For Slash solo tone, APH Alnico II in bridge or neck?

[deadlock]

Hey guys, I'm not a regular on these boards...please go easy on the NOOB stuff.

Anyway, I'm after Slash's solo tone and the Slash Signature Les Paul has the APH in both neck and bridge. I was wondering, does anyone know if he uses his neck or bridge pickup for solos? I don't want it in both positions, I just need to figure out where to put it.


Also, as far as output...does an APH II and 59 set match?

 

[matt_transition]

Re: For Slash solo tone, APH Alnico II in bridge or neck?

As you say Slash does use the APH II in the neck and bridge which he has done ever since the Appetite... days. In terms of his solos, he uses both. Typical examples of tone for each is Welcome To The Jungle and the 2nd Sweet Child solo for bridge pup. And Sweet Child Intro and November Rain and Don't cry solos. Personally i think the APH II is more characteristic in the neck position. In terms of output the '59 is slightly higher output and has an alnico 5 magnet for a slightly more powerful tone, but both have similar EQ curves.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: For Slash solo tone, APH Alnico II in bridge or neck?

Slash mixes it up with regard to solo's, he uses both. His sweet, liquid, syrupry leads are with the APH in the neck. It' a tone that's hard to beat. I have a set of APH's in my Dean Hardtail, and love them there. Some don't find the bridge to be hot enough, but with a good amp it is. I had my bridge overwound to 8.43k, and it cuts through just fine.

I really think you can nail Slash's bridge tone with several HB's, any of the vintage output buckers. For the neck tone, the APH is it.

 

[theodie]

Re: For Slash solo tone, APH Alnico II in bridge or neck?

Slash also uses the hell out of the tone knobs in addition to using both pickups.
I have found alot of the Slash tones using the APH bridge and rolling the tone most of the way back. BTW, I play through a Marshall Slash signature and a LP to get these tones..

 

[deadlock]

Re: For Slash solo tone, APH Alnico II in bridge or neck?

It seems like the APH is too bright for bridge but too dark for neck, too bad I don't have a Black Beauty, i could put it in the middle. Anyway, I'm thinking of installing it upside-down in neck, with the adjustable poles toward the bridge, so it is brighter. Or I could put it with the poles toward the neck in the bridge possition so it's not as bright.

 

[Breogan]

Re: For Slash solo tone, APH Alnico II in bridge or neck?

It seems like the APH is too bright for bridge but too dark for neck, too bad I don't have a Black Beauty, i could put it in the middle. Anyway, I'm thinking of installing it upside-down in neck, with the adjustable poles toward the bridge, so it is brighter. Or I could put it with the poles toward the neck in the bridge possition so it's not as bright.

I disagree... I think the alnico pro it's famous because it's balanced tone. That's tipical of alnico II pickups. Bass and treble it isn't as pronounce as it is in other pickups with different magnets.

That makes the neck pickup very clear, not muddy at all, because it's "reduces bass", and less punchy (less treble). In trade it's very touch sensitivity.

In the bridge happens the same, less bass and treble == SMOOOOOOTH TONE . Not punchy, but it can be very agresive.

I haven't tried them but this it's "tipical" of alnico II pickups.

 

[deadlock]

Re: For Slash solo tone, APH Alnico II in bridge or neck?

So neck or bridge?

 

[Breogan]

Re: For Slash solo tone, APH Alnico II in bridge or neck?

It's hard to answer... I don't recomend you a 59neck/Ap bridge since the won't balence prety well in tone. If you put in the other way around APII neck/59 bridge you'll have a great combo but if you fell like soloing all the time on the bridge you won't get that Slash tone most of the time.

I suggest you to check the APII/CC combo. The CC has a smooth tone on overdrive that will get you in the ballpark of Slash. The APII it's the perfect mach on the neck. The only donwside it's that CC clean aren't the best ones but... For slash tone, who wants clean?

 

[deadlock]

Re: For Slash solo tone, APH Alnico II in bridge or neck?

I think I'm going to do what I mentioned earlier: Put an APH in NECK installed backwards (adjustable poles toward bridge) so it isn't quite as thick. I don't think the APH has the power for being in bridge for my style. I just need a good bridge pickup to go with it.

 

[itbepopples]

Re: For Slash solo tone, APH Alnico II in bridge or neck?

another biiig part of slashs tone that i never realized until i saw a layout of his rig is his use of a dbx rack compressor. the A2Pros help a lot but the conpressor is a huuuge part of it. if youre goin for slashs tone, do it right. if youre only using one amp try this: LP -->EQ pedal --> crybaby (dont bother with the rackmounted one slash uses)--> good,QUALITY compressor --> a tiny hint of delay --> any good marshall. use the volume knobs on ur guitar for clean.

from there its all you and some badass tone....

 

[martinsixstringcustoms]

Re: For Slash solo tone, APH Alnico II in bridge or neck?

Personally i think the APH II is more characteristic in the neck position.

Well said. I couldn't agree more.

 

[deadlock]

Re: For Slash solo tone, APH Alnico II in bridge or neck?

another biiig part of slashs tone that i never realized until i saw a layout of his rig is his use of a dbx rack compressor. the A2Pros help a lot but the conpressor is a huuuge part of it. if youre goin for slashs tone, do it right. if youre only using one amp try this: LP -->EQ pedal --> crybaby (dont bother with the rackmounted one slash uses)--> good,QUALITY compressor --> a tiny hint of delay --> any good marshall. use the volume knobs on ur guitar for clean.

from there its all you and some badass tone....

I like slash's tone, but I don't need the exact thing...I just like the smoothness. I'm not planning on using a wah or compressor...money reasons and i just like a simple gear set up. I was planning on getting an EQ pedal though.

 

[Breogan]

Re: For Slash solo tone, APH Alnico II in bridge or neck?

Then get a APH/CC combo...

And don't think there is going to be a huge diference turning you pickup backwards. Dependng on your set up you could even don't find any diference.