New Slash sig pickups. Been told they're "weak". Comments?

[dano8180]

Hey everyone, new-b here. I've got an Epi Slash tobacco burst from '07 and came with the Alnico II Pro's. I've been thinking of getting the new sig set with 500K CTS pots, caps, etc. and was told by my local tech in town that they were "weak by todays standards" and recommended going with a set of Pearly Gates instead. I'm pretty happy with the tone of the standard A2P's but figured the new set would be a bit better. Tone wise and musically I'm pretty much classic-blues rock based. So any comments from those that have heard/own these pickups and can comment on the "weak" statement would be appreciated. Thanks in advace!

[Gingrel]

Hi, welcome to the forum. The sound clips I've heard gave me this impression:

The neck was almost too round and fat. Some people might like it, but I preferred the PGn.

The bridge was awesome. Just the right amount of bite, while still maintaining that fat A2 tone.

However, if you're happy with the standard A2P set, I say save yourself the cash.

[Diocletian]

Hey everyone, new-b here. I've got an Epi Slash tobacco burst from '07 and came with the Alnico II Pro's. I've been thinking of getting the new sig set with 500K CTS pots, caps, etc. and was told by my local tech in town that they were "weak by todays standards" and recommended going with a set of Pearly Gates instead. I'm pretty happy with the tone of the standard A2P's but figured the new set would be a bit better. Tone wise and musically I'm pretty much classic-blues rock based. So any comments from those that have heard/own these pickups and can comment on the "weak" statement would be appreciated. Thanks in advace!

Comments?

Ha ha ha.


How's that? Not even worth replying to. If you're for real, your "tech" is an idiot.

[dano8180]

Yeah I'm for real; I was quite surprised myself. That comment is the reason I actually joined this forum! Thanks for the reply.

[Diocletian]

Yeah I'm for real; I was quite surprised myself. That comment is the reason I actually joined this forum! Thanks for the reply.

Well, no offence. "Today's standards" mean nothing. Everyone wants 60s, 70's or 80's standards anyway. Your "tech" is an idiot. I can't even imagine why anyone would come out with a statement like that.
Learn to do your own setups, and never speak to that guy again.

[John_L]

Well, no offence. "Today's standards" mean nothing. Everyone wants 60s, 70's or 80's standards anyway. Your "tech" is an idiot. I can't even imagine why anyone would come out with a statement like that.
Learn to do your own setups, and never speak to that guy again.

Translation of 'weak' "Please buy these more expensive EVH, Bareknuckle or EMG pickups so I can make more commission"

+1 for learning to do things yourself.

[Stef]

Well, no offence. Your "tech" is an idiot. I can't even imagine why anyone would come out with a statement like that.
Learn to do your own setups, and never speak to that guy again.

+1
ya really mad me laugh....the best post I've red in along time

[LoFiBrian]

IDK man, the regular AIIpro set you have in there is already awesome. Unless there is something you just hate about them then I recommend keeping them. The Slash sigs are just a slighty hotter variation with older style construction.

Your tech may not be too duncan savvy. The PG set is not too much stronger than any of the PAF style sets. It does have more top end bite and the bridge and neck pickups are very different in a good way...

But the stock A2P's are a awesome thick variation on a classic PAF style pickup.

[Gearjoneser]

IDK man, the regular AIIpro set you have in there is already awesome. Unless there is something you just hate about them then I recommend keeping them. The Slash sigs are just a slighty hotter variation with older style construction.

Yeah. Slash prefers low output pickups, but not everyone does.

If you want to keep your current neck pickup, but beef up your bridge, just buy a Custom 5 or Custom. If you want more beef either of those will do it for you.

[aneyekay1]

why not change the bridge with the slash model n leave the neck one stock

[JohnnyGuitarCA]

why not change the bridge with the slash model n leave the neck one stock

+1

[Diocletian]

The pickups you already have are fantastic. You're not going to notice much, if any difference with the Slash models.
Slash used stock A2Pros on much of his recordings. But even then, if you read his book he doesn't in the least suggest he used Duncans exclusively, far from it.

If you like the tone you already have, leave it alone. If not, look for a different pickup altogether. IMO.

[Stef]

The pickups you already have are fantastic. You're not going to notice much, if any difference with the Slash models.
Slash used stock A2Pros on much of his recordings. But even then, if you read his book he doesn't in the least suggest he used Duncans exclusively, far from it.

If you like the tone you already have, leave it alone. If not, look for a different pickup altogether. IMO.

which pickups did he use on APFD - in that, now famous LP clone from LA?

[J Moose]

which pickups did he use on APFD - in that, now famous LP clone from LA?

Plain old AII's...

[Diocletian]

which pickups did he use on APFD - in that, now famous LP clone from LA?

I thought A2Pros, but after reading his biography I'm really not so sure.

[jeremy]

I thought A2Pros, but after reading his biography I'm really not so sure.

it was mostly alnico II pros on afd and everything after too

[John_L]

it was mostly alnico II pros on afd and everything after too

Not all of AFD was was recorded on the Les Paul copy some of it was done on his BC Rich and some other parts he used Izzy's ESP tele.

[J Moose]

The slash pickups aren't night & day different from the regular old AII's... there is indeed a difference but its more in 'feel' then tone, not to say that they sound exactly the same. Sort of hard to describe...

By comparison the bridge pickup is ever so slightly (!!!) hotter while the neck is more 'open' sounding... more treble/harmonic content for sure.

If you want to make a switch and get some different sounding pickups in there, then I'd maybe think about going in another direction entirely... '59s or Full Shreds or something.

On the flip side if you're happy with the AII's but want a little more out of 'em... bit richer, faster transients/more connected to the amp, more sustain and definition then go for the slashers.

I posted a thread on here several weeks ago with audio clips... they'd probably help some, though the differences which were small to begin with were even smaller after being recorded AND dumped over to MP3.

[tab]

I pulled up a video that shows a lot of similarities between the new Slash A2 Pros and the first run SD A2 Pros from '86.

I've never A-B'd them, but construction and component wise, the new Slash pickups appear to be a recreation of the A2 Pros from 1986.

Vintage style construction without the price?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp23MWoqHE4

[Evan Skopp]

I pulled up a video that shows a lot of similarities between the new Slash A2 Pros and the first run SD A2 Pros from '86.

I've never A-B'd them, but construction and component wise, the new Slash pickups appear to be a recreation of the A2 Pros from 1986.

Vintage style construction without the price?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp23MWoqHE4

That video compares things like the bottom plate, the cable, the wooden spacer, and other appointments that are more cosmetic than sonic. In terms of tone, a 1986 APH (with a fully charged magnet) is going to sound identical to a 2010 APH (with a fully charged magnet). The winding spec on that pickup never changed. New one. Old one. Same tone.

The Slash signature model is going to sound hotter than a new APH or an old APH.