APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

[lordraptor1]

well i was looking into a set of these slash pickups and after months of research and people stating they really didnt like the sound i can say ( with all my research and a couple other issues) i am going a different route. read below for my reasons:

1. first off chrome and gold covered versions only seem to be available on fleabay ( hard to get some from authorized dealers because they have to order them and that extends wait time by a week according to SD and that is if you can get them to order some at all seeing as all the ones i have talked to want to point you towards something else, maybe that is because of customer feedback on them which might be in part to #2 below)

2. bridge pickup pole spacing is WRONG for "modern" gibson and epiphone les pauls (this makes me wonder if that is the reason that most people i talk to didnt like the sound of them to much), all modern gibson and epiphone les pauls i have picked up have a bridge pole spacing of 52.x mm where as the slash set bridge pup is same pole spacing as the neck pup so your poles arent under the strings correctly. ( important to note i have checked pole spacing on the following 96 les paul custom, 99 lp standard, 12 lp standard. 13 lp standard, and a 15 lp standard ALL of which had wider pole spacing). to shorten the above statement the APH-2s pups are designed based on the "vintage" lp slash used on appetite.

3. sd says that authorized dealers can order shop floor customs ( or "SFC" from here on)of these to include the chrome civers but didnt specify pole spacing so i have to assume that you cant get correct pole spacing for modern gibson or epiphone les pauls or any other geibson/epiphone guitar with the stop tailpiece/bridge setup

4."sfc" if you can find a dealer willing you can "sfc" a set with the chrome covers BUT you need to bear in mind that if you order a set with the correct bridge pole spacing for your modern gibson or epiphone the bridge pickup will NOT have the slash logo on it which may not seem like a big deal but as someone who has been researching for a few months i can tell you that it WILL cause problems with buyers who will complain if they dont see that slash logo on both pickups. i have myself seen several people going off that bought sets of slash pups that didnt have the logo on the pups and were convinced that they didnt get what they paid for. also, it is important to note thatthe price for chrome covered APH-2s slash pups on fleabay are 223.95 ( these are the incorrect pole spaced ones) which both pups have slash logo but ordering SFC with the correct ( or trembucker) for modern gibsons and epis ( which as far as i have been able to conclude cost the same as those on fleabay but your bridge pup wont have the slash logo on it so if you are like me you arent exactly getting an actual "set" of slash pups since the correct pole spaced bridge wont have the slash logo.


i hope this information helps those considering a set of APH-2s pups, but my summary is this, you have a "vintage" gibson or epi with standard pole spacing then go for it ( although personally everyone i have seen with a "vintage" gibson or epi tends to put vintage or vintage replica pups in them not aftermarket), in regards to "modern" gibson and epi if you dont mind the off pole spacing again go for it ( although EVERYONE i have talked to that has tried the APH-2s pups on a modern gibson or epi didnt like the sound and changed them to PAF or back to stock which i think might be in part to the off pole spacing) BUT if you want optimal performance out of the pups on your modern lp look for something else.

my above comments are based on 6 months of research into the SD APH-2s slash pups and personal thoughts and opinions so take it with a grain of salt

 

[Uncle Fred]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

Just get a set of Duncan 59s then.

 

[AlexR]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

If they changed back to a PAF style (which btw has the same narrow pickup spacing) then it certainly won't be due to that same pickup spacing. I'd guess it would be because they don't like the tone. I measured my 01 SG and 06 Studio and got 51mm for both, so there's some variability perhaps.

The issue with narrow poles on wider strings is a possible drop of volume or drive on the two outermost strings. It will do nothing for the pickup's inherent tonality - something which I think is FAR more the cause of the swap out.

 

[lordraptor1]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

Just get a set of Duncan 59s then.

