What's the hottest most active-like Alnico passive pickup?

[Rex_Rocker]

Right now I'm using the EMG 57 in my LTD and the EMG 85 in my PRS SE. My Ibanez RG570 has a Duncan Distortion which I like, but is not exactly what I want. It's missing the bite Alnico has, and instead, I feel it has a bunch of fizz... which is nice, but not exactly what I want right now. I tried swapping the magnet to an Alnico 5 to make it essentially a JB, but I feel this takes too much of a toll on the output, and it weakens it too much to compete with the EMG's. I fear swapping it to an Alnico 8 might make it too fat and bloated.

Wondering what are my options? I feel the Alternative 8 might be a tad too fat for what I want. I do want some active-like low-end rolloff. If the JB was perhaps a bit tighter and hotter, it would be perfect. What should I look at? Suhr Aldrich, perhaps? Anything else?

 

[Masta' C]

Everything you're asking for points to one pickup...DiMarzio Evolution

The D-Activator would be a close second, but the original Evo bridges the gap between the D-Activator and the JB for sure

 

[nexion218]

Aren't the Evos ceramic? I would've said Nazgul myself, bu that's ceramic too.

 

[Top-L]

Aren't the Evos ceramic? I would've said Nazgul myself, bu that's ceramic too.

The Evos are ceramic, but they kinda have an open top like A5.

The Full Shred is A5 and that is pretty hot and shreddy.

I think the OP is looking for a Full Shred.

 

[allbutromeo]

Maybe something from Bare Knuckle, Holy Dive or Rebel Yell, Nailbomb?

 

[Masta' C]

Aren't the Evos ceramic? I would've said Nazgul myself, bu that's ceramic too.

I get where you're coming from, but dismissing a pickup over its magnet alone is a common rookie mistake. Also, a "hotter and tighter JB" is tough to achieve, especially if one insists in sticking with Duncans only. As the JB is already at the "hotter" end of the spectrum, especially for its wind, you're left with few options...increase the inductance, change mags, add winds and/or change the wire gauge.

Arguably, the Alt 8 shares a lot of "JB-like" qualities while being a little tighter and hotter. The Nazgul has a very noticeable upper-midrange focus like the JB, but doesn't clean up very well and can highlight some odd frequencies in certain guitars. The Distortion is close family to the JB, but doesn't quite pull off that "active-like" quality.

Beyond SD, you have hot Alnico pickups like the Tone Zone, Aldrich and Dean "Baker Act", but as really hot, heavily overwound passives, they tend to move away from that same "active" feel and clarity, though among those, the Aldrich IS a very good pickup for pretty much any kind of hard rock or metal. That said, it's smoother and warmer than the JB, definitely not "active" feeling either.

I stick by the Evolution as my answer here. It has the intensity and cut of an active, feeling very similar under the fingers and in overall response, but still has some very "passive" qualities, including very fluid sounding lead tones and killer harmonics like the JB. Plus, if the original Evo is too intense, the Evo 2 is really nice, being a bit tamer and less biting up top (but still very "present" if that makes sense), and the good ol' D-Activator as a backup.

 

[nexion218]

I get where you're coming from, but dismissing a pickup over its magnet alone is a common rookie mistake.

Couldn't agree more. I pointed it out "just in case", because OP is specifically looking for alnico pups.

 

[Mincer]

I think the wind can absolutely change opinions about how specific magnet types sound. For instance, the SLUG has ceramic magnets, but sounds huge and thick with tons of output. It doesn't have the edge most people associate with ceramic magnets.

 

[Toejam]

DiMarzio D Activators seem to do the trick for me.

 

[hamerfan]

One of my fav pickups is the JB with a standard ceramic mag. Not as rude as the Distortion but hotter than the JB.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Some interesting suggestions here. Thanks dudes!

I'll have to check some clips of the Evo. I don't think I've really payed attention to it doing metal before. I'll have to search. Also, should I be looking at the OG Evo or at the Evo 2? The Evo 2 seems interesting as well.

Speaking of Slug, is the El Diablo anything active-like? That might seem like an interesting option as well.

 

[Mincer]

Well, the El Diablo has a lot of output. It is in the active output range, although it still responds like a hot passive pickup.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Well, the El Diablo has a lot of output. It is in the active output range, although it still responds like a hot passive pickup.

What's the EQ like, then? Cause I don't feel hot passives are that far off from the 85 and 57, personally.

 

[Masta' C]

 

[Mincer]

Well, the El Diablo has a lot of mids, is super-hot, and has an Alnico magnet. There is this wonderful thread about the history of that pickup.

 

[beaubrummels]

The hottest, most active sounding passive I've played are the Black Winters, but those aren't alinico. Never heard alnico sound active, except possibly A8.

 

[Masta' C]

I agree with Beau on the Black Winters. Kind of forgot about those,but they totally satisfy my "active" cravings in a passive design.

The El Diablo is an awesome pickup. It's surprisingly hifi, but still has that distinct Alnico warmth to it. It gets more compressed as you dig in, but is surprisingly balanced for such a "hot" pickup. Plus, it sounds incredible split! As for comparing it to actives, I would say that it does have a tight, fast response, but it's more dynamic at the same time. Dan Donegan has been rocking them on nearly every Disturbed album in the past 15 years, so that's one way to "hear" it. You can also check out 2000's Scott Ian riffs and Kevin Bond's tone in Superjoint Ritual.

As for the old-school Evo vs. the Evo 2, I would give the original a shot first. The "2" is very good, but the original just has this extra "something" and if it clicks with your particular guitar/rig, I imagine you'll be very sastisfied.

 

[Demanic]

Another vote for D-Activators. Though no, not Alnico.
Not sure of whether their magnets are epoxied in. If not I'd love to hear a D-Activator set that's had an A4/A8 mag swap done.

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[Demanic]

Or maybe just A8 into the bridge.

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[Despair]

A few more options:

If you want a Distortion without the harshness, PATB-2 Parallel Axis Distortion is worth a look. Higher output, absolutely gonzo metal pickup, beefier lower mids than the original Distortion, but far from unmanagable. And without the ugly presence of most hot ceramic pickups.

Wilde L-500XL might be worth a look. Very cheap, alnico, lots of bite.