Afwayu vs Aldrich

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I'm pretty sure Jerry Cantrell uses the Afwayu in his G&L's but the tamer 2nd degree black belt in his LP's. He's obviously in Eb/drop Db all the time as well.
 
I've used both in the same guitar for quite some time, although neither are in it anymore. (My CU 24) While I liked the Aldrich, I love the Afwayu.
They are actually quite similar pick ups and I find them both in the JB vein, although they sound quite different from that pick up.

I liked the Aldrich for rhythm a lot but not so much for leads. I thought It lacked a bit of sparkle and top end for legato runs and such. Even though I don't play clean much, I didn't love the Aldrich for cleans either.

The Afwayu has a great, tight, aggressive low end and has enough top end and sparkle and sustain making it great for leads and solos too. I find it great for cleans and splits well too. I put the set I have in my Suhr Modern and it sounds great in every position. I feel like I can go from extreme gain to alt country and everything in between and it all sounds great with the Afwayu. (The guitar has something to do with it too....) I also have another Afwayu in my Ibanez prestige and it sounds great in there as well.

Overall, I'd say the Afwayu is bigger, meaner and better overall for rhythm, leads and cleans. The Aldrich is NOT a bad pick up at all! I've considered putting it in other guitars lately too. I just prefer the Afwayu over it a little bit.
 
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I only had one experience with the Aldrich, and wasn’t good. I put one in a USA Washburn MG. Sounded bad; all mids and highs. Sold it pretty fast. However, after I sold it I realized it was the guitar that was a dud. No pickup I threw in could save it. Should’ve kept the Aldrich for another go with a better sounding guitar.
 
Racerxrated said:
I put one in a USA Washburn MG. Sounded bad; all mids and highs. Sold it pretty fast. However, after I sold it I realized it was the guitar that was a dud. No pickup I threw in could save it. Should’ve kept the Aldrich for another go with a better sounding guitar.
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I believe Afwayu is a slang version of "All for you". I have them in both of my LP's and they sound great. Very thick and beefy. I prefer them to the Aldrich in one of my PRS' which is a brighter and ok pickup. Just nothing special IMO.
 
Which is Wade's version of a JB? IS it the Angel Dust?
 
I had an Aldrich in the neck and Afwayu in the bridge of a LP. Loved the Suhr neck's sweetness, but switching to the bridge Afwayu was a stark contrast. I remember it being boomy and overpowering overall. Maybe in a PRS or a Ibanez with a hotter neck for a high-gain metal situation only it would work fine. I felt it robbed the LP of that LP sweetness that the Suhr retained.

Ended up putting a Suhr in the bridge, too. Love the combo now and sits nicely between ability to do hard rock and some sweeter classic rock type tones.
 
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