Another "What Pickup Thread"

[LxTessaro]

Hey guys, I need the expertise of the tonologists for this one.

Lookin for some new pups. I have the Mustaines, but I find them lacking the tight low end that I like in metal pups - the EMGs have that tight low end, but everything else is kinda iffy with me.

Right away I know most people would suggest the Blackouts, but I was thinking of trying some passive metal pups instead (I'd like to split the coils in this guitar).

Anyhoo, pups I was considering were the Duncan Distortion Mayhem set, the Dimarzio D-Activators, and as stated above the Duncan Blackouts - I thought about some Bareknuckle MMs but they are too expensive so close to Xmas:sad:

I'd appreciate any advice you can offer!

P.S. Guitar is a Dean Vendetta 4.0 Floyd Rose; mahogany body and rosewood fingerboard.

 

[Boy_Narf]

Re: Another "What Pickup Thread"

um, i have been looking for pickups for a while now. I got a chance to test out a 81/60 split vs a JB/59. Just so you know i liked the sound of the duncans much better. Another thing that helped me was to go onto the Seymour Duncan artist database, and find out what you favorite artists are using. That way you can think of what tones you like and go from there (that kinda helped me) Unfortinatley there are very few guitars with the SH-6 DD stock, cept for like 2 i can think of, and good luck finding them... so my suggestion would be to go to you local store and see how they sound. I know Shecter has JB/59, so does one of the LTD models... and i believe that some of the Goden's have a Custom/59 but dont quote me on that

Sry for the generic answer but that is the only way that you will findout what you like. Its not always great to go for pickups just cause someone else says they sound nice. plus apparently SD has a 21 day return policy so if you try out a JB, and dont like it, switch er up for a DD and if not that.... custom it is

 

[chuckbat]

Re: Another "What Pickup Thread"

I had a Vendetta 4.0, that was an awesome axe. I had a EMG 81/85 deal put in. It sounded great. But, I discovered the JB/59 combo. I have that in my LTD EC400AT Goldtop. Mahogany body, heavy tone. I had a Dean Hardtail Select and put the JB in the bridge and a Seymour Duncan Jazz in the neck. That is a good combo too. I also have a PRS SE Singlecut and put a JB in the bridge position. I don't think you can go wrong with that pickup. I believe the JB/'59 combo come stock in the ESP guitar that Willie Adler is playing from Lamb of God. And I think Mark Morton's Jackson model comes with that deal as well. You can play a ton of different style of music with these.

 

[Iron Horse]

Re: Another "What Pickup Thread"

Duncan Custom. It could be easily described as best of EMG 81 and PAF. It has very big and tight low end, strong, kinda paf-like mids, and good amount of treble.

 

[AmirH]

Re: Another "What Pickup Thread"

Custom, Fullshred, and jazz bridge are the only duncans I've tried with a tight enough low end, though I would imagine the screamin demon tight as well. I think for what you're after the custom or FS are the best bets. I love the jazz but some guys dislike the low-ouput. I have no issue with it at all and play 90% metal. Stay away from the jb.

 

[LxTessaro]

Re: Another "What Pickup Thread"

Stay away from the JB, eh? That's probably why I am not satisfied with the Mustaines, considering they are basically an active JB/Jazz.

Never thought of the Custom or FullShred though, maybe I'll give those a try once I sell my Mustaines. I checked out the Duncan sound clips and some YouTube videos (god bless YouTube) and I was actually impressed with the tight end of the FullShred... Looks like it's in the lead for now... lol

Thanks for the advice. Gunna head to my local guitar shop and see if I can demo some fullshreds. Let ya know what I decide on!

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Another "What Pickup Thread"

Demon, Custom? or DD out of the one's I've tried.

The JB is simply not a tight pickup.