Les Paul Standard neck Pickup Roundup
- Thread starter ljberbi
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darkshadow54321
New member
Re: Les Paul Standard neck Pickup Roundup
You'll need to give us more info than that... for what style of music? What gear are you using it with?
You'll need to give us more info than that... for what style of music? What gear are you using it with?
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Les Paul Standard neck Pickup Roundup
The Alnico 2 Pro....or...
...one of mine....MWA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!
The Alnico 2 Pro....or...
...one of mine....MWA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!
Young Angus
Kometose Tonologist
Re: Les Paul Standard neck Pickup Roundup
Yeah cant make a decision based just on that...but if i had to say my favourite pickup of those would be the alnico 2 pro.
Yeah cant make a decision based just on that...but if i had to say my favourite pickup of those would be the alnico 2 pro.
Re: Les Paul Standard neck Pickup Roundup
Sorry Gentlemen: I utilize two different rigs depending on the gig. The first being a Fender 65 Deluxe reissue for clean tones with a Fulltone Fulldrive 2 for overdriven tones. The second being a Marshall 50 watt channel switching combo for a little get up and grunt if you know what I mean. I play styles ranging from overdriven blues to contemporary christian and everything in between. I am familiar with Alnico 5 pickups such as the '59 as I had one in my Les Paul for years. Nice tones, sounds good split, a little bass heavy and nice top end sparkle. Never tried an Alnico 2 product so I am quite curious as to how it would differ from the '59. I suppose an education on Alnico 2 pickups versus Alnico 5 would do me good. I would be matching the Alnico 2 neck with a either a JB or a Duncan Distortion I suppose. Thanks!
darkshadow54321 said:
Sorry Gentlemen: I utilize two different rigs depending on the gig. The first being a Fender 65 Deluxe reissue for clean tones with a Fulltone Fulldrive 2 for overdriven tones. The second being a Marshall 50 watt channel switching combo for a little get up and grunt if you know what I mean. I play styles ranging from overdriven blues to contemporary christian and everything in between. I am familiar with Alnico 5 pickups such as the '59 as I had one in my Les Paul for years. Nice tones, sounds good split, a little bass heavy and nice top end sparkle. Never tried an Alnico 2 product so I am quite curious as to how it would differ from the '59. I suppose an education on Alnico 2 pickups versus Alnico 5 would do me good. I would be matching the Alnico 2 neck with a either a JB or a Duncan Distortion I suppose. Thanks!
Young Angus
Kometose Tonologist
Re: Les Paul Standard neck Pickup Roundup
Well i definitely think you should go with the alnico 2 in the neck then...my singer has a brian moore guitar which came stock with a JB in the bridge and an A2pro in the neck and its a good combo...great neck pickup!
Well i definitely think you should go with the alnico 2 in the neck then...my singer has a brian moore guitar which came stock with a JB in the bridge and an A2pro in the neck and its a good combo...great neck pickup!
Fiesta Red
New member
Re: Les Paul Standard neck Pickup Roundup
I am a recent convert to the Alnico 2 Pros in an LP. I had several pickups in that guitar, including a Fralin. The A2s really sound incredible. The clean tones are the best I have heard out of a neck pickup. If you are worried about sounding like Slash, you won't. I get so many other tones out of the pickup -- I have them in both positions in my LP. It is the way a good LP should sound (to me).
My opinion.
-Mark
I am a recent convert to the Alnico 2 Pros in an LP. I had several pickups in that guitar, including a Fralin. The A2s really sound incredible. The clean tones are the best I have heard out of a neck pickup. If you are worried about sounding like Slash, you won't. I get so many other tones out of the pickup -- I have them in both positions in my LP. It is the way a good LP should sound (to me).
My opinion.
-Mark
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Les Paul Standard neck Pickup Roundup
59-Solid Bass (maybe a bit too much bass for most guys) nice highs, firm sounding and almost a tiny bit "stiff" but overall a great pickup and a grreat starting point for most people.
Alnico II Pro-Typical Alnico II tone (softer bass and treble with nice strong mids and a little spongy. The best part about the Alnico II Pro is that it has a slightly extended high end that creates an almost Bell like top end chime...almost like that of a good Single coil pickup but in a bucker...thjat is not to say AT ALL that the Alnico II Pro sounds like a a single coil...it just has a bit of that chime.
Pearly Gates-Again, typical Alnico II type tones but a more solid bass than any other Alnico II pickup I have ever tried, beautiful low mids and a nice strong upper mid tone that cuts through in a band setting...very vocal mids and a nice but not over bearing top end...my favorite PAF style neck pickup ever. Some guys say that it's too bright but it's that upper mid thing that some guys don't care for...the Alnico II Pro is a very sweet smooth pickup the PG is a bit more loud and snotty...but it can have a beautiful mellow tone if you want it to...
