Best pickup for me?

[RandyRhoads]

Hey guys I have a question about pickups that I need a little bit of help on. I have a USA Jackson Soloist with two humbuckers (JB/59) and I really do not like them at all, ESPECIALLY the JB. I want something that can play metal. I also want something that on occasion when I am playing cleans, I can switch to the neck pickup and do so. I have been looking at the EMG 57/66 set and the Het Set. I have also been looking at a duncan distortion in the bridge and a 59 or a distortion neck in the neck position. The guitar is an alder body, quartersawn maple neck, flame top, and ebony fretboard. I am open to seymour duncan and EMG's. Active or passive. I will consider Dimarzios as well. The only thing I will not consider is BKP. The reasons are that they are too expensive for me and I have never played a guitar with any of their sets in them, so I don't know if they would be for me. If money wasn't an issue I would buy a set. So what do you guys think I should get? Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Best pickup for me?

I would look at the Black Winters, or the Pegasus/Sentient set. Both sets do gain very well, as well as clean. Check out the clips on each pickups' page, and compare them to the sound you are currently getting.

 

[gregory]

Re: Best pickup for me?

You mentioned a 59N with a Distortion bridge, so I assume you are happy with the 59?

If you want a distortion (more or less; 700 turns less(?)) put a double thick ceramic in your JB, though I think a standard thickness ceramic could suffice.

 

[RandyRhoads]

Re: Best pickup for me?

Hey Gregory I don't know much on the realm of modifying pickups at all

 

[RandyRhoads]

Re: Best pickup for me?

I will check those sets out. In my Fender Standard strat I have a Jb/sentient config and the sentient is really good at cleans

 

[gregory]

Re: Best pickup for me?

https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/...ng-with-pickups-102-the-humbucker-magnet-swap

If strictly for cleans I recommend considering the Jazz Neck. For something fuller that pairs well with a high output bridge pickup, the LiquiFire.

 

[justFred]

Re: Best pickup for me?

this guy? seems to think you can keep your JB, buy a handful of magnets, some screws and be able to experiment with a bunch of artist and custom shop models. I have my doubts but it might be worth a shot:

http://darthphineas.com/2018/01/whats-in-a-name-product-regeneration/

 

[gregory]

Re: Best pickup for me?

"That guy" is extremely knowledgeable. I don't know, but I have a feeling he was driven away from here.

 

[RandyRhoads]

Re: Best pickup for me?

I really don't want to build my own pickup. I just want to buy something that will work for my needs.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Best pickup for me?

The Het Set sounded awesome to me and might give you a tighter, dryer metal sound that you're seeking.

 

[Sirion]

Re: Best pickup for me?

An inevitable question: which types of metal? Your nick is RandyRhoads, and I suspect recommendations would be different if you were going for Randy's tone that if you, say, were aiming for, say, Meshuggah.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Best pickup for me?

For an out there suggestion.....look at the parallel axis line. A while back I had the PATB 1 B&N in a guitar. They really handled the higher distortion well (although I'm not metal oriented) but did clean really well - something that I am actually into.

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Best pickup for me?

Duncan Distortion set will get you in Randy territory with ease. jB is more Jake E.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Best pickup for me?

this guy? seems to think you can keep your JB, buy a handful of magnets, some screws and be able to experiment with a bunch of artist and custom shop models. I have my doubts but it might be worth a shot:

http://darthphineas.com/2018/01/whats-in-a-name-product-regeneration/

"That guy" is extremely knowledgeable. I don't know, but I have a feeling he was driven away from here.

Listen and learn. Darth knows what he is talking about.

I know quite a bit (but not everything about his departure. Important note- do not doubt his knowledge or skills.

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Best pickup for me?

So...why didDarth get banned?

 

[RandyRhoads]

Re: Best pickup for me?

An inevitable question: which types of metal? Your nick is RandyRhoads

Ozzy Osbourne, Slayer, Megadeth, Metallica, Venom, Iron Maiden, Pantera, and Dio.

 

[RandyRhoads]

Re: Best pickup for me?

Duncan Distortion set will get you in Randy territory with ease. jB is more Jake E.

Agreed, the JB is spot on for bark at the moon, but I am not a Jake E. Lee fanatic as I am so a Rhoads fan.

 

[Ben1962]

Re: Best pickup for me?

Love my alternative 8 and my pegasus. Have a set of Black Winters that need a spot, maybe soon to be installed. I keep hearing great things about the BW

 

[dave74]

Re: Best pickup for me?

Invaders

Your guitar should be fairly bright, open and crisp with the maple, alder, ebony combo.
Invaders will lend some fullness while still having that tighter ceramic attack.

If your guitar was maple, mahogany, rosewood I'd say Dimebucker for the list of bands cited.
That band-list really runs the range of high-output models, so there just about has to be some compromise.