I wanted to post on this because I think alot of new guitarist get the wrong idea of what to expect when going the replacement p/u route. Axl, you probaly didn't notice much difference between the Epi's and the Alnico 2's, because their really isn't much difference to notice, the p/u's are very similar. So one thing we have to consider first is, what do I have now, and what am I looking for in a new p/u ? More bass, more treble, more mid's, am I looking for a vintage sound, a metal sound etc.. Going from the stock p/u to a mild vintage p/u is not going to be a night and day change, more of a shade of gray sonically speaking, going from stock to a high output type pick up like a Screamin Demon, MegaDrive, FRED, is going to be more noticeable. One of the most obvious changes you will notice in p/u's is volume, hot p/u's are louder, they have more windings and stronger magnets, they produce more voltage, the amp gets a stronger signal. Distortion P/U's do not make your guitar sound like you are plugged into a Distortion Effects Pedal or a Stack of Marshalls, they are just louder, and if you are playing into a tube amp you will get more distortion or at least get it easier when everything is cranked, be forewarned not every tube amp is a distortion monster and pickups won't help that. Last but not least, your signal path to your amp, if clogged up with a bunch of effects will just about wipe out any advantages a replacement pick-up can give, the effects in the path to the amp cause alot of loss to the signal and color it so much that you are not going to hear alot of what the new pick-up has to offer. There are many things that affect your sound and pick-ups are just one link in the chain, Peace, Love and Joy

[Edited by pstring on 04-16-2002 at 12:10 AM]