Thanks a lot for this comparison! I've been wondering how they compare for some time, and you answered that very well with the right hard rock attitude as a bonus. Rock on!
Right down to business and great we'll rounded review. You're a really great player man. You got yourself a subscriber here. Self taught all the way. Just got a set of the alnico classics pro and full Epiphone harness for my late dad's favorite Ibanez 335 copy that he loved. And so do I.
great playing... and it's especially useful since you're using songs that we know. I would not be able to tell the difference between these and Gibsons.
@Windows Media Player well I'm glad you noticed that because I purposely use songs familiar to people so you can relate more to what you're hearing. The only problem now is this article 13 stuff and the copyright fiasco. Thanks for your input!
They all sound great to me. One thing I did learn is that I would love to have all of those guitars, lol. And it just confirmed my love of guitars. Rock on.🎸
@@RockHardRiffs I have an Epiphone Sheraton and an Epiphone Les Paul and love both. I'll gladly take Epiphone guitars any day. I personally don't have the ear to say Gibson is any better sound-wise.
@@MrAlsfan5 I've done a little research on the Sheraton guitars and they look pretty darn nice. I've owned Gibsons and now obviously Epiphones. The Les Paul in this video is as if not more playable than any Gibson I've owned. Don't get me wrong...I'd love to have some Gibsons again, but as you said, a good Epiphone is a bird in the hand.
@@RockHardRiffs I sometimes wonder how much extra we're charged because the guitar has Gibson or Fender on the headstock. Mind you, I do have a 1986 Fender Stratocaster American Standard which is the flagship of my 9 guitar fleet. I also have a 53 Tele reissue which I love. Dumb as it sounds, I sometimes just stare at them like they are a piece of art. How weird is that?
@@MrAlsfan5 not weird at all. I feel the same about the 335. Of course the name is supposed to represent high quality, which most times it does. Labor costs are so much less in China and with it...lesser quality control and some of the components are 'cheaper' in the Epiphones, but many folks in the know say Epiphones have become one of the most consitently good guitar makers around....so who's to complain?
Great comparison! I just got an Epiphone Les Paul Ultra II with the classic pro's and thought they sounded a bit dull compared to guitars I've played with the Probuckers, this video confirms my suspicions. I think I need to grab a set of Probuckers and swap them out soon.
Thank you for that. The Probuckers definitely have a great chime to them, but they can lack a bit of bite when you might want it. I swapped the Probuckers out for a pair of Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates. Every guitar part in this is with the Pearly Gates pick ups. I think there are at least 3 guitar parts in this: ua-cam.com/video/sTVdjPpTla8/v-deo.html Thanks for watching!
Ha!, Ha!, That was GREAT! i missed your name, but I subscribed instantly! Firstly, those Rockin' Riffs were excellent! And at forst glance, I thought you were my Old Friend in Canada, Pat Yearwood! = but no!, you play better than him! Different hat, though - lol! DYNAMITE TONE! - i'M quite an ES-335 fan, but I must say, your setup certainly brought out that Les Paul! .. F''ing amazing!..Had a smile on my face non=stop! - gotta go now!,- gotta play the ol' 335! Cheers, mate! Rock on!
I like the sound of the Alnico Classic Pro pickups just a bit better than the Probuckers especially on the high gain tones. It sounds a bit smoother to me on the bridge.
DesertScorpionKSA they are hotter and brighter than the Probuckers to me. I definitely agree about higher gain stuff. I use the Les Paul with both pickups in a light crunch. Man is that juicy! Thanks for viewing!
This is a very good video. Epiphone makes many different humbucker pickups and they don't really tell you much about them other than the sales stuff. I just bought an Epi SG Traditional Pro with the Alnico classic pros, they have alnico V magnets and they are hot, this sounds like a real Gibson. The Probuckers are lower output and don't have the tone of the Gibson pickups, although none of them sound bad.
I just traded in an older explorer for an ES-335 Pro today. The pickups in it are actually great for all sorts of rock and even metal! besides the obvious B.B King and Berry sounds ;)
@Sawbones Quad Funny thing about the pick ups in the 335 pro...some say they're "muddy"...others say they're "weak". I say they've been drinking some bad kool-aid. Thanks for your input and rock on!
Oh, one last thing. Let's all hoist one today in honor of Roy Clark's passing yesterday. I know the younger watchers of your videos may not like country, but Roy was truly underappreciated, and underrated as a guitar player. He was just one more of my guitar heroes.
