I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

[Xeromus]

I think they are fantastic. I put an A2P neck and Custom Custom bridge into one of my guitars. I always thought they would be too loose and flubby and low output for me, but they are just about perfect. Maybe I'm just more mature now. In my younger days I really dug the sound of ceramic pickups more.

 

[Mincer]

Re: I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

This is my absolutely favorite set of pickups. I am happy I am not alone!

 

[Juanhanglo]

Re: I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

I got my first set of a2 pickups a few weeks ago. I was expecting looseness and a somewhat lacking high end.

The tonerider rebel 90s are anything but. Very detailed, decent low end tightness, and that a2 "give" to the feel.

I am very happy to be misinformed in this case

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

I really liked the Phat Cat.

I didn't like the Slash sig.

 

[dystrust]

Re: I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

With a few exceptions I'm not a fan.

The '78 has been great in every guitar I've played one, but not great enough to pay Custom Shop price for. The Custom Custom is great in a Strat and it feels like the perfect bridge pickup in my long-abused Charvel Model 4 mutt, but I didn't like it in my (long since sold) Les Paul Custom; the mids just seemed 'off'. I've tried a few others like the Alnico II Pro, Pearly Gates, and Phat Cat, but never cared for any of them.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

My #2 has an A2Pro. I like it.

 

[BluesIsBlood12]

Re: I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

The only thing I'm certain of is that I don't have a guitar that I like A5 magnets in, and I may never find one. Outside of that I can find a use for all magnets from A2-UOA5. It just depends on what style I want to use that guitar for. A2s are great for southern rock styles, though I might be starting to lean towards UOA5 there for just a little more clarity.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

Seymour himself has always touted the A2 as the most "musical" magnet.

In a traditional pickup, A2 generally does well in a low to medium-output wind. Then there are pickups like the twin blade El Diablo, with exposed A2 bars, that rip apart every preconceived notion of what an "A2 pickup" is!

Glad you found something you dig!

 

[LonePhantom]

Re: I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

My Custom Shop IM1 with a little extra hot-rodding is absolutely brilliant. Sharp and cutting, but still quite musical.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

One of my all-time favorite pickups is an A2 blade pickup, the SH-9 Silverbird. Its truly amazing!

 

[David Garner]

Re: I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

Alnico 2 humbuckers just sound right to me. They sound like all the great vintage tones I love.

I prefer them unpotted too.

 

[Mincer]

Re: I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

They sound right to me too, in an evenly balanced guitar. I find I have to switch it up if the body sounds especially bright or dark, however.

 

[blueman335]

Re: I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

Didn't initially like A2's, my first being Gibson '57's, which we awful, and PG's, which were better, but just didn't care for the tones. Stayed with A5's for years.

Then I tried Seth's about 10 years ago and everything changed. The right wind makes all the difference, and Seymour's passion for PAF's shows. Also impressed with A2P's, Burstbuckers, etc. My go-to magnets became A2's and UOA5's for the richer tones. Also use those two in hybrid HB's. For me, unoriented and roughcast magnets have what I want. Output is of little concern (that's what amps are for).

 

[jeremy]

Re: I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

ive been an a2 junkie for years now and i find it hard to get away from in buckers

 

[gsammo79]

Re: I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

I've had one pickup with an A2 magnet. I liked the pickup but the output wasnt there (antiquity bridge). I wish I had another guitar or two to try a slash set or another good aftermarket A2 pickup.

The rest of the five duncans I've owned were outfitted with a5 magnets. My custom shop bridge hb has an a5 and they managed to soften the high-end with it, atleast to my ears.

 

[Diego]

Re: I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

I've replaced an A2 Pro / Custom combo recently with a A2 Pro / UOA5 Demon which is kind of an A2 magnet but it isn't, and I love it.
It sounds round and warm and nice in a band mix.

The Custom is badass but compared to the modified Demon it's a bit overbearing. The Demon sounds a bit more sweet and detailed and that's great.
My Tweaker likes the lower output and brighter tone from the guitar a bit better.

I also love the Probuckers in my Les Paul and they're A2.

 

[B2D]

Re: I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

I got into A2 pickups late in the game and I wish I had done so sooner. The Pearly Gates set is now among my all-time favorite pickup sets.

 

[Big Mike Blues]

Re: I never tried A2 pups until this year. And...

Magnet is just one part of the recipe.
All things being equal don't rule out (or in) a pickup based on the magnet alone.

A2P is a great neck pickup.