Advice needed for Gibson Explorer

[Magical Man]

Hi everyone, i'm Nic from France, and i thought of asking you a question.

Ok, it's purely based on tastes, but there are so many different reviews for SD pickups. I purchased a SH1 for a Les Paul Studio two years ago and have been perfectly satisfied with it. I wanted a hotter and cleaner version than the stock pickup, but with keeping the same kind of tone, and that's exactly what i got.

Now my question is regarding a all mahogany Explorer. Same problem: the stock pickups sound kinda harsh, dirty, like you know... Gibson stock pickups.
What i'm interested in is having a lot more dynamic. I'm interested in a sound that would have more balls for rhythm. For example, with this guitar i play stuff going from Meshuggah (lots of attack but with no fuzz at all in the sound) to Extreme (same, very detailed texture and very dynamic sound. I mean the rhythm sound).

I read reviews of the SH4, SH5, SH6 and SH10, but i only read complete contradictions from one review to another. So considering my guitar, and the fact that i play with an ADA MP1 preamp (regular, no mod) that i love, which one would be the best for this? Oh, and i don't really care about solos, if that matters.



To clear things up, i gave these two bands as an indication, and i've been playing for years, so that was just for giving an example of things i like and play. I'm not interested in copying, just refining my tone.

Thanks in advance for your precious help.

Nic

 

[JeffB]

Re: Advice needed for Gibson Explorer

Welcome aboard!

I'm fam with Extreme , but not the other band you spoke of...however...

Balls for rhythm?

IMO you cannot beat a SH-5 (Standard "Custom") have had them in 2 Explorers and 2 Les Pauls...rockin' pup...lots of low end/low mids growl...good strong mids and high mids without sounding muddy, good cutting (but not biting) high end...

cleans are not too great, but acceptable, especially in the middle toggle position.

 

[NathanCahill]

Re: Advice needed for Gibson Explorer

+1 for the SH-5. I have it in a Les Paul.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Advice needed for Gibson Explorer

i think the sh5 will have the clarity and tone that'll work for ya. tight bottom, aggressive mids that arent harsh and a clear top end with good output

 

[Magical Man]

Re: Advice needed for Gibson Explorer

Hey, thanks for the welcome and the advice!


I'll be trying the SH5 first then. How would you describe it compared to the SH6 or the SH10? I really want to have the most punch possible without having a too saturated sound, i really like my tube sound, but what i need is something really dynamic.

Thanks again.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Advice needed for Gibson Explorer

sh5 isnt as over the top as a sh6. the sh5 falls tonally kinda between the sh10 which has a very focused, fairly bright tone and the sh6 which has more bottom and a more raw tone.

 

[Davey]

Re: Advice needed for Gibson Explorer

i think you'll do great with an SH5 .. if it's not for you, try the SH-4, it should rule in that axe.. or if you want more output and agressivenes than the SH4 get an sh6

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Advice needed for Gibson Explorer

Nic,

Welcome to the Forum. I'm a big fan of Seth Lover's in mahogany guitars or ones with maple caps for that matter. I think they'll do what you're looking for.

Jeff

 

[Hellion]

Re: Advice needed for Gibson Explorer

I don't actually own an Gibson Explorer, but I do have a '79 Dean Z Standard which is very similar. I have an Invader pickup in the bridge position and it's incredibly responsive. Now, I did modify the electronics to a certain degree and bypassed the tone control completely for that pup, but the clarity and dynamics of the pickup with that guitar are awesome!