7string pickups

[mlair]

im going to replace the pickups in my 7string guitar. Its neck through body, alder wings and maple neck. I wanted to know if anyone has had any experance with these pickups:

DiMarzio:
Blaze Custom
Evolution 7
Tone Zone 7
Air Norton 7
DSonic 7

EMG:
707
81-7

Seymour Duncan:
any of the 7 string models

Im a metal player so id need a good bridge pickup for palm muting, harmonics and such.. and a neck pickup that would be tight for shreading but also capable of a decent clean tone
any input would be helpfull

 

[austin]

Re: 7string pickups

If you haven't already search for info at http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/index.php , you might want to.

-Austin

 

[Imp]

Re: 7string pickups

i've just taken a JB-7 out of my ibanez 7620 and replaced it with a tonezone-7... the JB didnt really fit that well with the basswood body, i'm guessing mahogany or alder would really bring it to life!

anyway, the tonezone.. it's got a very 'vowel' like tone, paul gilbert uses them a lot, some of his tracks might be worth a listen to give you an idea.. harmonics are ok, but feel less 'sharp' than on something like an emg 81 - it's a solid, meaty harmonic!

a lot of people like the EMG 707 - it's well balanced, and from what i've seen it's a bit like the tonezone, with less of the vowel tone and edgier harmonics

so yeah - are you after a certain player's tone? it can be a 6 string player too - just to approach it from that angle..

tom

 

[eaeolian]

Re: 7string pickups

I use a JB 7/Jazz 7 in a maple/alder/ebony Jackson Soloist (pretty mcuh like what you have), and a Custom 7/'59 7 in a maple/mahogany/maple Washburn Sonic 7. I like these pickups in these woods - I definitely did NOT like the Distortion 7 that came in the Washburn. I toy with replacing the '59 - I think the Jazz 7 is a better neck pickup.

For reference, I play fairly aggressive metal stuff. If you go to our MySpace site and listen to the song "Hunt", it's a combination of my Soloist 7 (with JB7) through a Road King with a TS-9 in front (I think I'm the left channel), and a Rhoads with EMGs (a six string with 81s, IIRC) through the same amp setup. (I could be wrong, it could be a Rhoads 7 with 707s).

So the JB can get pretty aggressive. It's a love/hate pickup amoung a lot of people, though...

Imp - I've played (and heard) several Ibanez RG7s with JBs and Distortions in them, and I think DiMarzios (the Blaze especially) sound better in basswood.

For other 7 string options, you can try Swineshead or Bareknuckle. The Bareknuckles are pricey, but sounded great in the two guitars I heard them in.

The pickup reviews at SevenString.org (above) are a good bet - lots of good DiMarzio info there, for sure.

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: 7string pickups

I've found that the dimarzio PAF7 is really good at metal if you're after a more classic sound.

 

[frehley]

Re: 7string pickups

Get two EMG707's. I have a pair of those in my Carvin DC727 and it's my all time favorite pick-up. Powerful but clear tone. In the middle position, they sound crystaline and amazing, very versatile. And for distorted tones, forget about it. This pup is unmatched with massive amounts of harmonics and deep dynamic palm muting tone. You will NOT find a better metal pup. I put this pup up against anything. Make sure to wire it with 2 batteries at 18volts. ( Nay sayers, bring it on)!

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: 7string pickups

Get two EMG707's. I have a pair of those in my Carvin DC727 and it's my all time favorite pick-up. Powerful but clear tone. In the middle position, they sound crystaline and amazing, very versatile. And for distorted tones, forget about it. This pup is unmatched with massive amounts of harmonics and deep dynamic palm muting tone. You will NOT find a better metal pup. I put this pup up against anything. Make sure to wire it with 2 batteries at 18volts. ( Nay sayers, bring it on)!

I've tried that pickup in an Ibanez and it sounded like crap. It was thin and tinny and really scooped. The guitar was a POS but it should have sounded better with an even half-decent pickup.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: 7string pickups

I have a Blaze II OEM pickup from Dimarzio to offer. Dimarzio tech support says it sounds like a Super Distortion.

 

[bulb]

Re: 7string pickups

if you want a badass metal pickup, you should seriously consider the lundgren m7
i have one in my carvin