Seymour Duncan APH-1 Alnico Pro

Black humbucking passive pickup

I fitted this pickup into the neck position of my Gibson Explorer replacing the stock 496r , I replaced the stock pickup cuz' it was just too damn hot ! , I needed something that actually reproduced the sound of the string .....

The sound of this pickup is awesome !! pure and simple is the sound and the description of it . It has just the right blend of Output , bass / treble is just nice .. it's not muddy at all but yet not too toppy .. just right , i was going to put a SD 59 in the neck but took a chance on this pickup ... glad i did ! , this pickup will cover it all from hard & heavy to light and clean picking .. and it still retains the natural overtones of the string even at full tilt .

I would definately put another one in my other guitars .. not a second thought .

black double coil humbuckers. 4 conductor wiring plus ground. same pickup as that guy that wears the Top hat with the curly hair in his face and has had david bowie as a stepdad in a certain time in his childhood. True..read his book.

2005 gibson les paul classic.. wine red.. it seems that Gibson has a sense of humor when it comes to this model..they put the 500T/496R combo on it and to me , it's like putting snow tires on a ferrari.

the Alnico pros replaced both neck and bridge on that guitar.

the output level of these pickups is about Medium. even closer to low. i'm using a AC30 with vox bulldog speakers
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the tone of the actual pickups is the closest i would say to the guitar's natural unplugged sound.

it sounds pretty mild clean..if you want overdrive, you have to dial it from the amp more than other guitars..

okay..here's the scoop on these pickups because Slash puts them in his lespauls...
these pickups are good if, and only if, the natural sound on your guitar is good . that means that if your guitar's dry sound , like the Les paul classic i had (sold it), isn't good, the pickups won't have anything to make it sound better.
therfore, if you have a guitar with a whammy, or it's a bit dull, don't get these..get a JB or a Dimarzio distortion to enhance the dullness and make it sound full.
i tried one of them les paul slash reissues at a store and the reason the guitar sounded amazing is because it was well built, it had the LONG neck tenon (classics have a short tenon) and it sounded good and acoustically loud unplugged.. with the marshall head i was plugged into, it was pure magic..

Pickup features: Hunbucker Passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 2004 Epiphone Les Paul Classic
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Epiphone HB6N (neck) , HB8B (bridge) (both came stock)
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change: Stock Epiphone pickups were too muddy and lifeless.

Perceived output level: Low - moderate
Tone: Balanced and clear, overdrive sounds have character
Sonic evaluation: Epiphone Les Paul Classic - Crybaby Wah - Marshall Mg 250
I had the bass and middle tone on my amp turned to 0, and the treble turned to 10 just to try to get a reasonable tone. The stock pickups were just lowsy, nothing but muffled mud. At first I blamed the solidstate amp I have, but realized that other guitars of high price values sounded amazing through it, without the tone setting issues. The new pickups were well worth the money and made the cheap Les Paul sound quite amazing. Even though the Duncan's have a little less output than the stock Epi's, because they are clear and full of ajustable tone (with amp settings), it seemes to have a more crisp bite, that makes up for the output loss and actually makes the pickups sound hotter.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: classic rock not good for shredders

Comments: If your in the same guitar situation as me, I recommend these pickups for you.I cant say how they would sound with bolt-on neck insturments or guitars with different wood. However these pickups have made my Epi Les Paul sound go from a joke China jobbie to a well respectable and playable insturment, still at less than a third of the price of a real Gibson.

Pickup features: Humbucking
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass:
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Vintage low-side.
Tone: Balanced and articulate
Sonic evaluation: PSSSST! Hey You! The guy that loves his mid to late 60s SG Standards (or any other Gibson T-Top Humbucker guitar)...Get a PAIR of the APH-1N pickups (neck position) and put them in a humbucking guitar you don't worry about taking out to gigs or jams and get pretty dang close to what a good pair of T-Tops in a 40 year old Gibson SG sounds like. Use the neck model in the the bridge position and get that open, smooth and mild grind you just don't seem to get with "bridge calibrated--read: overwound" pickups.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I use this pickup from blues to fusion with great results. Complex chords sound articiulate and ring out clearly. Kick in the drive and roll back the tone just a bit and you are in EJ-land or Shawn Lane-ville.

Comments: Absolutely a seasoned players humbucking dream. Remember! Use the Neck pickup for the bridge position as well!

Pickup features: Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: High 7's low 8's

Model of guitar or bass: Les Paul 1973 Standard Tobbaco Burst
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Seymour 59 and Gibson Angus Young
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Warren Haynes, lot more people than you think, I'm sure
You musical style(s): Blues, Funk, Rock, Soul, 70s Rock - see www.olinmusic.com
Reason for pickup change: Bridge was too brittle through some amps, SD 59 is just basic, notm uch life, not much dynamics - an 8 as far as ratings, doesnt do you right or wrong.

