Installed a set of Motor City Pickups "Afwayu" in my Charvel

[Chubtone]

I agree with everything psychodave says about the bottom end of the Afwayu. Of the "5" MCP Pickups I tried, including the Afwayu, all had a strong emphasis in the low end, NMCOT.

What's tickling your fancy these days in your axe bro?

Just plain old toneless cheap Seymour Duncans.

I hear you man. After going through almost every type of boutique pickup on the planet these last few years I am back to the Duncans I always played before. It's not as exciting or exclusive but it's hard to think of all my favorite old tones and dispute the fact that 80% of them were using Duncans to get there. YMMV.

 

[bmf5150]

I agree with everything psychodave says about the bottom end of the Afwayu. Of the "5" MCP Pickups I tried, including the Afwayu, all had a strong emphasis in the low end, NMCOT.

What's tickling your fancy these days in your axe bro?

Just plain old toneless cheap Seymour Duncans.

I hear you man. After going through almost every type of boutique pickup on the planet these last few years I am back to the Duncans I always played before. It's not as exciting or exclusive but it's hard to think of all my favorite old tones and dispute the fact that 80% of them were using Duncans to get there. YMMV.

a duncan 59 is a great pickup and cant be beat for the price range..

 

[ericsabbath]

the '59 was the most awful neck pickup I ever had
my les paul sounded like my $50 acoustic with 9 years old nylon strings
really low, scooped and muffled
and it definitely wasn't the guitar or wiring fault
I even rewired it twice to make sure
had 5 or 6 other neck pickups in that guitar and all of them sounded much clearer and louder, even the stock pups
maybe I have a different taste for neck pups

 

[blackba]

So did you hear a little more warmth with the Afwayu versus the Aldrich (bridge)? Both the Aldrich and Afwayu work really well in a les paul. The Aldrich neck is growing on me in one of my les Pauls....

Brian, what differences do you hear between the two in a Lester?

Keep in mind all my Les Pauls are pretty different. I have an Aldrich in my '73 LP custom and '03 LP standard LE. I had the Afwayu in my '95 LP studio. The Aldrich seemed to have more clarity and cut. The Afwayu was warmer and had more bass. They actually sounded pretty close.

I recently sold the LP studio and the Afwayu as well. I put the 498T stock pickup back in to sell the guitar and the last time I played it before I sold it, the 498T sounded great. I have had this before, where the amp or guitar sounds the best it ever has right before you ship it out....

 

[ericsabbath]

What else is nice is that you can honestly say what you feel about a Duncan product with no ass kissing, just like ericsabbath rightfully says the '59 is the worst neck pickup. Maybe he likes hotter neck pickups for uber amounts of compressed gain for super fast one handed, two fingered trills.

lol not really
I did have "hotter neck pickups for uber amounts of compressed gain" like the gibson 496r, emg 85 and bk miracle man, but my favorite is a low medium output 8.35k alnico 5 pickup: bare knuckle cold sweat neck
much warmer, more detailed and fluid than the '59 or any other duncan/gibson neck pickup
it has a slight paf voicing, but very balanced and organic instead of scooped and dead sounding
the cleans and leads are superb, and it's great even for distorted neck rhythms
I also have a nailbomb neck, but this one is louder and voiced more like a boosted, brighter, more articulated and non-shitty '59
not as well balanced and smooth as the sweat

 

[GITTarzann]

Maybe a dumb question, but I am going to ask anyhow.

What does afwayu mean or stand for?

 

[jaybird]

Did you ever try a BBQ? That is what I swapped the Afwayu in to replace. I think the BBQ is going back in when I get time to pull out the iron - though the BBQ has qualities I don't care for as well , mainly too tubby sounding - but I like the way the mids cut and how it rolls off. I need to give Wade a call to see what else he may recommend for my tastes. He is a nice guy.

I also tried the 2nd degree BB, and I liked the neck, but I didn't like the mids again - a bit too smooth also hifi sounding if that makes sense ?? Again this is what my messed up ears want - it is a nice PUP for sure!

 

[jaybird]

Did you ever try a BBQ? That is what I swapped the Afwayu in to replace. I think the BBQ is going back in when I get time to pull out the iron - though the BBQ has qualities I don't care for as well , mainly too tubby sounding - but I like the way the mids cut and how it rolls off. I need to give Wade a call to see what else he may recommend for my tastes. He is a nice guy.

I also tried the 2nd degree BB, and I liked the neck, but I didn't like the mids again - a bit too smooth also hifi sounding if that makes sense ?? Again this is what my messed up ears want - it is a nice PUP for sure!

Tried the BBQ, tubby definitely. Your description of "hifi" is right on the money regarding the 2nd Degree, I also felt that one had a lot of low end too, not as tubby but a bigger low end is something I don't look for in a lower output PAF type pickup. Where's the dirt, grime and snarl. I notice this in a lot of modern amps too nowadays, they are almost to the point that the components used makes everything sound too perfect, almost digital in a sense.

I think both the Afwayu and 2nd degree sound "hifi". The bottom end is big on both the Afawyu and the 2nd degree- that's ok with me as long as it is tight. Wade's stuff is a lot tighter than the BBQ.

So what plain 'ol duncans are you liking then? Distortion?

 

[AmpliFIRE]

The BBQ did not cut through the mix well in my LP when I was playing in a band.

 

[killertone]

the '59 was the most awful neck pickup I ever had
my les paul sounded like my $50 acoustic with 9 years old nylon strings
really low, scooped and muffled
and it definitely wasn't the guitar or wiring fault
I even rewired it twice to make sure
had 5 or 6 other neck pickups in that guitar and all of them sounded much clearer and louder, even the stock pups
maybe I have a different taste for neck pups

My experience is the exact opposite. Not sure what '59 you heard!