Good Video , I would have liked to hear the comparison with the pickups in the same style of guitar as the semi-hollow will give a different sound then a solid body as I am building a ES 335 style from a kit and have decided trading the kit pickups with Epiphone , but now the question is do I go with the Alnico or Pro's ? I am putting a lot of thought into this as the guitar is for professional use and the sound has gotta be exactly right , I am a songwriter, so sound is everything . For the past 2 months I have been doing lots of research deciding what stock parts to install and which parts to swap, and now it has come down to pickups . FYI I will be live-streaming this project on Twitch So the stakes are even higher as I am sure people will be influenced by my decisions .
Hi Mandrake...thanks for watching. The tone of a semi-hollow isn't really affected by its being semi-hollow. At gig or concert volume, it might feed back a bit more than a completely solid guitar, but that's about it as far as "tone" goes, imo. If you're asking which pick ups I prefer, I'd recommend the Alnico Classics. They are louder and punchier than the Probuckers. Rock on buddy and best of luck with your project!
Thank you and I'm glad you got something out of it! I'm also doing some comparisons between Gibson Burstbuckers 2&3 vs. these Epiphone pick ups....and some Seymour Duncans. They'll be up soon. Rock on!
@@RockHardRiffs thanks to gents like yourself ,I'm pretty sure you helped many of us make the right decisions ,thanks again for contributing to us fellow guitarist, God bless and rock on brother. 🤟
Both have good tone. I guess the style would be the main factor. I like the tone of the Les Paul's pickups better for dirty and the ES 335 for clean tones. But neither sucked in any way.
@@RockHardRiffs Thanks for showing me the differences. I'm looking for a couple humbuckers to throw in my strat. Thinking about used epiphone, pro-buckers. This video showed me that that would be a good choice for me.
Hey there Angel...I see you've been subscribed for over 5 years. Thank you very much! The amp is the Marshall JVM410c. I no longer have it, but it was a great amp for sure. Rock on my friend!
Also, I forgot to ask. I love the SGs. How is that SG Modern you have? I have an SG '61 Reissue and a Gibson SG Special with P90 pickups. I love them both.
A lot of the difference in tone is from the different body compositions. I own a LP custom pro and a Sheraton ii pro which have the exact same probucker pickups in them. They sound different though due to one being solid and the other semi-hollow.
Same love both, have the classic 57s in a TV yellow Les Paul special I upgraded,and going to put Probuckers in a 338 firefly,I believe they have just a slight more clearity then the 57s, thanks for your review.
The Probuckers sound a bit woodier, more mid-focused while the AC Pros are a bit brighter with higher output. To my ear, the difference is most pronounced on bridge position in clean/low-gain settings, and least apparent in middle position or in high-gain settings. These are both good quality humbucker sets, and the choice is purely a matter of personal preference. I could definitely see a mix of these two sets working in an HHH setting - maybe PB 3 in the bridge and the AC Pro to brighten up the neck? PB 2/3 in neck & middle position for "normal" humbucker tones, and the AC Pro+ in the bridge for an extra kick?
@@frankvardeman7741 Thanks man...I really appreciate that. Here's another video with the same guitar (Alnico Classic Pros) and a very different amp to compare it with. ua-cam.com/video/7VrCW9C8jxc/v-deo.html
I have a Es-339 with Alnico classic pro but have a set of probuckerrs with coil split and wiring with push pull pots but can’t decide if it’s worth the trouble as the 339 sounds awesome none of my other guitars have four knobs except my bass I have a Mitchell ms450 but it it three knobs and already has coil split so I may have to buy another guitar 😢😂
@@markr2159 hey buddy...no...none of that. I'm actually kinda disabled....bad back injuries so this is what I do to keep myself busy while trying to rehabilitate...and in hopes of at least playing in a band again someday. Check out our playlists. Lots of 'lessons' and stuff in there...and it's all free.
That's a tough question, but I will say I prefer the Probuckers at the neck and Alnico classic at the bridge. The Alnico Classics are brighter to my ear. They both are great. You won't go wrong with either, in my opinion. Rock on!
I just finished editing a new video which has Alnico Classics vs. Alnico Classics....Epi Les Paul Classic Quilt Top vs. the same Epi 335. Thanks for watching!
Can’t agree too much! Bought an Epiphone Lzzy Hale Explorer with exactly those Alnico Classic PROs in it. This guitar delivers ALL between super smooth blues up to ultra high gain overtone rich rockin’ mayhem! And directly compared my buddy’s original Gibson LP Custom can’t compete in any way! I don’t know how it is with the “normal” stock models by Epiphone, but these signature “handcrafted in China” models are of a stunning quality, look and feel!
Please have a look in the description for more videos. Thanks!
Thank man! Are you in the New York City area?
