Guitar Madness Humbucker review ............ 57' Alnico II 

As a chep gear lover myself, I'm a big fan of your videos. Keep it up, man!

Just ordered one for my Epiphone LP jr. Stoked!!

I've been looking at the guitarmadness pickups, both the '59 and '57 on ebay and I didn't expect to see any reviews or demos available on youtube so thanks! I'm looking for a replacement bucker for a Yamaha Pacifica 112 that I found, literally, in the dirt. Being a cheap guitar from the jump and 100% free to me, I really don't want to put a Duncan or Dimarzio PAF clone or some other expensive thing in it. I was happy to find the cheap GM pickup since it's 4 conductor, allowing me to do a coil split for a tradish single coil strat bridge option. Most guitars I've had have been alnico 5 and there was always something that I didn't care for, that brightness factor that you mention seems to be it. With the tone knob cranked it would sound shrill & unmusical and even slightly rolled off it would sound too muddy. In all alnico 2 videos I've seen including this one, the tone seems to have this nice rounded edge to it, like even if you wanted to get brain melting high pitch late 60's-70's lead tones you could roll up the tone knob or eq on the amp and get it without the shrillness. Liked and subscribed, I dig cheap gear and feel like I play better and am more creative on it.

Definatley a big difference, what a great little pickup... Thanks Dave, look forward to more from you....

Welcome back Whip! Hope your summer was good. I enjoyed this review very much. That pup sounds really nice. Lookin' forward to seeing some more videos.

Glad you’re back, greetings from England, oh yeah cork sniffers be damned, bring on the cool cheap gear!!

GM is awesome. Put some on my strat. Fell in love with them.

I’m amazed at how good this pickup sounds for the price. Crazy! Love your videos, BTW. No BS. Good stuff! Keep it up!

Thank you for the review. I've been on the fence about picking one up to drop in my Epiphone SG Junior but after hearing it, I'm going to give it a try.

Welcome back Dave. Unique channel you have here. Can't wait to see what else you have to share. PS your yearly routine sounds awesome by the way.

man I love ALL of your videos dude keep up the good work!!!!!

Welcome back Dave. Glad you're back in one piece. Cool review. Might pick one up to drop in a Hofner shorty I've got. Keep em coming! Thanks!

Greetings from Pakistan. So glad to see another video of yours. You should do these more often. Thumbs up!

Amazing as always! keep the good work.

Glad to see you made it back safely. Great video and the cabin looks awesome too!!

For a cabin builder, you're not a bad guitarist.

Gotta watch your episode of Alone! Cheers 🤙

I ordered a set of these for my Epiphone SG worn brown... Double cream bobbins. Don’t tell nobody. Can’t wait to hear how they sound. Great video!

Thanks for this review, Whip. I just got one of the Guitar Madness Hexbucker pickups for the bridge of my Epiphone Les Paul. I think I’ll have to get one of these for the neck.

I’m with you 100% on Alnico 2 pickups. I really prefer it in humbuckers and P90s and I’ve had some great sounding Strat pickups with A2. My favorite Strat actually has A2 in the bridge and the neck and mid has A2 on the E, B & G and A5 on the D, A & low E but the rod magnets give that option when you can’t really do that with a bar magnet. I bought pickups from GM a few years ago when it first showed up on eBay and I’ve got quite a few since, they have some great pickups for a great price.

This sounds like it would be PERFECT in my Epiphone LP100. Just a change from the 700 it came with. OK Dave, now you need to test a G.M. "1984" for us!!!!!

Excellent, thanks for this, Dave! Subbed. Also was pleasantly surprised to see you on a pickup search - I'm already subbed to BushRadical under a different account :-)

Wow. That was refreshing. Thanks for the hook up.

Finally ordered a bridge to put in my Epiphone Les Paul Jr Pro-1. It's the main thing it needed...can't wait!

Not bad! Those Epi LP Specials make great starting points for modding without breaking the bank. Everyone has their own preferences, mine being an A5 humbucker in the neck and an A2 in the bridge. The brighter tendencies of an A5 magnet being tamed by being further away from the bridge…..

Nice demo, thanks!

