Bridge pickup for an ESP Jake E. Lee signature model

[Despised]

Hello again all!!

So I have one of these rare birds coming in, and I am having a tough choice trying to decide which pickup I really want in the bridge... And possibly rhe same for the middle single coil too, but primarily the bridge pickup is my main focus...

The guitar is Alder bodied with a maple fingerboard, hardtail fixed bridge. Metal, hard & classic rock are the main styles played, but always seeking extra versatility with the coil splits, etc. Its gonna have a Hot Rails in the neck & SSL-5 RWRP for the middle positionI was originally thinking the Distortion, but now I'm not so sure... I know it's gonna be a little bit brighter due to the maple fingerboard, so I don't want something that's gonna be really ice pick -ish in the highs...

I can't decide between the following:
* Distortion
*Alternative 8
*Custom
*Omega (IF I can get just the bridge pickup, won't need the set...)
*and possibly the Dimebucker

And if I switch the middle SC, I'm considering switching the Custom Staggered for either:
*SSL-6 Custom Flat,
*SSL-4 Quarter Pound Flat

what would you guys suggest??? Thanks in advanced!!

[Hsb]

Im always a fan of the Distortion. Custom isnt bad but not my fave. JB which isnt on your list is a love or hate, I hated it in my most guitars but screams in my LTD M-1000.

Are we talking 80s, 90s or more modern metal and hard rock?

[Despised]

Im always a fan of the Distortion. Custom isnt bad but not my fave. JB which isnt on your list is a love or hate, I hated it in my most guitars but screams in my LTD M-1000.

Are we talking 80s, 90s or more modern metal and hard rock?

The JB is definitely a love or hate pickup... its been forever since I tried a 6-string one, and the 7 I've never liked.

And as for style, everything rock and metal spanning from the 60's to today. Stuff like Toto, AC/DC, Motley Crue, Metallica, Megadeth, Faith No More, The Guess Who, and sooo much more...

Do you think the Distortion is closest to the Hot Rails in terms of tone and output? I have one in another LYD ST-213 w/maple fingerboard, and its shockingly amazing!!!

[Hsb]

Then in that case, Id def get the Distortion but thats just for my love of it. The JB would be a good choice but again, either that upper mid shines and becomes nasally or blends in amazing.

Ive never played the the Hot Rails but they would probably work together.

I had a Distortion in an old RG-570 and currently one in my Iceman, absolutely love it. The JB in the M-1000 is giving it a run for its money though.

[ErikH]

With that guitar, I'd go stock. JB w/ A2 or AH-1 (double-screw JB) w/ A2 in the bridge and DiMarzio SDS-1's in the neck and middle. That's me though.

[ArtieToo]

Consider a Perpetual Burn also. Hot when you need it to be, but clean when called for too. Killer pup.

[Despised]

Consider a Perpetual Burn also. Hot when you need it to be, but clean when called for too. Killer pup.

Hmmm, hadn't thought of that one... I'll have to try and check out some good demos of it. Do you think it would pair well with the HR in the neck and the Custom Staggered in the middle??

[devastone]

Doesn't it come with a JB in the bridge?

[ArtieToo]

Hmmm, hadn't thought of that one... I'll have to try and check out some good demos of it. Do you think it would pair well with the HR in the neck and the Custom Staggered in the middle??

I do. The PB has become one of my favorite Duncan pups, and I play mostly clean.

But keep in mind, I play exclusively in a home studio. Never live or loud.

[ErikH]

The PB is an excellent pickup. A big +1 from me on that one as an option, if you don't want the JB. It splits ridiculously well too.

Doesn't it come with a JB in the bridge?

Yes, it did come with a JB and 2 ESP single-coils.

[LLL]

When I think Jake E. Lee, I think JB.

[Despised]

Doesn't it come with a JB in the bridge?

ErikH also, I'm guessing it depends on which production year... Because in the '95 ESP catalog, they show it and the specs with ESP pickups in it stock... yet others I see have them stock...

The one I'm getting already has a JB/SSL-2/SSL-2 in it, but I think they were put in afterwards because the boxes the pickups came in are coming in the case... see attached pics...

Since I was gonna be putting a Blk/Wht/Blk pickguard on it, I figured I'd put something I want in the new one, leaving the original one alone, keeping the guitar's integrity and originality in tact... Hence why I am asking about what to put in the bridge to go with an RWRP SSL-5 & Hot Rails neck...

[superpete]

With that guitar, I'd go stock. JB w/ A2 or AH-1 (double-screw JB) w/ A2 in the bridge and DiMarzio SDS-1's in the neck and middle. That's me though.

agreed. i built a jake style partscaster (hardtail alder body) with sds1's and an ah-1 and it sounds really good. personally i wouldn't mess with the ESP, but hey, it's your guitar. go for it!
*edit* i just saw you're getting a whole new pickguard set up for the pickup swap. good idea!

[Despised]

agreed. i built a jake style partscaster (hardtail alder body) with sds1's and an ah-1 and it sounds really good. personally i wouldn't mess with the ESP, but hey, it's your guitar. go for it!
*edit* i just saw you're getting a whole new pickguard set up for the pickup swap. good idea!

Yes. If it was an LTD ST-213, I wouldn't care as much. But since these get harder and harder to find, and worth more and more as time passes, I didn't wanna mess with the original. So the one I have coming is the one in the first pic, but its gonna look like the one in the 2nd with the new pickguard...

[JOLLY]

With that guitar, I'd go stock. JB w/ A2 or AH-1 (double-screw JB) w/ A2 in the bridge and DiMarzio SDS-1's in the neck and middle. That's me though.

I was thinking the exact same thing.