Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

[davec69]

I recently picked up what the seller said was a new set of SD Alnico II Pro pickups from a seller on Ebay, but I'm having doubts as to whether or not they are actually SD pickups or not.

They do look like Alnico IIs, but they do not have the SD markings that I'm used to seeing on the back of the pickups.

No stamped markings, and no stickers, nothing. They do have a felt tip pen marking on the back. One is blue, the other is red.

They also have gold screws, instead of the usual nickel.

It's a zebra set, and the adjusting screws are on the black side of the pickup, not the cream side as I'm used to seeing.

Is this a separate model from the Alnico IIs that I'm used to seeing?

 

[davec69]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

Anyone? The pickups were shipped in the Alnico II boxes, and they do have the 4 conductor wiring

 

[MartinSixStringCustoms]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

Pics would be helpful.

 

[davec69]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

Here you go:

 

[MartinSixStringCustoms]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

I'm not going to say for sure, but it doesn't appear favorably that these are Duncans. Normally, the baseplate has the Duncan insignia stamped into it, and normally, there is at least a sticker that would read APH-1n or APH-1b etc...If there was a gold cover on the pickup, it would explain why there are gold polepieces. The lead wire doesn't look quite right either, however, the color of each wire is correct.

Hard call, but I'm skeptical.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

Hmmmm... I concur with Dr. Martin

Prognosis does not look good.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

Well, if they had wax potted gold covers, its possible the sticker also came off when the cover was removed. The missing Duncan logo on the baseplate is pretty suspicious though.

If you have a meter, you could test the resistance and see if they are close to Duncan's specs for the A2P. Tie the red and white wires together, put one probe on the green, and one on the black. The neck should be around 7.6k, and the bridge should be 7.85k.

 

[davec69]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

OK, The DMM readings are 8.72 for the bridge, and 8.29 for the neck.

 

[Imp]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

nope, no way!

 

[MartinSixStringCustoms]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

nope, no way!

Yep, entirely too hot.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

I bet they are GFS "Vintage 59" buckers.

 

[davec69]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

Thanks everyone. Your opinions just confirm my own thoughts, that these are not SD Alnico II Pro pickups. The seller say's that he picked them up from a friend, who told him that they were SD Alnico IIs. I'll be returning them.

I don't think they are GFS Vintage 59's. I don't think those GFS vintage 59s have the 4 conductor wiring.

Since I'm here, does anyone have a suggestion on a replacement humbucker pickup set for my PRS Swamp Ash?

Though I'm growing more fond of the stock pickups each time I play the guitar, I'm always up for a little pickup experimentation. The PRS btw, is H/S/H, with the stock Duncan rail in the middle. I'll need a set that allows for the switching capabilities of the PRS. Mine has the new 5 way strat type switch.

 

[davec69]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

Ok folks. How's this for a turnaround. From my research on the web, it appears to me that my new (supposedly SD) pickups are a set of WCR pickups. I'm not sure which set. maybe someone familiar with WCR pickups can chime in.

Below are some pics of known WCR pickups that I found on ebay and google images, and all of them have the same red and blue markings as the picture of my pickups above.

WCR also offers a 4 condutor pigtail option, which it look like my pickups above have (they have shrinkwrap tubing over the cable), and WCR also offer gold screws as an option.

 

[revolution]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

Wow...then you got a deal. I'd pop 'em in and see what they sound like. Post back and let us know.

 

[MartinSixStringCustoms]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

Wow...then you got a deal. I'd pop 'em in and see what they sound like. Post back and let us know.

+1

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

Wow...then you got a deal. I'd pop 'em in and see what they sound like. Post back and let us know.

Wow, score....

 

[J Moose]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

FWIW ~ I have a pair of AII bridge pup's that read just a bit over the 8k mark...

 

[RHOADS TONE]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

Wow...then you got a deal. I'd pop 'em in and see what they sound like. Post back and let us know.

+1 and Congrats.
They have a really good reputation for sounding great.
Looks like both would be good for the Bridge position.

 

[outtahear]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

well...whappen?

 

[disturb]

Re: Legit SD Alnico II Pro pickups?

Not Duncans. My AII Pro set both were under 8K also.