I have both the 57,59,hot rod sets.i like them better than gfs,dragonfires vintage buckets. I like them all.Fyi the rocking Ibanez super 70s from the 70s were alnico8 with vintage windings. I had a 77 ish Ibanez l.p. with the super 70s pups scared the he'll out of Gibson with their quality. Those Ibanez studio guitars and the artcore 300 were called l.p. killers in the day. They made them in Japan till 1989 fwiw

When a cheap guitar comes along, you must whip it! That sounds sweet! I was actually surprised. Jack Canada

My experience with a SD '59 is that it has a scooped sound so I am not surprised that you characterized your original purchase as bright. I much prefer alnico 2 as well. Now my problem is why no one seems seems to make a hot al2 pickup like the SD custom custom.

Whip, I'm really digging that GM A2 thru the VHT. With a bit more gain, either from the amp or a dirt pedal, I bet that p/u would really kick some butt. Keep posting vids when you can, I always learn something everytime I watch.

Hi Gary here in N.J. You are very Cool. And you play good too. I just order the Set of G.M. 57 Special Alnico ll Humbucker . After hearing you play. That,s the sound I,m looking for to put in my Gibson.!!!!! With Sprague Bumble Bee .22 uf Tone Capacitor,s THANK,s DAVE.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I bought a few of there's. I think the alnico 2 are great for the neck. I told the owner I didn't want an overly bright bridge pup. He recommended the 59 alnico 5 for the bridge. It's a little bright but hey I just back off the tone. The hot rodded set is similar to SD HR set at a small fraction of the price

alnico 11 is my favorite magnet. I have taken the pole pieces out of ceramic single coils and put alnico magnets in them and they sound good. Sounds very good.

Thanks for the review I will try an alnico 2 gold cover from them

One of my favoruite things to do (with guitars...) is swapping magnets. Oh the FUN you'll have! Just buy a few bar magnets and start swapping things. It's very easy to do and it really changes the character of a pickup. Change the ceramics out for an Alnico V for more warmth. Put in an Alnico II for warmer still and less bite. put in an Alnico8 to make it scream and punch. Get an Alnico III in the neck for a lovely, low output jazz thing. Go on, give it a shot!

just tried a set of gm which are al2 neck and al5 bridge... they're amazing. best set I've had in my LP (2006) and I've had a few much more spendy.

Got Alnico II's in my Squier Classic Vibe Tele & they are fantastic!

Damn dude, that VHT kick's some ass! I bought a used Classic 18, but it was messed up. Had to return it. I did just buy an Epi LP special II for like... $79. Turns out, it was from the custom shop. (Who knew?) Black with all gold hardware. After a set up, it, plays better than my 79 Gibson The Paul. OH, and check out Jet City. Just grabbed a JCA50H that crushes it for $250. I did have to replace all the Chinese tubes, but WTF. $250 for an all tube Soldano clone? It's a good time to be a guitar nerd...

They sound really good.

Watched every video I love your channel so much

Thank you for correctly pronouncing Alnico.

good playing and awsome alnico ii pickup. have you tried humbucker sized p90's

I worked in Alaska logging Afognak island 3 different times miss it Cool reviews

I prefer Alnico 2 pretty much for all types of pickup. I'm on a constant hunt for affordable A2 pickups!

Hi Dave! What are the specs on the pickup? I have a set of Vanson 57 PAFs with Alnico 2s on my Special 2. The bobbins have the same shade of cream color as my zebras. Also could you please make a review on the Epi special 2? Thanks!

Love your channel Whip!!! any chance of reviewing some Yamaha Pacificas? I see them at pawn shops for under $50 all the time. Would love to see what you think.

Hi , this is a great video the guitarmadness pickups are great pickups Believe me !!

There good I single pickups Alnico 5 s hb 2 are cool

Great review, Dave..I have that same model and really think it would do better with a P90 at bridge, or 2 P90s. Can you do a demo of a P90 in a cheap Epiphone LP? Many thanks.

Very nice demo

Very excellent b/c I'm looking to buy em

Alnico 2's have weaker magnets than 5's, so you'll get that "vintage vibe" from it - more clarity, more jangle. I like them because they give you more leeway in headroom to go crunchy or dirty, whereas the 5's can be overwhelmingly dirty from the get go. Good choice.

Alnico 5 are good in single coil pickups 2 are good in p 90 to

Hi there. What would be a cheaper option of a humbucker (bridge) on the Epiphone Les Paul Jr (Samick-Indonesia, 2011)? Initially i thought of changing the stock to Duncan SH-4 JB...but if there is a cheaper option to get the Green Day sound...Please advise. Thanks.

