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Its funny, this post is similar to spidey's about getting some pups tweaked in. I loved my new JD/APS-1 combo when I first got it, but the quot;magicquot; wore off quick. Now I'm loving them again simply because I realized I needed to tweak my set up to make them sound right. They're my first A2 mag pups, and they have a lot more high-end than anything else I've played. I just had to make a few adjustments to maximize their qualities. The JD is bright and twangy, without being brittle or harsh, and the APS-1 has great quot;chimequot; and sparkle.

One odd thing though, and this part is for Lew: In your quot;Ultimate Tele threadquot;, I noted that you particulary love the combined sound of the two pups. For whatever reason, I don't care for that tone as much. Each pup has its own unique sound, that seems to get lost when combined. They still sound good, but they sound more generic when combined.

I just thought it was interesting that we hear this differently, in this case. Might be my cheapy Tele-clone also.

Artie

flank: I'm still gonna loan this to you. I just had a little delay.

Hi Artie, I like alnico 5 Tele neck pickups best...and when combined with the bridge pickup, an alnico 5 neck pickup gives me the jangley rythym tone I prefer. I like an uncovered Tele neck pickup when I'm playing the neck pickup alone, but when I'm combining it with the bridge pickup I like the covered version better. The balance seems better.

I love the Jerry Donahue when it's in a bright guitar. In a warm guitar it's sometimes not quite bright enough.

I love the Antiquity alnico 2 set in my Nocaster...but personally, I found the Alnico 2 Pro Tele neck pickup to be a little warmer than I prefer and it didn't have as much of the jangley tone as I would have prefered. Not quite sparkley enough for my tastes.


Originally Posted by LewguitarHi Artie, I like alnico 5 Tele neck pickups best...and when combined with the bridge pickup, an alnico 5 neck pickup gives me the jangley rythym tone I prefer. I like an uncovered Tele neck pickup when I'm playing the neck pickup alone, but when I'm combining it with the bridge pickup I like the covered version better. The balance seems better.

I love the Jerry Donahue when it's in a bright guitar. In a warm guitar it's sometimes not quite bright enough.

I love the Antiquity alnico 2 set in my Nocaster...but personally, I found the Alnico 2 Pro Tele neck pickup to be a little warmer than I prefer and it didn't have as much of the jangley tone as I would have prefered. Not quite sparkley enough for my tastes.Lew, how do you think the JD combines with a vintage A5 neck pickup for a good middle position sound?.....the JD is a little overwound, but it still seems to be in the vintage territory, isnt it?

Lew, you should try one of those Dimarzio Twang King pickups for the neck position of one of your teles sometime.......i love the way mine sounds, Butch Snyder was right, it is a very good pickup for such a low price


Originally Posted by LewguitarI love the Jerry Donahue when it's in a bright guitar. In a warm guitar it's sometimes not quite bright enough.

I wonder if thats one of the quot;back-handquot; benefits of my cheap chipwood/sawdust body. It might actually be complimented by the JD.

Artie


Originally Posted by flankLew, how do you think the JD combines with a vintage A5 neck pickup for a good middle position sound?.....the JD is a little overwound, but it still seems to be in the vintage territory, isnt it?

Lew, you should try one of those Dimarzio Twang King pickups for the neck position of one of your teles sometime.......i love the way mine sounds, Butch Snyder was right, it is a very good pickup for such a low price

I like it. I've used it with a number of differant neck pickups. Right now I'm using it with an alnico 5 Antiquity Surfer Strat neck pickup in my MIJ Tele Custom...alder body. I also like the Duncan Custom Shop quot;Tele ala Stratquot; neck pickup: an alnico 5 covered Tele neck pickup that looks stock but has the output of a Strat neck pickup. I've also used it with the Fralin covered Tele Stock neck and uncovered Fralin Blues Special Tele neck pickup. The only thing about the Jerry Donahue is that it's an alnico 2 fat, midrangey pickup...it is not as glassy or steely bright as most alnico 5 bridge pickups. So, IMO, it sounds best in guitars that have a bright resonance. I've been using it in my alder bodied guitars. Lew


Originally Posted by ArtieTooI wonder if thats one of the quot;back-handquot; benefits of my cheap chipwood/sawdust body. It might actually be complimented by the JD.