@@AngelMartinez-qs3cf no...I'm out in the wild, wild west. Arizona my friend. You?
@@RockHardRiffs New York City
Thanks a lot for this comparison! I've been wondering how they compare for some time, and you answered that very well with the right hard rock attitude as a bonus. Rock on!
Alan St. You’re welcome and thank you for the kind words. It’s truly appreciated!
Right down to business and great we'll rounded review. You're a really great player man. You got yourself a subscriber here. Self taught all the way. Just got a set of the alnico classics pro and full Epiphone harness for my late dad's favorite Ibanez 335 copy that he loved. And so do I.
Thank you for the kind words, Trevin and that's awesome about your dad's guitar. Thank you for subscribing!
great playing... and it's especially useful since you're using songs that we know. I would not be able to tell the difference between these and Gibsons.
@Windows Media Player well I'm glad you noticed that because I purposely use songs familiar to people so you can relate more to what you're hearing. The only problem now is this article 13 stuff and the copyright fiasco. Thanks for your input!
They all sound great to me. One thing I did learn is that I would love to have all of those guitars, lol. And it just confirmed my love of guitars. Rock on.🎸
MrAlsfan5 it's hard to slam Epiphone when they sound this good (other than my playing)! Rock on!
@@RockHardRiffs I have an Epiphone Sheraton and an Epiphone Les Paul and love both. I'll gladly take Epiphone guitars any day. I personally don't have the ear to say Gibson is any better sound-wise.
@@MrAlsfan5 I've done a little research on the Sheraton guitars and they look pretty darn nice. I've owned Gibsons and now obviously Epiphones. The Les Paul in this video is as if not more playable than any Gibson I've owned. Don't get me wrong...I'd love to have some Gibsons again, but as you said, a good Epiphone is a bird in the hand.
@@RockHardRiffs I sometimes wonder how much extra we're charged because the guitar has Gibson or Fender on the headstock. Mind you, I do have a 1986 Fender Stratocaster American Standard which is the flagship of my 9 guitar fleet. I also have a 53 Tele reissue which I love. Dumb as it sounds, I sometimes just stare at them like they are a piece of art. How weird is that?
@@MrAlsfan5 not weird at all. I feel the same about the 335. Of course the name is supposed to represent high quality, which most times it does. Labor costs are so much less in China and with it...lesser quality control and some of the components are 'cheaper' in the Epiphones, but many folks in the know say Epiphones have become one of the most consitently good guitar makers around....so who's to complain?
Great comparison! I just got an Epiphone Les Paul Ultra II with the classic pro's and thought they sounded a bit dull compared to guitars I've played with the Probuckers, this video confirms my suspicions. I think I need to grab a set of Probuckers and swap them out soon.
Thank you for that. The Probuckers definitely have a great chime to them, but they can lack a bit of bite when you might want it. I swapped the Probuckers out for a pair of Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates. Every guitar part in this is with the Pearly Gates pick ups. I think there are at least 3 guitar parts in this: ua-cam.com/video/sTVdjPpTla8/v-deo.html Thanks for watching!
Ha!, Ha!, That was GREAT! i missed your name, but I subscribed instantly! Firstly, those Rockin' Riffs were excellent! And at forst glance, I thought you were my Old Friend in Canada, Pat Yearwood! = but no!, you play better than him! Different hat, though - lol! DYNAMITE TONE! - i'M quite an ES-335 fan, but I must say, your setup certainly brought out that Les Paul! .. F''ing amazing!..Had a smile on my face non=stop! - gotta go now!,- gotta play the ol' 335! Cheers, mate! Rock on!
Thank you Leonard. Rock on!
awesome video, thanks. You've made it VERY clear. I like Probuckers more, but both are good.
cool deal...thanks for watching
I like the sound of the Alnico Classic Pro pickups just a bit better than the Probuckers especially on the high gain tones. It sounds a bit smoother to me on the bridge.
DesertScorpionKSA they are hotter and brighter than the Probuckers to me. I definitely agree about higher gain stuff. I use the Les Paul with both pickups in a light crunch. Man is that juicy! Thanks for viewing!
This is a very good video. Epiphone makes many different humbucker pickups and they don't really tell you much about them other than the sales stuff. I just bought an Epi SG Traditional Pro with the Alnico classic pros, they have alnico V magnets and they are hot, this sounds like a real Gibson. The Probuckers are lower output and don't have the tone of the Gibson pickups, although none of them sound bad.
I'm in complete agreement. Thanks for watching!
I just traded in an older explorer for an ES-335 Pro today. The pickups in it are actually great for all sorts of rock and even metal! besides the obvious B.B King and Berry sounds ;)
@Sawbones Quad Funny thing about the pick ups in the 335 pro...some say they're "muddy"...others say they're "weak". I say they've been drinking some bad kool-aid. Thanks for your input and rock on!
