Lundgren Heaven 57/Smooth Operator Equivalents?

[Chrismo]

I found out Ghost is using Lundgren pickups, primarily these two models.

The description for the Heaven 57 heavily references Alnico II PAFs similar to the Reverend's tone. Pearly Gates it is for the neck I assume.

The Smooth Operator says it's a medium output Alnico II pickup with some PAF flavor dialed in. Would this be a Custom Custom?

For an alder/maple Strat, would this work for rock similar to Ghost?

Thanks!

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Lundgren Heaven 57/Smooth Operator Equivalents?

The Heaven 57 doesn't say what Alnico magnet is in it, just that it's 'special'. Based on the paper descriptions, listening to Lundgren samples, and knowing Ghost's sound, from the Duncan line I would recommend any of these combos (there are others that might be even better, but I don't have experience to recommend):

The Heaven 57 set sounds just like Duncan's Alnico 2 Pro set.

Alternatives to that which might work:
Slash set (just a hotter Alnico 2 Pro set)
Whole Lotta Humbucker bridge, Seth neck
Vintage used pre-2000 '59 bridge, Seth or Alnico 2 Pro or Jazz neck


The Smooth Operator set sounds like Duncan's '59 bridge, but possibly a Seth or Alnico 2 Pro neck again. Alternatives might be Pearly neck or Jazz neck, but those are brighter and would need either the tone rolled off or get the covered versions.

Hard to tell how much is coming form the guitar and amp in those samples, but that's my take.

 

[Chrismo]

Re: Lundgren Heaven 57/Smooth Operator Equivalents?

Thanks for the input! Their sound is "vintage hot" to my ears and I think your recommendations are probably in the ballpark for what I'm after.