Artie

Probably so! Nothing wrong with an inexpensive guitar as long as it sounds good. Some of my favorite Strats and Teles that I own are inexpensive MIJ Squires from the 80's! Lew


Originally Posted by LewguitarNothing wrong with an inexpensive guitar as long as it sounds good.

Its probably been said before . . . but that is so profound.

Artie


Originally Posted by LewguitarI like it. I've used it with a number of differant neck pickups. Right now I'm using it with an alnico 5 Antiquity Surfer Strat neck pickup in my MIJ Tele Custom...alder body. I also like the Duncan Custom Shop quot;Tele ala Stratquot; neck pickup: an alnico 5 covered Tele neck pickup that looks stock but has the output of a Strat neck pickup. I've also used it with the Fralin covered Tele Stock neck and uncovered Fralin Blues Special Tele neck pickup. The only thing about the Jerry Donahue is that it's an alnico 2 fat, midrangey pickup...it is not as glassy or steely bright as most alnico 5 bridge pickups. So, IMO, it sounds best in guitars that have a bright resonance. I've been using it in my alder bodied guitars. Lew

does the lower the neck pickup is make the middle position sound better, and likewise for the bridge pickup?


Originally Posted by flankdoes the lower the neck pickup is make the middle position sound better, and likewise for the bridge pickup?

I like the JD raised up as high as it can practically go. (As per Lews recomendations.) But the APS-1 seems to sound better lowered down a bit.

The further from the strings, the less treble. The closer the poles are to the strings the brighter and louder the pickup will sound. But you have to find the sweet spot: to close and the magnetic polepieces start to pull the wound strings out of tune.

The effect is cumulative meaning if the strings are being pulled out of tune by the neck and middle pickups you can adjust one pickup, either the middle or neck pickup, further away to minimize the effect. I usually keep the neck pickup in a Strat closer to the strings than the middle pickup because I rarely use the middle pickup by itself.

The bridge pickup can usually be set closer to the strings than the neck or middle...probably because the string can't flex and be pulled out of tune as easily near the bridge.
Lew

There's a complex frequency phase-cancellation effect when using two pickups together. Certain frequencies cancel out or reinforce each other leaving almost a hollowish fixed-position flanger sound. So-- changing the level and respose ie. the height of one of the pickups will change the interaction between them. It's very noticable on a Strat-- I've played for hours tuning position 4 to the ultimate quack sound.

I would say mess around with the relative heights and see if you can find the sweet spot.

Thats an interesting idea that I've never thought about before. I always tweak the pups individually. I'll give that a go.

Artie

Artie. I have JD and APH neck but I've never used them together becuase I figured the difference in output is too great, meaning JB being overpowered by APH neck. No matter how hot JD is, it is still singlecoil and no matter how weak APH neck is, it is still humbucker. So how did you solve this issue? Also, are they tonally competible each other?

Brisk, Artie has it paired with an APS1 strat single coil i believe....just a misunderstanding


Originally Posted by flankBrisk, Artie has it paired with an APS1 strat single coil i believe....just a misunderstanding

hit me with your guitar!


Originally Posted by briskhit me with your guitar!

which one? the les paul is heaviest, but the Tele is tough as hell and i could swing it faster...


Originally Posted by flankwhich one? the les paul is heaviest, but the Tele is tough as hell and i could swing it faster...

How about the air guitar you always play?


Originally Posted by flankBrisk, Artie has it paired with an APS1 strat single coil i believe....just a misunderstanding

Exactly. But don't feel bad brisk. Someone else made the same mistake in another thread where I was talking about this. Both the humbucker, and single are called Alnico II Pro's.


Originally Posted by briskHow about the air guitar you always play?

my air guitar is too precious.....i will let you off the hook this time

For me, tele means A5 magnet TWANG. So I paired STL-1b (vintage for broadcaster) with SSL2 and SSL2 RWRP. I like this combo better than JD/APS combo.