Alternatives to Suhr Aldrich?

anomaly said:
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.
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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
 
anomaly said:
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.
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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?
 
anomaly said:
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.
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Upper mids with the JB are very present for me. I do enjoy the pickup though.
 
Rex Rocker said:
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?
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Custom is a good pickup. Just gotta find the right guitar for it though.
 
Rex Rocker said:
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.
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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.
 
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Rex Rocker said:
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?
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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
 
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.
 
Try a Notso Sure Ostrich it's supposed to be a more mean overly aggressive version they started offering them in 2023 by request.
 
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.
 
Rex Rocker said:
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.
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IMO, no. I've had both in the same guitar (an Anderson)

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