Classic Rock tone from Yamaha 112(Alder body)

[Pac Man]

Hi there All

Hope everyone is enjoying the festive period.

I was looking to upgrade the bridge humbucker of my Yamaha Pacifica 112 (Alder Body/Maple Neck/Rosewood Fretboard), and wondering which pickup would best aproximate a classic/hard rock tone?

Checked the Tone wizard, and it/he suggests Alnico Pro II, 59(under Classic Rock), and C-5 and JB(under Hard Rock). I also checked out the sound clips I liked the JB but -

1/The HBs are tested in LPs - I'm guessing they'd sound different in an Alder body/bolt on neck.

2/ There wasn't a clip for the C-5


Tone wise, I like Classic Rock (Zep, Hendrix, AC/DC etc), Southern/Country Rock, and also love the sound of GnRs/Slash.

Gear wise, well my amp atm is pretty crappy but looking to get something that can give me Plexi and that JCM 800 tones.

Hope this at least ballparks the sound I'm looking for and gear I'll be using.

Soooo, which pickup would you recommend, given my guitar/tone preferences? Would a JB sound too bright/ Ice-picky? Would an APII sound a bit weak in my guitar?

Any advice much appreciated.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Classic Rock tone from Yamaha 112(Alder body)

If you're after Slash's tone then the Alnico II Pro is the pickup he uses. Of course he uses it in a Les Paul and a Les Paul will have more bass and lower mids than your guitar. You might like the Custom Custom...it's also alnico 2 but wound hotter.

Or you might be better off with an alnico 5 pickup since alnico 5 humbuckers tend to have more low end than alnico 2 humbuckers.

I have three Strats with bridge humbuckers and I use the 59 Trembucker, Custom Trembucker and Custom Custom Trembucker in those three guitars.

I'm a big fan of the 59 Trembucker and it gets a great classic rock tone and is similar to the pickup used in Page's Les Paul that he bought from Joe Walsh and also to the pickups in the SG that Iommi used for the early Sabbath stuff and to the HB's in the SG Clapton used with Cream.

However, if you want a tone that's stronger than vintage the Custom would be a great choice and it has a thicker stronger tone than the 59 and has more mids.

The Custom Custom is very smooth and has alot of mids but less treble and less bass than the Custom.

My guess is that you'd like the 59, Custom or Custom Custom and I'd recommend a trembucker so the polepiece spacing matches your bridge.

 

[walt]

Re: Classic Rock tone from Yamaha 112(Alder body)

I had a JB a long time ago in a strat with a maple neck, thought it was a cool sounding pickup in the beginning, but grew tired of the mid range spike and it was a little bright. I tried the Custom Custom and again grew tired to the mid range spike. The Custom just was too hot for my taste and was compressed sounding to me. I also found this to be true with the C5, too compressed sounding (compressed sounding meaning the guitar didn't seem to "breathe"). When I tried the 59 it was love at first sight (or strum). Very versitle tone, can cover a large spectrum of sounds and lets the instrument breathe. In the Duncan family of pickups, the 59 gets my vote as one of the most versitle pickups you can get. This is in the same strat that I mentioned in the beginning. I'm sure others with suggest something different, but for me the 59 is it.

 

[SoCalSteve]

Re: Classic Rock tone from Yamaha 112(Alder body)

I was wondering which production pup would be closest to the Jimmy Page. Would an Alnico II Pro neck be a good match with the '59 bridge?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Classic Rock tone from Yamaha 112(Alder body)

I was wondering which production pup would be closest to the Jimmy Page. Would an Alnico II Pro neck be a good match with the '59 bridge?

IMO, yes...a very nice match.

And you all know how much I love the 59B! I have it in several Strats.