Seymour Duncan APS-1 Alnico II Pro

Single coil passive pickups pretty much in the impedance range of a standard USA strat pickup.

I've replaced the stock Tokai pickup on my 1983 Strat 57 copy as they were rather harsh in a vintagey sort of way - but mostly because being vintage design pickups emphasised the G string too much - problem with it not being a wound G I guess.

The output level is slightly higher than a stock Fender Strat but it's more Hi Fi than a strat. More bass, treble, and more detail in the sound. It's like you can hear everything the string gives is such deatil - very musical. Just makes you want to play and listen. I changed all three and resisted the option to use a stacked bridge or hotter bridge PU. I wanted this pretty much stock - but better than USA stock. If your looking to change the sound of your Srat radically this won't do it - if you want to get more tone from the strings this is the one.

I'd definately buy these again - right on the money for what I was looking for. (It made me think I should change my stock USA tele pickups for these as well. We'll see.) Compared to stock Strat, these are similar but even more Stratty if you know what I mean. The bridge PU seems a little hotter so the tone is more rounded - much easier to use bridge only now with so much better tone.

I've been playing 45 years so trust me - these are good and if you like your Strat, you'll like it even better with these. There's no surprises in changing to these, just more of what we all like about the Strat. I considered the Antiquities but couldn't justify the cost - so I saw these as a close option - no scatter winding and irregularities of the handmade Antiquity - but I could live without those features. At ??54 each (about $100) they're not cheap, but worth it if you want better than stock USA Fender sounds. An upgrade on the stock USA Strat is never going to be cheap is it? They are a little noisy - but that's part of getting that extra sparkle these PU give you. Just avoid sitting next to neon and dimmer switches.

Single coil, passive strat replacement pickups.

I got a complete set of these p/ups to put in a Fender-type Stratocaster I put together myself - alder body, rosewood neck. I had to get the central reverse-wound (rwrp) separately, but they are all the same model. I have used heaps of different Strat pickups before and from the description, I thought these sounded like the ones for me. I was right.

I believe Albert Lee and Jerry Donahue use these, for whatever that's worth.

I think I have found my Strat pickups for the future. My project guitar just sounds like a Strat should. Medium level output, not too overpowering. Sweet, mellow, but all clarity.

Importantly, I can finally use the bridge pickup without cringing. I always wire the bridge position to the tone control anyway, but here it pays off big-time. The rosewood neck maybe helps too (softer sound), but the bridge sounds sweeter and more musical, especially if you roll the treble off slightly. With a bit of crunch from a pedal or amp, plus a little compression, you have a fat, singing lead tone that is almost humbucker-like (think Gibson SG). Great for country, or Rory Gallagher-style rock'n'roll.

These are not spectacular or 'unusual' sounding pickups, but you just notice that the tone is clear, warm and detailed in all positions. Proper Strat sound.

I have been playing over 20 years now and have used tons of gear. I have got semi-acoustic guitars, 335 etc, but I have always been a Strat fan.

In the past I have used Fender Texas Specials, various other Seymour Duncans, noiseless, humbucking, split coils, P-90 types etc, etc. I wanted a not-too shrill sounding regular Strat sound, you know? Texas Specials are okay for a heavy blues workout, but not exactly subtle. I got fed up of their bassy, dirty, overwound tone, especially for country playing - in that context, they sound nasty and unmusical. I was never a huge fan of Stevie Ray Vaughn and his fabled tone, anyway. Some people swear by Van Zandt pickups, but they are just Texas Specials, only tighter and more compressed. Overwound does not equal more output, in any case.

These are definitely one item I would take from my project Strat, if I wanted to rebuild it. I imagine they would sound good on a maple-neck model too. I would search Ebay for replacements to put in other guitars of mine. I have come full circle and gone back to traditional bright, sparkling, transparent Strat pickups, that are not cold or tinny. These pickups make a Strat sound like a Strat, with enough punch to stand out, but clear and sweet too.

Humbucking

- Gibson Les Paul Standard
- Neck and bridge
- Factory Burstbuckers
- N/A
- Slash uses them religiously
- I wasn't totally happy with the Burstbuckers that came in my LP from the factory - the sound was too "soft" ... not enough tonal range.

