I think my A2Pn might not be an A2Pn

[JacobTM]

So,

I have an A2Pn, or at least, I thought I did. I bought it a while ago off a forum bro (honestly don't remember who or when), and was told it was an A2Pn, though it had no sticker.

It's very loud, with a huge booming bass in the neck of my SG. It absolutely dwarfs the Seth I have in the bridge. Even when I run it split, it's hotter than the full Seth, and I almost always run it split because its bass is too overwhelming when full.

This is not what I've heard A2Ps described as, and people have been really surprised when I've warned against A2Ps because they might be too bassy.

So I'm beginning to think that it's just not an A2Pn, possibly an A2Pb, or just something completely different. I don't own the tools to test resistance or anything like that, should I just grab some and see? If so, what do I need?

Thanks a ton,
Jacob

[Christopher Caruana]

I have an A2P in the neck of my LP. It has a loose bass, but not at all overpowering. The mids are very fat and the highs are smooth and sweet. I can get very "vocal" like Slash lead tones out of.


The way you describe it, it doesnt sound like you have an A2P at all

[dr. ad]

metering it will help; the A2Pb isn't listed as being much hotter than the neck, you should be able to tell if it's a PAF-type pickup or not straight up.

you can also have a look under the cloth tape and see what the wire looks like, the colour of the wire/coating on the bobbins will help.
if it's around 8K or less and has a vintagey brown thing happening on the bobbins, it might be a '59, might've had an a5 mag swapped into it, or maybe was just too close to the strings; if it's orange it's probably AWG43, if it's purple (AWG44) it's probably a jb.

this is just from my experience so may be wrong, but it'll give you a better idea than you have right now ; ]

[super rad stuff]

you can pick up a a cheap meter from a hardware or electronics store for around $10.

[dr.barlo]

metering it will help; the A2Pb isn't listed as being much hotter than the neck, you should be able to tell if it's a PAF-type pickup or not straight up.

you can also have a look under the cloth tape and see what the wire looks like, the colour of the wire/coating on the bobbins will help.
if it's around 8K or less and has a vintagey brown thing happening on the bobbins, it might be a '59, might've had an a5 mag swapped into it, or maybe was just too close to the strings; if it's orange it's probably AWG43, if it's purple (AWG44) it's probably a jb.

this is just from my experience so may be wrong, but it'll give you a better idea than you have right now ; ]

Another addition to these great suggestions:

If you open up the pickup, check the color on the upper corner of the pickup. Of course you should ask which corner, the upper (lower) corner if that pickup were to be installed as a bridge (neck) pickup.

It should be blue. Duncan uses dark blue for A2 magnets, black for a5. I don't remember the ceramics, was it red?

Anyways...

B

[hamerfan]

I don't remember the ceramics, was it red?

Anyways...

B

No color code for the ceramic. You can see it by the dull grey color of the material and of course by the weight.

[JacobTM]

What exact type of meter would I need to get for this? I've never done this before so I'm worried I'll go buy the wrong thing.

[Got_tone?]

I don't remember the ceramics, was it red?

Anyways...

B

No color code for the ceramic. You can see it by the dull grey color of the material and of course by the weight.

My vintage Duncan Custom had a ceramic magnet that's marked red.

[Sanford]

Jacob, look for a "digital multi-meter". Any hardware/electronics store should have one and the vest-monkeys working for them should be able to point you in the right direction if you ask for one.

After you get the multi-meter, you'll want to set it to measure resistance (might be labled as ohms), there will probably be about three or four settings for range (i.e. tens, thousands, etc. K=thousands).

There are several threads involving how to measure the resistance of a pickup that will help you from this point.

[dr.barlo]

No color code for the ceramic. You can see it by the dull grey color of the material and of course by the weight.

Ceramics are almost all black no? Or am I mistaken?

It's been so long that I have not used those magnets...

I have this faint memory that they were designated, as Got_tone? says, with the red color though. Anyways...

I agree their real color is pretty visible anyways.

By the way, now I am curious. What is the color of A8's?

B

[Diocletian]

I'm just glad you never agreed to trade my Jazz for your A2Pn, since we have no idea what it really is!