APH-1 neck vs bridge and SH-11 questions.

[Orville]

Hi all!
I have my Orville Les Paul asking for new pickups. I think I'm close as far as what I will get, just wanted to ask a couple of questions.
What is the difference between the APH-1 bridge and neck models? I read people using a PG in the bridge and a APH-1 in the neck, is it commonly the neck version of the AP2?
I have narrowed down my choices to either a APH-1 set ( neck and bridge) or a SH-11 Custom Custom bridge and APH-1 neck.
I don't need total vintage PAF territory but don't want to push too far past it either, is the SH-11 going too far? Does it clean up well with vol roll off? And to my question above, would I want to pair the SH-11 with the neck or bridge version of the APH-1?

I play classic hard rock, blues, and a bit of blues based jazz ( Larry Carlton "A Pair of Kings is a good example).

I've had the A3 Skinner Burst set so I am interested to report back with my findings on how this guitar and my rig like the change.


Thank you !!

 

[beaubrummels]

IME the Custom Custom cleans up by rolling volume off, but that is influenced by your amp and settings. I've had the APH-1 set in a Les Paul and they retain the same signature EQ while compensating for level differences between the bridge and neck position, so they are very even in volume as you throw the switch. APH-2 is a different animal. The bridge is a totally different sound, and the neck, spec-wise, is something like having the bridge APH-1 in the neck. Either APH-1n or APH-1b would work in the neck with an SH-11 bridge. I think the difference is likely to be how clean the neck is. I would expect the APH-1b to better match the output of the SH-11, but have the same requirements of amp and settings then rolling the volume when you want to play clean, while the APH-1n would likely play clean by just throwing the switch.

 

[Mincer]

The APH-1 neck and the Custom Custom are my favorite pickup set. The neck version of the APH-1 balances perfectly with the CC, so no need to use the bridge model. Both pickups clean up well with the volume knob, too.

 

[Ascension]

Hi all!
I have my Orville Les Paul asking for new pickups. I think I'm close as far as what I will get, just wanted to ask a couple of questions.
What is the difference between the APH-1 bridge and neck models? I read people using a PG in the bridge and a APH-1 in the neck, is it commonly the neck version of the AP2?
I have narrowed down my choices to either a APH-1 set ( neck and bridge) or a SH-11 Custom Custom bridge and APH-1 neck.
I don't need total vintage PAF territory but don't want to push too far past it either, is the SH-11 going too far? Does it clean up well with vol roll off? And to my question above, would I want to pair the SH-11 with the neck or bridge version of the APH-1?

I play classic hard rock, blues, and a bit of blues based jazz ( Larry Carlton "A Pair of Kings is a good example).

I've had the A3 Skinner Burst set so I am interested to report back with my findings on how this guitar and my rig like the change.


Thank you !!

I would look hard at the Saturday Night Special set for the tones you are talking here. I have had 2 sets and still have a set in my Carvin AE 185. Sold one guitar with them and should have swapped pickups as both my sets had Trembucker bridges that are NLA after the pandemic. Pretty unique pickups that should get a lot more support than they do IMO. This is one of my absolute favorite Duncan pickup sets.
Will nail the tones you are talking here!!

 

[Orville]

Those Saturday Night Specials sound great, and for me would work with some of the stuff I play, but they also sound pretty neutral. I won't say flat or without character but the APH-1 seems to have a bit more something going on.
I don't want to get too much farther out in the weeds here, but any thoughts on the High Voltage or Whole Lotta Humbucker sets?

 

[Ascension]

Those Saturday Night Specials sound great, and for me would work with some of the stuff I play, but they also sound pretty neutral. I won't say flat or without character but the APH-1 seems to have a bit more something going on.
I don't want to get too much farther out in the weeds here, but any thoughts on the High Voltage or Whole Lotta Humbucker sets?

Don't have any experience with the high voltage set yet. The Whole Lotta set is pretty cool, but for me was a little weak and bland, just not the tones I was looking for.
The SNS set surprised me as to how versatile it was. Hit hard enough to cover some heavy stuff but also had some unique qualities clean. I need to put another set in a guitar.
Lauri is running an SNS in the bridge with a pair of Antiquities, Texas Hot Singles in this Kiesel Delos. Her tones here are anything but flat.

