APH-1 vs. APH-2 for slash tone

[ToneFiddler]

For old times sake i want to mess around with some slash tunes.
i got one light very mid heavy Les Paul classic which is not very beefy.
or a heavy one with a lot more bass and low mids and not too prominent mids.
which one would be closer to the derrig?
so the one with the derrig characteristics will be fine with a APH-1 and which one will profit from the APH-2?

 

[Aceman]

Slap an AP2 in and don't worry. If you can't get Slash tone with pretty much any Les Paul, a JCM800, and an A2P, the problem is you - not the gear.

For the record, I get my favorite-best Sweet Child sound with a 9k PG and a Mesa Stiletto.

 

[Aceman]

Here are three examples of pickups playing a familiar Slash tune.

One is in a Dean Cadillac Select w/ a PG neck
One is in a Dean Cadillac Select w/ an A2P neck
One is in a 1979 Les Paul Standard with the original T-Top neck

Mesa Stiletto, Shure SM57, into Garage Band.

You decide which is which. The Caddies are medium weight, the LP is heavy.

 

[Mincer]

I'd put the -1 in the first LP, and a -2 in the 2nd one. There is no wrong answer here...both pickups are the Slash sound.

 

[Aceman]

I'd put the -1 in the first LP, and a -2 in the 2nd one. There is no wrong answer here...both pickups are the Slash sound.

A tweak of the bass or treble on the amp, either way, IMO.

 

[Mincer]

A tweak of the bass or treble on the amp, either way, IMO.

I do agree with that. An amp's tone controls (or the tone control of a drive pedal) can make up for the EQ difference between the pickup models.

 

[Aceman]

Especially with how close these will be.

 

[ToneFiddler]

thanks for the replies!
yes i remember that shootout and i also liked the pearly gates best…

well i played his stuff as a teen and early 20s in a cover band. for the audience it was convincing enough, even with a dual rectifier. says really nothing actually

i now have a SH-1 set in the classic and it’s a good fit for that guitar, but for slash stuff not quite there. especially the buttery thing is missing and the notes are not as “jumpy” as they wood be with a more mid heavy PU i guess.
i am afraid though, that the mids will be obnoxious with the APHs, but than the slash bridge sound is kind of obnoxious to my ears anyway. I really like his neck sound but the bridge is kind of special to put it kindly. well, but it’s really a well known trademark sound.

i’ll flip a coin then:lmao:

 

[Mincer]

The mids aren't obnoxious at all in the APH (either one). They are warm and buttery...not quite like the upper mids in a JB for instance. They don't have a ton of treble or bass- certainly a lot less treble than the Pearly Gates (which doesn't do the Slash thing at all).

 

[ToneFiddler]

The APH-1 was my first after market PU, but it's too long ago, so i don't really remember much. All i remember is it's mellowness/softness.

i own a PG set and it's pretty tight and cutting for an A2 PU, i was really suprised about that. yes, definitely not buttery.

Sounds good, i will try an APH Neck PU first. That's a save bet, i like the mids of a neck PU.

 

[Mincer]

The APH-1 was my first after market PU, but it's too long ago, so i don't really remember much. All i remember is it's mellowness/softness.

i own a PG set and it's pretty tight and cutting for an A2 PU, i was really suprised about that. yes, definitely not buttery.

Sounds good, i will try an APH Neck PU first. That's a save bet, i like the mids of a neck PU.

Yeah, that neck pickup is 100% Slash right there. While I don't play any Slashstuff, it is my favorite neck pickup.

 

[ToneFiddler]

good to hear it‘s more versatile than that.

ordered a reverse zebra APH-2
and while i disassembled the guitar i put in a WLH at the bridge. wanted to give that PU a proper go for quite some time now. guess i will pair a bit better than the SH-1 with the APH neck

 

[Mincer]

The WLH in the bridge is a great choice. I bet the combo will be a great one!

 

[Anficht]

Here are three examples of pickups playing a familiar Slash tune.

One is in a Dean Cadillac Select w/ a PG neck
One is in a Dean Cadillac Select w/ an A2P neck
One is in a 1979 Les Paul Standard with the original T-Top neck

Mesa Stiletto, Shure SM57, into Garage Band.

You decide which is which. The Caddies are medium weight, the LP is heavy.

take 1 sounds best to me, closely followed by take 3. Take two is too muddy for my taste. Can you let me know which pickup is which take?

 

[Aceman]

take 1 sounds best to me, closely followed by take 3. Take two is too muddy for my taste. Can you let me know which pickup is which take?

Haha - sorry! Don't remember anymore!

There is a thread here somewhere if you can find it.

 

[ToneFiddler]

Mmmh, sweet and buttery!
haven‘t played such a PU in very long time.
it‘s real fun playing this one!


the WLH bridge is a better match for the A2P than the sh-1 i think, but in this guitar i liked the sh-1 better.
but both don’t match the feel of the neck A2P.
so i think i am goin for a A2 bridge, too.
really love the feel, but maybe not the perfect guitar for them.
that guitar actually sound pretty balanced with SH-1s so i think i will restore them and move this to another guitar.

 

[jeremy]

i just put a set of 59s in a buddys guitar and i forgot how great they sound. i usually love my a2 buckers but the 59s sound fantastic in this guitar

 

[Mr. B]

If you are going for Slash tone, why wouldn't you just get the Slash Signature Set?

 

[Mincer]

If you are going for Slash tone, why wouldn't you just get the Slash Signature Set?

Because he used the APH-1 during his classic years (mid to late 80s) before he had a signature set.

 

[ToneFiddler]

moved back from the APH-2n, WLHb to the SH-1 59 set and this is a big surprise!

i wasn't blown away by the WLHb, but also nothing bad sounding. At first i was a bit underwhelmed, because i was missing the big bass of the SH1 so it sounded a bit tiny at first.
The APH2 had a great buttery feel and the mids where singing, just as expected!
As said the guitar is kinda too heavy on the mids acoustically for my liking, so i thought the SH1 is the better match.

Now that they are back in i must say i don't like the sound of them anymore. under gain the bridge makes for a very brash and rough distortion. the big bass, scooped mids and the bright treble are the reason. the big low end really is a turn off, even with 5 or 6 mm down from the string. great for balls to the wall sounds, but i got enough guitars for that already.

I didn't realize how great the WLHb sounded. the made the sound so much rounder and smoother without sounding bland! no problem to dial in more bass from the amp if needed. The mids are smooth and nothing annoying about them!

The neck SH1 has a nice woodiness to them and clean i like them best, but for leads i definitely prefer something with more mids.
But, I'll don't give up on them yet. Will try some of the A2, A3, A4 UA5 or short A5 options, i read a lot on here.

I will make a dedicated LP for the A2P and WLH. i bet they'll be fine or even better in a guitar with less mids and bigger bass.