'80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

[Mincer]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

I like the idea of the Jazz in the neck, but going with the Custom in the bridge. You should be able to get clean, clear cleans with the neck pickup, and the bridge pickup will be able to nail 80's and 90's hard rock tones. While you are in there, I'd upgrade the pots and switch as well You should be able to do all of this under your budget.

 

[Securb]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

I'll be the first one to deny it (well second, after GuitarDoc, who I believe has a luthier background). Higher quality pots will last longer, but even stock Epi pots can last many years, even decades. Both sound the same.

I said pots, wires and caps, read the post. If you don't think that will make a difference I find that interesting. What do you want to debate next the tonal influence of pickup ring colors?

 

[Progbusters]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

buy a new JB, if you don't like it within their return period, return it and try a Custom.

 

[Porker]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

Wow you guys post at the craziest times in my schedule haha. I would like to respond quicker but unfortunately I can't. I see a lot of disagreement about pot/caps replacement, so let me say this: I'm doing it either way because the Epi push-pulls have a quick connector and it would be harder to work with. Besides, I can get 3 CTS pots and a pair of Orange Drop caps for under $20. Also, the taper is very meh on my stock Epi. Very, very hard to get a clean sound without having nothing at all or introducing distortion really quick.

To Kamanda~SD: No, I LOVE LPs! It's all I can really play on, and I have a Gibson LP Studio 2014, this is just what I have at college with me because of it's lower value. I just like non-traditional sounds, but do love the feel and warm sounds it can put out. It's a complicated relationship :eek13:

But anyways, pups. Right. Would the APH-1s have a tight enough low end? I don't use crazy tunings much (Drop C, Bb, etc.), but drop D is pretty normal for me, and I usually play in half step down, so I need fairly responsive bass frequencies. Now, that said, I do not like compressed EMG sounds, and like a semi-organic tone, somewhat like Slash's modern tone, if that's a more reasonable comparison. This is all for the bridge pup.

For neck, I think I have a bit of an uncommon request here: Is there any humbucker that puts out somewhat of a "voiced" or "throaty" sound like a P90 or single coil, but still retains that classic humbucker sound? I know that there are a few spots on the fretboard on my Gibson Studio that just sing with this amazing sound, but it's not universal in the least and only happens on the middle strings at around the 12th fret. I know this sounds tricky, so if there isn't an option there, that's fine, but I just thought I'd throw that out there. Otherwise the Jazz sounds decent enough to me. I don't play a WHOLE lot of cleans, but there are definitely times where I would like to have it for power ballads and nice sparkly cleans, you know? As said before, I like me some hard rock, so there are occurrences where I could use that, but otherwise something that can handle a good amount of gain and distortion is the priority.

Sorry to confuse or complicate things, just trying to see what I can get, because I'm a newcomer to electronics, pups, etc. and need some guidance. Thanks for the patience guys.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

First, Welcome to the forum! Sorry you had to deal with the bickering, but we are a passionate bunch.. Yeah, changing pots and stuff can help, but if your epi already has 500k, then pups will make the biggest diff as long as the rest of the wiring is ok. But looks like youve already figured out what you are going to do. I just wanted to toss a couple of thoughts in. The slash set or AIIpros sound great, but if you are going more for 80s metal (my fav!!) and then some, and you dont think you'll like a JB, then I also say go with a custom. It'll cover alot of ground, plus you can swap magnets in it to try other things if it doesnt fully trip your trigger.. For the neck, you can go with a Demon, pearly gates, 59, jazz. all are great. I run the 59bridge model in the neck of a few guitars. The bridge model gives me alittle more smokey blues flavor than a neck 59. most any of those would be good starting points and mate will with a custom


I have a WLH set in a LP as was suggested to you and it is also a great sounding set, but like the Slash set, it may be too smooth or creamy for what you are loking for. Depends on what kind of amp you have too...

I understand budget, so try ebay or the trading post here on the forum.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!!

 

[Porker]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

Thanks for the warm welcome, I understand why there is so much chatter though, there's a lot of ideas to be thrown around.

I'm going to make this quick because it just auto-deleted everything I just wrote for some reason.

I think the Jazz will work in the neck, because I want something with a semi-classic sound but not too much, and I've heard that work well, so I'm good with that.
As for the JB, the only reason I'm wary of that is the "ice pick" sound some people have reported. Can someone explain or give a link to a video/sound clip?

A random question though, if it were you and you had an Epi LP Custom with white pearloid pickguard and amber top hat knobs, would you get white or black pups? I know it's personal preference, but just asking.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

A random question though, if it were you and you had an Epi LP Custom with white pearloid pickguard and amber top hat knobs, would you get white or black pups? I know it's personal preference, but just asking.

