Albert Lee electronics question

[Oldtoe]

I was poking around Seymour Duncan's website and stumbled on the pickups for the Albert Lee. The neck pickup is an APS-2, but the middle and bridge pickups are Reverse Wound/Reverse Polarity APS-3 OEM pickups. Typically (I think, pardon the ignorant bassist,) only the middle pickup is rw/rp in a passive strat-style guitar. Is the use of two rw/rp pickups in the Albert Lee necessary for the silent circuit to perform properly, or are there other tonal considerations?

The answers are likely beyond my comprehension, but these are the little things that keep me up at night sometimes.

Thanks, folks!

 

[Spudmurphy]

Would love to answer that one - but it's beyond me!
Hey OT, ask Tyler.

BEEJ -HELP !!!!!!!!

 

[Spudmurphy]

Oh one thing I do know, is that they look like this

 

[Oldtoe]

I was just looking at that photo of yours, Spud. I noticed that only the middle pickup is labeled "RWRP." The SD website says both the neck and middle pickups are RWRP. Could be a typo on their part.

 

[beej]

Ben- only the middle is reverse wound, as you would normally expect (to make the 2 & 4 positions noise-free). So the Silent Circuit is only used in the 1, 3 and 5 positions. Must be a typo on their part.

The whole reverse-wound thing is just about noise cancellation when you combine two pickups.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I was just looking at that photo of yours, Spud. I noticed that only the middle pickup is labeled "RWRP." The SD website says both the neck and middle pickups are RWRP. Could be a typo on their part.

- or maybe I have the wrong pickups !!!


I knew Beej would be along soon.

 

[Oldtoe]

Thanks a lot, guys!

 

[Spudmurphy]

... and I have now realised what the code means printed on the labels.

So OT, does this mean that you're gonna get an Albert????

 

[Oldtoe]

*cough*

 

[Spudmurphy]

Look - it's ok to open up!

I know you want to come out of the closet and get six strings - you won't find a finer guitar!!

 

[robelinda2]

cool. three of my AL's dont have the silent circuit, they sure sound different too.

 

[candid_x]

cool. three of my AL's dont have the silent circuit, they sure sound different too.

I've often wondered about this, and have seriously thought about removing the SC from one of my Silos, possibly both. I rarely have a battery loaded anyway. Maybe it's just my imagination, but I think the battery clips some presence.

Can you describe the difference?

 

[Oldtoe]

I just ordered two Seymour Duncan Custom Flat SSL-6 single-coils for the neck and middle pickups on Tyler's Albert Lee. There is also a JB Jr. SJBJ-1 coming for the bridge pickup. We're stoked about this little experiment.

I'll post a follow-up when it's done.

 

[Oldtoe]

Oh, the middle SSL-6 is RWRP.

 

[robelinda2]

well, the weight of say my pinkburst, and my Blue Dawn, is crazy!!!! That has to make a difference. the pinky is seriously light, and just twangs away. The Blue Dawn is the only AL i have with the SC and SSS, i think.......

I would love to do a pickup change on on AL, just to see, watch this space.

 

[beej]

On my pinkburst I installed an old Silent Circuit and haven't really noticed anything significant. Sounds wonderful to my ears.

Did the same experiment with the pearl blue I sold Rob and didn't notice a difference either.

 

[beej]

Hey Ben- if you guys love the change and want to sell the Silent Circuit, give me a ring!

 

[Oldtoe]

I called CS this afternoon and Dan doesn't think the pickup swap should upset the Silent Circuit. I told him I'd put the pickups in and if it caught fire, I'd call him back.

 

[candid_x]

well, the weight of say my pinkburst, and my Blue Dawn, is crazy!!!! That has to make a difference. the pinky is seriously light, and just twangs away. The Blue Dawn is the only AL i have with the SC and SSS, i think.......

I would love to do a pickup change on on AL, just to see, watch this space.

I don't think the SC adds much weight to speak of. But the lighter guitar would, for sure.

That would interesting, Rob. Curious what you come up with. Don't know if you've ever used Fralin Vintage Hots, but they're definitely bright and vintage sounding. They also break up well when driven.

 

[robelinda2]

One of my students has Fralins in his strat, they sound pretty good.