Idea: alnico ii pro (N) + JB (B)

[neosadist]

All,

Let me preface by saying that I don't know if my guitar is considered bright or not (ESP LTD EC100QM: maple top with mahogany-wanna-be body, rosewood fingerboard, dual humbucker, no wammy bar).
However, I was researching pickups and looking at their EQ on the tone chart. I decided that I didn't want something super bright (9), or something with weak mids (3), so that narrowed it down to an Alnico II Pro in the neck and a JB in the bridge, which if you take the EQ for both and average the values (as if playing from both) you get 6/5/8 which looks nice. Looks like the alnico ii would be providing the bass while the JB the mids, and both are EQ-8 for treble.
Please tell me what you guys think, etc. All feedback highly appreciated. In terms of styles, I play a bunch, but I have a very nice multieffects board and amp to run it through, so I doubt that making it sound like what I want it to be, if I'm trying to sound like someone else, will be an issue (although I do not like copying other people directly).

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Idea: alnico ii pro (N) + JB (B)

I prefer a bridge pu with more bottom than the JB (like the CC) but a lot of folks in here like the JB and I do like Alnico 2 Pros.

I think it'll work.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Idea: alnico ii pro (N) + JB (B)

The Alnico II Pro is an excellent neck pickup - very nicely balanced. It's warm, smooth and responsive, has plenty of top-end bite when you play harder, and its never too bassy.

I've never played a JB, but I paired an Alnico II Pro neck with a Duncan Custom in a Les Paul for a while and they worked great together. The Custom is a little hard for the stuff I'm doing right now so I went back to another Alnico II Pro at the bridge, but I can't currently think of any bridge pickup that wouldn't work with an A2P in the neck.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Idea: alnico ii pro (N) + JB (B)

I had that combo for a couple of months in my Hamer and it worked great for everything from clean funk to heavy Nu-metal.

 

[fusion101]

Re: Idea: alnico ii pro (N) + JB (B)

alinco 2 pro with a custom would match better. Even the treble on the chart doesnt seem high the mid is a very trebly mid spike that is pretty ice picky i can almost guarentee you that the custom is what your looking for

 

[tone4days]

Re: Idea: alnico ii pro (N) + JB (B)

i have that exact combo in my brian moore i88.13 ... i love it, especially with the P-type 5-way megaswitch ... very versatile ... i get very usable jazz, blues, pop-country, classic rock, and hard rock tones ... soaring neck solo tones (a la carlos) ... rippin' bridge solo tones (80's metal) ..

good luck
t4d

 

[diggamark]

Re: Idea: alnico ii pro (N) + JB (B)

lead guitarist in my band uses this combo in a fernandes super grade (mij lp copy)... as t4d said.. very versatile..

 

[HamerPlyr]

Re: Idea: alnico ii pro (N) + JB (B)

i have that exact combo in my brian moore i88.13 ... i love it, especially with the P-type 5-way megaswitch ... very versatile ... i get very usable jazz, blues, pop-country, classic rock, and hard rock tones ... soaring neck solo tones (a la carlos) ... rippin' bridge solo tones (80's metal) ..

good luck
t4d

I have the same combo in my Brian Moore, basically the same as the guitar that you described (mahogany with a maple cap, rosewood fretboard, no vibrato) and I agree with t4d. Mucho versatility and sounds great.

 

[AmirH]

Re: Idea: alnico ii pro (N) + JB (B)

...*seriously considers replacing jazz*

 

[neosadist]

Re: Idea: alnico ii pro (N) + JB (B)

Thanks for all the responses on the A2P+JB. Now the question I'd like to ask is this: about 50% of my playing is through a thick chorus effect, and the rest is varied from metal sounding to vintage sounding to contemporary rock to bluesy. Like I said before, Jazz+JB is a combo that is versatile, but maybe A2P+JB might be better. I heard people mention the Duncan Custom, and when I saw the EQ for it I was impressed. However, I'm wondering if anyone who has a A2P+DC can play their guitar through chorus and tell me if it's not the most beautiful thing they've ever heard. What I'm wanting to know is, is the A2P+DC going to sound "evil" through chorus, or "beautiful"? My goal here is well rounded tone, not too much treble, plenty of bass and mids, but has to sound good clean. Let me know what you guys think, and you guys with the A2P+JB please tell me how yours sounds through chorus as well.
The funny thing, though, is that the Tone Wizard tool seems to have the SH2/SH4 combo as either the primary choice or the secondary choice for all styles on my guitar type. I'm still leaning in that direction.
The only thing about choosing a pickup set for your only electric guitar is that you can't try out a whole bunch, or at least I can't, because I'm deployed sort of lol. But I REALLY appreciate all the opinions and the help I get here! :nervous: :notworthy:

 

[tone4days]

Re: Idea: alnico ii pro (N) + JB (B)

i use chorus when it's called for in my cover band ... i like it best in the #2 and #4 positions on my P-type megaswitch because it really shines with clarity, but not brittle ... just to let you know, my brian morre with the AIIP / JB is essentially my number 1 guitar in my band because of it's versatility .. i bring the tele-clone for a few tunes and the 540s if i need a whammy bar guitar for a tune or two .. but the brian moore is the "80+% of each set" guitar ... we play everything from sheryl crow, pretenders, and bonnie raitt to carlos santana, los lonely boys, stones and beatles, and more ...

i know all these options can seem overwhelming, but try to look at it this way ... no matter what you pick, you are probably going to completely love your tone and will never really wonder about 'what might've been' because you'll be too busy digging your tone ... plus, you can always buy more guitars to try other pickups

good luck
t4d

 

[CorganIsGood]

Re: Idea: alnico ii pro (N) + JB (B)

can it be implied that if an AP2n balances well with a JBb, that it will balance equally/nearly as well with a DDb? Word on the street is that JB & DD have same same specs with the exception of the magnet.