NAH, if i cant get the slash pups as i need them then i really dont need pups to be honest becuase i stick with gibson, epiphone, emg pickups, and my own custom wound pups. the ONLY reason i was looking at seymour duncan pups was because of the SLASH set unfortunatley if they wont work they wont work, and i was merely posting my thoughts and opinions on the slash set with what i learned and hopefully that would help others not go through the ordeal i did trying to get information ( which was like pulling hens teeth) and the incorrect pole spacing on bridge pup for modern les pauls as well as informing them that if they are looking to use chrome or gold covers to maintain a stock appearance then tehy will have issues getting them except for on fleabay.

 

[Davii]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

I've not found the difference in spacing to be an issue, and covers didn't cost much to import. Knowing which size gold pole screws to get took me a little time, though messing around with pickups in this way is/was all new to me. Every now n' then I wonder if there's a bit of a disconnect when it comes to being outside the US, but again, that could just be a lack of knowledge on my part.

 

[Aceman]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

I find the whole argument ridiculous. Not being mean, just saying….

Pole spacing narrow/wide has really not been an issue for most people.

It isn't HORIZONTAL distance or centering. It is distantce from the string to the pole. The pole couile be right beside it, under it, on top of it, where ever.

If it is off center, just raise it a bit.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

OH NO!! Someone has got to warn Slash!! I can't believe he didn't pick up on this when I was installing the prototypes in his guitar. You know what? It's me. I'll take the blame. I didn't tell him. I just let him go on with standard spacing. Sorry everyone.

Ok so on to a more serious reply, a lot of players just don't care that the wider spaced poles line up with the strings. Countless amazing albums have been recorded with misaligned poles. But, since Duncan does offer other humbuckers in Trembucker spacing, you'd think they'd make the Slash available that way as well. But in the beginning of the launch, the whole point was to only make Slash's configuration available. Basically visually and mechanically making the pickup identical to the pickups he would then load into many of his stage and studio guitars (aside from the Derrig)

So the question is, is it Duncan's responsibility to make all iterations available when an artist only uses certain versions? Well I'll leave that for you to debate, and vote with your wallet. Good luck out there.

 

[Davii]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

OH NO!! Someone has got to warn Slash!! I can't believe he didn't pick up on this when I was installing the prototypes in his guitar. You know what? It's me. I'll take the blame. I didn't tell him. I just let him go on with standard spacing. Sorry everyone.

Ok so on to a more serious reply, a lot of players just don't care that the wider spaced poles line up with the strings. Countless amazing albums have been recorded with misaligned poles. But, since Duncan does offer other humbuckers in Trembucker spacing, you'd think they'd make the Slash available that way as well. But in the beginning of the launch, the whole point was to only make Slash's configuration available. Basically visually and mechanically making the pickup identical to the pickups he would then load into many of his stage and studio guitars (aside from the Derrig)

So the question is, is it Duncan's responsibility to make all iterations available when an artist only uses certain versions? Well I'll leave that for you to debate, and vote with your wallet. Good luck out there.

Go sit on the naughty step, and think about what you've [not] done :9:

 

[Uncle Fred]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

NAH, if i cant get the slash pups as i need them then i really dont need pups to be honest becuase i stick with gibson, epiphone, emg pickups, and my own custom wound pups. the ONLY reason i was looking at seymour duncan pups was because of the SLASH set unfortunatley if they wont work they wont work, and i was merely posting my thoughts and opinions on the slash set with what i learned and hopefully that would help others not go through the ordeal i did trying to get information ( which was like pulling hens teeth) and the incorrect pole spacing on bridge pup for modern les pauls as well as informing them that if they are looking to use chrome or gold covers to maintain a stock appearance then tehy will have issues getting them except for on fleabay.

Right on seems to me the Slash are just 59s with Alnico 2 magnets in them. I like the 59s better myself. I have a 2014 Classic and a 2014 Signature that I had to fix a lot of Gibson's mistakes on but both have Duncan sets and they rock. I play Nugent and Skynyrd Tributes with them. I have the 59 set the Hot Rod set and the 35th Anniversary JB.

All of them sound great through my Marshalls

 

[Mr. B]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

If you don't like the sound of the pickups, then you don't like the sound of the pickups. The spacing is making practically zero difference in tone.

