Alternatives to Suhr Aldrich?

[braintheory]

I actually find the JB kinda dark. It definitely has a rolled off high end in my opinion, where it peaks out is the upper mids IMO.

I agree. I also find it’s midrange a little bit bloated. I still can enjoy them in a lot of guitars, but there’s just better stuff out there imo, even with the vintage versions I have. I’ll sell them eventually

 

[Rex Rocker]

The Duncan SH-5 Custom is supposed to sound very similar to the aldrich, it might be the ticket. I got one and I dig it in some guitars.

I got the Custom in my Strat. I actually replaced the Custom with the JB in my LTD. I think they're almost polar opposites as far as EQ goes, LOL.

Is the Aldrich like that as well, then?

 

[D20]

I actually find the JB kinda dark. It definitely has a rolled off high end in my opinion, where it peaks out is the upper mids IMO.

Upper mids with the JB are very present for me. I do enjoy the pickup though.

 

[D20]

I’ve always wanted to try the Aldrich bridge pickup

 

[D20]

I got the Custom in my Strat. I actually replaced the Custom with the JB in my LTD. I think they're almost polar opposites as far as EQ goes, LOL.

Is the Aldrich like that as well, then?

Custom is a good pickup. Just gotta find the right guitar for it though.

 

[Rex Rocker]

Custom is a good pickup. Just gotta find the right guitar for it though.

Oh, yeah. I like the Custom. It's just a little too bass-heavy for my LTD.

 

[D20]

Oh, yeah. I like the Custom. It's just a little too bass-heavy for my LTD.

I think the mids was what made me switch from the Custom. I just needed something with more. Great pickup though!

 

[napalmdeath]

Yeah, if you thought the Custom Custom was brittle, I doubt you'd like the JB or most other Duncans. The Custom Custom has got to be one of the smoothest most well-behaved pickups in the Duncan line.

I can't imagine a "hotter JB". Yikes.

I know it's a blade pick-up, but the Wes Hauch Jupiter 6 impressed the hell out of me.

 

[Fiesta Red]

Toying with the idea of swapping pups on my Les Paul. I'm enjoying the JB in my LTD. Kinda want something along the lines of a slightly hotter, tighter, and meaner JB, but not as different as a Duncan Distortion is. Kinda want something in between a JB and a Distortion leaning more towards the JB. I want something Alnico 5 in the 17K range.

So I know the Aldrich is sorta that. What else should I be looking at?

Anyone tried the Alex Skolnick Duncan? Maybe a Suhr SSH+ as well? I know the Tone Zone is kinda that as well... but can a Tone Zone handle downtuned Metal being in a Les Paul? Probably not, right?

How about a Duncan Metal Fatigue? May also want to try a Duncan RTM if you're not hung up on having an Alnico 5

 

[SFW]

For higher output LP tones, I love the Aldrich, Rebel Yells, Holy Divers. If you’re looking for a different flavor of JB, try the RTM. It is definitely hotter than the JB and. Little smoother.

 

[ChuggNorris]

Try a Notso Sure Ostrich it's supposed to be a more mean overly aggressive version they started offering them in 2023 by request.

 

[WizardSouth-JP]

BKP Nailbomb Alnico
BKP Crawler
BKP Holy Diver
those 3 a what I'd try in the LP

 

[Rex Rocker]

Very interesting suggestions so far! There is an Anderson H3 for sale locally. Is that JB-ish at all, though? I thought those were very broadband with lots of lows and highs.

 

[BlueParfait]

Very interesting suggestions so far! There is an Anderson H3 for sale locally. Is that JB-ish at all, though? I thought those were very broadband with lots of lows and highs.

IMO, no. I've had both in the same guitar (an Anderson)

Way different things in EQ and feel.

 

[harddriver]

DIMEBUCKER!

 

[tallcoolone]

I'm itching to try a Norton in the bridge of a Les Paul....

 

[Rex Rocker]

DIMEBUCKER!

I've had that... kinda very different EQ to the JB. Scoopy with lots of highs.

 

[LPMojoGL]

ToneNerd Roxy was made to replace the middy JB in a particular guitar, shooting for something like the SSH+ in my Suhr Modern. More lows, highs, clarity, less mids. What came out was something in between, with plenty of lows, a bit tighter than the SSH+, mids a bit shifted, great articulation and cleanup. I wish I still had the Roxy to try in other guitars. Sold it with the guitar it was made for.

FWIW, I like the SSH+ in my Modern, which has a mahogany body and maple top, like an LP. Despite the maple neck/fretboard and long scale, it sounds ballpark to my Les Pauls.
It has more low end than my other guitars, and it's pretty hot, but it's open and reactive. I can get any kind of sound I want out of it.

 

[mooncobra]

Try to find a Duncan super v, great pickup, but they haven’t been made in a long time. Its a lynch signature.

 

[D20]

I can't imagine a "hotter JB". Yikes.

I know it's a blade pick-up, but the Wes Hauch Jupiter 6 impressed the hell out of me.

I need to try this maybe. Is it really close to a dimebucker or different ?