Advice for pups in RG 20th Anniversary

[steviekool]

Good morning all,

I am waiting on a RG550 20th anniversary model to arrive, and I havce been up in the air as to what pups to put in them. The guitar is a basswood body, with a maple neck, and a floyd. It is a hum-sing-hum setup on the pups.

I recently dropped a full set of SD's into my other ibanez, which is a mohagany body with a rosewood neck, and I am very happy with them. There is a 59 in the neck, cool rail in the mid, and a invader in the bridge.

Being that this new RG is pretty much a different guitar, with the basswood body and the maple neck, I want to put in a different set of pups than the ones that are described above, but still am looking for a very heavy sound out of the bridge, and that old style tone from the neck.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, and any suggestions that work well with this type of guitar would be greatly appreciated.

 

[steviekool]

Re: Advice for pups in RG 20th Anniversary

Ok, so I did a little research on the site, and I think I came to the conclusion on the neck and bridge, but would love to hear opinions on it. I am thinking a Pearly Gates in the neck, and a Custom Custom in the bridge. Reason for this is simply the description on them both say that they work well with bright guitars and maple necks.

My question is, does that mean these pickups will make the guitar sound extra bright, or they work well because they offest the brightness and gives it a little more of a deeper kick?

Thanks, I am still up in the air about the middle single coil though.. Back to research!!

 

[Mephis]

Re: Advice for pups in RG 20th Anniversary

You haven't even got the guitar yet you're already planning on changing the pickups...

And I wouldn't want a custom custom in a basswood RG. I'd go with a custom before a custom custom.

 

[steviekool]

Re: Advice for pups in RG 20th Anniversary

You haven't even got the guitar yet you're already planning on changing the pickups...

And I wouldn't want a custom custom in a basswood RG. I'd go with a custom before a custom custom.

Mephis,

That guitar comes with IBZ pickups. I know what they sound like, as I have played them in other guitars. Trust me, they need to be changed

 

[steviekool]

Re: Advice for pups in RG 20th Anniversary

Any other opinions on this from the evening crowd? I have been researching pups all day here at work, and I am so confused now! Now I am leaning maybe towards a JB in the bridge, but the description for it is saying it works better with rosewood fingerboards, and this guitar is maple. It just seems the description for the Custom Custom sounds like the right fit, but really not sure. Still completely confused as to what to put in the middle single coil also. I am set on the pearly gates though for the neck, so 1 out of 3 aint bad

Thanks again for your input all, its much appreciated

 

[Farkus]

Re: Advice for pups in RG 20th Anniversary

I haven't played a Basswood Ibanez in a long time. However, the JB pickup sounded fine in my Basswood Washburn...it had a double locking trem and a maple fretboard. In fact, it really fattened the tone of that axe up and made it very useable. Of course, if you live in the USA you could always utilize the Duncan 21 day exchange policy if you don't like the pickup you finally do decide on.

I think getting SD's to replace IBZ pickups is a no brainer.

 

[devastone]

Re: Advice for pups in RG 20th Anniversary

What kind of sound are you going for? That will help alot.

 

[steviekool]

Re: Advice for pups in RG 20th Anniversary

What kind of sound are you going for? That will help alot.

I play heavy stuff, thrash, speed metal, death, all that good stuff.
Like I said, I have another guitar with an Invader, so I am kinda going a little lighter on this guitar, but not much lighter. In the neck though, I would like to keep that vintage style sound for blues style and such. And like I said, I am clueless about the middle single coil.

Thanks!

 

[Mephis]

Re: Advice for pups in RG 20th Anniversary

Mephis,

That guitar comes with IBZ pickups. I know what they sound like, as I have played them in other guitars. Trust me, they need to be changed

Depending on the model, those IBZs could be re-badged dimarzios.

 

[steviekool]

Re: Advice for pups in RG 20th Anniversary

Depending on the model, those IBZs could be re-badged dimarzios.

Ibz V1-Neck
Ibz S1-Mid
Ibz V2-Bridge

Hard to find any info about them at all, but as far as reviews that have these pickups, and me actually playing Ibanez's that either had these or something similiar, I think its safe to say they are, "replaceable"

 

[Mephis]

Re: Advice for pups in RG 20th Anniversary

Ibz V1-Neck
Ibz S1-Mid
Ibz V2-Bridge

Hard to find any info about them at all, but as far as reviews that have these pickups, and me actually playing Ibanez's that either had these or something similiar, I think its safe to say they are, "replaceable"

In that case...

59
SSL-5
Custom

 

[steviekool]

Re: Advice for pups in RG 20th Anniversary

Thanks for the advice Mephis, appreciate it

 

[bloodswords]

Re: Advice for pups in RG 20th Anniversary

i've tried the '59 in the neck of many Ibanez models IMO it sounds lacking. the Jazz fares better both for cleans/ driven tones...