Medium output alnico pickup w grind and sizzle of ceramic?

[buller]

I'm looking to try out a good alnico bridge pickup after sticking to ceramic in my Les Paul for the past few years.

I like the grind and sizzle that ceramic pickups can have, but am interested in alnico for the increased openness, touch sensitivity, dynamics, give under the fingers, and low end chunk.

What are some good options with these traits? I'm mostly interested in medium output options so things stay open and don't flub out in C# standard while still having enough push for metal, but I'm open to lower and higher output suggestions.

For context, I currently use the Mighty Mite 1400 which I prefer over the SD Custom, WCR Iron Man, and Gibson 500T I've had. Love how aggressive it is, but again just want to try something out with a bit more squish, give, and dynamics since I think that might be the sweet spot with the rest of my gear

 

[eero]

if you still have a SD custom, try to swap in an alnico 5 mag, this will convert it into a custom 5, maybe will fit you better
another option would be a distortion neck in bridge position, again with alnico 5 mag

 

[skoora]

Might not hurt to call Duncan and ask them.

 

[DanTravis62]

Duncan SH-14

 

[buller]

Duncan SH-14

I know you're a fan of the Godwood - do you think it and the Darkburst would both be too smooth for what I'm after compared to the Custom 5?


Custom 5, Godwood, Darkburst, 498T, Aldrich, Lollar Imperial, and Mighty Mite Motherbucker 16k are on my current "short" list. Unfortunately don't have the Custom anymore to swap in an A5

 

[DanTravis62]

I know you're a fan of the Godwood - do you think it and the Darkburst would both be too smooth for what I'm after compared to the Custom 5?


Custom 5, Godwood, Darkburst, 498T, Aldrich, Lollar Imperial, and Mighty Mite Motherbucker 16k are on my current "short" list. Unfortunately don't have the Custom anymore to swap in an A5

Not too smooth, but too low of output and too touch sensitive if you want to retain the grind and sizzle of ceramics. Neither of them have that.

I get the the grind and sizzle with amps and pedals, and use alnico pickups. Some people prefer to get the grind and sizzle with ceramics, and then don't need to get it with the amp.

It's just different paths getting to the same destination, one way isn't inherently superior to the other. Just horses for courses.

So it depends on the rest of your rig - generally speaking, no, unless you can adjust other parts of your rig, the Godwood and Darkburst aren't going to work for that - especially if you're used to playing ceramics.

I would say the Aldrich is closer to what you're looking for, and a Tonenerd Roxy is probably perfect, but neither have as much "ceramic sizzle and grind" as an SH-14 does, so that's what I think would work best for what you're after.... unless you want to adjust other parts of your rig to adapt to the alnicos.

I ended up adapting other parts of my rig and changed the types of amps I used, to adapt to lower output pickups like the godwood, and it worked for me but it might not work for you

 

[Music&Chaos]

Here is something most people overlook-

Whatever sets you find....
I would recommend something with A4 or A5 magnets.

A4 just have a cool grind and push mids in a pleasant way throughout the spectrum. A5 magnets are cool too, more aggressive but also more scooped in EQ.

Going from ceramic to something with an A2 or A3 will be too far away from what you desire EQ wise if you dig the push of the ceramic.

I love my various Planet Tone pickups with various magnets and have replaced a number of sets with them in my own and client guitars.

I personally really dig A4s in many sets.

 

[Solarflares]

I’d be looking toward Bill Lawrence.
I think the positive traits you mentioned, are a big ask for the smoother laid-back Alnico.

 

[Music&Chaos]

I’d be looking toward Bill Lawrence.
I think the positive traits you mentioned, are a big ask for the smoother laid-back Alnico.

This is a solid recommendation.

 

[Michiel Kemper]

Hapas Baehemoth compresses and grinds like an EMG and is A5 but rated high output.
Their incaeption is lower output and also have that grind.
I also really liked the Seymour Duncan PATB (the original version not the blues or high output version), that was also used by Ward from Stuck Mojo.

