AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

[waltschwarzkopf]

Hi guys,

I’ve been thinking about a mod for my newest acquisition and I’m debating if going for a set of ACII or creating my “own” set with II+V.

I don’t have much experience with different pickups, but from the different guitars I’ve tried I know I like ACII on the neck, because of its thick-warm-sustainful sound. I’d like the bridge to be a bit more trebly (think Slash riffs/chords). I would also like to be able to “clean up” the sound by rolling the volume from 10 to 7-8; but I don’t know if that was to do more with vintage/modern wiring or with solid/tube amp. With this guitar, I play Led Zeppelin, Guns n Roses and other hard/classic rock stuff.

Anyway, currently available to me and within my budget are the following:

AlNiCo II set
Neck: AlNiCo II – 7.9kOhm / Bridge: AlNiCo II – 11.8kOhm

II+V combo
Neck: AlNiCo II – 7.5kOhm / Bridge: AlNiCo V – 7.8kOhm

My current setup
Neck: AlNiCo V – 8.5kOhm / Bridge: AlNiCo V – 13.65kOhm

I know that DCR does not equal output, but they are related, right? I usually see that the bridge pickup of a given set has a higher DCR, but it could be a couple of Ohms or twice the resistance. The AlNiCo V that I selected for the bridge is actually the neck pickup of another set, but one is free to install them wherever, right? I’ve also read that V magnets are “hotter” than II mags; others say that they are not, but the frequencies change so it sounds “louder”. Therefore, I should not worry about the small DCR difference on the combo.

What do you think? Will switching from V to II make the difference more noticeable? Or will a II+V combo have more “contrast” between neck and bridge? Also, Since I already have V mags, I could get a II for the neck and see what happens; although I like very much my current neck sound…

I deliberately have avoided using brand and manufacturer’s names to keep the discussion more general and without any prejudice towards the pros/cons of certain pickups.

Thanks a lot for reading and for your comments,

Cheers,
Walter

P.S. If you live in Zürich and want to get together and jam, send me a PM.

 

[Mincer]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

I vote II & V for what you like. You get the buttery smooth neck solos, as well as the tighter, more aggressive scoopy bridge sound that sounds so good with tube amps. As far as dynamics, that has more to do with gain staging than the pickup. Vintage output pickups do this trick well, as they don't slam the input of the amp that hard. With a II +V setup, there will be more contrast between the pickups, but that might really be a good thing (it is for me).

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

I vote II & V for what you like. You get the buttery smooth neck solos, as well as the tighter, more aggressive scoopy bridge sound that sounds so good with tube amps. As far as dynamics, that has more to do with gain staging than the pickup. Vintage output pickups do this trick well, as they don't slam the input of the amp that hard. With a II +V setup, there will be more contrast between the pickups, but that might really be a good thing (it is for me).

Thanks for the reply! And with different magnets, the small difference in DCR shouldn’t be a problem, right?

There’s the option of II+IV, would this be “better” for what I want? I don’t see much information about AlNiCo IV pickups.


EDIT:

II+IV combo
Neck: AlNiCo II – 7.5kOhm / Bridge: AlNiCo IV – 8.3kOhm


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[jeremy]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

you say these are the sets available to you. what are they? 11.8k is probably underwound #43 but could be a hybrid or something else

 

[chadd]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

I vote II & V for what you like. You get the buttery smooth neck solos, as well as the tighter, more aggressive scoopy bridge sound that sounds so good with tube amps.

By the time I get a tone that I like with most Alnico V based pickups, an Alnico II based neck is really muddy.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

you say these are the sets available to you. what are they? 11.8k is probably underwound #43 but could be a hybrid or something else

It doesn’t specify the AWG used, only the DCR and scatter.


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[beaubrummels]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

Depends on what the wind is. A2 in a Pearly Gates is bright, full range with some a little bit of chunky bottom. A2 in an AIIP is low mid heavy with chime clean and not too much bass.

 

[AlexR]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

I hope the wind runs true to the magnet's form. I mean if you got an A2 pickup like a Pearly gates, and an A5 like the WLH you could end up with the opposite of what you really want.

Is there no tonal descriptor with the pickup sets??

 

[Davii]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

My rig becomes a bit upper mids stabby with A2s, and UOA5 around that DCR mark. A4s, and RCA5 are actually quite sweet sounding though, not that you might start out thinking they will. Ok, I mean i didn't

 

[blueman335]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

I hope the wind runs true to the magnet's form. I mean if you got an A2 pickup like a Pearly gates, and an A5 like the WLH you could end up with the opposite of what you really want.

Exactly. The wind is crucial to this, more than the magnet and resistance. Everything starts with the wind as the foundation.

Besides WLH, the Rio Grande BBQ set is another one that is warmer than you'd think A5's would be. There are A5 winds that can be pretty bassy in some guitars too, like '59N's. PGB's are brighter than I expect an A2 HB to be. You can't just pick a magnet and resistance and assume you're going to get a desired EQ or tone. As wire gauge is changed to fit more wire on the coils and increase resistance, other things are impacted by that.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

If you go by magnet alone, A2 neck and A5 bridge tends to lead to muddy necks and ice picky bridges. If you EQ your rig to the bridge, the neck sounds too dark. EQ to the neck and the bridge will sound thin and dark.

