Slash APH-2's set with coil tapping ??? opinions???

Highway Starr

Highway Starr

New member
Good Morning

I just discovered this forum over the weekend after I ordered a set of SD Slash APH-2's and was doing some research. I'm going to put those in my '09 Gibson LP Studio SilverBurst but had a few questions to ask ...... First of all this will be my first pickup install/change ever. I work in Telecommunications so I'm pretty familiar with a soldering iron working with electronic parts at work and also I have a 1990's pinball machine I seem to be constantly working on.

Anyway my Les Paul came from the factory with a 490R neck and a 498T bridge pickup with push/pull pots for coil tapping both pickups ..... I could live with the 498T in the bridge but the 490R is just plain muddy IMO so I elected to change them out to the Slash pickups since that is the type of music I bought it to play.

Now that the background info is out of the way I was curious of as much feedback on the APH-2's possible and was wondering if anyone had any experience with them wired for individual coil tapping ???? I had a Dimmarzio (is it OK to use that word here? ;) ) Tone Zone in one of my strats set up to coil tap for a long time but IMO it sounded awful so last time I took it to my local tech for a setup I had him remove the switch.

I guess easiest thing would be to drop them in and see how they sound but I would like as much info as possible first :)

Also do the APH-2's replace the APH-1's or are they both still available? if so what's the difference?

:thanks:
 
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Re: Slash APH-2's set with coil tapping ??? opinions???

The APH-2 is currently available in single conductor only. It would require modification to be made 4-conductor, and I'm not sure how we're treating Shop Floor Customs on this pickup yet. The reason being, many people feel there's a sound difference between single and 4 conductor, and there is justification for it. The signal from the red and white coil leads have to travel down a shielded cable (capacitance) and then back up again. So for Slash, single conductor is the sound he approved, and who are we to argue? :) Also, he has been using 4-conductor Alnico II Pro's on many guitars, but the Appetite guitar has single conductor AIIPros.
 
Re: Slash APH-2's set with coil tapping ??? opinions???

frankfalbo said:
The APH-2 is currently available in single conductor only. It would require modification to be made 4-conductor, and I'm not sure how we're treating Shop Floor Customs on this pickup yet. The reason being, many people feel there's a sound difference between single and 4 conductor, and there is justification for it. The signal from the red and white coil leads have to travel down a shielded cable (capacitance) and then back up again. So for Slash, single conductor is the sound he approved, and who are we to argue? :) Also, he has been using 4-conductor Alnico II Pro's on many guitars, but the Appetite guitar has single conductor AIIPros.
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Hmmm sounds like I didn't research this very well ....So what your saying is that I won't be able to coil tap APH-2s, correct? basically I just have the one option. Does this also mean I'll need to change the push/pull pots as well?

Also not sure what you mean by "shop floor customs" either, please eplain :)
 
Re: Slash APH-2's set with coil tapping ??? opinions???

Highway Starr said:
Hmmm sounds like I didn't research this very well ....So what your saying is that I won't be able to coil tap APH-2s, correct? basically I just have the one option. Does this also mean I'll need to change the push/pull pots as well?

Also not sure what you mean by "shop floor customs" either, please eplain :)
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Correct, you can't split them.

You can leave the push-pulls in, they function as normal pots with a completely separate switch.
 
Re: Slash APH-2's set with coil tapping ??? opinions???

A shop floor custom is where you order a pickup and change something basic about it, like 4 wire vs single wire, ask for a logo to be added or removed, for a color combination not listed as standard, for a cover on a pickup that generally comes uncovered....things like that. There didn't used to be an up charge for shop floor customs, but I don't know if that has changed or not. It also used to take 4-6 weeks to get what you ordered. I assume the wait time is about the same.

I'm sure you could return the Slash pups and just get the standard APH II's, but I really don't think you'll miss being able to split the pickups. The Slash pickups are not that hot to begin with, so a single coil of either the neck or bridge will be somewhat weak on it's own, at least IMHO.
 
Re: Slash APH-2's set with coil tapping ??? opinions???

Jeff_H said:
A shop floor custom is where you order a pickup and change something basic about it, like 4 wire vs single wire, ask for a logo to be added or removed, for a color combination not listed as standard, for a cover on a pickup that generally comes uncovered....things like that. There didn't used to be an up charge for shop floor customs, but I don't know if that has changed or not. It also used to take 4-6 weeks to get what you ordered. I assume the wait time is about the same.

I'm sure you could return the Slash pups and just get the standard APH II's, but I really don't think you'll miss being able to split the pickups. The Slash pickups are not that hot to begin with, so a single coil of either the neck or bridge will be somewhat weak on it's own, at least IMHO.
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Thanks for the info Jeff, (and everyone)

Not sure I need to send them back yet, I really don't use the coil tapping feature anyway... I just ASSumed that 99% of aftermarket pickups were all pretty versatile ....... Ha! I should've known better :cool:
 
Re: Slash APH-2's set with coil tapping ??? opinions???

you can definitely split them, even convert them to 4 conductor. it just depends on how badly you want to take apart your pickup and risk killing it to do so. myself? i've done it about 5 times:D
 
Re: Slash APH-2's set with coil tapping ??? opinions???

I converted a few Gibson 57 Classics to 4 conductor. It's not too hard.

I have the Slash pickups in my LP- and while I like coil taps, I don't think it would work well on these. I upgraded the electronics with an RS Electronics pre wired upgrade kit, and that gives me all the clarity I need without having to use a coil tap. I may install a phase switch though
 
Re: Slash APH-2's set with coil tapping ??? opinions???

I don't know if you ordered them or not, but here's the 2 options.

1. If you ordered them new, use the Duncan exchange policy. See if you can exchange them for the same exact thing in a Shop Floor Custom version with 4 lead.

2. If you didn't order them yet, contact your dealer and order them as Shop Floor Customs in 4 lead.
 
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