 

[Orville]

Don't have any experience with the high voltage set yet. The Whole Lotta set is pretty cool, but for me was a little weak and bland, just not the tones I was looking for.
The SNS set surprised me as to how versatile it was. Hit hard enough to cover some heavy stuff but also had some unique qualities clean. I need to put another set in a guitar.
Lauri is running an SNS in the bridge with a pair of Antiquities, Texas Hot Singles in this Kiesel Delos. Her tones here are anything but flat.

What a great player. I hadn't really heard much from Lauri before, but have checked into her a bit since you posted this. Wow.
That pickup sounds really nice, but I think I want to stick with the A2's. I have been listening to some Pearly Gates to see if that might be something I like, but I'm feeling like a set of APH-1's might do the trick.
Thanks for turning me onto Lauri !!!

 

[beaubrummels]

FWIW Lari has her own Duncan signature set here: https://www.seymourduncan.com/single-product/lari-basilio

Whole Lotta Humbuckers are very versatile, and benefit greatly if you do the full Jimmy Page wiring. Mine stayed in my SG for over a year. Got a lot of different music done with those. They are like a 59 set with a little more heat, a touch more in the mids (due to the roughcast A5), a more even neck pickup, pretty sweetened sound.

I don't have personal experience with the High Voltage set, but there's a review here: https://darthphineas.com/2022/05/seymour-duncan-high-voltage/ That reviewer elsewhere mentioned he talked to MJ about what that set was modeled on or what it's near neighbor was in the Duncan line, and reportedly it's like a Pearly Gates set with a touch more output in the bridge, to drive the front end of a Marshall, and a fairly even neck.

 

[Orville]

In doing what we do when we go down the new pickup rabbit hole, I think I have it narrowed down.
Pearly Gates Custom Shop
Slash Set
Green Magic
APH-1

 

[Aceman]

I refer to the APH/CC set as "Fat City" because of the epic fat highs they have. Yes, the CC will sound good clean, but it does have a very significant mid bump. for hard rock, that mid bump can crunch hard, but the bass may be a little soft/loose. I used a PG/CC set for quite a while in a classic rock/blues rock band and loved it. I preferred the CC simple for the punchier neck cut.

Slash set - might as well be an APH-1 set, it is basically a touch hotter/brighter from what I understand, and the Slash tones you dig are all APH-1 anyway.

PG's are great. I'm biased though...just love them.

I think for what you play, the A2P set would really work well. That said, The A2P/CC set might be the more diverse/better for you, but will take a little more tweaking amp wise to get where you want.

 

[Teleplayer]

Green magic bridge is pretty nice for vintage tones. Where the APH-1 bridge is generally smooth, the Green Magic has more bite and cut in the upper mids. The APH-1b is not particularly fat in the mids - it has a spongy and slightly emphasised lower mids, and lean in the upper mids. I have not tried the Green Magic neck, but I used the bridge version with APH-1n and also PG-1n. Better matched with the Pearly gates neck IMO, but it depends what you want.

 

[EmiAba]

APH1/CC for two reasons: they work pretty good together with the bridge not overpowering the neck and you can always adjust them swaping the magnet. I personally prefer the PGn over the APH1 but it is only a matter of taste. The APH1 is one of the best neck humbucker in Duncan production

 

[hamerfan]

Those Saturday Night Specials sound great, and for me would work with some of the stuff I play, but they also sound pretty neutral. I won't say flat or without character but the APH-1 seems to have a bit more something going on.
I don't want to get too much farther out in the weeds here, but any thoughts on the High Voltage or Whole Lotta Humbucker sets?

The HV set seem to be astonishing bright, while the WLH has a darker timbre. I feel the latter has also a overbearing muddy neck. My personal Kryptonite is the Pearly Gates BFG set, but i still need to check out the Hades Gates set in flesh.

 

[jeremy]

i havent tried the hv set, but i love the wlh neck pup. also love the pgb. ymmv

 

[Orville]

After looking at Antiquities, APH-1 and APH-1, Pearly Gates and Custom Shop Pearly Gates, I looked at a couple of other pickup makers and ended up ordering a set of Wolftone Legends.
Wolfe is great to work with and based on his feedback and some videos that he had lined on his site, I think this set might be just the ticket. Once I get them and put 'em in I will report back.

 

[jeremy]

those are very paf type pups i think, right?