A2PRO (neck) --> CC / A2PRO / PG (bridge)?

[WaLLhaLLa]

I've read everything I could about this, but still can't make up my mind what to choose. I know it's been discussed before, but I just need to hear "choose this one, that's what you need".

This is my dilemma: I definetly want a A2PRO in the neck of my LP standard, but I don't know how to pair it. After a lot of reading, I decided that it was much better to choose a lo gain pup and get the OD from the amp than buying a high gain pup and losing the "mellowness" of a lo gain pup. So, '59/'59 and JB/'59 were not an option for me, and I narrowed it to these 3 combinations:

1) A2PRO (neck) / A2PRO (bridge)
2) A2PRO (neck) / CC (bridge)
3) A2PRO (neck) / PG (bridge)

They will be installed in my LP Standard (I believe I'm not the first one that uses one of these combinations in a LP ), and used for Hard Rock and some light heavy metal (amongst other quieter stuff).

But, this is what I see from what I could hear. CC sounds too dark, and PG too bright (perhaps more country than bluesy) for me. And A2PRO sounds just fine, but is it as good as it sounds? Is it really that good combination?

So, I have 3 questions,

a) Which combination should I choose? Considering I priorize warmer sound, clarity and beauty, and I think that if I ever want to sound trashier (megadeth, metallica), I could get an OD pedal, or get the dirtiness from my amp (this is just an idea, does it work that way?).

b) Aesthetical question: My LP is a Standard, black body, cream pickguard...would you say that black pickups without cover look better, or I just get the nickel-covered ones? I can't imagine my guitar with black pups, but perhaps you've already tried this and it looks 10,000 times better! And the third question is related to this one:

c) I know that the cover slightly modifies the tone of the guitar, but is it worth it to sacrifice the 'original' tone for better looks? Or is it so, that it is such a tinsy tone modification that one actually could choose the pup because of aesthetical reasons?

Thanks a lot!

Regards,
WaLLhaLLa

[jerryjg]

I say go the A2 Pro set, and get whatever color or combination you like. Nothing wrong with Chrome covers .Pics please and maybe we can help you decide on the covers or pickup colors for the axe.
EDIT_ I found where GWIF has a CC/A2P and he likes it, so that should be a great reccomendation.

[Rowan]

In my experience, covers warm the sound up a bit but also chop some treble. If I was exclusively soloing then a covered bridge would be my choice, but I've had problems with excessive feedback too. I'd go with open coils, especially since you're getting an A2p neck. I have an regular one and I think the sound would be too dull if it was covered.

[LesPaulRules]

I have an A2 Pro/CC combination in a Les Paul. Sounds big and smooth. My only concern was that many state the low end on the CC is lacking. I've found the low end fine with a cranked Marshall.

[scottish]

why is the 59/59 combo not an option for you? 59s are by no means high gain pups and honestly i think either them or the PGs are the do all end all of LP pups. Thats just my opinion

[Aceman]

All good combos and you can't go wrong with any - but you can miss what you want.

A2P set - great classic old PAF fatness. This is what you want. You'll love them. Think SLASH.

A2P/CC is Ultra FAT city. The CC is a particular pup and not for everyone. If an A2P is fat like high chlestoral, a CC is like needing a triple bypass. And - the mid boost is MONSTER. It is higher output, but not mega, and can be tough to tighten up the bottom and bring out the highs. Not really a metal pup, although it does some things well. I can hear the country sound you are talking about. It is also a goto pup in a strat for early VH surprisingly.

The A2P neck - PG bridge is about extremes. Big fat pup in the fat/dark neck area, and a bright pup in the brighter bridge zone. Great if you want to run that range. If not, it may sound vry extreme.

All great combos for different people - but I say go with the A2P set.

[ehogdog]

From the sound clips on the SD site I really like the sound of the Screamin' Demon bridge pup. It's gotten favorable reviews when matched with an A2P too and I think I'm going for this combo in my Washburn semi-hollow. Not to cause you any more grief, but have you thought about that set-up? Otherwise, I think the A2P set would be the way to go.

[WaLLhaLLa]

Ok, I'll go in order, first of all, this is the guitar, a left-handed epi (as a lefty I don't have so many different guitar options to choose from, that's why I try to make my guitars sound as good as possible!):

http://www.ooshop.es/images/elpstbk2.jpg

I'm still analizing how it would look with black open coil pickups, what would you say?

Anyhow, if it sounds way better with open coils, then I have nothing to think about!

JerryJg, LesPaulRules: I considered A2PRO / CC, but it's as Aceman says, it seems to sound ultra FAT, and I fear of what could happen if I never can set them properly to sound like I want...I won't be able to change the pickups once I buy them, so I have to be dead certain that they're what I want!

Scottish: I thought about the pair of '59s, with them I'll be able to achieve a wider range of sounds I think...but the a2pro in the neck sounds sooo good!. Is it possible to pair it with a 59 in the bridge? And by doing this, will I be able to sound harder than hard rock (megadeth, metallica)? Or is it just the same and I lose the sweetness of alnico II magnets? (I'm just asking, I actually thought about this combination, but I actually don't know if it's a good idea to pair alnico II's with V's...is this possible? and most important, is it useful?)

ehogdog: I like the dirty sound of the Screamin' Demon, but when clean, it sounds like it saturates the clean channel of the amp...is it a high gain pup?

