Another "need pup advice" thread. (Sorry)

BigDreamer

New member
Hey, I'm thinking about putting together an alternate pickguard assembly for my JV strat. So i can switch fairly easily with the current one when i'm in a different mood.

I'd like to try something different, so I've been researching various dimarzios. The lil screamin demon that is in the bridge spot now is a little lacking in the mids dept. IMO and i'd like to try an alnico magnet (A5 seems to be my only choice it seems with Dimarzio) to aleviate some of the stiffness in the highs associated with ceramics.

BTW, the routing on the guitar is H-S-H so i'm gonna be taking advantage of the full sized humbucker slots.

The Dimarzios are appealing to me cause I love mids and (according to their site) they seem to have a lot of em.

The FRED is really catching my eye cause of the rich harmonics and mids. Though for shred and metal the higher output pups are tempting, just not with the ceramic mag. I'm trying not to be biased to anything in particular so feel free to suggest other brands or if there is a fitting pup for my needs with a ceramic mag, without the stiff highs, please point it out.

This pickguard assembly is gonna be used mainly for shred, 80's metal ect.
The strat is alder, maple neck/fb, vintage trem. The amp is the Mesa in my sig.

so lets recap: love mids, singing or screaming leads as long as they are dynamic, clarity under gain, decent cleans would be nice (though I may put a SC in the middle pos. for cleans), as long as the pup is voiced right output doesn't matter, fairly chunky palm mutes.

Sorry this is sooooo long just trying to get all of the info (though i'm sure i forgot something obvious) out on the table. o yeah, I expect a billion JB and Custom Custom recommendations which i may still try, but im just trying to do something a little more "unique".

(one more thing lol. I'm just trying figure out the bridge pup at this point, but please add neck pup (H sized) suggestions with your responses if you can.)

Thanks in advance, and congratulations if you read this whole post, you have patience (or GAS).

*Edit- Just read the JV pickup routing thread in the guitar forum, so i'm now second guessing whether it is routed H-S-H or H-S-S and may have to go for a SC neck pup. I'll check for sure tomorrow.*
 
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Re: Another "need pup advice" thread. (Sorry)

for 80s metal check out the dimarzio super distortion if you havnt already
 
Re: Another "need pup advice" thread. (Sorry)

how dynamic is the super distortion? any other recommendations? sound clips help a lot if you guys have em.
 
Re: Another "need pup advice" thread. (Sorry)

Air Norton / Air Zone if you like fatter
Air Classic for bright
Virtual PAFs for mids
Fred / PAF Pro for the satch kinda tone, bright and shreddy - very clear
 
Re: Another "need pup advice" thread. (Sorry)

If you want mids and are also looking at the SD's lines look at the CC, and JB for the bridge. For neck buckers look at the PG, and A2P.

I'm a bit of a mids fiend at times and I have found a CC/JB2 hybrid has some of the thickest mids....I'd say too MUCH for my PRS.

If you go on with SCs in the N/M space check out the Alnico 2 Pro. GOSH I love mine in my strat.

Luke
 
Re: Another "need pup advice" thread. (Sorry)

thanks for the replies guys! i think i'm gonna start by giving the VPAF in the bridge a shot. I figure if i start with one of the lower output models im interested in, it will be easier to go up in output, then to go down.

My main problem now is whether i want to keep it just a single humbucker setup, or maybe add a SC to the neck too. If i added a SC to the neck slot, i'd want to make sure it would balance fairly well with the bridge pup, output wise. because i'd mainly be using it as an alternate sound for solos.

I was looking at the Virtual Vintage Solo, how would this balance with the VPAF in the bridge?

I know this is mainly gonna come down to trying a bunch of stuff (taking advantage of the return policies hehe) till i find what suits me.
 
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