Twangbanger vs JD & Antiquity Tele

[Lewguitar]

I put a new set of Duncan APS-2's and the Twangbanger in my 80's MIJ 57 RI Strat.

That set sounds awesome: thick and chunky. Very smooth but nice highs and kind of a chunky warm crunch overall. Really, really like it, and a little hotter than the Antiquity II's in my other Strat.

I've been playing through my two late 50's tweed Fender Deluxes in stereo, and this new set pushes my amps into overdrive at about volume 3 or 4! Rolling back on the volume pot cleans the tone right up tho.

I'm using a master volume, master "no load" tone and a blender pot.

The APS-2's are not as bubbley and glassy as the Ant II's but they have thier own thing that's really starting to grow on me.

As for the Twangbanger, it's one of the best Strat bridge pickups I've ever used. Hotter than the Ant II Surfer/Custom bridge pickup...more mids and more quack.

So which Tele pickup does the Twangbanger emulate? I compared it to the Jerry Donahue and the Antquitys in my Teles.

Compared to the Antiquity, the Antiquity is brighter and not as hot. The Twangbanger is hotter, louder, thicker and has a little more snarl.

Compared to the Jerry Donahue, the JD is louder, thicker and has a little more midrange quack and snarl. The Twangbanger is a little brighter.

So it would appear to be right in between the Antiquity Tele and Jerry Donahue.

All three are alnico 2 pickups and have some real similarities: very lively, quacky, touch responsive tone...I can really shape the tone with my hands, angle of the pick, etc.

The Twangbanger is a great Strat bridge replacement pickup and highly recommended. I prefer it to the mini humbuckers and rails type replacement pickups I have tried.

And if you're looking for a tone that's a little stronger, chunkier and less glassy than vintage Strat pickups, the APS-2's are wonderful too.

I'll be leaving this set in my Strat for awhile...I bought the guitar as a test bed, but I'm liking this set to much to change it anytime soon.



Lew

 

[BS123]

Re: Twangbanger vs JD & Antiquity Tele

Lew,

Thanks much for the review!! Great info....

 

[Curly]

Re: Twangbanger vs JD & Antiquity Tele

thanks, Lew

My strat with APS 2's has been my most used guitar since I finished it. Although I really like the SSL-3 "Hot" in the bridge, from the description and what others have said on the forum, the Twangbanger might actually be a better match. I'd like to try it and find out.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Twangbanger vs JD & Antiquity Tele

i use the same set lew in a maple neck hamer daytona and i love it for an all purpose blues guitar. i use to use a custom flat, but once i got a twangbanger it had to find a new home.
the aps are definitly got a little chunk which i really like on the neck pup, i keep the middle pup kinda low so its cleaner than the rest

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Twangbanger vs JD & Antiquity Tele

How would the Twangbanger match up with SSL-1 neck and middle pickups? I have a California Series Strat (alder/maple) with SSL-1's, but I want something stronger at the bridge. Would the Twangbanger blend well with the SSL-1's, or would it sound better with APS-1's or -2's for blues and blues/rock?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Twangbanger vs JD & Antiquity Tele

i think it would blend ok with the ssl1's. ive never tried it but i like ssl1s in those positions, used to use em with a ssl6 in the bridge and really like the tone.
that said, i use the twangbanger with aps and really like the results

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Twangbanger vs JD & Antiquity Tele

How would the Twangbanger match up with SSL-1 neck and middle pickups? I have a California Series Strat (alder/maple) with SSL-1's, but I want something stronger at the bridge. Would the Twangbanger blend well with the SSL-1's, or would it sound better with APS-1's or -2's for blues and blues/rock?