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

1, you can buy Seymour Duncan covers easily. It takes a few seconds to solder them on plus you will be back there anyway when you go to install the pickups. It isn't perfect, but it is faster that ordering a floor shop custom.
2, the bridge spacing is off by a couple of mm. Sonically it is fine, visually it is a little off. You're telling people to avoid the Slash pickups, even though you didn't try them, because the bridge spacing is slightly off?
4, there should be a Seymour Duncan markings on the back. With those you should have no problems with resale. If someone doesn't trust it because the Slash logo isn't on the front then that is a buyer that will probably cause more problems than it is worth. See 2 to get both covers and logos.

 

[Aceman]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

Full disclosure: I have a 73 and 79 Gibsons….

I'm just saying it doesn't take 6 Months to decide on pickups if you know what you want. I also say that the regular old A2P's would probably work just find.

Or a set of 59's. Or 59's with an A2.

And the way you portrayed it was as if - "They just don't work" A better way may have been to say that they are not going to work for you because you are ultra-particulalr about the spacing. And the covers were a hassle.

Or - you could have asked about what we all think of spacing. I think (don't know) that you would be in the minority, with Slash himself in the majority who don't care.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

...seems to me the Slash are just 59s with Alnico 2 magnets in them...

I don't disagree with the other things you said, and I'm a fan of the 59 neck pickup with A2 myself. But just an FYI that statement is false. The two pickups use different wire. (Something visible through the hole in the bobbin)

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

Hm. The Jazz and the A2pro are the same wind but different mag right? Now I'm wondering what the Slash set would sound like with A5s in them...

 

[Uncle Fred]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

I don't disagree with the other things you said, and I'm a fan of the 59 neck pickup with A2 myself. But just an FYI that statement is false. The two pickups use different wire. (Something visible through the hole in the bobbin)

OK I was just making a general statement. I will never buy the Slash set and will buy more 59s for sure. I own 2 sets now. But I will buy all Slash CDs and DVDs if that counts. Thanks for heads up anyway and I wont make that general statement anymore though. They both fall in the Vintage class I guess you could say.

 

[EDX]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

the combination of Guitar Strap and Strap Pins material and size has more effect on your tone than polepiece spacing, even the brand of your shoes affects the tone more than pole spacing, the only thing that spacing affects is volume drop, and even there there are people that assures they can't hear volume drops, and others says they need the correct spacing yes or yes

and if the slash set is like any other set, well, as far as my experience goes, most signature sets are far tweaked versions of the production models, even saying that the slash set is an A2P set with a couple turns more is like saying that the dimebucker is a wilde l500xl with ceramic mags, or that the Mustaine Live Wires are just the ol' jb jazz set but requiring batteries

 

[chadd]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

So a recently introduced and released pickup, that was designed to make a new Les Paul sound more like the pickups Slash had in his old Les Paul, don't work in new Les Pauls?

Some people take this stuff way, way, too far.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

Right on seems to me the Slash are just 59s with Alnico 2 magnets in them.

No, but the Alnico II Pro's are the Jazz humbuckers with A5 mags. That makes the Slash set closer to the the Jazz set than the 59's.

 

[AZ Picker]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

The slash bridge is IMO the best moderate/vintage output bridge pickup for Hard Rock tones in a Les Paul in Seymours regular production line. I've got it in my 1990 Les Paul which is modern spaced, and I notice no string volume changes compared to the 498t it replaced. It's got chunky lows, aggressive mids, and fat highs. I liked it better than the 78 or brobucker in this particular guitar. Covers are 15 bucks and easily soldered on considering the coils are paper wrapped like a 59, so you won't have to pull off the coil tape to get the cover to fit down correctly. I'm surprised there isn't more love for this pickup on the forum! Or the Perpetual Burn, but that's for another post

 

[LtKojak]

Re: APH-2s no good for "modern" les pauls

my above comments are based on 6 months of research into the SD APH-2s slash pups and personal thoughts and opinions

Looks like you've wasted six months of your life that you'll never ever get back...