Perceived output level: Smooth attack, VERY dynamic, sweet, lots of harmonics, easy to control vibe from vol and tone controls
Tone: Bassy, very articulate, its not muddy like people would make you think, but definitely softer in the highs to prevent harshness or over brightness, however, it growls when you need it to.
Sonic evaluation: Perfect pickups, truly gives your guitar the vintage vibe but with clarity and control. One person said kinda HI FI, I agree/disagree. They are very clear and articulate but vintage-y at the same time. Kind of Shocker. I will say the bridge doesn't growl enough for harder players, unless you have a really tough (re: JCM 800 or Mesa type AMP). I like the guitar to have a punch to it, but this is my vintage guitar so I don't mind. I have higher power in some other rigs. I will agree you need a darker pickup (GIBSON 57, Custom Custom??, Air Norton (I know this), or Another AL PRO 2) otherwise one will be too bright.
If you want a perfect matched set, this is a great choice, good price. I have not tried Fralin's, but I hear very mixed reviews, esp from techs. This is very vintage sounding through my SEYMOUR 100 WATT Amps, MARSHALL JCM's, Fenders with Jensens. It has snap and growl, and is NEVER harsh. I hate giving myself headaches. I very much recommend these. I can say I never cared much for the 59 or JB, but this is my fave SD, and a great all around choice for any guitar, esp Les Paul or PRS.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: All, exc HEAVY METAL, but Hard rock and jazz, shocker - it works.

Comments: These are a no brainer set. If you aren't on the holy grail quest, You need to gig and record, and you don't have time to search, this is your answer. If you want smooth tone, and are not looking for brightness, this is a great choice. Works in conjunction with any amp. Full of life, soul, and harmonics. Hear me at www.olinmusic.com or www.myspace.com/olin

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: In the 7K range or something

Model of guitar or bass: Schecter C1 Blackjack
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: SH-1 '59
Other pickups on guitar: SH-5 Duncan Custom
Artists using this pickup: Slash
You musical style(s): rock, hard rock, metal, post-punk, retro punk, cybergrungetechopop
Reason for pickup change: I wanted to try out this pickup.

Perceived output level: Really low output. Didn't stand a chance against the ceramic SH-5
Tone: Vintage sound, kind of brittle and flat
Sonic evaluation: Okay, so I took the SH-1 '59 Model out of this guitar because I wanted to get a good combo. I thought that it would balance up with the SH-5 Custom (also Classic Cover), and I was only half-right. I couldn't use it separately; the volume drop was too much. BUT I got some AWESOME tones with running the front coils together. My tech flipped the magnet and repotted the pickup for real 5-way switching. I LOVED the in-between positions, but in the end, I got rid of the guitar and ended up using a '59 in the neck of my other guitar. Let that be a lesson, folks: Ceramic and Alnico II mangets can sound great together, but they don't get along. Stick with Alnico V (like the '59) when combining with Ceramic. While this pickup probably sounds good for the right music, it didn't work alone for what I wanted it for. I get MUCH better tones out of the '59, which I use with an SH-6 Distortion (I like Ceramics, and I like their clean tones--no icepicks!). Sorry rock fans, I wouldn't even play Zep with this (unless it was combined with some of the coils from the SH-5).

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play rock, hard rock, metal, post-punk. THIS IS NOT A MATCH.

Comments: I would not buy this pickup again. It's limp, dudes. Get a '59 instead. The APH-1 isn't terrible, but it's got no balls.

Pickup features: Humbucker, Passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez GAX 70
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock
Other pickups on guitar: stock pickup on neck
Artists using this pickup: Slash
You musical style(s): rock, especially those from Guns N Roses
Reason for pickup change: the stock ones sounded trebly, too weak for distortion

Perceived output level: obviously more than the stock pickup.
Tone: balanced, more focus on mids
Sonic evaluation: I'm using my guitar straight into a Marshall G15RCD. This pickup has really improved my bridge tone. I'm into distortion which is more concentrated on the mids. And a FAT tone for soloing. Yeah, I'm happy with the tone I have now.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Rock

Comments: If its stolen, I'll buy it again. I'm crazy after Slash. Yeah. I really love the sound. Now I'm saving money to fix one at the neck.

Pickup features: passive humbucker; 4-conductor wiring
Impedence or other specs: Something like 8.4k ohms; similar to a PAF

Model of guitar or bass: MusicMan Sabre I (similar to Fender's Double Fat Strat), alder body, maple neck
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Dimarzio Super Distortion
Other pickups on guitar: Schaller Golden 50 in the neck position
Artists using this pickup: Slash, or so I'm told...
You musical style(s): Jazz, blues, rootsy rock 'n roll
Reason for pickup change: Super Distortion sounded woofy, dull and just plain stupid.

