Tribute to MJ wound Alnico II pro from 1986 to 2013

Re: Tribute to MJ wound Alnico II pro from 1986 to 2013

Rand-O-Monium said:
OCD much?

Killer guitars,BTW!!!
Click to expand...

Hehe .. you should follow us at the amp mod forums.
500 000 views 8000 post about 3 caps and 2 resistors.

Btw I tried to Do some sound clips but had to re-pot 2 pickups.
7.85k bridge (modern 8.3k in the summer heat.
This is my highest reading neck at almost 7.6k compared to todays production that read 7.5 in the summer heat.
 
Re: Tribute to MJ wound Alnico II pro from 1986 to 2013

Evan Skopp said:
Slash once called me about doing a signature pickup. I asked him, "Well, what is there about the APH-1 that you don't like? Let's start from there." He said, "The tone is great. But I wish it just had a little more punch." I said, "Maybe we can just replace the Alnico 2 magnet with an Alnico 5." He said, "Whatever you think." I said, "Let me run my theory past the engineers and see what they say." He said, "OK, call me back."

I went to R&D to have a chat with Kevin Beller. I started to tell him what Slash was looking for and before I could even finish, he said, "Why don't you just replace the magnet with an Alnico 5?" I said, "Great. That's what I was thinking."

Then I went downstairs to the Custom Shop where Seymour was working with MJ in the background. Again, I launched into my story and before I could finish it, Seymour said, "Ev, why don't you just use an Alnico 5?" I said, "Perfect. That's exactly what I was thinking and Kevin said the same thing."

MJ, who had been totally silent during this exchange, looked up at me from behind her winding machine and said, "Congratulations. You just invented the Jazz Model."

We all had a good laugh. We were so focused on giving Slash his sound, we forgot that the pickup already existed. In the end, and after trying the Jazz Model, Slash decided to stick with the APH-1. When I asked him about it a few months later, he said, "The APH-1 is perfect. And you can't improve on perfect."

Several years passed before we started working on the APH-2 Slash project which Chet Haun brought to me and again, was based on a slightly punchier APH-2 -- though this time we kept the Alnico 2 magnet and messed around with the coils.

To gibsonclassic2001, welcome to the forum. Are you the one who loaned some 1986 APH-1s to Slash and me to use in the initial sound testing for the pickup that eventually became the APH-2?
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Hi Evan! That was me who gave those old Alnico II Pros to Slash and you.

It was my pleasure, trust me!

I got a beautiful new set of the Slash Alnico IIs in return, and an awesome letter that I will literally keep forever (I framed it)!

Plus I got to hang out with Slash a couple times, talk gear and stuff. It was great talking to him about ideas that were the beginnings of the Slash Duncan pickups, the Marshall AFD100... :)
 
Re: Tribute to MJ wound Alnico II pro from 1986 to 2013

Also - I just wanted to say to the original poster: GREAT job with this research! I can definitely relate to your curiosity and your passion for these things ;)
 
Re: Tribute to MJ wound Alnico II pro from 1986 to 2013

Hey MisterMiniMite. Great to see you here. Actually, I was with Slash yesterday doing a video shoot as part of an upcoming film that's going to be a tribute to Spinal Tap and a benefit for Notes for Notes.
 
Re: Tribute to MJ wound Alnico II pro from 1986 to 2013

Did some magnet testing.
Re-charged some old aph magnets.

They are as strong as the stewmac a2.
But not as strong as the modern aph magnet.

Soundwise non of the magnets sound the same.
Even with same charge the 1986 aph sound nothing like the stewmac.

And the modern is cold and glassy sounding.
 
Re: Tribute to MJ wound Alnico II pro from 1986 to 2013

Found a NOS aph in original box.
Hasnt arrived yet.
look like a double white (not cream) 1988.

Wonder if its legit.. ill find out when I recieve it.
 
Re: Tribute to MJ wound Alnico II pro from 1986 to 2013

the A2P and the Jazz are the same coil, the model depending on the mag. and the JB and the DD and the Invader are the same coil, the model depending on the mag (and pole pieces). more obviously, the Custom and the CC and the C5 are the same coil, the model depending on the mag. wonder what other factoids will find their way clear of the smokes and mirrors? wasn't there talk of the FS being the same as a different model, with just different pole pieces?
 
Re: Tribute to MJ wound Alnico II pro from 1986 to 2013

CountFeedback said:
Darth, I believe Full Shred bridge is a Custom with A5 & hex screws.
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That's what I'm talking about. Thought it was either the C5 or a Jazz with different poles. Thanks dude.

It also makes it interesting if you like the CC but want it a little more focused: put an A2 in a FS

Not sure if this is common knowledge, but addiction-FX told me they can provide degaussed magnets, as long as you tell them what strength you want. That really opens up the door for tweaking in some of those more vintage vibes into newer pickups.


Sent from my armored battle station using Tapatalk
 
Re: Tribute to MJ wound Alnico II pro from 1986 to 2013

Does this mean I can buy a cheap used Jazz neck pickup and swap the A5 for an A2 and just start wailing on Sweet Child O'Mine?
 
Re: Tribute to MJ wound Alnico II pro from 1986 to 2013

Ok, I do not have any clips with the real 36 mod.

Here is a clip with me screwing around adjusting pickups and recording it for some sonic approval and reference 8 months ago.
Do not take it to serious!!
It me F!”# around at home adjusting components and made this small spontaneous jam with a 80s style modded JCM800 and a G12M-70 speaker.
More hair metal then AFD.
But even with all knobs on 6 these vintage MJ APH-1 pickups just ooze AFD type of sound!


http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=12089507&q=hi&newref=1
I will get back with some good clips with the real 36 mod and a Derrig hardware equipped guitar.
 
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Re: Tribute to MJ wound Alnico II pro from 1986 to 2013

Ok.. This is insane!

New in box "NOS" 1986 alnico 2 pro.
Double white MJ wound 4 conductor.
This is one off.

ngzz1k.jpg
 
Re: Tribute to MJ wound Alnico II pro from 1986 to 2013

Can you tell me how old this box is. (left )
right = modern
Evan said it might be 90s.
All parts on pickup point towards 86-87 period.
Strange.

303h213.jpg
 
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