Suhr Aldrich vs. 500T, anyone played both??

[mightyjoeyoungxnj]

I'm looking for some new pickups for my Les Paul. I currently have the 500T/496R combo. Who has played the Aldrich pickups in a LP?

I want something hot, obviously, but still to have great clarity. Also, something very clear sounding on cleans as well.

-Joe

 

[mightyjoeyoungxnj]

Anyone?

 

[MrDan666]

I have the Aldrich in my GMW superstrat, but havent tried it in my LP yet! It is a very cool pickup, and is plenty hot but doesnt feel overly compressed! Cleans up pretty good and also works nicely split!

 

[mightyjoeyoungxnj]

Thanks for the reply!

I think I'm gonna try the current pickup setup once my egnater arrives (13 weeks, ouch!). If it doesn't gel for me, I'll try the Aldrich pickups.

-Joe

 

[MrDan666]

Thanks for the reply!

I think I'm gonna try the current pickup setup once my egnater arrives (13 weeks, ouch!). If it doesn't gel for me, I'll try the Aldrich pickups.

-Joe

Good idea!

 

[OUTLAW1969]

Sorry, but I have to bump this thread.

I have to admit that I have tried many different pickups over the years, but somehow always migrated back to my old faithful Duncans.

I stumbled across a pair of these, and put them in one of my older guitars just to see what they sounded like. Needless to say they immediately got pulled from that guitar, and put into my early 70's Les Paul Custom.

Best pickups I have EVER found for my LP's. Now I need to get another bridge version to try in one of my one hum Charvels. The neck pickup is a perfect match for the bridge pickup in a 2 hum guitar, though.

Doug and John certainly did their homework when they came up with these!

Alright, I will shut up and stop gushing now

 

[krueger]

The Aldrich is nice but I think the SSH+ is a better and fatter sounding pickup!

 

[SFW]

I don't know about his Suhr pups, but his older Duncan combo work very well in a Les Paul. Duncan Custom Custom and a 59.

 

[MrDan666]

another bridge version to try in one of my one hum Charvels.

I have the Aldrich hum in my GMW San Dimas style Strat... you will be blown away by how good it sounds in your Charvel!!!

 

[mightyjoeyoungxnj]

Thanks for the bump...can't afford pickups for a minute though.

-Joe

 

[mightyjoeyoungxnj]

BUMP guys...

The Egnater is here and I'm thinking of changing over to the Aldrich pickups.

Can anyone compare them? To me the 500T can get muddy in certain situations. I'm looking for a relatively tight hard rock tone ala Jerry Cantrell.

Should I try them out? thanks.

-Joe

 

[maiden_fan]

Im just waiting for my 1st Musikraft strat to come back from a setup with the aldich pup in the bridge.

I will be posting my review hopefully tomorrow or friday if i get it.

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

Motor City Pickups..Wade is the man...post on the Egg forum and you will get a ton of input from users. All our guitars in the shop are loaded with MCP's!

 

[mightyjoeyoungxnj]

Motor City Pickups..Wade is the man...post on the Egg forum and you will get a ton of input from users. All our guitars in the shop are loaded with MCP's!

Thanks Jeff, I 'll check em out.

-Joe

 

[glpg80]

Major necro bump. Anyone played both? Looking at options for my LPs

 

[psychodave]

I hate the Aldrich in my R8 Les Paul. It’s just way too hot... I much prefer the 80’s Duncan Distortion. In my Charvel I have the Aldrich set 1/4 inch away from the strings.

I have a 500T and want to like it, but it is too hot for me as well. Mine is even covered.

 

[RedB4Black]

I had an Aldrich in a LP Custom I thought it compressed too much for my tastes. I switched it to a bareknuckle Emerald and like it a lot more. Tight and clear with just the right amount of output so it doesn’t over compress

 

[Nitrobattery]

I've had both in the same guitar (Les Paul). The 500t has a ceramic magnet, and has more top end bite and a bigger low end. The alnico V magnet Aldrich is in the same ballpark, but with a smoother top end, a little less bottom end and has a slightly compressed attack. They both sound great, it just depends on your style and rig. The interesting thing about the Suhr Aldrich and SSH+ is that by themselves, they feel a little compressed to me and maybe a little too mid forward. In a mix though, they sound absolutely incredible. The 500t on its own sounds percussive and wide, but in a mix can sound a little congested...especially when layering guitar tracks. So it just depends on what you're doing. If you play in a band or do a lot of recording, the Aldrich is an awesome choice. If you're mainly playing for yourself and want to occupy a wider frequency range, the 500t is a lot of fun.

 

[skullfxr]

I love the 500t in a LP, however I have not tried an Aldrich or MCP,but for the price of a 500t ($50 for mine) it's hard to beat. I prefer it to the common Duncan's, but I do (even though very different) but for me my mid '80's DiMarzio PAF Pro is another I like. The new(er) PAF Pros are different than the original ones.

 

[glpg80]

I've had both in the same guitar (Les Paul). The 500t has a ceramic magnet, and has more top end bite and a bigger low end. The alnico V magnet Aldrich is in the same ballpark, but with a smoother top end, a little less bottom end and has a slightly compressed attack. They both sound great, it just depends on your style and rig. The interesting thing about the Suhr Aldrich and SSH+ is that by themselves, they feel a little compressed to me and maybe a little too mid forward. In a mix though, they sound absolutely incredible. The 500t on its own sounds percussive and wide, but in a mix can sound a little congested...especially when layering guitar tracks. So it just depends on what you're doing. If you play in a band or do a lot of recording, the Aldrich is an awesome choice. If you're mainly playing for yourself and want to occupy a wider frequency range, the 500t is a lot of fun.

Awesome description. Thanks for taking the time to write it out and elaborate a bit further.

It sounds like in my traditional a 500T/496R or 498R would be best for rhythm work. The standard sounds like a set of Aldrichs would work since it’s a thinner neck and more of a players guitar.

I don’t mind compressed as long as I can still roll back my volume and get dynamics that way. My Marshall was very compressed before I dove into it and at higher volumes it actually makes playing a bit easier so I don’t necessarily mind the compression so to speak.

Thanks dudes. I think the answer for me is both.