Question for Alnico Pro / 59 / PG / Jazz owners.

[The Usual]

Re: Question for Alnico Pro / 59 / PG / Jazz owners.

Why is that? I am curious. I have tried the 500K route with A2 pups but not the AP2 from SD. In my very limited experience, it opened up the tone, but made the pup sound a little more modern, and cold. Again, it wasn't an AP2.

I'm debating trying it with my new A2 hybrid.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Question for Alnico Pro / 59 / PG / Jazz owners.

250k controls with the aph in a les paul would be too dark and muffled for my tastes, 300k wouldnt be much better.

if you want a rounder warmer tone you can always roll back the tone control, thats what its for. if you went with 59's there is the potential that a 250 on the bridge might be better for some people but i still prefer the 500k.

on a strat with single coils and a bucker in the bridge i tend to prefer 250k controls though

 

[The Usual]

Re: Question for Alnico Pro / 59 / PG / Jazz owners.

Is there a difference between a rolled off 500K pot and a wide open 250K pot? Or lets say almost wide open. I think when they are wide open they don't effect the tone? Or do they. I am not well versed on pot/cap theory. Maybe I should do a search.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Question for Alnico Pro / 59 / PG / Jazz owners.

A 250k pot wide open still has a 250k load and thus shunt more highs to ground than a 500k pot. If you want to hear a pot that "disappears" from the circuit when wide open, try a Fender with a TBX pot. The effect is VERY noticeable.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Question for Alnico Pro / 59 / PG / Jazz owners.

the tbx is a stacked 1meg/250k pot so there is still something in the circut.

a wide open pot still effects the tone

 

[eggman]

Re: Question for Alnico Pro / 59 / PG / Jazz owners.

Howdy,

My tastes are slightly milder than GnR: The 'Stones, Beatles, Chuck Berry, et al. My old ES-335 has '59s and they are the perfect tool for the job. From my red knob "the Twin" I get fat clean tones, while my '68 Vibro Champ is great for raunch.
I've found the tone to be slightly more transparent with the covers removed. Good luck!

Eggman

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: Question for Alnico Pro / 59 / PG / Jazz owners.

250k controls with the aph in a les paul would be too dark and muffled for my tastes, 300k wouldnt be much better.

if you want a rounder warmer tone you can always roll back the tone control, thats what its for. if you went with 59's there is the potential that a 250 on the bridge might be better for some people but i still prefer the 500k.

on a strat with single coils and a bucker in the bridge i tend to prefer 250k controls though

I use stock Gibson 300K tone controls and they are great with the Alnico II Pro

 

[jimijames]

Re: Question for Alnico Pro / 59 / PG / Jazz owners.

I think it's a pretty good description.

Generally speaking I think most people don't / can't hear the enormous difference between A5 and A2 other than to say that the A5 has more top end and sounds better defined and focused.

To an extent this is true. ( although a Gibson Classic 57 has more top than any A5 I 've heard. )

The percussive qualities you mentioned that are associated with A5 are seldom spoken about as most people don't / can't notice it.
The down side of an A5 for those that can hear it is a cold digital, harsh top end, and a sterile non musical sound that lacks the "air" and openess of an A2 hence it is not a very musical sound.
An A5 simply fails to capture a lot of the harmonics that an A2 does.
Most don't / can't hear this so it's of no concern.
For those that do hear it however, this condition is known as:
"an allergy to A5 equipped pickups."

I'd also like to say that the biggest difference between A2 and A5 is, IMO, the 'feel' of the pickup. While I like A5 in single coils, in humbuckers, it sounds neutral and feels more subdued when compared with A2. Take for example, the VHPAF. With A5, it's a very versatile pickup, but it's very Dimarzio - smooth and compressed sounding. Put in A2, and it becomes a whole different monster - it responds to picking in a very dynamic way, and has this vintage sound that I can only describe as "it" - it just sounds right to my ears in a way A5 never has.

 

[CenterStaqeSilver]

Re: Question for Alnico Pro / 59 / PG / Jazz owners.

Comparing the low to medium output humbuckers, I too liked the PG and especially the Alnico 2 samples I've heard of just about every pickup. I have to agree that the Alnico 2 is a truly musical magnet.

Two issues were on my mind when I selected a Jazz for the neck of my own SG-Tele hybrid; relatively flat EQ across the board with open high end, and a relatively uncompressed tone quality.

After learning about all the factors outside the pickup that affect EQ balance, from wood to pots to string height, I was more concerned that the tone was uncompressed, to allow for full sensitivity to fingerpicking, string impact, string sustain, etc. I WANT TO HEAR THE MUSICICIAN!

I wanted low output for maximum sustain, but I could have gone for the PG or Alnico 2 pro easily and just adjusted their EQ as required with external factors like pots and string height.

 

[eggman]

Re: Question for Alnico Pro / 59 / PG / Jazz owners.

Howdy,

This is one informative thread! Keep 'em coming, ya'll.

Eggman

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Question for Alnico Pro / 59 / PG / Jazz owners.

Got any idea what the Eminence equivalent of a Vintage 30 is? I believe its the private jack...

Im a fan of Eminence speakers, which is why I ask. I didn't know he used V30's. May be time to swap out the drivers in my Classic 50 :naughty:

Thanks for the info!

The Eminence equivalent of the Celestion Vintage 30 is "The Governor."

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Question for Alnico Pro / 59 / PG / Jazz owners.

I want to add something to this thread, but it's mostly been said.

All I can say is you need to personally travel through the tone journey, and know exactly which type of pickup you need to have in each of your particular guitars. Suggestions will guide you closer, but you're going to need to take the same path most of us have.

As for Slash. If you aren't using a Marshall halfstack, you won't even be in the ballpark.
Get that sorted out first. Most Duncans will sound perfectly good through one, so you'll need to have a LP into a Marshall before you even start thinking about pickups. That's the truth.

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: Question for Alnico Pro / 59 / PG / Jazz owners.

I get constant compliments on how close I can get to Slash's tone. I use a Mesa Nomad 45 head into a Mesa 2X12 Recto cab. I use a Les Paul with ALnico II Pro neck and a Suhr DSH bridge.

 

[sonnyblu]

Re: Question for Alnico Pro / 59 / PG / Jazz owners.

Beautiful Epi by the way... What I miss from the AnII Pro is the tight bottom end...
including the CC they are very flabby on the low strings...
when you dig in they don't give you that edge, spank whatever you want to call it.
Now the PG is completely different... The PG sounds like an A5! I would like someone to explain that...
Anyway... FWIW I like the Jazz n & PG b I treat the Jazz as if it were a single coil.
Beautiful guitar... How much does it weigh?

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: Question for Alnico Pro / 59 / PG / Jazz owners.

I can only vote for the A2P's as it is the only PU's that i have used in the Duncan rage (deff. NOT the last ones either !)

I LOVE the tone that i get from my SG faded !
it sounds great (to my ears) in standard and C-detuned riffs !
I hardly play lead, so i would deff recommend them for rhythym playing as that is what i do !



James