Hopefully not tooo dumb a question

[teleweezel]

I was reading on Seymor Duncan's website that the Alnico II Pro is suited for a bright guitar.
Here's where the dumb-ness sets in. Does that mean it will calm down a bright guitar OR make the guitar more bright? I'm trying to calm down an out of control bright tele.
Thanks guys.
Scott

[Colt W. Knight]

I would reccomend you talk to Owen Duffy, he is a master pickup maker. You can call or email him and tell him what your playing needs are, and he can make your tele sound just like you want it. He will respond to your email, probably same day.
http://www.ocduffpickups.com/

[Tim Armstrong]

To answer your question, probably calm down the brightness.

Cheers, Tim

[Curly]

Originally Posted by teleweezel

Does that mean it will calm down a bright guitar ...?

yes

pickups with alnico 2 mags are warmer in tone
they also have less string pull, which results in more sustain

in comparison to alnico 5 pickups, alnico 2 pickups have a little less bass, somewhat more mids, and softer highs

[boris bubbanov]

Tim is right, but it is not a dumb question; I think 'brightness' in a guitar is more complicated issue than most folks realize.

Let me use a car racing analogy. Car #91 is too slow, and it also seems too heavy. So, lots of weight is extracted from the transmission case, and the next race, the transmission breaks, even though the car is still slow and still fairly heavy.

What we're looking for is pieces parts that get along with one another. The alnico II generally marries well with bright guitars, and sounds good. But sometimes (often) when people say the guitar is too bright what they mean is there's something wrong with the brightness, it doesn't please the ear with the tone dimed.

So, check out brass saddles, different strings, different nut, different bridge plate design and composition as well as pickups. One pickup 'for bright guitars' might help you where another 'for bright guitars' doesn't. It is all in what factor or factors is messing up that end of the spectrum on your guitar.

Bubbanov

[tlsmack]

I put some SD Alnico II Pro's in my tele, and they helped tame the wild overtones my sloppy, aggressive style can generate. They also turn down better than most other pickups without getting mushy or weak. With the guitar volume at about 2/3's, I get some very sweet "jazzy" cleans.

I also use Tusq saddles, which can take some of the harshness out of an overly bright tele.

Coated strings also can help mellow things out too.

[CIM]

Originally Posted by teleweezel

I was reading on Seymor Duncan's website that the Alnico II Pro is suited for a bright guitar.
Here's where the dumb-ness sets in. Does that mean it will calm down a bright guitar OR make the guitar more bright? I'm trying to calm down an out of control bright tele.
Thanks guys.
Scott

That's probably a great pickup choice for you.

I fitted an Alnico II Pro to my Highway 1 which was thin and harsh to my tastes and it transformed the guitar completely. In fact I was quite dumbfounded by the change - I hadn't realised how much difference a pickup swap could make.

IMHO the only down potential snag to putting in a less bright pickup is sometimes the middle position may have been great beforehand (simplistically put, bright bridge pickup + dull neck pickup = well balanced middle position) and thus less appealing after the swap.

[teleweezel]

Thanks for the input !!! The guitar it's going in is a MIJ 62 Reissue. It's the sunburst double bound body and is absolutely the prettiest Tele I have...sounds terrible though.

Is the body made out of basswood on these?
teleweezel

[thrill74]

I LOVE Alnico 2 magnets! Seems everything I've owned with 5's in it has this slight, almost, static on the highs. 2's have a loss of initial dynamics but the tone is hot butter! Just syrup for days!