@@RockHardRiffs Not if they sat down with one for more than 5 minutes, haha, put some of what you're having in my pipe guys. Cheers m8!
AAAAAAAAAAH STAIRWAYYYYY NOOOOOOOO. thanks for the comparison, you made the differences very clear. I love both, keep up the good work.
@Windows Media Player lol! Yeah yeah...but you loved the tone...admit it! ...lol. Thanks again!
Oh, one last thing. Let's all hoist one today in honor of Roy Clark's passing yesterday. I know the younger watchers of your videos may not like country, but Roy was truly underappreciated, and underrated as a guitar player. He was just one more of my guitar heroes.
Good Video , I would have liked to hear the comparison with the pickups in the same style of guitar as the semi-hollow will give a different sound then a solid body as I am building a ES 335 style from a kit and have decided trading the kit pickups with Epiphone , but now the question is do I go with the Alnico or Pro's ? I am putting a lot of thought into this as the guitar is for professional use and the sound has gotta be exactly right , I am a songwriter, so sound is everything . For the past 2 months I have been doing lots of research deciding what stock parts to install and which parts to swap, and now it has come down to pickups . FYI I will be live-streaming this project on Twitch So the stakes are even higher as I am sure people will be influenced by my decisions .
Hi Mandrake...thanks for watching. The tone of a semi-hollow isn't really affected by its being semi-hollow. At gig or concert volume, it might feed back a bit more than a completely solid guitar, but that's about it as far as "tone" goes, imo. If you're asking which pick ups I prefer, I'd recommend the Alnico Classics. They are louder and punchier than the Probuckers. Rock on buddy and best of luck with your project!
@@RockHardRiffs Thanks for your recommendation and I have went with the ones you have suggested . Thanks a lot .
@@mandrakeblackstone5838 Cool deal. I hope that works out for you!
Thanks for this great comparison, definitely what I expected, ACP for me ✌😎👍
Thank you and I'm glad you got something out of it! I'm also doing some comparisons between Gibson Burstbuckers 2&3 vs. these Epiphone pick ups....and some Seymour Duncans. They'll be up soon. Rock on!
@@RockHardRiffs thanks to gents like yourself ,I'm pretty sure you helped many of us make the right decisions ,thanks again for contributing to us fellow guitarist, God bless and rock on brother.
🤟
That's very, very kind Tony. In part...I do this as a "pay it forward" kinda thing. Rock on brother and God bless, as well!
Both have good tone. I guess the style would be the main factor. I like the tone of the Les Paul's pickups better for dirty and the ES 335 for clean tones. But neither sucked in any way.
I appreciate your input. Thanks for watching!
@@RockHardRiffs Thanks for showing me the differences. I'm looking for a couple humbuckers to throw in my strat.
Thinking about used epiphone, pro-buckers. This video showed me that that would be a good choice for me.
@@thebluesrockers right on. you won't go wrong with either. imo, the probuckers have more chime and the alnico's are brighter.
Both sound awesome for different purposes. Les paul is definitely more hard rock and the es335 sounds more warm for some jazz or something
Thanks for that! Rock on!
Hey buddy, what model Marshall amp is that? Sounds killer! What model number?
Hey there Angel...I see you've been subscribed for over 5 years. Thank you very much! The amp is the Marshall JVM410c. I no longer have it, but it was a great amp for sure. Rock on my friend!
@@RockHardRiffs Thank you. Which pickups did you enjoy better in the video?
@@AngelMartinez-qs3cf it depends. bridge for hard rock, both for a mellower sound and neck for blues type stuff. all are great for their purpose.
@@RockHardRiffs I meant which pickups sounded better for classic hard rock, i.e., AC/DC sound, the 335 Epi or the LP Epi?
Also, I forgot to ask. I love the SGs. How is that SG Modern you have? I have an SG '61 Reissue and a Gibson SG Special with P90 pickups. I love them both.
A lot of the difference in tone is from the different body compositions. I own a LP custom pro and a Sheraton ii pro which have the exact same probucker pickups in them. They sound different though due to one being solid and the other semi-hollow.
@Mark Nicholls Photography Sounds reasonable
How would you describe the sound of each? I'm interested on getting a Sheraton.
I like the Alnico Pro with it's woody tone with distortion.
Right on. Thanks for watching!
Same love both, have the classic 57s in a TV yellow Les Paul special I upgraded,and going to put Probuckers in a 338 firefly,I believe they have just a slight more clearity then the 57s, thanks for your review.
