Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?
- Thread starter Christopher Caruana
- Start date
der scheiss
New member
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?
It's a rack mount preamp that was extremely popular in the 80's and early 90's when huge rack systems were in. It had some great distortion tones and a ton of heavy hitters used them. Hammett,Skolnick,Skid Row, etc. They're still around on ebay, but they are'nt cheap. Last one I saw started at 299 and thats almost what I paid in 89 for mine.
I have an old Guitar mag with a Skid Row interview and the 18&life sheet music. I remember one of the guys always used a TS-9 tubescreamer in front of his setup. If I not mistaken Sabo was joking him for always breaking it out for leads or when they needed extra gain.
If you liked 18&life's opening dirt, the first track on that cd, Big Guns,is just vicious. Extra thick and loaded with harmonics. My Charvel with a SuperD through a tubescreamer into a plexi gets real close.
It's a rack mount preamp that was extremely popular in the 80's and early 90's when huge rack systems were in. It had some great distortion tones and a ton of heavy hitters used them. Hammett,Skolnick,Skid Row, etc. They're still around on ebay, but they are'nt cheap. Last one I saw started at 299 and thats almost what I paid in 89 for mine.
I have an old Guitar mag with a Skid Row interview and the 18&life sheet music. I remember one of the guys always used a TS-9 tubescreamer in front of his setup. If I not mistaken Sabo was joking him for always breaking it out for leads or when they needed extra gain.
If you liked 18&life's opening dirt, the first track on that cd, Big Guns,is just vicious. Extra thick and loaded with harmonics. My Charvel with a SuperD through a tubescreamer into a plexi gets real close.
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?
I have a Zebra DDJ but it's for a Lynch project I've been working on (for 20 years LOL!).
I have a Zebra DDJ but it's for a Lynch project I've been working on (for 20 years LOL!).
super rad stuff
Skaforlifeologist
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?
i say... start a new thread with more info on how you want to sound so as to not hijack this thread
i say... start a new thread with more info on how you want to sound so as to not hijack this thread
EclipseJSM
New member
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?
I've tried a few of the so-called "80s metal" pickups, and I thought that I would post my insights...
For early 80s rock, you cannot go wrong with the JB. It easily mimics many of the bands that hit the scene around this time. The sound has more of a balanced edge to it without being too unrefined or over-the-top, and not so overly processed as many hits from the later 80s (think Poison and Winger). Two bands that easily come to mind that represent the JB are Queensryche and Ratt. For a fact, I know that Michael Wilton uses a JB in his signature ESP model, and both Robbin Crosby (who the Jackson "King V" is named after) and Warren DeMartini used the JB model throughout their time with Ratt. I have the JB in one of my guitars, and absolutely love/swear by it!
Another pickup that is great for the early 80s period is the Duncan Distortion. It has all the characteristics of the JB, with the exception of a ceramic magnet, and is more "raw" and has better cut and definition, especially on the low E string. As the back of the packaging says, it's made for "raw and distorted" rock sounds, and this couldn't be more true. Whenever I think about the Distortion, the first song that pops into my head is "Breaking the Chains" by Dokken (granted, Lynch did use that pickup throughout most of his career). If you're looking for a pickup that really pushes the amp hard, then your search has ended! It's not my favorite pickup as it's more aggressive than I prefer for playing, but it certainly has its place in one of my guitars.
If you're wondering about the later 80s, well, I couldn't forget the Full Shred model. I recently picked one of these up, and I'm absolutely in love with it! It has to be one of the crunchiest pickups I've ever played, and the low-end really comes through easily, yet with clarity, with even the most brutal palm muting or tremolo picking. The sound is extremely defined and tight, even though it has decreased output compared to the JB and Distortion (Seymour Duncan classifies it as "medium output", but it's borderline to high output, if you ask me). If your chops are not so up to snuff, then you'll know about it soon enough! However, for those with experience in playing faster styles and knowing how to properly control their guitar with correct/accurate technique, you will feel right at home.
So what's the best for you? I couldn't say for sure, as we all have our own perception of the "perfect tone". My suggestion is to try to play at least all three, and let your own ears be the judge. At $70 a piece, you're really not out too much if you decide to keep one or two in a drawer somewhere for a later date.
Hope this helps, and keep on rockin' Seymour Duncan style!
I've tried a few of the so-called "80s metal" pickups, and I thought that I would post my insights...
For early 80s rock, you cannot go wrong with the JB. It easily mimics many of the bands that hit the scene around this time. The sound has more of a balanced edge to it without being too unrefined or over-the-top, and not so overly processed as many hits from the later 80s (think Poison and Winger). Two bands that easily come to mind that represent the JB are Queensryche and Ratt. For a fact, I know that Michael Wilton uses a JB in his signature ESP model, and both Robbin Crosby (who the Jackson "King V" is named after) and Warren DeMartini used the JB model throughout their time with Ratt. I have the JB in one of my guitars, and absolutely love/swear by it!
Another pickup that is great for the early 80s period is the Duncan Distortion. It has all the characteristics of the JB, with the exception of a ceramic magnet, and is more "raw" and has better cut and definition, especially on the low E string. As the back of the packaging says, it's made for "raw and distorted" rock sounds, and this couldn't be more true. Whenever I think about the Distortion, the first song that pops into my head is "Breaking the Chains" by Dokken (granted, Lynch did use that pickup throughout most of his career). If you're looking for a pickup that really pushes the amp hard, then your search has ended! It's not my favorite pickup as it's more aggressive than I prefer for playing, but it certainly has its place in one of my guitars.