But that's generalizing, the wind is essential to knowing what will work well together.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

Wow, guys. Thanks a lot for all the comments! I had no idea about all of what you’re saying; that a II can be bright and a V can be muddy. Now ir makes sense why Slash’s chords can sound so bright with II magnets.

For those asking, and also everybody else, the pickups I have in mind are Toneriders. http://tonerider.com/humbuckers

The AlNiCo II set are the Rocksongs which are described as:

The neck pickup is smooth and sustainful - perfect everything from jazz to distortion saturated rock. The bridge pickup is based on a super-charged PAF, offering power and dynamics with a clear top end.

The all-round vintage-improved package - great sustain, smooth, powerful, with the brightness and tonal complexity of boutique handwound pickups.

My “custom” set would combine an Alnico Classics II on the neck and a Generator (neck) on the bridge. These are described as:

At higher gain settings, the Alnico II Classic really nails the fluid distortion sound of players like Slash, who use the smooth attack and longer sustain of the neck to great effect during solos, and the tighter, fizzier tones available from the bridge for rock rhythm work.

A full-blooded, harmonically rich neck pickup delivers rock and blues tones with power to spare, while the high-output bridge pickup can take you from bluesy rock to screaming solos. Rolling off the volume knob reveals great, useable clean tones. (Generator)

Does this change your point of view?


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[Teleplayer]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

I would be careful using the A5 neck pickup for the bridge position. It is almost certain to be super bright. Especially if you are taking a pickup designed for a Les Paul and putting it into an Ibanez or other super strat.

Looking at the options mentioned, I would suggest keeping the 13.8k A5 bridge pickup you already have. If you like, just try an A2 pickup for the neck and see if it performs as you expect.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

I would be careful using the A5 neck pickup for the bridge position. It is almost certain to be super bright. Especially if you are taking a pickup designed for a Les Paul and putting it into an Ibanez or other super strat.

Looking at the options mentioned, I would suggest keeping the 13.8k A5 bridge pickup you already have. If you like, just try an A2 pickup for the neck and see if it performs as you expect.

Good to know, if it gets too bright, couldn’t“tame” it with a different capacitor?

I would be installing the pickups on a Les Paul, not a strat or other type of guitar.


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[OsvyRock]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

Guys! Seeing this post, do you believe an Alnico II Pro neck + TB-16 59/Custom Hybrid (Alnico V pickup) will match up fine or the EQ shift wouldn't permit balance there?

 

[chadd]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

Guys! Seeing this post, do you believe an Alnico II Pro neck + TB-16 59/Custom Hybrid (Alnico V pickup) will match up fine or the EQ shift wouldn't permit balance there?

I think most people would be ok with that combo, even though it didn't work for me. Once I drop an A2 in my 59/custom, I think I'll be a lot happier.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

I think most people would be ok with that combo, even though it didn't work for me. Once I drop an A2 in my 59/custom, I think I'll be a lot happier.

In which guitar you installed them? I also have a love/hate relationship with the AII/AV combination: 490R/498T. As many pointed out, there's always an unbalance between pickups. My tech kinda figured out something balanced, but they're always lacking somewhere. It's a compromise. Just wanted to know if there was any difference between other combinations.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

Guys! Seeing this post, do you believe an Alnico II Pro neck + TB-16 59/Custom Hybrid (Alnico V pickup) will match up fine or the EQ shift wouldn't permit balance there?

This is off-topic, but IME the best necks with a 59/Custom Hybrid i have tried so far (in a Les Paul and SG) were: Jazz, Seth and 496R. I play Marshalls, Orange, Vox and Fender Tweeds, all at the edge of break up, where 10 on the guitar is growling distortion, 8 on the guitar is clean with some grit sparkles and 7 is clean. I think an AIIP neck with a 59/C wouldn't work as well as others. My AIIP neck has a lower mid bump to it while my 59/C is pretty flat, bright on the top and tight chunky bass on the bottom. It still might be an interesting combination to try, but not a balanced/even match.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

I play Marshalls, Orange, Vox and Fender Tweeds, all at the edge of break up, where 10 on the guitar is growling distortion, 8 on the guitar is clean with some grit sparkles and 7 is clean.

This is exactly what I want! Could you give me more info about your wiring?
Whether if I need vintage/modern wiring to accomplish that or audio/linear pots or something else.



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[chadd]

Re: AlNiCo II set or II+V combo?

In which guitar you installed them? I also have a love/hate relationship with the AII/AV combination: 490R/498T. As many pointed out, there's always an unbalance between pickups. My tech kinda figured out something balanced, but they're always lacking somewhere. It's a compromise. Just wanted to know if there was any difference between other combinations.

Shechter mini corsair, ES339 style semi hollow