What color is the LP? You could do the cool thing and get a Zebra set

 

[Porker]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

Its black with gold hardware with regular cream binding.

Sorry about the double post my computer was really stupid.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

Its black with gold hardware with regular cream binding.

Sorry about the double post my computer was really stupid.

Black with cream binding seems like the Zebras would really look cool IMO!

And nothing to apologize for plus I don't see a duplicate post

 

[Porker]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

You think? With the gold hardware? I feel like chrome would make things easier. If I went with the zebra I would proba ly take off the pickguard and slap it on my Studio

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

You think? With the gold hardware? I feel like chrome would make things easier. If I went with the zebra I would proba ly take off the pickguard and slap it on my Studio

Well, I really don't care for gold hardware–prefer black and satin chrome personally. Zebras are typically black and cream so in my mind cream binding would make the black and cream pickups look cool. If I had a Les Paul with gold hardware I would change in–but that's just me.

 

[Porker]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

I think it would be pretty cool now. I was in the middle of a lab for my college class, but now I have found pictures. This is basically what it will look like http://s301.photobucket.com/user/HenriDevill/media/100_2701-2.jpg.html

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

I think it would be pretty cool now. I was in the middle of a lab for my college class, but now I have found pictures. This is basically what it will look like http://s301.photobucket.com/user/HenriDevill/media/100_2701-2.jpg.html

View attachment 67518

That is classy looking in my book!

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

A black Custom with cream binding, zebras, and no pick guard looks great. I did it with mine, although my gold hardware is so worn it's about half silver anyways

 

[Porker]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

Okay, so I think you guys are right with zebra. That's what I had originally wanted but I left it, and now have confirmation. Right. Now, back to the bridge pickup issue, please.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

Ok, so you havent tried a JB? Its a funny thing about JBs. They are one of the most common and most widely used pickups from factories that are cool enough to offer upgraded pups in their guitars, etc... Yet there is alot of internet chatter that they are icepicky.. If they were so aweful, would that many people use them?? JBs are not a perfect match for every guitar. (thats why we have choices.) But in the right guitar, its awesome! I wouldnt put one in a guitar with an all maple body, tho many have. But it could be great in a LP. Again, if you are leary, thats cool, I stand by my recommendation of the the Custom. But dont let internet chatter scare you away from the JB

 

[jeremy]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

if it were me, id get a custom for the bridge. great for hard rock and still has a little vintage flavor in a lp

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

I said pots, wires and caps, read the post. If you don't think that will make a difference I find that interesting. What do you want to debate next the tonal influence of pickup ring colors?

Ohm's law and the fundamental ways RC circuits work and etcetera are not changed simply because you use one brand of capacitors or potentiometers. If the parts are within spec, and there aren't any scratching noises (which would throw it out of spec), there is no real distinct tonal benefit of changing them. Sure, if you have such long runs of wire that significant resistance is introduced into the circuit from the wires alone, you have far bigger problems than just the parts. C=(Q/V) or C=(EMF * Area)/distance doesn't change because you use a sprague capacitor over a ceramic disc. If the capacitor reads/tests as .022uF, it is .022uF, regardless of brand. The main difference between brands is the tolerance, but you don't need to spend more than 10 cents a capacitor for a pretty tight tolerance. If someone wants to shell out a bunch of money on parts that - sure, have better production standards, but in practice are electronically the same as "inferior" parts, then I won't stop them .Hell, I use them, why? Because then I can trust that parts I buy are less likely to be lemons right out of the box. But I'm not going to pretend that it makes or breaks the sound quality. Honestly, things like potentiometer taper and actual part values will have a much bigger tonal impact than just the part brand.

 

[chadd]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

If the parts are within spec, and there aren't any scratching noises (which would throw it out of spec), there is no real distinct tonal benefit of changing them.

I agree. However, certain brands and types are more likely to be in spec and remain that way in all operating conditions. Is it worth hundreds of dollars, not to me or most people. Is it worth $10, it should be for most people, especially anyone that is getting paid to play.

 

[Porker]

Re: '80's Hard rock/ Modern hard rock pickup selection

Okay, so the JB and Custom are in the equation now. What is the name of the Custom specifically? Is it the SH-5? I just want to be sure I'm looking at the same thing. However... I still don't know what the "icepick" sound is. What does that mean?

And guys, I'm getting new pots regardless, and the current caps are those cheap ceramic ones. Bleh.And I BROKE the push-pull on my current pots and the shafts come out, so I don't see why I wouldn't. That part of the question is out.