Pickups for Dean Hardtail Select

[Safeman]

A few months ago I bought a Dean Hardtail Select on the basis of accoustic sound and feel. The pickups are decent but all along I was planning to switch them for some new ones. I have never put new pickups into a guitar. I play mostly jazz fusion, rock fusion, funk and jazz. Im really into the sounds and styles of Scott Henderson, Frank Gambale, Mike Stern and John Scofield. I was recommended getting a jazz in the neck and a JB in the bridge. Does anyone have any suggestion for pickup combos for this guitar?
Cheers

 

[chcjunior]

Re: Pickups for Dean Hardtail Select

What pups are in it now?

 

[Safeman]

Re: Pickups for Dean Hardtail Select

Just the stock ones...korean made
They are pretty decent....and are coil tappable.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Pickups for Dean Hardtail Select

I believe the Dean Hardtail Selects come with the same Dean pups as the other Korean imports....not bad, but they do need to be upgraded.

I have the US version of the Hardtail and it came with the JB/PG. I disliked the JB overall because of the upper midrange hump it has....and it didn't clean up very well. The PG didn't react well with the guitar, again IMO, because of the mids and upper mids.

I went with several different pups in the guitar before settling on the APH/APH. There are several bridge pups that would work well in addition to the APH, but the APH in the neck is the absolute best I have tried, with the Seth being a close 2nd. I think depending what you want out of a bridge pickup, the 59', C5, Custom, Seth, APH, Antiquity would all work well. I liked the APH and the Seth best in the neck...over the PG and 59'.

 

[chcjunior]

Re: Pickups for Dean Hardtail Select

I like the PG in the neck....really works well with my amp(s). I replaced the JB in the bridge with a Custom Custom and it sounds great. Works well clean by itself or in conjunction with the PG, and sounds great when pushing the high gain of the Soldano.

 

[frankencat]

Re: Pickups for Dean Hardtail Select

OK man, I just went through this with my HT Select. I will cut to the chase and recommend two sets:

1. Alnico Pro 2 neck / Custom Custom bridge.
2. '59 neck / JB or C5 bridge.

#1 for a smoother/sweeter sound, #2 for a ballsier classic rock sound.

I have a mutt set in mine that is kind of a combination of both - an Alnico Pro 2 neck with an A5 magnet and a JB bridge with an A2 magnet. HAve at it and enjoy your Dean - they RULE!

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Pickups for Dean Hardtail Select

I forgot to mention the CC, but that is a great choice as well.