Pickup Choice...

[kidboy]

I'm on the fence here, not sure which way to go:

I'm between a:

Alinco II
SH-59
SH-JB

it's going to be dropped in a Les Paul Classic Guitar in the bridge position, I use a JCM 800 head as well as a Fender Bandmaster with a Marshall Cab 25 watt Greenbacks

I guess I'm looking for a more midrange tone, whcih I think the SH-59 gives, but the guy at guitar center told me that pickup tends to get muddy, and I should consider the JB?

The Alnico II also sounds great, but it maybe a little thin?

Any opinions on which direction I should go?

Thanks,
kidboy

 

[BRHGM]

Re: Pickup Choice...

I think he needs to clean out his ears. The 59 is not muddy at all. I just put one in my alder telecaster. It's very cutting and a little bassy on the e string. Just adjust you pickup height. The APH is not thin. Its bright and buttery. Either choice is great.

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Pickup Choice...

The jb has slightly scooped mids and the output is way too high for my liking, my friend has a guitar with a JB and 59 in the neck, the 59 is way more mid friendly and sound good under some gain.

 

[kidboy]

Re: Pickup Choice...

Thanks for all the advice thus far!

Anybody else have any recommendations?

 

[MikeS]

Re: Pickup Choice...

I wouldn't call the JB scooped. It's actually got a very strong upper mid presence that has decent cut in a mix. It can be a little too hot for some (myself included) and that hotness combined with the wrong guitar (one that is naturally bright) can make the top end a bit harsh and ice-picky to some ears.

The GC guy hasn't completely missed the train on the '59. The lows on the '59N can get muddy because of the strong lows. I've limited experience with the '59B, but I didn't find that to be an issue. The '59 is A5 and very mildly scooped to my ears.

The A2P is a pickup I have no experience with, but being an A2 magnet and having read billions of reviews of it I'd suspect it would have the extra mid range you're looking for. Personal experience with other A2 mags requires that I warn you that A2 isn't for everyone. Very musical magnet but I feel it loses focus and punchiness needed for more aggressive styles of metal.

 

[kidboy]

Re: Pickup Choice...

so I guess this is not an easy choice?

 

[BRHGM]

Re: Pickup Choice...

Why not go with one of each and return the one you don't like. GC has a fairly liberal return policy. Then you can get either a matched pair or try some other combination. The JB is usually paired with the Jazz. It's not as bright of a combination and is less vintage sounding.

 

[lex666]

Re: Pickup Choice...

Sounds like the AP2 may be what you're looking for...

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Pickup Choice...

I'm on the fence here, not sure which way to go:

I'm between a:

Alinco II
SH-59
SH-JB

it's going to be dropped in a Les Paul Classic Guitar in the bridge position, I use a JCM 800 head as well as a Fender Bandmaster with a Marshall Cab 25 watt Greenbacks

I guess I'm looking for a more midrange tone, whcih I think the SH-59 gives, but the guy at guitar center told me that pickup tends to get muddy, and I should consider the JB?

The Alnico II also sounds great, but it maybe a little thin?

Any opinions on which direction I should go?

Thanks,
kidboy

My experience is limited, but I've played les pauls equipped with the first two and a Jackson soloist with the JB. I loved the Alnico II in the neck position, but it wasn't "aggressive" enough in the bridge. I play heavier music though. It's an awesome pickup for everything else. I found the 59 to be too bright and bassy. It was good, but so far I prefer the Seth Lover (which is closer to the Alnico pro II). I didn't like the JB but I was able to get some good sounds out of it, even though I've hated pretty much every recording I've heard of it. A lot of people love it though. Tool uses the JB if you want a reference.