 

[The~Kid]

Cant go wrong with a Gibson Blues Breaker 3......


This or Seymour Duncan Slash Alnico Pro ll bridge

 

[DanTravis62]

Cant go wrong with a Gibson Blues Breaker 3......


This or Seymour Duncan Slash Alnico Pro ll bridge

Those are both good sounding pickups but neither sound even remotely "ceramic-like" like the OP said he was looking for

 

[70 Mach 1]

can anyone really tell the difference between ceramic and natural mags?

 

[Frehley12]

I had a Darkburst in a Gibson Explorer. Killer pickup. Nailed Scorpions IMHO.

 

[The~Kid]

Those are both good sounding pickups but neither sound even remotely "ceramic-like" like the OP said he was looking for

Duncan SH-14

You're right.

Honestly given this, a much better suggestion.

 

[psychic_driver]

Check out planet tone pickups. Somebody on this forum put me onto them & they are fantastic.

I called with some questions & Jose from PT talked to me for over an hour, asking about my guitar, my amp, my style, asking for my influences, tone I am chasing ... He sent me examples of musicians that use his pickups for reference ... After we talked for a while he went to listen to records I brought up he was unfamiliar with & called me back two hours later with updated thoughts. He recommended different humbucker models of his for my neck & bridge, wound my bridge a little hot for push, drive & grind, wound my neck a little cold for clarity and sustain. Charged $75 a pickup for a custom set, tailored to my rig & my style.

My les paul sustains like twice as long now, has excellent clarity and dynamic response & maintains the low end balls for beef & chug.

Good people & quality product over at planet tone. Next I'm thinking of getting them to wind something to replace the black winter I use for black metal ...

 

[Beyond Black]

I’d be looking toward Bill Lawrence.
I think the positive traits you mentioned, are a big ask for the smoother laid-back Alnico.

This 100%.
Try a BL L500, it’s a medium output alnico with killer clarity, touch sensitivity, and openness, with sizzle and grind similar to a ceramic.
If you buy new, buy from here, https://www.wildepickups.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoomsLjYv1G0Rkl314nUEqOet7anklb3FNo3gq7vb0QFKMgzEibX
You’ll be buying directly from Bill’s widow and daughter, not his ex partner at Bill Lawrence USA who screwed him over.

 

[Findthetone1]

Find a pickup with the tone you think you like and if it doesn't already have one, put an Alnico 8 magnet in it.

 

[harddriver]

Try a Mighty Mite 1400 which is 9-10K ohms but it grinds like a mother is super aggressive yet still remains somewhat open and PAFish with killer low end chunk. If you need or want a little more output at 14k then the MM 1300 will be your pickup. The Mighty Mite are also USA made and made exactly as they were in the 1970's.

I feel any pickup over 13K is a high output pickup.

If you want more hot PAFish at 8.75-9K with a rough cast ALNICO 5 magnet then I recommend the SD Whole Lotta Humbucker that grinds but not as much as the MM1400/1300.

 

[Music&Chaos]

Check out planet tone pickups. Somebody on this forum put me onto them & they are fantastic.

I called with some questions & Jose from PT talked to me for over an hour, asking about my guitar, my amp, my style, asking for my influences, tone I am chasing ... He sent me examples of musicians that use his pickups for reference ... After we talked for a while he went to listen to records I brought up he was unfamiliar with & called me back two hours later with updated thoughts. He recommended different humbucker models of his for my neck & bridge, wound my bridge a little hot for push, drive & grind, wound my neck a little cold for clarity and sustain. Charged $75 a pickup for a custom set, tailored to my rig & my style.

My les paul sustains like twice as long now, has excellent clarity and dynamic response & maintains the low end balls for beef & chug.

Good people & quality product over at planet tone. Next I'm thinking of getting them to wind something to replace the black winter I use for black metal ...

Hey, that someone was me! Lol