Best pickup for Trey Anastasio tone?

[theoldertwin]

Hi everyone,

Just got an Ibanez Artcore AG95 and love it. Couldn't find a hollowbody for under $3k until now, and I'm loving it. Now I'm ready to hot rod the thing with new pickups and electronics and am looking for advice on the best pups for me.

I play a lot of Phish, which has me running the gamut of tones from clean jazz to jangly rock to heavy crunch. No metal or thrash, but I like to keep my options open.

So I'm looking for a pair of pickups that allows me to the most tonal flexibility possible to work with the hollowbody. I'm thinking of using the bridge for crunchy rock and the neck for more clean jazz.

I've been looking at all the options and have come up with this:

- Bridge: Custom 5 (preferred), '59, Seth Lover
- Neck: Jazz (preferred), Pearly Gates

Would love any advice I can get!! Thank you!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Best pickup for Trey Anastasio tone?

Hi everyone,

Just got an Ibanez Artcore AG95 and love it. Couldn't find a hollowbody for under $3k until now, and I'm loving it. Now I'm ready to hot rod the thing with new pickups and electronics and am looking for advice on the best pups for me.

I play a lot of Phish, which has me running the gamut of tones from clean jazz to jangly rock to heavy crunch. No metal or thrash, but I like to keep my options open.

So I'm looking for a pair of pickups that allows me to the most tonal flexibility possible to work with the hollowbody. I'm thinking of using the bridge for crunchy rock and the neck for more clean jazz.

I've been looking at all the options and have come up with this:

- Bridge: Custom 5 (preferred), '59, Seth Lover
- Neck: Jazz (preferred), Pearly Gates

Would love any advice I can get!! Thank you!

Are you also using Trey's amp,effect setup? Alot of guys leave the other equally important tonal part of the equation out of the picture... ;o)

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Best pickup for Trey Anastasio tone?

http://www.strangedesign.org/rigs/

 

[theoldertwin]

Re: Best pickup for Trey Anastasio tone?

Right, the amp! I'm using a B-52 AT212, which they don't make anymore. It's got a fender-like clean, and then 2 OD channels. A great amp with lots of variations. But I live and play in Manhattan, so I usually use whatever amp is at the rehearsal studio or gig. I do minimal pedals in my old age, just a Snarling Dogs wah and Carl Martin compressor.

Truth is I'm not looking to clone Trey's sound. What I want is the flexibility to play any style with the same guitar. I know the amp and effects play a huge role in that, but of course so do the pickups.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Best pickup for Trey Anastasio tone?

Strange that the link I sent you shows everything about the guy's gear...No mention of his pickups? WTF? ;o)

 

[jmh151]

Re: Best pickup for Trey Anastasio tone?

I just read somewhere that he uses Duncan 59 s in his guitars. And a key to his tone are tube screamers, 2 of them togEther like SRV did

 

[jeremy]

Re: Best pickup for Trey Anastasio tone?

http://www.languedocguitars.com/guitars/g2.php

this has a pair of four conductor 59's. his other model uses a 59n and c5 bridge.

ive heard trey has a jazz/jb combo, schaller golden 50's and who knows what else but a pair of 59s seems right. two tube screamers into the deluxe reverbs are a big part of his sound. jimmy herring uses/used a pair of 59's in his strats too

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Best pickup for Trey Anastasio tone?

http://www.languedocguitars.com/guitars/g2.php

this has a pair of four conductor 59's. his other model uses a 59n and c5 bridge.

ive heard trey has a jazz/jb combo, schaller golden 50's and who knows what else but a pair of 59s seems right. two tube screamers into the deluxe reverbs are a big part of his sound. jimmy herring uses/used a pair of 59's in his strats too

Herring is yet another monster player!

 

[dilver]

Re: Best pickup for Trey Anastasio tone?

Bear in mind, pickups will sound different in different guitars based on a number of factors; Trey's Languedocs use some exotic woods Padauk, Koa, etc. These woods can make certain pickups sound brighter, darker, snappier, by comparison to what they would sound like in your guitar. The tones these custom guitars produce aren't so easy to replicate in "off the rack" guitars. It's not like he's playing a strat, tele or a les paul. Add in the scale length, construction, body depth, hardware, wiring, amps, etc. and you're talking about a lot of variables. I'd say you're looking at a lot of trial and error.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: Best pickup for Trey Anastasio tone?

http://www.languedocguitars.com/guitars/g2.php

this has a pair of four conductor 59's. his other model uses a 59n and c5 bridge.

ive heard trey has a jazz/jb combo, schaller golden 50's and who knows what else but a pair of 59s seems right. two tube screamers into the deluxe reverbs are a big part of his sound. jimmy herring uses/used a pair of 59's in his strats too

I read about the JB too

 

[theoldertwin]

Re: Best pickup for Trey Anastasio tone?

Thanks for all the feedback! I've been obsessing about what to choose for my hollow bodu but think I am finally settled on this:

- Dimarzio 36th Anniversary bridge, for a warm sound that can do clean to distorted
- Pearly Gates neck, which can get the jazzy sound out of the guitar but still crank up on overdrive

Not positive this is right, would prefer Alnico II in the neck and V in the bridge (and I have this backwards). But I think this is a safe bet for a great overall sound.

Thanks again!

 

[Sublmnl]

Re: Best pickup for Trey Anastasio tone?

I was wondering if you ever installed those pickups. Are you happy with that combination?

 

[theoldertwin]

Re: Best pickup for Trey Anastasio tone?

Hi there,

Yes, I installed it and am in love. Took a while to get the heights right, as the DiMarzio was weak. But it's amazing.

The bridge is hot and trebley, perfect for rock and anything else. The Alinco V is so crisp, it eats up the overdrive from my tube amp. I use my tone knob a lot but I somehow want to stay on the pickup forever.

I switch the the neck, and the same things happens. It's smooth and warm and full of body. If the bridge is a beer, this is french roast coffee. Sounds great when I'm feeling like playing jazz.

I can get any tone i need with the two of them. If I had to pick one brand, I might go install the Dimarzio neck as I think it is more versatile. Also, sometimes the switch between the two can be jarring. But I feel like I have a qide range of tools.

Very happy.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Best pickup for Trey Anastasio tone?

Bear in mind, pickups will sound different in different guitars based on a number of factors; Trey's Languedocs use some exotic woods Padauk, Koa, etc. These woods can make certain pickups sound brighter, darker, snappier, by comparison to what they would sound like in your guitar. The tones these custom guitars produce aren't so easy to replicate in "off the rack" guitars. It's not like he's playing a strat, tele or a les paul. Add in the scale length, construction, body depth, hardware, wiring, amps, etc. and you're talking about a lot of variables. I'd say you're looking at a lot of trial and error.

True, which is why a basic set of '59s will sound amazing in an amazing guitar, no custom shop stuff required. There, the pickups become less of the centerpiece but merely the microphone capturing the voice of a master-built masterpiece. Languedocs are impeccable, but it wouldn't surprise me if Trey's own guitars have custom pups in them.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Best pickup for Trey Anastasio tone?

Thanks for all the feedback! I've been obsessing about what to choose for my hollow bodu but think I am finally settled on this:

- Dimarzio 36th Anniversary bridge, for a warm sound that can do clean to distorted
- Pearly Gates neck, which can get the jazzy sound out of the guitar but still crank up on overdrive

Not positive this is right, would prefer Alnico II in the neck and V in the bridge (and I have this backwards). But I think this is a safe bet for a great overall sound.

Thanks again!

You certainly can't go wrong with that combo. Plug her into a Mesa Mark III head and you're off!!