Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?

Im looking for a new pup for my kramer baretta RI. which SD pup would be best for that 80's hard rock/hair metal sound?

........JB?........or something else?
 
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?

I'm a big fan of the pearly gates. Brighter than the JB, but very controllable. I have one in a Lonestar strat- awesome pickup. I use it with Boogie DC-5, clean channel and a Rat. Great sound. Go the the drive channel without the rat, and it's pretty good too.
 
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?

JB for big, liquid leads, DD for tighter, more percussive riffs and rythms, and the Custom for a great all 'rounder.
 
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?

From what I hear, almost everybody who had big hair and good chops in the 80's played the JB. But then again, I was born in '87, so I'm going on hearsay and happenstance.
 
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?

I'd recommend the '78, SH4 JB, SH5 Custom, or SH10 Full Shred. Between those four models it's hard to go wrong. I have all four pickups and they all get amazing (and different) classic 80's tones. Since the Baretta reissue body is maple, I'd try using 250K pots to eliminate any "ice pick" high end. One of my metal/hard rock guitars is very bright (northern ash body and maple neck), so I use the JB with a 250K pot and it's perfect...the high end sounds natural with that pot...the guitar is a friggin' warhammer!

I was born in '61 so I remember the 80's...well, I sort of remember...I partied a bit too much back then! LOL :-)
 
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Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?

Im asking the same question in this forum, im stuck bettween the Custom or Distortion....

Get the Zebra Pickup so it will look more ''original''
 
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?

I live and breathe 80's Hair Metal.
For these kind of tones, it's hard to beat a Duncan Distortion or a Full Shred.
I highly dislike the JB and Custom, they don't sound very 80's to me.
On the Dimarzio side, a PAF-Pro is about as 80's as it gets.
 
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?

I know the baretta'a in '85 started coming stock with JB's in them, but the when they first came out in '84 they had schaller PAF's in them.
 
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?

Without a doubt JB, or a Distortion if you want more top end with chunk like George Lynch.
 
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?

JB for big, liquid leads, DD for tighter, more percussive riffs and rythms, and the Custom for a great all 'rounder.

This thread should be over with now. Nothing else to say!

I might add, the Full shred does 80's hair metal wonderfully also!
 
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Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?

Benji nailed it.
And JohnnyGuitarca hit a good point too... RI bodies are maple, so a 250 pot may be a good idea.

Let me ask this... Are you wanting an overall 80s metal sound, as per you orig post?? If so, then JB or Custom or perhaps DD. Many 80s plyers used JBs and many guitars of the era came with them.. My Kramer pacer and baretta have them.. They were made in the 80s and obviously nail that sound..
you are second guessing yourself and now thinking maybe 78. that pup can go 80s, but its a different vibe then the JB. Its warmer and softer hitting.. Whereas the JB and Custom scream those huge, soaring, look at my huge poofy hair, pouty face and spandex leads....
 
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?

Super Distortion for warm,fat punch, or JB for full on mid and treble scream.

All Berettas after a certain oeriod in '85 or '86 came with a JB.

Nightswans had a Full Shred(my favorite) and a JB.

Can't gor wrong with any of the above.
 
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