Pickup Speed Date

Tag: Humbucker

  • House Of Tone WideOnes – Pickup Review

    In this review, we’re going to take a look at the House of Tone WideOnes, which are wide-range humbucking pickups built in the United Kingdom. I tested these pickups using a home-built Telecaster with a Warmoth alder body with F-holes & a maple Pau Ferro neck. I played the same exact 30-second riff in a number of contexts: straight into a clean amp, through a Vemuram Jan Ray with very light gain, and with a Wampler Moxie in high-gain mode. The amplifier I played through is a MusicMan RD-50 through a Universal Audio OX.

    Unboxing

    I purchased these directly from House of Tone. Matt Bascetta was super helpful with setting up my order, and shipping to the United States was a breeze. The pickups arrived in perfect condition and came in the gorgeous wood box you see pictured above. First class all the way.

    Construction

    I found the construction of these pickups to be flawless. The word “sturdy” would be an understatement. The adjustable pole pieces were easy to raise and lower, yet not flimsy or likely to go down on their own. I requested a raw nickel finish on these and was very pleased with that choice. Extra mounting screws were included with my order, which I thought was a nice touch, considering that wide-range pickups require twice as many screws as typical humbuckers.

    How Do the WideOnes Sound?

    The bridge pickup had an undeniable twang to it, but I would not go so far as to say that it steps over the line into “Tele” territory. But there is no doubt that it leans away from your typical “macho” bridge humbucker and lands nicely in the “solid yet snappy” range of tone. For surf-rock style playing, this one is a no-brainer. There’s more than meets the eye, though – when I cranked up my overdrive pedal, I was pleasantly surprised at how well this pickup held its own. Anything in the range of blues, classic rock, funk, or pop would be an absolute breeze.


    The neck pickup was so bouncy and playful that I almost couldn’t put my guitar down. Like the bridge pickup, there is plenty of single-coil, bell-like charm. But the Wide One neck position has a “bigness” to it that really stood out. Clean tones were full and alive, but overdrive was like a welcome friend with gobs of tone oozing out of the speakers. From warm & fat to juicy & Stratty, it was all there. When I finally stopped playing, I felt like I had ice cream all over my shirt.

    The one word that kept popping up in my mind with the House of Tone WideOnes was “clarity”. Whether I was going straight into the amp, using light breakup or tons of drive, the clarity of these pickups was impressive.

    Volume Knob Rollback

    I tested this set while using the Lindy Fralin Volume Kit. With the volume knob rolled down the bridge pickup was pretty bright, which is to be expected. This is a sound that would be perfect for a James Brown type of funk, surf or a range of pop styles. With the neck pickup, there was a plethora of usable sounds. Nearly the entire travel of the volume knob yielded a beautifully crisp and sparkly tone.

    Summary

    They say you only get one chance to make a first impression. Well, this was an outstanding first impression. I could not have made a better choice with my first set of pickups from House of Tone. Now I am of course wracked with curiosity and want to try more of their products. Considering the outstanding tone of the WideOnes, and all the positive feedback I’ve come across about House of Tone, I have no doubt that my second impression will be as good as my first.

    How to Contact House Of Tone Pickups

    houseoftonepickups@gmail.com
Tel: +44 (0)779 169 1251
Mail:
House Of Tone Pickups
96 Northgate St.
Chester
CH1 2HT United Kingdom

    Helpful Links

    House of Tone Pickups
    House of Tone WideOnes

  • Seymour Duncan Slash APH-2 Pickup Review

    The Seymour Duncan Slash APH-2 is an electric guitar pickup designed in direct collaboration with Slash himself. It’s a set of Alnico II humbuckers meant to replicate the exact tone of his legendary ’86 Derrig Les Paul — the one that drove Appetite for Destruction into the rock pantheon.

    What’s immediately worth noting is the absence of four-conductor wiring. You don’t get coil-splitting flexibility here. Instead, the APH-2s double down on tone purity, old-school style.

    APH-2 History

    These pickups have an unmistakable pedigree. The APH-2 set is essentially Seymour Duncan’s tribute to one of rock’s most recognizable tones: Slash’s. Specifically, it aims to replicate the tone captured during the Appetite for Destruction sessions. The guitar used? A now-legendary Les Paul copy by luthier Kris Derrig, loaded with Alnico II Pro humbuckers.

    To recreate that sound, Seymour Duncan leaned into the same Alnico II magnet recipe. Why Alnico II? Because its softer magnetic pull allows strings to vibrate more freely. The result? That extra bit of sustain and that velvety smooth response that helped define Slash’s lead tone.

    These pickups are also wax-potted, which helps reduce squealing — crucial when you’re dealing with high gain, high volume environments. The wiring stays vintage: no frills, no tricks. Just a straightforward, hardwired connection to the era of Les Paul into Marshall.

    My Personal Thoughts About the Seymour Duncan Slash APH-2

    I’ll say this right off the bat: they weren’t quite my thing — but that doesn’t mean they won’t be yours.

    I tend to gravitate toward much hotter bridge pickups — think 16k+ territory. So when I saw the specs for the Slash bridge pickup, clocking in at 8.53k, I figured it would feel a little tame. But honestly? I was surprised. The bridge pickup has real muscle. It’s got that chunky midrange growl that fills out a mix, and it doesn’t fall apart under gain. There’s more punch than the numbers suggest.

    The neck pickup is where I ran into a little friction. At 7.92k, it reads moderate on paper, but it feels like a “hot” 7.92k. There’s a ton of body and warmth — arguably too much for my tastes. I prefer a bit more air, especially for clean runs or neck-position leads where clarity is key. This one leans heavy — thick and syrupy.

    That said, both pickups clean up surprisingly well. Roll the volume back and they stay articulate. Add overdrive and they’re immediately at home in classic rock and blues territory. You won’t mistake them for a modern metal set, but that’s not what they’re trying to be.

    Of course, the elephant in the room is the Slash factor. If that’s the tone you’re chasing — that honking Les Paul snarl on tracks like “Paradise City” or the smooth neck leads on “November Rain” — then you’re probably already sold. And honestly, the APH-2s deliver on that front. The tone is there. The feel is there. The vibe is unmistakable.

    My takeaway? These are well-crafted pickups with a clear purpose. They aren’t trying to be all things to all players — they’re zeroed in on a specific sonic ideal. And they hit it.

    Summary

    The Seymour Duncan Slash APH-2 is a purpose-built pickup set, aimed squarely at fans of classic rock tones and Slash’s iconic lead voice. With Alnico II magnets, vintage-style wiring, and wax potting, it’s a warm, mid-focused set that delivers on sustain and smooth breakup.

    If you’re into modern high-output shredding, this probably isn’t your jam. But if you live in the world of Les Pauls into cranked Marshalls, this might be your next great tone investment. The bridge pickup has more girth than expected, and the neck pickup is full-bodied to a fault — depending on your preferences.

    Not the perfect set for me, but definitely a solid one — and possibly perfect for you.

    APH-2 Technical Details

    • Model Number: APH-2
    • Year First Produced: 2010
    • Magnet Type: Alnico 2
    • DC Resistance: 8.53k (Bridge), 7.92k (Neck)
    • Wiring: Single-conductor braided lead wire
    • Wax Potting: Yes
    • Cover Options: Black, Nickel, Gold, Black Nickel, Raw Nickel, Zebra/Reverse Zebra
    • Retail Price: $238 (set of two)
    • Street Price: Often found around $165 (set of two) on Reverb or eBay