I think it depends on the guitar. I have Antiquities in an ES335-alike, and it doesn't have that sound.
Help me find alternative to Antiquity Humbucker
- Thread starter Stavrose
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I think it depends on the guitar. I have Antiquities in an ES335-alike, and it doesn't have that sound.
If you've already done these moves away from brightness, have you considered the fact that maybe a vintage style PAF pup is not the right tool for you? Something fatter and darker, maybe like a CC
SFW
New member
I own both, and have had both in the same Les Paul. Stock, the PG has more bottom end. I will also say that based on my experience with the 59, 59A2, Ant and PG that the PG handles high gain better than any other Duncan PAF style pickup that I have personally played. I also own a set of Lollars and a set of BKP Mules.
With all of that said, I would bet that with some height adjustment the Ant could be made to achieve the desired tone. Personally, I start with my bridge at 3/32 on both sides and then adjust the low E side until I get the punch I want. Then I adjust the high e side lower until I can play a cowboy G chord and the strings balance, and nothing pokes me in the ear.
This is my Ant set...through my Splawn
The Slash set also works very well when you want a different flavor of low output tone. YMMV.
Slash Set through Marshall 1987 Plexi
freefrog
Well-known member
IME, the PG has a relatively high Q factor (a narrow pointy resonant peak) reminding a bit a single coil. If this resonance is in the ice pick region, yes, the PG will most likely sound thin and piercing. But once its resonance dragged down by stray capacitance in the high mids, it becomes an advantage to cut the mix with a nice voicing.
To put it in simpler words: if a PG sounds too thin and bright through 3m of cable, just plug it through 6m or 9m of the same cable (without buffer in between). It will still sound present but more buttery and warm.
Of course, an even simpler solution would be to pair the PG to a small cap between hot and ground (emulating the capacitance of an imaginary wire), as recommended by the Duncan FAQ's back in the days. Something like a 470pF to 1nF (1000pF) capacitor should work fine. Seymour did recommend 2,2nF, 3,3nF or 4,7nF in his old FAQ's (answer 291) but it's already a bit high : 2,2nF = 15 to 20m of cable.
This tech rambling doesn't make indifferent the acoustic resonance of guitars, the resistance of pots and so on. I'm just focusing on a parameter often forgotten, albeit it can be tonally useful with something like a PG (and with any P.A.F. or clone).
BluesIsBlood12
New member
I have no problem getting Led Zep or AC/DC tones from Ants in my Edwards LP, and I would certainly never describe it as shrill. I suspect something else is going on in your wiring or amp/pedals. I too have a bright LP though, so I do understand how seemingly good pickups can just sound wrong, but a PAF type pickup with an A2 magnet should never be shrill.
All that aside, WLHs are a good suggestion. They're a little more modern flavor PAF that worked well in my bright LP.
All that aside, WLHs are a good suggestion. They're a little more modern flavor PAF that worked well in my bright LP.
SFW
New member
lol! I got a good chuckle out of that one. Now if I could only play like Mark.
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Kirk Dahnke
New member
My new favorite pickups are Brandonwound. Check his site and talk to him. he'll get you sorted.
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