Slash Alnico alternative for Floyd Rose Trem spacing ?

[donnyb]

Hi, I am a newbie to the forum, but an oldie to the world. At 62 this year, still playing in a rock and blues style concert band down under. I have a guitar I take on rough tours which is a Peavey Tracer 3 pickup, 24 fret model, maple fretboard, alder (or poplar) body. To cover all our set list, I have fitted a Dimarzio pro track to the neck, a Fender Strat mid to the middle, and a Gibson Burstbucker3 at the bridge. A new Gotah Floyd Rose type trem . And yep, the string spacing is wrong over the Burstbucker.

I fitted it thinking there would be a problem with the 1st string response in particular, but its OK. However, its impossible to say what it would be like with correct string to pole alignment.

More to the point, I am not really happy with the tone of the Burstbucker 3. Its a bit too brittle for me on the tops, and crumbly at the bottom, whereas my Les Paul with a Burstbucker 2 at the bridge sounds great (that thing growls!), but that may be also attributed of the LP mahogany body and fixed bridge (?).

I play through a Mesa 50/5 watt Express, tamed by an Alexs Attenuator, with a custom (read: trial and error) array of preamp tubes.

Anyway, I am looking for advice on which SD pickup would be very, very close to the Alnico Slash in BOTH clean and dirty modes, but has 2 1/16" pole spacing, or rails that cover that ground. A bummer SB dont make a Slash with F spacing, or do they?

Cheers to All,

Don

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Slash Alnico alternative for Floyd Rose Trem spacing ?

I`m almost 100% sure you can get the Alnico 2 Pro as a trembucker... But I`ll check the main site to be sure....

*edit* Yes, the standard A2P is available as a trembucker, http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/vintage-output/aph1_alnico_ii/

But I just noticed there`s also an A2P "Slash" that I wasn`t aware of... considering that Slash used stock A2Ps for , well, forever and a day, I don`think the difference would be huge, they should definitely be in the same ballpark if not the same team.

Alternatively, there`s always the Custom shop, they can definitely do it, but it will cost a bit more.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Slash Alnico alternative for Floyd Rose Trem spacing ?

IME there is a significant difference between the slash set and standard a2pros, though they do share some similarities.

The slashers have a different midrange emphasis (they do not sound simply like a set of overwound a2pros), are more explosive/articulate/punchy, have apronounced note "bloom", and have some killer single coil like dynamics, especially the neck pup. The standard bridge is much more laid back/lazy/weak sounding, and the neck is thicker, less versatile, and gets more woofy under gain. I have a few clips of the slash set in a 335 on my soundcloud page if anyone cares.


That said the standard is not a bad set of pups, but there are some differences, and you can get the bridge f spaced. Perhpas the slash set is available as a custom shop model in f spacing?

 

[donnyb]

Re: Slash Alnico alternative for Floyd Rose Trem spacing ?

Thanks Zerberus and JeffB. Yes, I had a listen to the SD website's pickup recordings before I decided I liked the Slash version. Might be just my ear, but I thought the clean sample had some nice chimes to it compared with the standard . I thought the dirty sample of the slash had more punch too. I have done a request to SD via the "Contact Us" on their webpage so I will see what they say and report back. Thanks again. Don

 

[donnyb]

Re: Slash Alnico alternative for Floyd Rose Trem spacing ?

Hi again, Just heard back from Seymour Duncan - great service! They recommend the Alnico II Pro Trembucker, as you did Zerberus. However, after driving my ears nuts listening to the sound takes of the High Gain and Vintage Humbuckers on the SD website, I prefer the pearly gates PU, overall for clean and dirty. And it comes in a Trembucker. So I have ordered one, but got a "plus" version, which is a slightly higher output. Hope that tweak to the sound is not a mistake though.... Anyway done.

Thanks very much for your assistance with coming to a decision. I will post a report once its installed .

regards, Don

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Slash Alnico alternative for Floyd Rose Trem spacing ?

Thought the PG+ had a different magnet?

 

[donnyb]

Re: Slash Alnico alternative for Floyd Rose Trem spacing ?

Hi there Rand-O Monium. Yes it does, and I admit I was attracted to it by the description from the Seller, Stratosphere, particularly a reference to it being "slightly hotter" than vintage, and its suggested "application".

I quote :[This Pearly Gates PLUS version is optimized for the Fender Stratocaster. It features an Alnico V for more attack, definition, & clarity. It is also slightly overwound for a touch more output than the normal Pearly Gates. If you have ever wanted to seriously fatten up your Strat tone in the bridge position we guarantee you will fall in love this 'bucker!

Application :
Warm, slightly-hotter-than-vintage humbucker. Great for blues, classic rock, southern rock, jam, and hard rock.

Have you or any other reader here heard one of these and can compare it to a standard Pearly Gates?

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Slash Alnico alternative for Floyd Rose Trem spacing ?

Hi, I am a newbie to the forum, but an oldie to the world. At 62 this year, still playing in a rock and blues style concert band down under. I have a guitar I take on rough tours which is a Peavey Tracer 3 pickup, 24 fret model, maple fretboard, alder (or poplar) body. To cover all our set list, I have fitted a Dimarzio pro track to the neck, a Fender Strat mid to the middle, and a Gibson Burstbucker3 at the bridge. A new Gotah Floyd Rose type trem . And yep, the string spacing is wrong over the Burstbucker.

