth Lover set is what you want.

They're smooth but very tridimensional. Have a look at this demo: http://www.youtube.com/user/marinblues#p/u/62/1l-sHxFKmWA

Don't forget to change the guts of that Aria of yours, as chances are, the components are not of the best quality, specially if they're stock.

500K CTS or Bourns pots, .022 600V PIO caps and while you're at it, get a harness built with vintage braided wire and get a Switchcraft toggle and jack.

HTH,
Click to expand...

This is a big big must. I have a 500k+ set, that means my neck volume is 550k all other are 500k or a little more. This clears the mud out especially on the neck pup.
 
Re: Alnico 2 Pro for Soft Maple Semi Hollow

casey570 said:
For what its worth, I also have an Aria Pro II semi-hollow (TA-100 1982 vintage), and I went with a PGn and 59b. I was looking for versatility, and this combo did it for me. The PGn emphasizes the mids and gives the guitar some much-needed punch, while the 59b provides a clean balanced tone.

I don't know how it compares to your Aria sound-wise, but mine is fairly bright. Much brighter than a typical Gibson 335. For comparison, mine has a maple top, mahogany center block, sycamore back/sides, ebony fingerboard.
Click to expand...


I wouldn't describe my TA 80 as particularly bright , it has smooth mellow tone , mids are in your face not in a bad way.i quite like middly tone but mine lacks lows
and litlle more highs wouldn't hurt. every suggestion here which is much appreciated has a point , SL ,59 , PG A2P ... but i have to pick one .
Gibson175's point is legitimate too . i had spectacular 1982 Ibanez as200 before this one which sadly i had to go .best semi i ever had and one of the
best semi out there. as200 is real bright . all hard maple body. Japanese use
hard maple for semis and i assume your Aria is MIJ so most likely hard maple. in Korea they use soft maple which is more smother wormer but again quite middly.
i liked those balanced vintage super 58's on as200 a lot also wax poted same as 59's and closest match from SD low output PAF's . i guess i have plenty of suggestions here . i'll have a go on 59's , you guys talked my
out of A2P's after all as Gibson175 says 59' has been choice of many for semis so be it . SL may very good but since S.Lover is attached to it may be it adds to itS Hype.

Thx Many you guys and i'll tell you soon how 59's sound...
 
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