- Output is super hot. Very sensitive and a huge tonal range. These pickups can hum and rattle my windows or scream and scare the hell out of my girlfriend's cat.
- I play through a '87 Marshall Silver Jubilee hooked into a Marshall 1960A 4x12 cab.
- The tone is the best part! The range is SO huge.
- My styles vary somewhat - from classic rock and blues to punk rock. These pickups cover that range perfectly.
- As stated, I have them in both my neck and bridge positions and

- Absolutely.
- 15 years. I have a Gibson LP Standard, Gibson SG Standard, my lovely Jubilee, and a lil Gibson Songwriter Deluxe acoustic.
- I love everything about these pickups. The ONLY gripe I have and it may be a bit overbearing is - as hot as they are - I can't make as many mistakes!
- I wanted a nice vintage tone and played around with some P90's ... but, I must admit, my preference for Slash ultimately lead me to these.
- N/A
- Nope - with my LP, my Jubilee and my Alnico II's, I'm there. It's been a long, expensive journey!

Pickup features: Passive humbucking
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Les Paul Standard
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Gibson 490R and 498T (stock)
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: slash
You musical style(s): blues, blues rock and 60's/70's rock
Reason for pickup change: The tone of the stock pickups was too muddy, and a bit harsh and overbearing. I was looking for a PAF-ish sounding pickup that "cut through" better than the stock pickups without being too bright. Something that sounded sweet and didn't have too high of an output (like the Duncan JB I had installed in the bridge at one time). I was contemplating P-90s for a more "cutting" blues sound but I saw a few blues players on TV using humbucker-equipped Gibsons and getting the sound I was looking for, so I decided that humbuckers would be able to get the sound I was looking for.

Perceived output level: Not as much output as the stock Gibsons
Tone: slightly greater in the upper mid/treble frequencies
Sonic evaluation: These pickups have a clarity to them, they cut through the sound of distorted speakers and power tubes without being shrill or harsh. They have a subtle sweetness to them that was lacking in the stock pickups. Their output doesn't drive the amp as much as the stock pickups, basically the amp does all the work and pickups just provide a certain "voice" to your guitar sound. The sound is no longer muddy, I can finally get the classic Les Paul sound I hear from records and the key was the pickup swap. The combined pickup sound is no longer muddy, I don't have to turn down the volume of the neck pickup in that setting anymore. The neck pickup sounds deep and smooth as it should without sounding too sludgey. I was finally able to cop the "Money for Nothing" sound on the neck pickup. The bridge pickup sounds much sweeter, especially for clean tones. I didn't think that bridge humbuckers could get a happening clean tone until I tried this. For clean tones, these humbuckers sound just as nice as single coils, although they have a humbucker tone to them. I play through a Mesa Blue Angel 4x10 amp with the Eminence alnico speakers, and I use a V-Twin overdrive. The real test for these pickups was trying them on the Blue Angel's 6v6 mode, which can sound quite muddy, but these pickups cut through ver nicely. These pickups suit this setup perfectly, and I feel they would be great in any "blues" rig.

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

Comments: Overall I could not be happier with what these pickups have done for my Les Paul, they've gotten rid of the muddiness, enhanced the cleans, and I am finally able to acheive all those classic Les Paul sounds (Jimmy Page, etc.) There are other pickups in the Duncan line sort of like these (Seth Lover, Antiquity) and these aren't as vintage-authentic, but to me, they get a happening vintage tone. They don't have the covers so they dont have an authentic look, but unlike the other two pickup lines I just mentioned they are wax potted to prevent feedback and to me that's a plus.

Pickup features: Single Coil Passive
Impedence or other specs: no idea!

Model of guitar or bass: Custom Made Strat
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: Lace Hot Gold (middle), JB Jr. (bridge)
Artists using this pickup: ?
You musical style(s): Rock, classic rock, hard rock
Reason for pickup change: I didnt change it, but I wanted a smooth sound for clean songs, such as SRV's "Lenny" and songs similar to that. I simply wanted a good smooth neck pickup to play the nondistorted stuff and to have a smooth warm bassy vibe to it.

Perceived output level: Normal
Tone: bassy, smooth, warm.
Sonic evaluation: The pickup is in a strat, and I play through a Fender Hot Rod 40 Watt Tube amp. This pickup is very bassy and articulate, great for clean sounds. It is a noisy pickup, but if you look past that it's all good.
When distorted, this pickup loses a decent bit of tonal clarity and is quite noisy. I highly reccommend it you intend to play clean smooth stuff in the neck. If you want it for loud distorted stuff, get the humbucker version. Dont expect to crank out heavy metal tunes.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Good for smooth rock, classic rock, jazz. Not metal.