59-Solid Bass (maybe a bit too much bass for most guys) nice highs, firm sounding and almost a tiny bit "stiff" but overall a great pickup and a grreat starting point for most people.
Alnico II Pro-Typical Alnico II tone (softer bass and treble with nice strong mids and a little spongy. The best part about the Alnico II Pro is that it has a slightly extended high end that creates an almost Bell like top end chime...almost like that of a good Single coil pickup but in a bucker...thjat is not to say AT ALL that the Alnico II Pro sounds like a a single coil...it just has a bit of that chime.
Pearly Gates-Again, typical Alnico II type tones but a more solid bass than any other Alnico II pickup I have ever tried, beautiful low mids and a nice strong upper mid tone that cuts through in a band setting...very vocal mids and a nice but not over bearing top end...my favorite PAF style neck pickup ever. Some guys say that it's too bright but it's that upper mid thing that some guys don't care for...the Alnico II Pro is a very sweet smooth pickup the PG is a bit more loud and snotty...but it can have a beautiful mellow tone if you want it to...
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the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Les Paul Standard neck Pickup Roundup
I have Antiquity's in my Les Paul but I have a PG set in my MOderne...love the both but the PG's are my fav PAF set...
Benjy_26 said:
I have Antiquity's in my Les Paul but I have a PG set in my MOderne...love the both but the PG's are my fav PAF set...
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Les Paul Standard neck Pickup Roundup
You know, I can't tell you how often I see those choices posted out here. Here is how I see it:
AP2 is the fattest/smoothest of the bunch. Maybe the most "vintage" classic (except Seth)
59 is the standard, all around good classic PAF. New Old Stock classic
PG is a little brighter/snarly. Still classic, with a little extra oomph.
Gibson should offer you your choice of those pups in the neck when you buy a Paul. I'd say just make the PG the standard Paul pup and everyone would be pretty happy. It's pretty easy to get a PG into 59/AP2 land with a tweak of volume or tone. I don't think you can go the other way with the other two.
You know, I can't tell you how often I see those choices posted out here. Here is how I see it:
AP2 is the fattest/smoothest of the bunch. Maybe the most "vintage" classic (except Seth)
59 is the standard, all around good classic PAF. New Old Stock classic
PG is a little brighter/snarly. Still classic, with a little extra oomph.
Gibson should offer you your choice of those pups in the neck when you buy a Paul. I'd say just make the PG the standard Paul pup and everyone would be pretty happy. It's pretty easy to get a PG into 59/AP2 land with a tweak of volume or tone. I don't think you can go the other way with the other two.
T
theodie
Guest
Re: Les Paul Standard neck Pickup Roundup
Thats pretty much how I see things also!Aceman said:
Re: Les Paul Standard neck Pickup Roundup
Great info and suggestions guys. Thanks much. I once had a PG bridge that came standard from factory on one of those Fat Strats. I was amazed at how dark it sounded in that strat. I suppose it could be because it was alder and not a big ole slab of mahogany like a Les Paul. The guys in the sales department at Duncan described the PG tone by saying it's "like playing your guitar with the tone knob backed off to 7 all the time." I have to say the majority response here is for a PG neck in a Les Paul. I do believe that is what I will try. I actually have a Jazz neck in the guitar right now, and there is something very sweet about the jazz for many styles, but I do miss the darker Santana type necky sustain it sounds like the PG may give me. Cheers!
Aceman said:
Great info and suggestions guys. Thanks much. I once had a PG bridge that came standard from factory on one of those Fat Strats. I was amazed at how dark it sounded in that strat. I suppose it could be because it was alder and not a big ole slab of mahogany like a Les Paul. The guys in the sales department at Duncan described the PG tone by saying it's "like playing your guitar with the tone knob backed off to 7 all the time." I have to say the majority response here is for a PG neck in a Les Paul. I do believe that is what I will try. I actually have a Jazz neck in the guitar right now, and there is something very sweet about the jazz for many styles, but I do miss the darker Santana type necky sustain it sounds like the PG may give me. Cheers!
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Les Paul Standard neck Pickup Roundup
The PG bridge has a much more diverse bunch of views from love to hate. I don't know about that tone on 7 thing - I'd say the upper mid spike really hits a Paul where it needs it for some cut/brightness in the neck. But if you do turn down the tone to 7 I'd think it would be very A2P-ish. Might also be a real interesting pup to use a stellartone tone knob with...
The PG bridge has a much more diverse bunch of views from love to hate. I don't know about that tone on 7 thing - I'd say the upper mid spike really hits a Paul where it needs it for some cut/brightness in the neck. But if you do turn down the tone to 7 I'd think it would be very A2P-ish. Might also be a real interesting pup to use a stellartone tone knob with...