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I like the 57 classics in my LP, but I am considering something with a slightly more modern tone. I might try the Alnico II pros, or maybe Pearly gates, what other pickups would you recommend...nothing too hot though. I have my ESPs and Jacksons with EMGs for that.

Those two you mentioned would be my two suggestions if you want pickups without a nickel cover. If you've heard ZZ Top you've probably heard the tone of the Pearlys. If you've heard Slash you've heard the tone of the A2Pros.

If you want covered pickups, I don't think there's a better choice than the Antiquitys.

The Seth Lovers are almost the equal of the Antiquitys are a little less expensive.

To sum it up: go for the ANTIQUITYS!


Originally Posted by lt1z93I like the 57 classics in my LP, but I am considering something with a slightly more modern tone. I might try the Alnico II pros, or maybe Pearly gates, what other pickups would you recommend...nothing too hot though. I have my ESPs and Jacksons with EMGs for that.

Hey man, wlecome to the forum!

The Alnico 2 Pros (A2P's) and Pearly Gates (PG's) are both going to be vintage outpupt, so you won't be getting a boost there.

As to which you prefer well if I were you I'd listen to the sound clips till my ears bled...then listen some more. Here is a generic pup breakdown for ya, I hope you find it useful

Antiquity---A pup that is hand made by Seymour or MJ that has been artificially aged. The magnet has been degaussed and the cover has been distressed along with the screws so as to appear vintage. Everything is done to make these pups as close to an original that you would buy from a collector that was out of a guitar that was played everyday and gigged with. They have complex mids and are smooth. They are available in A2 or A5 magnet varieties. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The 59---The 59 is the quintessential A5 PAF (patent applied for) pup. Imagine getting in a time machine and going back to 1959 and swiping a brand new A5 pup from the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo and bringing it forward to today. They have found most homes in many neck slots. It has symetrical coils and lots of quack. It has thumping bass, a scooped mid, and cutting highs. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Seth Lover---This pup is as true to the original as can be. This pup is unpotted and comes standard with a gold, or nickel pup cover. It has an A2 magnet and has good quack and fair mids. For this pup imagine going back in time to 1955 and grabbing one of the very first PAF's before they debuted in the LP's. This pup is warm and creamy, but can also get bright with the tone knob on 10. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Alnico 2 Pro---The warmest of the Duncan PAF line. It has symetrical coils and is a modern take on the A2 PAFs. It has round bass and smooth treble, it also has lots of mids to make the guitar really sing. It will warm up the coldest or shrillest of guitars. The most well known Alnico 2 Pro user is Slash of Velvet Revolver and GNR. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

Pearly Gates---The PG is the hottest of the Duncan PAF line. It has asymetrical (mismatched) coils and an A2 magnet. The mismatched coils give this particular pup its rude personality. It has a frequency push in the Presence/Cut knob frequency band. This is the quot;Sizzlequot; PG owner talk about. It has the most mids of the Ducan PAF line and is also the hottest. Its patron is Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Standard 4 conductor Wire

The Jazz---The jazz is the pup that bridges the gap between Vintage and Modern pups. Its output is at or around the vintage level. Don't let the name fool you this pup is very versatile and smooth. It has an A5 magnet and is very widely used in the neck slot. It is articulate regardless of the tuning as well. This pup negociates cleans or overdrive very well. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

This is the end of the vintage part of the list, if you don't care about the higher output pups then don't mind this next post.

Luke

The Custom Series---The Custom Series is all on pup configuration but with different magnets. The coils are symmetrical and the pups come with Standard 4 Conductor wire

Custom---The Custom is a PAF kicked up a few notches. This pup gets its aggressive edge from its Ceramic magnet. This pup has lots of grind with good treble and midrange. It also has ample bass for palm mute playing.

Custom Custom---The Custom Custom is a midrange heavy pup that lends itself to leads and warming bright guitars. This pup gets its huge midrange from the Alnico 2 magnet. I has smooth bass and treble. Essentially it is an overwound A2 PAF.

Custom 5---The Custom 5 is a pup with an EQ very identical to The 59. It has thumping bass, scooped mids, and cutting treble. Like the 59 it is a bright pup that will liven up dark guitar, but the bass can be overwhelming in a bassy guitar, or the the treble overwhelming in a trebly guitar.

JB---The JB is in a class of its own. There is really no other pup like it. It has fair bass and lots of treble. This particular pup has a large upper mids spike that allow it to cut through the mix like no other. It can be heard on countless recording especially throughout the 80's. Lots of people like to pair it with a Jazz or 59 in the neck. In bright guitars it is usually soldered to a 250k pot just like the original Seymour made 30 years ago.

