I'm sure you know what I'm gonna ask...

[TheBozz]

Okay, here it comes...

WHAT P-UPS SHOULD I PICK FOR MY GUITAR?????

I'll try to resume my sound...

I want a good P-UP set that can handle cleans and mid-to-high distortion, for playing mainly hard rock & metal. My distorted sound should be a blend between hi-gain distortion and gritty rock O/D, so there is some compression mixed with some mid-crunch. I checked som samples, but I think that direct experience from other people would help more.

I'm using the JH-1 for rock stuff (BTW, get the Guv'nor... the JH's "dist" channel is rather crappy, but the O/D KICKS ASS!!! Almost real Marshall crunch!), but I think I'll get myself a metal distortion pedal sooner or later. What do you think I should buy to compliment my tone?

Note: I'm a bit of a "budget" player, so keep it easy!

BTW, thanks to anybody that replies!!!

[jeremy]

Re: I'm sure you know what I'm gonna ask...

welcome to the fourm!!

what kind of guitar do you have??

[TheBozz]

Re: I'm sure you know what I'm gonna ask...

Thanks, pal! Les Paul budget copy, but it comes to be that it sounds quite good. Some guy told me that it's as good as an Epi... (I couldn't tell... believe it or not, THERE ARE NO EPIS NOR GIBSONS HERE IN CHILE!!!)

I can't tell too much about the guitar itself. No info on the Internet, but some reviews. Seems it's a discontinued one. I have seen only another one like mine (on some TV comercials... I think it could be the same guitar for all of them. Don't realy know).

The body is VERY heavy (hey, it's a Les Paul), but got no idea of what wood it's made of (if anybody could tell me more about the Hohner RP250, please do!!!). It's got the typical Les Paul tone, but a bit moody in the neck, just great for classic rock stuff and just good for hard rock. The problem is, it doesn't cut it so well on metal. That's why I'm looking for new pickups and maybe a new distortion pedal.

I'm kinda rookie on modding guitar stuff, so PLEASE HELP ME!

[Fritz6]

Re: I'm sure you know what I'm gonna ask...

I always thought the DDb and Jazz neck was a good combo for metal. I think Randy used them in one of his axes.

[Hellion]

Re: I'm sure you know what I'm gonna ask...

Jeff Beck for the bridge, maybe a Phat Cat or a 59 for the neck.

[joelap]

Re: I'm sure you know what I'm gonna ask...

I have a duncan distortion bridge and a jazz combo in my guitar. I think it's amazing. However this guitar is tuned to Drop C and never goes clean when using my bridge pickup. If I wanna go clean, I switch to the jazz pickup when channel switching.

The JB is a great pickup for all styles. It wont limit you to any genre of music (it'll do excellent cleans as well as distort beautifully). You're best bet is to grab a Metal Zone (or if you've got extra cash, pickup a keeley modded one) and let the metal tone come from that pedal. The JB will do it's job and the metal zone will do it's job. However, if you dont need to worry about cleans in the bridge position, go with a duncan distortion.

Whatever you choose, I'd go with a Jazz neck.

http://www.robertkeeley.com/home.php

[Jeff_H]

Re: I'm sure you know what I'm gonna ask...

For grit, crunch and the ability to still clean up decently in the bridge, sounds like the Custom will work well, expecially if the guitar is a little dark.

Neck pickup, the APH is my first choice, think Slash's tone on September Rain, Knockin on Heavens Door, Sweet Child O' Mine. If you want a little brighter and glassier, the Jazz would probably do well.

[TheBozz]

Re: I'm sure you know what I'm gonna ask...

Thanks a lot guys! Think I'll acutally get the APH for the neck. Slash is my favourite player (I bought my guitar thinking about his), so that's a goooood thing! For the bridge, it seems that the JB or the Custom are the best choices.

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: I'm sure you know what I'm gonna ask...

+1 for JB. The JB has better cleans.

[TheBozz]

Re: I'm sure you know what I'm gonna ask...

I was looking @ guitarelectronics.com (artie's right: their graphs are cool!), and realized the output difference between the APH and the bridge pickups... Won't that be a bit of a problem? Any way to balance that?

[flank]

Re: I'm sure you know what I'm gonna ask...

while there is a fairly decent output differnce........it will not be TOO much...... you can raise and lower either pickup to set the balance correctly...... and many people have had JB or Custom bridge pickups paired up with vintage "low" output humbuckers in the neck position and everything is fine......... in fact, those combos of medium-high output bridge pickups and low output neck pickups are the favs around here

id go JB/APH or JB/jazz

[TheBozz]

Re: I'm sure you know what I'm gonna ask...

Think I've made my mind: JB/APH neck shall it be!

Thanks to all of you!