HO RE CHOW, IT'S ARIVE!!!! Jack Canada

Great been looking for a pickup to put in my fender fat strat.

Do you think you'll ever review a budget P90 pickup? I've modded the hell out of a LP JR but I have no ideas if there's any good dogear pickups for a good price

Nice! Any experience with rail pickups? Not much info out there except about the spendy makes and models.

Sounded like a bit of Malcolm in there. Gonna try this pickup out.

Review some Monoprice gear? I have nothing but pleasant surprises from them sofar...

sounds pretty good

Hey Dave. Have you played either the Epiphone SL LP? This is the new Epiphone $99 guitar - or the new Squire Bullet Mustang? I think they're about $150, or as those punk kids and their transistor radios say "one fiddy"! I've heard the Epiphone SL, and in my opinion the bridge pickup should be renamed the Puke pickup, because it is mega tinny, as is the neck pick up, but not as thin. I've definitely heard worse, but these single coil pu's are only marginally better. The one element of these Epiphone's is the price! You cannot complain about a $99 electric by Epiphone. One other thing I don't like with the Epiphone is the pick guard. It just smacks of cheap, and is a terrible design. I've screwed around on Squire Mustang and came very, very close to guying it, but I went with the Cort Earth series acoustic, which is 3/4 scale, and just an AWESOME little acoustic with a solid spruce top, and fantastic sound! Very smooth playing neck, and I would take that on stage any time! It was just under $300 brand new. I was actually shopping for an Epiphone LP used of course, because it's retarded buying new if you can help it when there's ALWAYS absolute mint used guitars for half or more off the retail. I'm really jonesing for an Epiphone LP in Pelham Blue. I saw a Gibson LP played by Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters fame, at the White House honorary performance for Paul McCartney (AKA Macca AKA Mr Billion dollar money bags) Grohl was playing Band On The Run...or was it Man With The Runs?..hmmm...anyway, he had a Pelham Blue Gibson LP and you know you really love a guitar when you give it Five Boings out of Five, and an additional three Shwings of three...so...ya, I gots to haves me one, but with a different head stock, and label!! I've really wanted an Epiphone LP for years, and I just love the Pelham Blue. The small family run music shop in my small town don't get hundreds of guitars in, and so I'd be waiting for a while for a Pelham Blue to come in used. So I was looking at a really sweet black one, and was going to buy it when I spotted the Cort. Hand to God after the second I knew the black LP was going back on the wall!! I actually gave the Cort to my second son Jason, whose 29 and an awesome guitar player, because he gave me his electric Ibanez 120 free, so I could trade it along with my acoustic Garrison for the guitar of my dreams, an Epiphone Casino! Being a Beatle fan since I heard my sister's playing Beatle music full volume for months on end, I found out they loved, and used the Casino on a huge majority of their great songs, and albums, such as my favorite "Abbey Road" where the majority of cuts were on the Casino. George used Strats a LOT, as well as the Telecaster, but he also used the Casino quite a lot. It was really Lennon who was playing the Casino, his favorite, and McCartney's favorite also. I had to have one! Take care brother. Jack Canada aye!

I subscribed to your channel Whip. We have similar guitar ideals,...........and the low budget blues.😎🇺🇸🎸🤘🏼⚡️⚡️💥🦅🎸

Shit Son, Where at in Michigan Foo?

I have the Aknico v in a tele they are bright. I like the sound of the Alnico II better its a warmer tone.

Neck sd 59 alnico 5 vs vanson 57 alnico 2 brigde. Prefer. Thank.

subscribed!

Nice!! where did you order it????

Hey whiiiiippp!!!?,. Richard Lee from Cali man, Help me bruh! Plzzzz. Ok one o' my guitars is a discounted crappy flying V MINI YUP, mini. Neck is unbelievable tho. One vol. One tone humbucker.. totally shit. What u say to solder in I will no joke. Thx.

So, these aren't the Chinese models that sell for $16 a pair, on Amazon and eBay? I was worried that all these guys like guitar madness, artoftone, stratosphere et al, were just reselling that garbage.

try the alnico 5 in the neck to make that position less dark. or try one of the humbcker sized p90s. those are incredible too

Is this the ALONE Dave?

alone what you doing going to when some money?

A ton better than your 59er video. .must have taken guitar lessons!

I can hear the low output.... not for me

Should have blurred out your address, dude.

Wow you never played anything really heavy.