Hope that helps man. Vintage neck and hot bridge combos that you frequently see are the 59/C5, Jazz/Custom, Jazz or 59/JB, A2P or PG/CC.

Luke

Once again, the rumours start flying about Luke being in the pay of

Good summary, dude. Did they vault the very similar thread you did a while back?


Originally Posted by JimbojsrOnce again, the rumours start flying about Luke being in the pay of

Good summary, dude. Did they vault the very similar thread you did a while back?

No, and no.

I wish I was on the SD payroll. Santa Barbara is one of the few places in CA that I would move to.

Luke

Good summary except that I would add that the Custom Custom doesn't really quot;getquot; its midrange from the Alnico 2. It's that the Alnico 2 gets out of the way of the thick mids that are already there via the heavy 14k wind.

The Custom 5 is the Custom Custom with an Alnico 5 magnet, which has, as Luke says, heavy bass and heavy treble but neutral to scooped mids. This is the magnet doing that. Alnico 2, 3, and 4 will let the natural mids of the heavy-wound Custom coils do their thing. Alnico 5 tends to drown those mids out some with its strong emphasis on bass and treble.

If you're looking for a more quot;modernquot; neck tone, you might even want to try the Jazz BRIDGE model in the neck position. It's still under 8k ohms so it has a peak frequency probably still high enough to work in the neck but with a bit more ooomph.


Originally Posted by ZhangliqunGood summary except that I would add that the Custom Custom doesn't really quot;getquot; its midrange from the Alnico 2. It's that the Alnico 2 gets out of the way of the thick mids that are already there via the heavy 14k wind.

Yeah but if I retyped it it would be harder for me to find and cut and paste!

I imagine it's a I say tomato you say tomawto type of thing. But I see what you're saying, the A2 magnet doesn't BOOST midrange.

Luke

Just a frame of reference thing that don't matter to those not advanced in Pickup-ology.

And Santa Barbara IS a very nice area. I live in the increasingly lurid, creepy metropolis of Lost Angeles, and the trip out to Santa Barbara for UGD was a great relief.

Hi, dont have a suggestion, butb if your 57s are gold and you use paypal...I may buy them from you. Pm me...Peace


Originally Posted by ZhangliqunIf you're looking for a more quot;modernquot; neck tone, you might even want to try the Jazz BRIDGE model in the neck position. It's still under 8k ohms so it has a peak frequency probably still high enough to work in the neck but with a bit more ooomph.

That's interesting. I never thought of trying a Jazz bridge in the neck. I have the neck version in one of my guitars now with a JB and am thinking of getting another one for another one with a Custom Custom in the bridge. I just love the Jazz pickup.


Originally Posted by ZhangliqunJust a frame of reference thing that don't matter to those not advanced in Pickup-ology.

And Santa Barbara IS a very nice area. I live in the increasingly lurid, creepy metropolis of Lost Angeles, and the trip out to Santa Barbara for UGD was a great relief.

HOLY CRAP you were there? and I didn't get to meet you?

I'd go with an a2P neck and pearly gates bridge. You'll still get that alnico II tone like with the '57 classics, but just much sweeter and more defined, and the pearly gates will have a bit of attitude.


Originally Posted by Luke DukeHOLY CRAP you were there? and I didn't get to meet you?

You might have seen me but I didn't get to stay for the whole thing, in fact I had to leave before the Forumcaster was presented due to a youth choir rehearsal that I found out was cancelled when I got back, meaning I could have brought my gear and played at the jam. D'OH!!!

I have fading red hair, about 5'11quot; and kind of beefy looking, dressed in slacks and a collared shirt, didn't say much, not flamboyant. (Even close relatives forget I'm there sometimes.) I'm 40 but look a good deal younger (thank God, so far)...


Originally Posted by ZhangliqunYou might have seen me but I didn't get to stay for the whole thing, in fact I had to leave before the Forumcaster was presented due to a youth choir rehearsal that I found out was cancelled when I got back, meaning I could have brought my gear and played at the jam. D'OH!!!

Man what a load of CRAAAP! Originally Posted by ZhangliqunI have fading red hair, about 5'11quot; and kind of beefy looking, dressed in slacks and a collared shirt, didn't say much, not flamboyant. (Even close relatives forget I'm there sometimes.) I'm 40 but look a good deal younger (thank God, so far)...See? You don't remember seeing me there either! D'OH!!! D'OH!!!

I remember seeing a light red haired guy but that's it. I was far off. I was the fool in the Pink Floyd shirt.

Luke

Actually, at that time I probably didn't have even 30 posts so it's not as if I was well-known around here enough to where folks would be looking for me.

Man, i got my R9 used with Antiquities. They are really nice sounding pups. And no offense, I have never had much luck with duncans in the past but these babies are keepers