Alnico Pro II or '59s?

[loran.montgomery]

Hi, noob here....

I have a Peavey Vandenberg custom quilt top that is getting new pickups. I've narrowed the choices down to either Alnico Pro IIs like Slash uses or '59s.

Here's the big question - which one sounds better in split mode? I really like the versatility of splitting the coils in the Vandy now, and I want to keep that versatility.

Thanks in advance for everyone's help.

 

[Tony_H]

Re: Alnico Pro II or '59s?

Welcome to the forum!

Er...I thought this would be an easy one but I've never heard a 59 split. Overall though I prefer the AII Pros - just like the tone better.

Someone with a better knowledge chime in?

Tony

 

[J Moose]

Re: Alnico Pro II or '59s?

IMHO, the '59 has a little more shimmer when split. "Better" is one of those subjective terms that's up to the ear of the beholder. My favorite combo for a locking trem axe is a Duncan Custom bridge & Jazz neck...that sounds great split..plenty of snap and 'Strat' vibe there.

 

[walt]

Re: Alnico Pro II or '59s?

I have a strat with 2 59 bridge models (neck and bridge positions) wired up to a stew mac mega switch. Positions 2 and 4 are very "funky" (music style) clean leaving the other positions for soloing. I like them but a lot depends on your personal taste and your EARS :beerchug:

 

[loran.montgomery]

Re: Alnico Pro II or '59s?

Thanks for everyone's input, and thanks for the warm welcome!

Understanding that "better" is subjective, I posted this question in order to keep from making a two hundred dollar mistake. Even though beauty is in the eyes (or the ears) of the beholder, ugly goes all the way to the bone.

Anyway, thanks again. I'll post more as the Vandenberg project progresses.

 

[neosadist]

Re: Alnico Pro II or '59s?

Hi, noob here.... I have a Peavey Vandenberg custom quilt top that is getting new pickups. I've narrowed the choices down to either Alnico Pro IIs like Slash uses or '59s. Here's the big question - which one sounds better in split mode? I really like the versatility of splitting the coils in the Vandy now, and I want to keep that versatility. Thanks in advance for everyone's help.

Are you going to be using them as humbuckers or in split mode the majority of the time? This should be your main concern. If you want them as split mode more often than humbucker mode, my opinion would be to use the Stag Mag pickups. If you're going to use them in humbucker mode more often, I'd say pick the pickups totally based on how they will sound in humbucker mode. I say this because, IMHO, in split mode, the humbuckers (except Stag Mag) aren't going to sound totally like a single coil, because they were designed primarily to be used as humbuckers: only the Stag Mag was designed to sound totally authentic in split mode.

 

[loran.montgomery]

Re: Alnico Pro II or '59s?

Are you going to be using them as humbuckers or in split mode the majority of the time?

That makes a lot of sense. I'll use them as humbuckers most of the time. I split them mostly for the out-of-phase Strat sound on clean parts.

Thanks for the good advice. That at least helps narrow the decision making process down. :beerchug:

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Alnico Pro II or '59s?

What exactly is the Vandenberg? Simliar to a LP or Strat? I have experience with both the APH and '59 in the neck of my paul. I prefer the '59 tapped, more "spank" and crispness (what I look for when it's split) but I'm not sure which I like better for the neck. They are both great pickups that you can't go wrong with. Some people find the '59 muddy, I think that unless your bass is set really high it sounds nice and clear. THe APH on the other hand is smooth and creamy, I know it's cliche, but think Slash on Sweet Child o' Mine. (However, rolling the tone back on the '59 gets me almost there)

I have no experience with either bridge pickup, but if I ever get a second LP I'll probably go with two APH, I think they are that good.

 

[loran.montgomery]

Re: Alnico Pro II or '59s?

What exactly is the Vandenberg? Simliar to a LP or Strat?

The Peavey Vandenberg Custom Quilt top is what would happen if a Strat and a Paul ever had an illicit affair. Vandy Quilts are very different from the other Vandenbergs. The construction is similar to a Les Paul -- mahogany body with a maple cap, neck-through-body, and a rosewood fingerboard. It's a more-or-less Strat shaped body, but with a 24 3/4 scale neck.

Here's a link: http://www.geocities.com/vandenberget/

Scroll down almost to the bottom for pictures of the quilt top. Mine's in transparent purple, just like the picture.

 

[Dirtyking]

Re: Alnico Pro II or '59s?

I liked the Demon tapped better than the '59 bridge. Even tho the '59 sounded really cool and twangy, the Demon had less of an output drop when tapped.