Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

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O

OlinMusic

New member
I am not making this into a shoot out... just wondering how people would compare them.

I have used both... and love both.

Actually, I called Torres Engineering 2 years ago and asked for the best pickup for versatility, feel, and transparency in moderate to low output models. I told them I preferred matched sets. They told me APh1's or Virtual PAFs (have not tried the HOT PAF)

My take... the VPAF neck is AMAZING! Smooth, articulate, great for neck leads, sweet mids, very responsive. Bridge... hmmm a touch thin and not "big" enough.

Alnico 2 Pro - not as articulate in the neck, but warm and classic sounding. I do wish it was a tad more articulate. The bridge has a good tone and sounds "large". I wish they made a 10k range Alnico 2 pro withroughly the same tone. I would fear, overwinding it without making proper adjustments would ruin it's sweet feel and sweet bite.

So I guess I like the APH1 bridge much more than the VPAF Bridge, and the neck models are a toss up though I feel the VPAF is more articulate and smooth. The APH1 neck is a bit warmer and fatter (only a bit!)

PS - No Dimarzio hate mail please!
 
Re: Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

I haven't used both so I haven't voted, but I absolutely love the Alnico II Pros in my 96 LP Std. In fact I prefer them to the Antiquities in my 91 LP Classic, but I'm not sure whether that's just the pickups or the guitars plus pickups. Thinking of doing a swap to figure that one out. I know what you mean about the bridge A2Pro sounding large. It has a really fat tone for a vintage output bucker.
 
Re: Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

I played the Aph1 years ago in a Les Paul neck, but i purchased a VPAF Bridge sometime ago and put it in the neck of my hamer. I feel that the DiMarzio has a 3D sound (like you use a little flanger) instantly, the APH1 was a little bit stiffer sounding with duller highs. 1++ for the VPAF
BTW how would a Screaming Demon with normal studs and a A3/A2 mag work??
 
Re: Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

Good question on the Screamin Demon

someone commented on that earlier

WILL YOU PEOPLE VOTE ALREADY. I think no one answered because they saw the "no dimarzio hate mail" disclaimer.
 
Re: Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

I've never tried the VV 'buckers, but I have tried the APH's. They're pretty good, and y'all's description of them is spot on, but I preffer the Pearly Gates set in my Lester. I feel that the PGn has more mids, but still has a lot of bite and is more up front sounding. In the bridge, the PG is a bit more open sounding. Again, it has more mids and a more aggressive bite to it than the APH.

With a brighter rig or more gain, I might like the APH set more, but I run through a fairly dark rig and don't use that much gain, so the bite, mids, and aggressiveness of the Pearly Gates set are a real bonus for me.
 
Re: Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

ive read lots of pickup reviews of Olin on harmony central.
some were very good indeed.:beerchug:
dimarzio pickups are very underated i actually prefered the paf pro for the bridge in a strat to a Custom in a s seriers ibanez....by far

im looking foward to try a twang king and chopper T for my next telecaster project.thought of the vv pafs as well.

any input on the two single coil tele dimarzio´s would be much appreciated
voted for the vv pafs
 
Re: Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

I voted for the VPAF
I had aph1s years ago and while they sounded ok, they really didn't tame the brightness of that guitar (carvin dc125). I thought they were articuate but bright sounding to me. Owning another bright guitar (Peavey Wolfgang Special - American version) I tried the VPaf and VHPaf combo. These have tamed the brightness of this guitar and added the tranparency of the sound (meaning the instrument actually breathes now instead of being compressed sounding). I have had an Air Norton and Air Zone combo in the same guitar and pulled them as they were too hot for my taste (too compressed sounding). Something else with this guitar is now there is something very distinct in the sound dimension (3-D??). The sound is big, airy, and very versital like nothing I have played before. My favorite humbucker before I came across these were the 59s, but now I believe that there was a changing of the guard and these Dimarzios are now my favs. If the VPaf bridge is too weak, try the Hot would be my recommendation.

I would love to hear a version of these from Duncan as I feel they could up the anne.
 
Re: Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

the AIIP is a fine pickup in the neck IMO. is sounds practical for both clean & driven settings.
 
Re: Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

I can only say in a tele that the Virtual HOT T model is spot on to the descriptions on the site. I actually find Dimarzio has a certain flavor to their recipe that you have to like, and if you have used an Ibanez, it's that flavor, indeed. That being said, I find their website descriptions to be DEAD ON accurate as to the sound you will get when you put it in a guitar.
 
Re: Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

In my Gibson SG I'm currently using the VPAF Hot in the bridge and a 59 in the neck....I should have my VPAF Neck pickup to swap the 59 out this week and I'll post my reviews on that one also...I've not used the AII Pro though?
 
Re: Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

I prefer the VPAF neck
its NEVER harsh or spikey

however, the A2Pro can be spongier and fatter. Lately I have loved the Norton and VPAF in live shows. I haven't recorded a ton as of late.
 
Re: Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

OlinMusic,

I haven't tried the VPAF, but the APH1 is VERY articulate to me. I feel like I'm Paul Gilbert with my pick attack. And from my experience, the best clean tone for a humbucker.
 
Last edited:
Re: Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

looks like a quick read of HC's reviews on these pups in question would have been a good start..
 
Re: Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

I'm curious about the VPAF's and the hot version. The only experience I have is with the PAF Pro. I tried it in the bridge and the neck of several guitars. Very uninspiring, sterile, flat...yuck.

The APH is my favorite neck humbucker that Duncan makes, I have it in 3 guitars. The VPAF would have to be FANTASTIC to take its place. I'll likely order one just for comparison.
 
Re: Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

hmmmm they are VERY different beasts in terms of FLAVOR. They do both serve comparable uses... they are perfect for a shootout. I slightly prefer Dimarzios for high gain and the APHs for more classic tones. I think its in the mids for me.
 
Re: Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

Never tried any DiMarzio humbuckers, at least not since the Super Distortions I had in the 80's.

But I do like the Alnico 2 Pros, especially in the neck.
 
Re: Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

Jeff_H said:
I'm curious about the VPAF's and the hot version. The only experience I have is with the PAF Pro. I tried it in the bridge and the neck of several guitars. Very uninspiring, sterile, flat...yuck.

The APH is my favorite neck humbucker that Duncan makes, I have it in 3 guitars. The VPAF would have to be FANTASTIC to take its place. I'll likely order one just for comparison.
Click to expand...

The VPAF Hot is excellent in my SG! Not the same pickup or anywhere like the PAF Pro...
 
Re: Duncan APH1 Alnico 2 Pro vs Dimarzio Virtual PAF

I love the VHpaf. Have tried that Slash A2pros, and they just did not do it for me. Neck too mushy, bridge too thin.
 
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