I'm definetly thinking about the A2PRO/A2PRO combo...in a LP it has to sound right!

Thanks for all the answers!

PS: The main problem is that I have to decide before March 23rd! If it wasn't that way, I'd try a few...but now I will have to trust in your recomendations!

[Iron Horse]

No, Demon won't distort very early, and it's not a high gain pup. Magnets can be paired, and it's very common. Some use Alnico II in neck for smoother tones, while some use Alnico V to get the neck spot brighter. Alnico II in bridge position is used for vintage tones generally, and it warms up the bridge, but it won't be very tight and AII mags aren't made for metal. The Demon might be too bright for you, but if you want the LP to do decent metal tones, too, get teh '59 for bridge position, it's a basic PAF tone, works for all.
And yeah, it's not evil to use bright bridge magnet (Alnico V) with darker (Alnico II) neck magnet, though blueman335 might say so

[BigAlTheBird]

CC

But as Ace put it (perfectly), it is Fat City.

[jerryjg]

JerryJg, LesPaulRules: I considered A2PRO / CC, but it's as Aceman says, it seems to sound ultra FAT, and I fear of what could happen if I never can set them properly to sound like I want...I won't be able to change the pickups once I buy them, so I have to be dead certain that they're what I want!

Well, Duncan has a 30 day i believe exchange policy, so why cant you change the pickups if you dont like them?
Are you buying used?
Wish I had a dime for every pickup I wired in, then changed out cause it sucked, then sold and bought a different one.
As far as color goes, yeah you should probably look at picture and get some opinions (another thread) and maybe go to Guitar center and see how you like different combos. Most every combo can be looked at if you look through enough gear pages.

[Aceman]

A2P/59 might really be a great choice for you!

Oh yes - Double cream, covers are a non-issue. Very small (if any!) difference. Black with double cream is the shiznit!

A2neck, CC bridge is just a monster fat tone. The A2 bridge is far more balanced in that position tonally. But now that someone said A2P/59 - That's my new vote!

Double cream. No covers.

[WaLLhaLLa]

Is the combo A2P and '59 a well balanced combination? Will this give me the versatility to play from hard rock to heavy metal?

I heard this rule some time ago:

- Use the amplifier and any overdrive pedals you may need for gain
- Use the pickup for transparent translation between your guitar and your amp

According to this (and IF it's a good rule to consider)...should I choose the 59 over the A2P for the bridge? Will my guitar definetly sound 'better' with a 59 instead of a A2P?

If that's so, we have a winner!

My only concern is the "bright bridge-dark neck" issue...what do the people who speak against these evil combination say? And should I really worry?

I don't think I'll find cream covers for both pups before the week ends...I'll have to stick to the black open coils! (Black being better as nickel cover, right?) Here's an LP100 with black covers (my std looks way better with the cream pickguard ), but the idea is pretty much the same:

http://www.gibson.com/press/epiphone...P100-EB-PW.jpg

Jerryjg, yes, I know I have the 30-day return policy (or was it 21 days? anyway, I can't use it!)...but the thing is, a friend of mine is in LA right now, and he'll be my 'assistant buyer'...he buys my pickups and then he leaves the country. So I won't be able to change the pickups in case I don't like them!

[Iron Horse]

Well, that rule has nothing to do with '59 vs. A2P, since they are both relatively low in output. And that rule is not even nearly always true anyway, it depends on one's preferences on gain, compression, amp, guitar, pedals, style, for example. BUT lower output pickups do _generally_ have more versatility than _some_ higher output pickups, but the lower output pickups won't necessarily have so good split tones or out of phase -tones.

And no, the guitar won't certainly sound (and no, I didn't say that it certainly won't, ) better with '59 instead of the A2P in bridge, but I (and Aceman) think that it would suit your needs better, it's still vintage, but is more verstaile, because it has tighter lows, and is a tad more aggressive than A2P (but still not the least bit aggressive), so it can do metal, too.

E: Just get 'em, you won't be disappointed

[scottish]

aph2 in the neck and 59 in the bridge is hands down the best duncan combo i have ever tried. i loved it

[WaLLhaLLa]

Ok, thanks a lot, now I'm decided!

It'll be an A2P (neck) / '59 (bridge), and if I can't buy that combo, I'll buy 2 A2P's. In the worst case, 2 '59.

Just two last questions, about some reviews I've seen.

Would you say that the A2P in the bridge of an LP sounds dull?

and,

The '59 has that good ol' LP sound, right?

Thanks again!

[Iron Horse]

'59 at the LP bridge HAS the good ol´ LP sound.
But I wouldn't say the A2P bridge was dull, just not the one you want.

[Push to Shuv]

PG's!

[DazH]

i'd go 59 bridge & a2 neck. classic a5 versatile bridge bucker & nice smooth neck bucker.

[WaLLhaLLa]

One last question...how does the A2PRO neck work in an Epiphone w/mahogany body? I've heard that combined with this kind of mahogany (not highest-quality wood like in a Gibson) I won't hear any of the tonal properties of the A2PRO...instead, a '59 would work way better.

What would you say?