Comments: I have been playing for about 4 years, and am pretty damn good for my age. While four years seems like nothing, I know many things about guitars and am extremely picky in my search for the right sound. If lost or stolen, I would probably get some Texas Specials. It's nothing against my pickups, just that I want a set (psychological thing I guess). But this pickup is great as hell for clean stuff. Dont expect to crank out heavy metal tunes. I give this pickup an 8 because it is noisy and there is no such thing as a 10!

Pickup features: passive single coil
Impedence or other specs: left handed string path for right handed guitar

Model of guitar or bass: Custom Fender Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: n/a
You musical style(s): blues/rock
Reason for pickup change: New guitar project

Perceived output level: about the same as any stock Fender pickup
Tone: Totally awesome. Warm, clear, articlulate lows, powerful highs
Sonic evaluation: Custom-made strat. Ash body, maple neck, left-handed trem, all nitro. Modded 6/15 watt Gibson Goldtone with Marshall ext. cab.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: These pickups are great in all positions. The bridge postion has more bite than most strats, probably due to the ash body.

Comments: I have been playing for 30 years. I have four strats, one tele-thinline, a Les Paul and four acoustics. 1965 Fender Deluxe Reverb, 1975 Vibrolux Reverb modded to Blackface and Tweed specs, Gibson Goldtone. I have tried various pickups through the years and the Alnico II magnets are the way to go. No longer searching for the "tone". These pickups allow you to get numerous tones without using effects. Great tone. Great Value.

Pickup features: passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: dunno

Model of guitar or bass: Godin LG
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: A custom Seymour Duncan Custom Custom in the bridge and a Seymour Duncan Jazz II in the neck
Other pickups on guitar: n/a
Artists using this pickup: Dunno
You musical style(s): Whatever I have to play. Punk, Rock, Funk, Jazz, Blues, Church etc
Reason for pickup change: The stock pickups just didn't really capitalize on the tone of the guitar. FOr clean the bridge pickup was TOO charp and the Neck was too twangy. For Gain the Bridge was too dirty. It didn't like many amps.
I emailed all my particulars to Seymour Duncan (guitar make, model wood composition etc)along with my preferred tone (LP custom) and they recommended the Alnico II pro.

Perceived output level: Based on what I've tried the pickup is about as hot as a PRS Dragon II or the vintage anico pickups that come in some of the LP custom models.
Tone: Full and warm for clean, especially with both running at once. The distorted tone is sweet and sings like a nymph.
Sonic evaluation: I'm using my Godin LG ($765 canadian guitar) with a Mesa Dual rectifier with the Chinese 420 6L6s (which really enhance the sweetness of the pickups) and a Marshall 4x12 with Celestion G12T-75s.
I personally like the combination. The tone of my guitar is roughly comparable to a PRS standard with Dragon IIs albiet slightly less bassy. ALso close to an LP custom with a little sweeter/ brighter distorted tone and a little more glassy/colder clean tone.
I find the guitar (with the pickups) to be quite the cameleon. Good at what I need it for. (versitility) However, if you are more concerned with obtaining a signature tone then finding your own I'd suggest avoiding this setup.
A little anecdote, I was at Long and McQuade and some guy was using my head to test a Gibson Flying V. The guitar was shredding with INSANE metal tone (me being a nonmetal player and all) ON a whim I plugged my guitar in with the same settings and to everyone's surprise my guitar one upped the Flying V.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Everything I need too. Punk, Jazz, Blues, Rock, Metal, Funk, church

Comments: If they were stolen I'd probably like to try PRS Dragon IIs.
Guitar is my second instrument. Been playing for about 3 1/2 years now. Other gear?? Does a Piano count??
I love the versitility and the compatibility with my amp. Hate?? The price!!!!
I compared after the fact with a Fender American Strat, Les Paul Custom with Vintage alnico II pickups, PRS standard with Dragon IIs, and a pile of other Godin's with stock pickups. I chose it based on the advice at Seymour Duncan and against the advice of others and I lucked out, plain and simple.
I wish it came with Chrome covers. For that much $$$s it should have had the covers
I don't really have a holy grail image of tone that I'm searching for. I like lots of different sounds. If I had more $$$s I'd have a garage of different guitars with lots of different pickup combinations. I like the tone I have now.
I think I've said enough

Pickup features: Black, 4 wire passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Patrick Eggle Berlin Pro
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Seymour Duncan '59
Other pickups on guitar: Seymour Duncan Custom Custom (which replaced a Seymour Duncan JB)
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change: The '59 was too bright. I just hated the way it sounded, and I was looking to replicate the warmth of my trusty Les Paul.

