Alnico II Classic

My closest comparison is a SD '59 and a set of FAT 55 active PAFs. Of those the active ones sound best. Very bright and well defined and quite microphonic in a good way. A light touch anywhere on the guitar can be heard.

The 59 is wonderful but it just sounds so "modern". Very good but not really like an old rusty PAF to my ears.

Not wanting to spend too much on putting those in several of my guitars and still not fully satisfied, the search began and after countless recommendations in forums and after seeing many demos, I ordered a set of Alnico 2 Classic, Standard spacing, Gold to fit my 2005 Epiphone Korina '58 Flying V. That was before it came with Burstbuckers like the current version, that retails for quite princely sum for an Epiphone. It had a nasty set of Alnico Classics.

Some queries answered by mail and in they went along with some frighteningly pricey CTS push pull coil splitters a tone pot and an orange drop capacitor as well as some thick homemande pure copper wire...

Well I won't be needing active PAFs or anything else. Now having tried some side by side in the guitar shop last week and seeing countless demos I have come to the conclusion that Burstbuckers as well as Custombuckers are some of the loveliest sounding chuncks of wire and old fashioned magnets knowm to man.

The Toneriders are better. I've been verging on spamming telling everyone how much I loved them. They are bright and warm. Defined. Just perfect. That's the sound on all those records along with a helping hand from my trusty Marshall and a knock off TS808.

This is it. I'm glad they are affordable because otherwise I'd have a severe financial problem. To the point of sacrificing a guitar on the altar of Reverb to put AC2 in all my humbucking friends.

The Gibson Flying V has 500T and 496R. I don't know why Gibson insists on putting high output DiMarzio style in all their Flying Vs because with a decent set of PAFs those things become the mean and lean blues machines they were meant to be.

With the slightly larger distance between pickups compared to a Les Paul and especially an SG (10 mm difference almost), the neck pickup is further up. And the last dummy fret is a touch shorter with the PU wedged right against it. This can give the neck pickup on a V a really warm and beautiful sound that the Alnico 2 Classic can take full advantage of. Used to be my best sounding guitar unplugged (well built and all that) but now plugged in? Amazing.

AC2 in nickel for the Gibson next, the SG can keep the Tony Iommi ones, they're pretty mean but the rest will be AC2 and maybe AC4 in one of the Les Pauls. I might even come out on top, selling off the old pickups for the Toneriders. Or so I shall claim when questioned about my life choices by a significant other. All is fair in live and war and electric guitar modification.

I will be recommending them far and wide. Mainly out of pity that anyone should auffer a non perfect sounding guitar.

I am also looking forward to give my Tele the Tonerider treatment. Those seem popular as well. Heard good things!

Thank you so much to the Tonerider team and I recommend coil splits to anyone. Somwtimes it can be gimmicky but not here. No need to bring along a Tele anymore. And pop off half the bucker, roll the volume back a touch and voila, edge of breakup, Clapton-esque. Pop it back in and you get the thick creamy humbucker sound with a gain boost. Perfect for a lead/rythm setting. And with a Les Paul style three way the combinations are endless. I love the neck split on low volume, bridge humbucker on full and the tone rolled back. If that's not one of the best sounds a guitar can make, I don't know what is.

Replaced a set of cheap pups with these and they are decent sounding. Good definition/clarity. Nice low end and not to harsh on the highs. Very PAF sounding, as Alnico II's are usually. Not as vibrant as my Duncans, but then they didn't cost $120 each either! Will buy again for another project guitar.

I love these pickups, they sound amazing. I recommend it for someone who wants PAF sounds.

I replaced the Gibson 490R/T p/ups in my LP Tribute with these... they're more articulate and less in-your-face. I ordered the bridge with a nickel cover, but the neck as uncovered with a spare nickel cover... and then I flipped the magnet in the p/up and soldered the cover into place. The "Peter Green" mod. I like the effect. These pickups were definately an improvement and well worth the money.

Amazing pickups for an amazingly low price. I’ve used many different Gibson and Seymour Duncan pickups on my Les Paul, but these truly open my guitar sound wide open. Very balanced and a clear high end, no muddyness in the bottom end, they stay very punchy. Very fast delivery as well. I’m very pleased and these will not be my last.