Advice for Kiesel Aries

[reports12002]

Hi everyone

I was hoping to get some help- I’ve got a Kiesel Aries on the way. Alder body, maple neck, SH pup config, 24 frets. A bit like a JS series Ibanez in a way.

I will almost certainly swap out the Kiesel pups. I’ve heard that the SD single coils will fit in Kiesels whereas Dimarzios won’t.

I have very little experience with Duncan’s, so looking for advice for a good set of pups that will work. Looking for single coil noiseless it humbucker in neck and obviously a humbucker in the bridge.

Blues rock and hard rock - mostly soloing over backing tracks to be honest. No brutal metal riffage- mostly instrumental rock.

Many thanks !!

 

[Ascension]

Re: Advice for Kiesel Aries

Might want to play the Kiesel pickups as they are MUCH better than they used to be before you abandon them. In particular the AP 11 Singles in my 2017 Kiesel DC 135 sound fantastic!! Depends on which singles you got with the Aries if they will have the bobbin hook up on the bottom or not AP11's and S60's don't but I believe the new Kiesel Lithium singles do . When you get the guitar yell my way have a LOT of experience with Carvin Kiesel guitars and pickup swaps.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Advice for Kiesel Aries

Kiesel's pickups are solid. They are not "lesser" pickups than Duncans in any way. Get the guitar and give it a good play (give yourself a couple weeks to get used to it) before you go swapping things out. Besides, then you'll better know what you want to change (if anything)

 

[reports12002]

Re: Advice for Kiesel Aries

Thanks both. I’ve got a Kiesel Vader with Holdsworth pups and they’re pretty good. So will give the ones that come with a shot of course (beryllium’s) but just getting a feel for what Duncan set would play well in this axe.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Advice for Kiesel Aries

Honestly, it's hard to know until you determine what that guitar needs more or less of. Anyone who insists that a pickup will sound a certain way or work/not work because of woods used, etc. is just guessing.

For Blues to Hard Rock, you've got a ton of options. Like, most of Duncan's pickup line would work great for most players!

Common sets include the JB/Jazz, the Custom bridge/'59 neck, the Pearly Gates set and the dual '59 combo. There's also the '59/Custom hybrid model for the bridge that plays really nice with most of Duncan's low to moderate output neck pickups.

A popular option is to get a Custom and then swap the mags in it to fine tune the tone. The production "Custom 5" and "Custom Custom" were created this way, but an Alnico 8 is also a hard rocker in that wind.

Let us know what you think of the Berylliums and we'll go from there

 

[reports12002]

Re: Advice for Kiesel Aries

Honestly, it's hard to know until you determine what that guitar needs more or less of. Anyone who insists that a pickup will sound a certain way or work/not work because of woods used, etc. is just guessing.

For Blues to Hard Rock, you've got a ton of options. Like, most of Duncan's pickup line would work great for most players!

Common sets include the JB/Jazz, the Custom bridge/'59 neck, the Pearly Gates set and the dual '59 combo. There's also the '59/Custom hybrid model for the bridge that plays really nice with most of Duncan's low to moderate output neck pickups.

A popular option is to get a Custom and then swap the mags in it to fine tune the tone. The production "Custom 5" and "Custom Custom" were created this way, but an Alnico 8 is also a hard rocker in that wind.

Let us know what you think of the Berylliums and we'll go from there

Yes will report in once It arrives.

Re your set suggestions - I think they're full size humbucker sets you've mentioned? My guitar is SH config - which is im wondering what single coil size noiseless or humbuckers play well with full size bridge hum bucker. I had a Jazz/JB combo in a ibanez a few years back - i liked the JB and could see it as an option - but now I've got to consider what single neck size neck pup to pair it with. - was hoping there might be some on here with experience in some good combo's. None of this is essential of course- just fun to pass the time with while i wait for the guitar, get some ideas etc. thanks for the input so far folks.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Advice for Kiesel Aries

I certainly agree on keeping the pickups for now. It might have tonal issues you want to correct, which you won't know unless you spend some time with it.