I have '59s in the necks of all of my LPCs and all of them are bright, lively, and really sweet sounding. Have used them since the 90's and they always sound great! Pairs up really well with my BK Warpig, MCP Solution, Duncan Distortions, which are the bridge pups in those guitars.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

o what plain 'ol duncans are you liking then? Distortion?

I've always liked the Distortion and will probably get another. I plan on getting another regular old Custom too. I have a Custom Custom in one guitar and it works perfectly, tons of mids and low bass yet still sweet with an A2, better than anything else I tried in that guitar. I have a JB and a '59 in another. Every one serves its own purpose, It's a big PITA going the boutique route and hoping you will like what you get, maybe I'm just an anal mofo but I'm tired of paying over $100.00 for a pickup and being less than satisfied.

I've got an EVH CS Duncan in my strat and it sounds amazing. It's basically just a custom wound Custom Custom...


As far as Duncan bridge pups are concerned, I like all of the Customs (CC, C5 and Custom). The Distortion is ok, but a bit too hot and compressed. I do not like the JB for some reason...

 

[AmpliFIRE]

I've got an EVH CS Duncan in my strat and it sounds amazing. It's basically just a custom wound Custom Custom...


As far as Duncan bridge pups are concerned, I like all of the Customs (CC, C5 and Custom). The Distortion is ok, but a bit too hot and compressed. I do not like the JB for some reason...

JB is my least favorite, just too lazy to take it out of that one, I don't like swapping pickups out of Les Pauls, I have to bring it in. Tell me about that EVH, are you talking about the new Frankie one? Is it as compressed as the Custom Custom or is it more open? The Custom Custom has a low emphasis on the bass which I like.

I've got the '78 aka Evenly Voiced Harmonics (EVH) pickup. It's a bit more open sounding than a regular CC...

https://www.seymourduncan.com/products/c ... del_great/

 

[ejecta]

I put back in the Aldrich after playing for another few hours today.

For those that asked about pickup height, I dont have a set height that I use or prefer. Every pickup is different...even the same exact brand and type, so I go by ear then measure. Different magnets will make a big difference on height as well since the magnetic field will be different. I had the Afwayu as high as 1.5 mm and as low as more than 4.5 mm. I preferred it on the lower side. I usually have hot pickups set up lower. Right now I have the Aldrich set to around 4 mm on both the high and low strings.

I think I will ask Wade if I can trade the Afwayu Bridge for a 2nd Degree Blackbelt. Otherwise, I will just sell it.

he has an exchange policy,shouldnt be an issue.that or tell him what your looking for different and he can wind you something custom.

I sent Wade a message. I am curious what he recommends.

I peronally liked the Blisster better for a LP and the Detroiter for my strat.

 

[RedB4Black]

Pairs up really well with my BK Warpig, MCP Solution, Duncan Distortions, which are the bridge pups in those guitars.

Allen's been bitching that you won't give it back.

 

[luxxtone]

Tried the BBQ, tubby definitely. Your description of "hifi" is right on the money regarding the 2nd Degree, I also felt that one had a lot of low end too, not as tubby but a bigger low end is something I don't look for in a lower output PAF type pickup. Where's the dirt, grime and snarl. I notice this in a lot of modern amps too nowadays, they are almost to the point that the components used makes everything sound too perfect, almost digital in a sense.

If you want a Motor City with a lot of snarl and grit, you really need to check out the Detroiter. It's my personal favorite. It sounds like a slightly hotter 2nd Degree Blackbelt but with a ton of grit and cut...kinda like there's 10% P-90 in it. I think it kicks ass. Sounds like instant Sex Pistols!

 

[Digital Jams]

Dave, you need to try a Walker Alnico bucker someday Very clear and defined with just enough hair to bring it.

 

[Anonymous]

I just put a $35 dollar GFS "VEH" pickup in a basswood LTD lynch tiger...

the guitar sounds fantastic now...it had a cheap brittle ceramic in it and the VEh brought in warmth , string definition, and nice volume knob sensitivity... what more do ya need?

I have owned alot of duncans and dimarzios...and for this particular beater axe..I couldnt think of a better pickup.. The VEH is very much on par with Dimarzio ( I have a nice set of 36th anniversery PAF"s in an axe and this pickup is somewhat similar but more modern and almost "better" sounding...)

I think I am going to replace a duncan distortion with one in an old esp I have!

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Maybe a dumb question, but I am going to ask anyhow.

What does afwayu mean or stand for?

"god of fire"

 

[killertone]

Pairs up really well with my BK Warpig, MCP Solution, Duncan Distortions, which are the bridge pups in those guitars.

Allen's been bitching that you won't give it back.

That's funny, he agreed to sell it to me a couple weeks ago! Said he didn't want PayPal and wanted to get the cash from me next time he was in town. Don't know why he would be bitching?! Maybe he should talk to me about it instead!

 

[RedB4Black]

That's funny, he agreed to sell it to me a couple weeks ago! Said he didn't want PayPal and wanted to get the cash from me next time he was in town. Don't know why he would be bitching?! Maybe he should talk to me about it instead!

Maybe not "bitching" more like...."I'm never gonna get it back " maybe before he agreed to sell it... I don't know.

Hey I broke down and ordered a Solution yesterday. It'll go in my ESP Horizon with a '59 in the neck. I almost got the Warpig too because I was ordering a BK Painkiller for my SC250, but decided to hold off and see how I like the Solution.