I just now see your comment. Gotta love youtube. Thanks for watching!
Epi ProBuckers - mids..... thicker on aspects.
Alnico Classic Pro's for Classic Rock - treble and highs / the chords really ring - definite bridge.
I agree 🎸
I like them both sick video dude..do you give lessons?
Yes my friend. Just have a look in our Playlists and look for 'Guitar Instruction' and others. We put out new videos every week day. Rock on!
The Probuckers sound a bit woodier, more mid-focused while the AC Pros are a bit brighter with higher output. To my ear, the difference is most pronounced on bridge position in clean/low-gain settings, and least apparent in middle position or in high-gain settings.
These are both good quality humbucker sets, and the choice is purely a matter of personal preference. I could definitely see a mix of these two sets working in an HHH setting - maybe PB 3 in the bridge and the AC Pro to brighten up the neck? PB 2/3 in neck & middle position for "normal" humbucker tones, and the AC Pro+ in the bridge for an extra kick?
@Ian Kinzel well said!
This is very helpful to me. Trying to decide which of these pickups to go in an Epi Special ii?????
Glad to hear that Frank...thanks. If you're looking for an opinion...I'd suggest the Alnico Classics.
Thanks! The Alnico Classic Pros?
@@frankvardeman7741 yes. They’re louder and brighter in my opinion.
Thanks! Love your stuff and just subscribed.
@@frankvardeman7741 Thanks man...I really appreciate that. Here's another video with the same guitar (Alnico Classic Pros) and a very different amp to compare it with. ua-cam.com/video/7VrCW9C8jxc/v-deo.html
Seems ta me the Probuckers have a more focused mid where the Alnico pros have more fidelity
I’d agree with that
@Jonny Beck thanks for subscribing...really appreciate it!
@@RockHardRiffs Glad to bolster a fellow Epi 335 pro owner ...had mine since purchased new 2016 and love it more every single day... cheers
I have a Es-339 with Alnico classic pro but have a set of probuckerrs with coil split and wiring with push pull pots but can’t decide if it’s worth the trouble as the 339 sounds awesome none of my other guitars have four knobs except my bass I have a Mitchell ms450 but it it three knobs and already has coil split so I may have to buy another guitar 😢😂
Way sweet. The only thing I'd say is...there's always room for another guitar...and...if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Thanks for watching!
What's that riff or song?
if you mean the first part....that's Lay Lady Lay by Bob Dylan. Thanks for watching!
Nice !!!
Thanks!
Oh almost forgot to ask: what part of the planet are you broadcasting from? I'm in Koreatown, Los Angeles ...cheers again
We're in Phoenix, AZ. Home of the blast furnace!
@@RockHardRiffs Do you have a shop? Setups, mods, lessons, any of that?
@@markr2159 hey buddy...no...none of that. I'm actually kinda disabled....bad back injuries so this is what I do to keep myself busy while trying to rehabilitate...and in hopes of at least playing in a band again someday. Check out our playlists. Lots of 'lessons' and stuff in there...and it's all free.
@@RockHardRiffs God bless.
@@Sparky6string Very kind KassperT. May God bless you as well
Which pickups do u prefer???
That's a tough question, but I will say I prefer the Probuckers at the neck and Alnico classic at the bridge. The Alnico Classics are brighter to my ear. They both are great. You won't go wrong with either, in my opinion. Rock on!
@@RockHardRiffs thanks man, im planning to buy an epiphone Sg g400 pro standard with alnico classic pros :)
Oh yeah....great guitars I've heard. Nice choice and good luck!
Alnico classic Pros for me
You aren't alone. Thanks for chiming in!
guys, i think he likes led zep
I like the Alinco better
Thanks for the input!
Alnico imo sound better
I just finished editing a new video which has Alnico Classics vs. Alnico Classics....Epi Les Paul Classic Quilt Top vs. the same Epi 335. Thanks for watching!
I like the dry and dirty probuckers better
Dry and dirty?
Bob Dylan.. Lay lady Lay?
You got it. One of my favorite Dylan tunes...
it is same old story
Epiphone is AWESOME
if Gibson is not around
@stefan babic I think Epiphone is awesome...Gibson or not. Thanks for your input!
Can’t agree too much! Bought an Epiphone Lzzy Hale Explorer with exactly those Alnico Classic PROs in it. This guitar delivers ALL between super smooth blues up to ultra high gain overtone rich rockin’ mayhem! And directly compared my buddy’s original Gibson LP Custom can’t compete in any way! I don’t know how it is with the “normal” stock models by Epiphone, but these signature “handcrafted in China” models are of a stunning quality, look and feel!