If you're wondering about the later 80s, well, I couldn't forget the Full Shred model. I recently picked one of these up, and I'm absolutely in love with it! It has to be one of the crunchiest pickups I've ever played, and the low-end really comes through easily, yet with clarity, with even the most brutal palm muting or tremolo picking. The sound is extremely defined and tight, even though it has decreased output compared to the JB and Distortion (Seymour Duncan classifies it as "medium output", but it's borderline to high output, if you ask me). If your chops are not so up to snuff, then you'll know about it soon enough! However, for those with experience in playing faster styles and knowing how to properly control their guitar with correct/accurate technique, you will feel right at home.
So what's the best for you? I couldn't say for sure, as we all have our own perception of the "perfect tone". My suggestion is to try to play at least all three, and let your own ears be the judge. At $70 a piece, you're really not out too much if you decide to keep one or two in a drawer somewhere for a later date.
Hope this helps, and keep on rockin' Seymour Duncan style!
Christopher Caruana
New member
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?
think the JB maybe what im lookin for. another good thing is that i already have a distortion layin around with all my extra pickups at home.....so maybe ill give it a try
think the JB maybe what im lookin for. another good thing is that i already have a distortion layin around with all my extra pickups at home.....so maybe ill give it a try
EclipseJSM
New member
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?
Great! Never hurts to give both models a try. Remember, it's what your ears think is the best, not necessarily what we have to say!
Great! Never hurts to give both models a try. Remember, it's what your ears think is the best, not necessarily what we have to say!
Christopher Caruana
New member
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?
Do u think the DD is thick and chunky? as i said before i like the very first distorted chord in the beginning of "18 and life." Just thick, chunky, full, and hits u right in the gut.
Do u think the DD is thick and chunky? as i said before i like the very first distorted chord in the beginning of "18 and life." Just thick, chunky, full, and hits u right in the gut.
EclipseJSM
New member
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?
You will certainly get some thick and chunky sounds with the Distortion, along with that "hit you in the gut" output. The ceramic magnet really helps to bring out the bottom-end also.
You will certainly get some thick and chunky sounds with the Distortion, along with that "hit you in the gut" output. The ceramic magnet really helps to bring out the bottom-end also.
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?
Got one of these, but just haven't loaded it yet. I'm hoping for a Vivian Campbell tone ala Dio.
I could have sworn I remember seeing a list of Seymour Duncan Artists and Queensryche were listed as using 59 pickups. That said, no issues playing Queen of the Ryche with a JB.
Yet this is another song I seem to nail with a JB. The only difference between the two pickups is the magnet...
Got one of these, but just haven't loaded it yet. I'm hoping for a Vivian Campbell tone ala Dio.
Joelski
New member
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?
If you want an authentic 80's tone from that there Kramer, go with a REVERSE zebra JB, a 500k pot and throw in a .48 cap. No need to cut all the tone out of the pup, you just need to round off the treble a bit so it isn't so shrill in a maple body!
If you want an authentic 80's tone from that there Kramer, go with a REVERSE zebra JB, a 500k pot and throw in a .48 cap. No need to cut all the tone out of the pup, you just need to round off the treble a bit so it isn't so shrill in a maple body!
hanumanlangur
New member
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?
Michael Wilton uses a JB in the bridge. In some of his guitars he has a '59 in the neck position, but in others, single coils in the neck and middle. I think he just uses the bridge position, though, normally.
Michael Wilton uses a JB in the bridge. In some of his guitars he has a '59 in the neck position, but in others, single coils in the neck and middle. I think he just uses the bridge position, though, normally.
Christopher Caruana
New member
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?
im not into the SUPER hot pickups. I want medium-high output but still have tone
im not into the SUPER hot pickups. I want medium-high output but still have tone
Ascension
Well-known member
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?
Back in the day and we played with some of the bigger White Metal guys as an opening act in the late 80's-mid 90's. I had JB's or Full Shreads in all my non Carvin guitars or M22SD's in the Carvins.
Today however I think the ultimate hair band pickup is the Custom with an A-8 mag swap or over the counter the Alt 8. I wish I had them back then!!!
Back in the day and we played with some of the bigger White Metal guys as an opening act in the late 80's-mid 90's. I had JB's or Full Shreads in all my non Carvin guitars or M22SD's in the Carvins.
Today however I think the ultimate hair band pickup is the Custom with an A-8 mag swap or over the counter the Alt 8. I wish I had them back then!!!
Ascension
Well-known member
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?
The Full Shread is a medium output pickup and is actually lower in output than the JB. It is very clean and clear at high gain and makes a fantastic pickup for drop tuning usage.
The Full Shread is a medium output pickup and is actually lower in output than the JB. It is very clean and clear at high gain and makes a fantastic pickup for drop tuning usage.
EclipseJSM
New member
Re: Best HB for 80's hard rock/hair metal?
I couldn't agree more. In my guitar that is equipped with the Full Shred, I tune down to Eb, and it's the best at maintaining clarity on the heavier strings and helping to make the higher notes really "jump" off the fretboard.
I cannot say enough about the Full Shred...they might as well include a free can of Aqua-Net with every purchase!
I couldn't agree more. In my guitar that is equipped with the Full Shred, I tune down to Eb, and it's the best at maintaining clarity on the heavier strings and helping to make the higher notes really "jump" off the fretboard.
I cannot say enough about the Full Shred...they might as well include a free can of Aqua-Net with every purchase!