I can only guess, but I think it would do just fine with SSL-1's. I don't think there'd be any problems at all. I really like the SSL-1's, BTW. I used to use them in the guitar I have the Ant II's in now. Lew

 

[fjs1962]

Re: Twangbanger vs JD & Antiquity Tele

Lew, I've got a Grosh Retro Classic (strat style) alder/RW that I have Fralin Blues Specials (with bassplate) in now. How do you think the Twangbanger/APII setup would compare to the Fralin Blues SPecials?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Twangbanger vs JD & Antiquity Tele

Lew, I've got a Grosh Retro Classic (strat style) alder/RW that I have Fralin Blues Specials (with bassplate) in now. How do you think the Twangbanger/APII setup would compare to the Fralin Blues SPecials?

The Fralin Blues Specials are alnico 5 and the APS-2 & Twangbanger are alnico 2. I would tend to think that the Blues Specials would be a little brighter on top and a little thinner and less pronounced in the mids...less snarly than the Twangbanger.

I really like the Blues Specials and use them in my '54 Tele...the Twangbanger in my Strat is about the same output as the BS bridge pickup in my Tele, but the tone is quite differant.

ALOT more midrange and quack from the Twangbanger...that kind of vocal/nasal quality that gives alot of focus to an overdriven tone. Sort of P90 like in a way.

There's a chunky quality to the APS-2 & Twangbanger set that I don't hear from the BS set...the BS set sounds more "normal". Again, because of the more pronounced and chunkier mids in these particular Duncans.

Lew

 

[fjs1962]

Re: Twangbanger vs JD & Antiquity Tele

Thanks for the reply, Lew. The Twangbanger/APII set may be just what I need for my Grosh. I originally had Vintage Hots in the guitar but it was way too scooped with them and had too much sparkle on top. The Blues Specials are better, but seem to have more of a low mid tone where I'd like to get more upper mid cut and quack from the guitar. While they aren't bad, the Blues Specials are almost too smooth. That said, do you think the Twangbanger/APII setup would be a good match for the guitar?

The Fralin Blues Specials are alnico 5 and the APS-2 & Twangbanger are alnico 2. I would tend to think that the Blues Specials would be a little brighter on top and a little thinner and less pronounced in the mids...less snarly than the Twangbanger.

I really like the Blues Specials and use them in my '54 Tele...the Twangbanger in my Strat is about the same output as the BS bridge pickup in my Tele, but the tone is quite differant.

ALOT more midrange and quack from the Twangbanger...that kind of vocal/nasal quality that gives alot of focus to an overdriven tone. Sort of P90 like in a way.

There's a chunky quality to the APS-2 & Twangbanger set that I don't hear from the BS set...the BS set sounds more "normal". Again, because of the more pronounced and chunkier mids in these particular Duncans.

Lew

 

[flank]

Re: Twangbanger vs JD & Antiquity Tele

how is the cleans on the twangbanger with volume rolled down a little bit? nice spanky edgy type of cleans for rhythm sound?

 

[BachToRock]

Re: Twangbanger vs JD & Antiquity Tele

Yeah Lew!
That's the exact set I use in my traditional style strat... also a Japan model(50's Vintage Reissue)...
I would say that the TwangBanger is closest to the JD, but it will sound less chunky since a strat is acoustically "lighter" sounding than a tele... a hardtail strat might sound even closer to a true Tele tone...

 

[jeremy]

Re: Twangbanger vs JD & Antiquity Tele

the cleans are nice on the twangbanger, full but spanky.

the aps are smooth with a little growl, they push an amp nicely in the mids but retain a nice single coil quack

 

[MoodyBlue]

Re: Twangbanger vs JD & Antiquity Tele

Lew you should hear the twangbanger on that MIM I've got blend in with the Lil59 Br in the mid position. Keeps that snarl and then puts it in a bed of smooth low end. Really interesting for a bluesy sound.

Jim:cool2:

 

[Lwilliams]

Re: Twangbanger vs JD & Antiquity Tele

Lew,

I just got 2 of the APS 1's to go with my Twangbanger..... going in a 03, American Series Ash strat. I guess I am wondering why you chose the APS2 instead of the APS1 considering that the Twangbanger has staggerd poles.

Can you elaborate?