I fitted it thinking there would be a problem with the 1st string response in particular, but its OK. However, its impossible to say what it would be like with correct string to pole alignment.

More to the point, I am not really happy with the tone of the Burstbucker 3. Its a bit too brittle for me on the tops, and crumbly at the bottom, whereas my Les Paul with a Burstbucker 2 at the bridge sounds great (that thing growls!), but that may be also attributed of the LP mahogany body and fixed bridge (?).

I play through a Mesa 50/5 watt Express, tamed by an Alexs Attenuator, with a custom (read: trial and error) array of preamp tubes.

Anyway, I am looking for advice on which SD pickup would be very, very close to the Alnico Slash in BOTH clean and dirty modes, but has 2 1/16" pole spacing, or rails that cover that ground. A bummer SB dont make a Slash with F spacing, or do they?

Cheers to All,

Don

You don't need to worry 'bout the polepieces not exactly matching the strings in a bridge p'up, unless you've got serious OCD issues.

To fix the BB3 tone problem, you only need to change the magnet to an Alnico 8. That's the perfect magnet for the bridge p'up of any guitar equipped with a tremolo system, ever more so if it's a Floyd Rose-like one.

HTH,

 

[donnyb]

Re: Slash Alnico alternative for Floyd Rose Trem spacing ?

Hi LT Kojack. Hmmm,changing magnets would be a big step for me. I only got into changing pickups, pots and caps a year or so ago !

I dont get why SD would have a "Trembucker" PU that would use a magnet that didnt do the job properly. Not to mention it also makes me wonder what the benefits actually are of a SD Trembucker type PU if pole to string alignment is not an issue in the first place.

I confess I am new to SD pickups, so are you suggesting that SD do in fact make a "Trembucker" style pickup with an Alnico 8 magnet, perhaps in their custom range and way out of my humble price range? I need more information here please.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Slash Alnico alternative for Floyd Rose Trem spacing ?

Hi LT Kojack. Hmmm,changing magnets would be a big step for me. I only got into changing pickups, pots and caps a year or so ago !

If changing pots and caps is in difficulty grade 10, changing a magnet is difficulty grade 5. Have a look here:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/t...g-with-pickups-102-the-humbucker-magnet-swap/

I dont get why SD would have a "Trembucker" PU that would use a magnet that didnt do the job properly.

Where did I say something similar? The swapping is used to "fine-tune" your p'up to your rig. It's called "adjusting to taste".

Not to mention it also makes me wonder what the benefits actually are of a SD Trembucker type PU if pole to string alignment is not an issue in the first place.

As I yold you, Trembuckers exist as a need a certain segment of the market, not to solve an actual technical issue.

Having said that, in the neck position, having the polepieces under the strings actually does help to have a balanced volume among all six strings, being the case of a weak 1st string something quite common.

I confess I am new to SD pickups, so are you suggesting that SD do in fact make a "Trembucker" style pickup with an Alnico 8 magnet, perhaps in their custom range and way out of my humble price range? I need more information here please.

A Custom Shop p'up is like a taylor-made suite. It's made FOR YOU, so you pay for that. There are several Duncan p'up models that can be had in Trembucker format, and some of them can be had as a Custom Floor Shop model, which means normal price or just a little more expensive.

I warmly suggest you to visit the Duncan site; it'll be a most useful learning experience. And use the "search" function to look for topics as magnet swapping.

HTH,

 

[donnyb]

Re: Slash Alnico alternative for Floyd Rose Trem spacing ?

Thank you for those responses Lt Kojack. Good advice. I had a look at the changing of magnets video as suggested, and its certainly something I can handle. I will give the SD website a good look over too. So many webpages, so little time. However, with evening TV programmes so bad these days, I guess thats no excuse!

I am not convinced on the pole alignment matter though. I mean, why would Gibson put the BBs pole pieces under their standard string spacing if it wasn't desirable? Only for aesthetics? The answer may well be "yes", but Id like to hear some other comments on this.

If I am not happy with the Trembucker PG plus, its good to know I can readily experiment with the magnets between A2 - A8 and fine tune the sound Id like. Thanks again. Don

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Slash Alnico alternative for Floyd Rose Trem spacing ?

I am not convinced on the pole alignment matter though. I mean, why would Gibson put the BBs pole pieces under their standard string spacing if it wasn't desirable? Only for aesthetics? The answer may well be "yes", but Id like to hear some other comments on this.

Knock yourself out. Just remember that the best music of all time was recorded and still is played live with "out-of-alignment" bridge p'ups.

Did you notice anything?

 

[donnyb]

Re: Slash Alnico alternative for Floyd Rose Trem spacing ?

lol. As I say, its not possible to compare if there's a difference between my Burstbucker 3 not aligned as it is, and aligned (if it could be). It sounds good enough given I dont really like its overall sound, but could it sound better ? Its a shoulder shrug.

Actually, I suspect you are right, but is there any hard evidence out there that aligned poles to strings improves the tone? Like...has anyone ever bothered to do what I suggest here....viz., compared (with all else being equal) the same pickup aligned and non-aligned by means of some laborious surgery?

I hope that the big pickup manufacturers have done this in their development workshops, but maybe that's naivety on my part?

I just raise the question: while non aligned poles to strings sounds good, would it sound better aligned?