Perceived output level: Pretty much on a par with a Gibson PAF. Not nearly as hot as Super Distortions, definitely hotter than stock Strat single-coils...
Tone: This is a dark sounding pickup, with an emphasis on the 'vocal' mids; no screech. "Meaty."
Sonic evaluation: I use my old Sabre I as my axe for rock leads, strung with .010 to .046. I'll often record straight into my PC using a DI box and an amp-modeling plugin, or I'll plug straight into one of my old Fender tube amps. I generally don't like really bright or overly nasal sounding bridge pickups, and I've found that I really like the Alnico II Pro humbucker. Highs are "silky," not sharp, the mids are vocal and "singing," and the lows are very smooth, though not boomy. It's also the only humbucker I've found that sounds good when used in single-coil mode (tapped). In single-coil, the highs are more "sparkley," but there's still enough midrange and low end to let the sound speak with authority. If you're looking for an aggressive sound, this ain't it!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I mostly play straight-ahead jazz, but I use this guitar for recording and rock lead playing. The Alnico II Pro fits my style pretty well. I'm happy with it.

Comments: - I'd get another of these pickups if this were destroyed. It's a useful sound.
- I've been playing over 30 years. A long time.
- I have a nice Tele and a Gibson Howard Roberts jazzbox (the hollow one, not the "Fusion"). I have a couple of nice old Fender tube amps and an Ampeg Reverb-o-Rocket.
- Like I said, I love the smooth, vocal quality of the mids and highs, and the smooth lows that don't get muddy. It's got a "dark" tonal balance, but I like that.
- I've tried several other pickups in the bridge position of this guitar. The Dimarzio Super Distortion sounded muddy, woofy and stupid, while the Duncan 59 sounded too shrill and didn't have much "character." Duncan Allan Holdsworth model sounded thick, but more "aggressive" somehow (and was a lot hotter). I also tried a high-output pickup lifted out of a Dean guitar that sounded very nasal and "honky." At one point I had a late '70s Bill Armstrong L350 (I think) in there that sounded very sweet -- not too different from the Alnico II Pro, if memory serves. But that pickup is long gone... At one point I tried this Alnico II Pro in the neck position of my Tele (even though it's a bridge model), and it sounded very nice indeed, both in humbucking and single-coil modes. The pickup's darkness balanced out the inherent "pop" of the Tele's ash body pretty nicely.
- I'm very satisfied with this pickup, and it's been working flawlessly for over fifteen years.

Pickup features: Passive Humbuckers
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson LP Classic
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: 80's Gibson pickup engraved with Pat No 2,737,842
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Slash
You musical style(s): Rock and Roll and sweet blues
Reason for pickup change: curiosity

Perceived output level: Low output
Tone: Balanced, on the sweet-spot after polepiece and pickup height adjustments
Sonic evaluation: Right now in the studio they're on the LP connected to a Boss GT-6 to a pair of headphones. OMG they're the sweetest thing! Tone freaks might dismiss the usage of GT-6, but I tell 'ya that thing is absolutely useless until you READ THE MANUAL and TWEAK it. I used to own a Deluxe Reverb, Hot Rod Deluxe, and Boogie MK IV, but traded them all for a GT-6. Anyway back to the pickups. Before polepiece and height adjustments, it sounded dull. Out of curiosity I turned a few polepieces and suddenly THE TONE shows itself up. Then playing the height, both neck and bridge complement each other like.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Rock and Roll, Blues. Perfect match! The neck and bridge models are matched, so don't put a bridge model at the neck and vice-versa

Comments: If it were destroyed or stolen, my LP would have been gone also with it. I'll buy both the LP and the Alnico Pros in a snap. Been playing for 7 years. I used to have a big arsenal of gears (Boogie and Fender amps, tons of vintage analog time effects) but since now I'm in school, I'm back to a bedroom jammer - with the GT-6.
Things I like about these pickups: TONE, and surprisingly, price.
Things I don't like about them: Didn't work right out of the box, need some lovin' and tweakin'.
I compared with a bunch of boutique pickups, but I just can't justify the price difference.
I wish the pickups had been given free to musicians.
I think I've found THE TONE that I was looking for.

Pickup features: full size humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul Studio
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock (490R & 498T)
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Slash
You musical style(s): Blues, Rock, Metal
Reason for pickup change: G.A.S.

Perceived output level: Low!
Tone: Balanced bass and treble with slightly scooped mids
Sonic evaluation: Amps: Marshall JCM 900 & Line 6 POD
Dead-on Slash tone!!! Very clear and articulate. Neck is bassy but not muddy with distortion like a 490R. Bridge is very bright but not brittle. Not quite as much midrange as I'd like for good full clean tone.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:

Comments: These pups sound great, but if I only had one guitar, I'd go with something a little hotter.