Opinions on the APTL-1 and APTR-1 for Tele

[loudriver23]

Well? How bout it?
Any love for the Alnico 2 pickups for tele? Can I cop a vintage vibe from them? I have a chance to score a set really cheap, are they worth a spin?

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Opinions on the APTL-1 and APTR-1 for Tele

What a coincidence!! I just put a set into a test guitar to A/B against some other pickups. I have tried the Rhythm in the past, but never the Lead. They are great as a set. They are indeed a little spongy. You can get a vintage tone from them for sure. What you can't get is a super strong, overwound feel from the bridge pickup. That's fine with me, they sound super sweet. If you usually prefer a "punch in the face" Tele lead tone, and these are a bit softer, so I would run them close to the strings to increase the attack. Otherwise it's a great combo.

 

[loudriver23]

Re: Opinions on the APTL-1 and APTR-1 for Tele

Yeah I picked them up $20 for the pair, so like em or lump em I'm trying em!!
In general I do like a warmer, less in your face tone, so these might be just what the doctor ordered without breaking the bank. $20 for 2 SD's I couldn't pass them up!

 

[loudriver23]

Re: Opinions on the APTL-1 and APTR-1 for Tele

Ok,
Got em, and stuck em in. So far so good, I actually got the wiring done right the first time, which is a first in and of itself. Thus far, I'm quite pleased with the A2 pups in here. I was worried it wouldn't get enough twang, but I think I have enough of that to keep me happy without getting too much of that ice pick tone.
In the past I used the neck pup by itself for jazzy bluesy tones, and the bridge pup for leads. Tonight I can't seem to get it out of the middle position. Why didn't I learn sooner that's where it's at on a tele. Wonderful rhythm tones to be had there. Just roll off the tone a bit, hit the strings with some huevos and WHOOM there it is!
The only possible downside is, that it does have a little bit of a midrangey honk I'm not sure I'll be able to get used to or not. For now I'm having fun now that my Tele, sounds like a Tele once again!

 

[Dezzy]

Re: Opinions on the APTL-1 and APTR-1 for Tele

Ok,
Got em, and stuck em in. So far so good, I actually got the wiring done right the first time, which is a first in and of itself. Thus far, I'm quite pleased with the A2 pups in here. I was worried it wouldn't get enough twang, but I think I have enough of that to keep me happy without getting too much of that ice pick tone.
In the past I used the neck pup by itself for jazzy bluesy tones, and the bridge pup for leads. Tonight I can't seem to get it out of the middle position. Why didn't I learn sooner that's where it's at on a tele. Wonderful rhythm tones to be had there. Just roll off the tone a bit, hit the strings with some huevos and WHOOM there it is!
The only possible downside is, that it does have a little bit of a midrangey honk I'm not sure I'll be able to get used to or not. For now I'm having fun now that my Tele, sounds like a Tele once again!

I stuck some seymour duncans in a mexican tele I had last year, they were the APTL1 Alnico Pro II Lead pickups, think they are the same as what you are talking about, anyway I found them to be a perfect tele pickup, they were not as punchy as the MIM stock ones, but they did not have much isepick with the tone rolled out, I have to say mind, I have just bought a usa std tele and the stock pickups blow them away, the stock pickups can have the tone pot rolled all the way out and I get no icepick at all, they are the best tele pickups I have personally come across in 20 years, they are in a 1996 std tele and they are amazing sounding, they are alnico 5s as well, so plenty of bite, and none of the icepick, it's becoming my best guitar out of the 5 usa ones I own, I sold my mexican one, not that I am a snob, but I only bought the mexican one last year as it was cheap, made £90 on that guitar -