can I mix-n-match alnico 2 pup with alnico 5 pup?

[lesspaul]

I'm thinking about bb pro in the bridge, sd alnico ii pro in the neck.
Resistance-wise they're close (bb pro=8k, sd=7.5k). But the bbpro has alnico 5's, which means higher overall output. The sd has alnico 2's.
One can get a sense of the differential when you compare bbpro with bb1 in gibson's output chart.
The bb1 and 2 are 'matched', the output differential is about 10% (neck pup is 5% underwound, brige pup is about 5% overwound; both use same type magnets). Similarly the bbpro's neck and bridge pups have about a 10% differential in output, supposedly.

Now, if I were to put a bbpro bridge with an alnico II neck pup (like bb1 or sd alnico ii pro), that differential in output is much larger, isnt it?

So how will that sound --> Will the bridge pup overpower the neck pup? Has anyone done this? Does it sound okay?

 

[dennistruckdriver]

Try it and report back.

 

[zeppelin101]

The bridge does often overpower the neck. It should work fine. I was talking to Brian from bg-pups.com and he suggested a Alnico 2 and Alnico 5 combination.

Also my rebel I PAFS are alnico 3 in the neck and alnico 5 in the bridge

 

[lesspaul]

The bridge does often overpower the neck. It should work fine. I was talking to Brian from bg-pups.com and he suggested a Alnico 2 and Alnico 5 combination.

Also my rebel I PAFS are alnico 3 in the neck and alnico 5 in the bridge

thanks zep. i guess i'll give it a shot then. As long as the neck is 'present' enough to warm up the bridge, thats probably good enough for me.

 

[zeppelin101]

thanks zep. i guess i'll give it a shot then. As long as the neck is 'present' enough to warm up the bridge, thats probably good enough for me.

It should!

 

[lesspaul]

Googling eventually led me to this -- my exact same question, asked on the seymour duncan forums.
Advice Burstbucker Pro & Alnico II Pro - Seymour Duncan User Group Forums

They said it 'should be just fine' as well.

 

[dspelman]

There's a guy out there with a 16K DiMarzio Fast Track II (ceramic) in the neck and a 9K '57 in the bridge. Seems to like them just fine. The neck pickup is noticeably louder than the bridge, of course...

 

[ToneQuest75]

Just done a similar thing in my Orville. Put Sheptone tributes in, with A2 neck, A5 bridge and it works very very well. They go together fine in my experience

 

[Maekong]

I'm about to switch out a Probucker 3 for the DiMarzio Tone Zone in the bridge position of my LP Modern. I intend to keep the Probucker 2 in the neck position as I more-or-less am happy with it. Any thoughts, anybody?