Perceived output level: Plenty loud enough to screw right down and save your sustain & intonation (those POWERFUL magnets are bad news with 10-52 strings!), lower in single coil mode obviously.
Tone: Warm! Try it with loads of gain and all the tone off for that perfect lead tone . . .
Sonic evaluation: I use a (heavily modified) Jim Dunlop Crybaby, a Triaxis, A Rocktron Intellifex, A MESA Simul-Class 2-Ninety, and either 2 or 4 Marshall 4x12"s.
The tone is exactly what I wanted; the overall sound benefits from a tone control which I fitted at the same time (instead of the rotary switch the Eggle had before) and there's a coil tap for both pickups on the tone pot.
Versatile isn't the word . . .

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I do many varied styles; this pickup always sounds good!

Comments: I'm lucky enough to play in a rock / blues covers band, and a showband, as well as sessions. All the versatility I need . . .
Originally, it was a toss between these and those EMG 'Zakk Wylde' pickups, but the flexibility of the 4 wiring swung it for me. I'm pleased I made the right choice!

Pickup features: passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 8k

Model of guitar or bass: epiphone lp std
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: stock
Other pickups on guitar: seymour duncan duncan custom
Artists using this pickup: slash
You musical style(s): alt. rock/ indie
Reason for pickup change: well, as everyone knows, epi pickups blow goats big style. muddy tone and squeal like a motherf*cker.

Perceived output level: slightly more than stock, not overpowering though
Tone: bassy and well rounded/balanced/.
Sonic evaluation: epi lp standard into trace elliot C50 tube amp. this neck pu is great for clean work, either fingerpicked single notes or chord rhythym. very warm tone, nice on the ear, especially with the mahogany body of the LP. with a bit of gain it all sounds very bluesy with still quite good definition for a normally muddy position. i wouldn't go so far as to use fuzz however. that's what bridge pu's are for. yip. very, very good tone, alnico 2 magnet IS more musical, you can really tell the difference.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: i play alternative rock like .....trail of dead, at the drive in style stuff with a band. yes it suits me. good for a bit of g n' r from time to time to. suitable for neck only.

Comments: i would replace it with an identical one, i like it that much.
i have been playing 3 years, i own a fender telecaster and my trace elliot amp, vintage rat, morley wah, ibanez echo machine and marshall bluesbreaker.
the tone is very warm and musical, best suited to clean but good with a bit of gain. i hate.......nothing.
i compared it to the gibson neck LP p.u. and the duncan '59. this won. cos it sounded WAY better and more defined.
........eh..............yip.......that's all.

Pickup features: Passive HB
Impedence or other specs: Um, I like the X-Ray Specs!

Model of guitar or bass: Les Paul Custom
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: stock 490R and 498T
Other pickups on guitar: na
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): all varieties of rock, soul, indie, etc...
Reason for pickup change: beautiful guitar came with exceptionally crappy pickups. (you'd think you'd get something nice for that kind of money, right?)

Perceived output level: Regular
Tone: Pretty even, but leans toward trebly (which is fine b/c you can alway roll of some treble)
Sonic evaluation: I'm running this guitar through a Fender Blues Deluxe or a 100 watt Marshall. These pups give a great, sparkling clean tone, super for reggae or soul or oldies-type stuff. They handle overdrive well and excell at handling gain, while maintaining an earthyness. I mean, they don't sound mechanical they way the stock ceramics did in my LP. You get a sweet warm tone this way.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: probably not ideal for heavy metal

Comments: I might buy them agian, but i'm always wondering if there's something EVEN BETTER out there. You all know what I'm talking about. Like when you love your girlfriend but find yourself checking out ladies on the street. I might try Rio Grandes in my other LP. I ordered SD '59 for my Epi Sheraton II. SD are good people, answered all my questions on the phone. I like that.