Best pickups for ESP Eclipse?

[kingneptune117]

Hey all,

I recently got myself an ESP Eclipse. It is an excellent guitar, but in not a huge fan of the EMG's.

The guitar has a mahogany body, maple cap, and an ebony fretboard. I think it is a fairly bright guitar because of these characteristics.

I play a lot of pop punk mainly (think the story so far, knuckle puck, state champs, etc...). I also occasionally play some slightly heavier stuff such as Breaking Benjamin.

I was thinking that the Duncan custom custom's (SH-11) might be a good fit for the bridge, or maybe the Alt-8? I was also thinking a pearly gates in the neck. However, I've also heard good things about the Dimarzio super distortion for the bridge.

Can someone suggest some good pickups for this guitar that would fit my tastes well? I play through a Marshall DSL40C mainly, but I of course will probably have other amps in the future, if that matters.

Thank you!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Best pickups for ESP Eclipse?

Have you considered trying other brands of active pickup?

It is possible to become jaded with the ubiquitous EMG-81/-85 and -81/-60 combinations. If your LTD has a Quik Connect wiring harness, it will be extremely simple to try out other active pickups with minimal modification.

EMG now offers the -57/-66 pair. SD has the Live Wire Classic II pair, the Mustaine signature set and assorted Blackouts models. I have the LTD EC-401w. I find the LWC2 neck position humbucker far more satisfactory than any EMG that I have yet tried in the same slot.

If, as you say, your guitar errs on the bright side, a Pearly Gates N might work out better if it has a metal cover. Another tasty option would be the '59 with a magnet swap to Alnico 4.

 

[kingneptune117]

Re: Best pickups for ESP Eclipse?

Have you considered trying other brands of active pickup?

It is possible to become jaded with the ubiquitous EMG-81/-85 and -81/-60 combinations. If your LTD has a Quik Connect wiring harness, it will be extremely simple to try out other active pickups with minimal modification.

EMG now offers the -57/-66 pair. SD has the Live Wire Classic II pair, the Mustaine signature set and assorted Blackouts models. I have the LTD EC-401w. I find the LWC2 neck position humbucker far more satisfactory than any EMG that I have yet tried in the same slot.

If, as you say, your guitar errs on the bright side, a Pearly Gates N might work out better if it has a metal cover. Another tasty option would be the '59 with a magnet swap to Alnico 4.

I have looked into the 57/66, but I don't know. I really want a lower output pickup I think. I listened to a demo of the Dimzarzio PAF 36th anniversary pups in the ESP Eclipse, and it sounded AMAZING. That's the tone I am really going for I think.

 

[Dahla]

Re: Best pickups for ESP Eclipse?

You mean this?

http://youtu.be/bwQiaPAVr2M

I agree that they sound awesome in the Eclipse. I have an Eclipse and I asked the same question you did a while back. I still have the EMG 57/66 in mine... Life kind of got in the way of my plans. And I don't dislike the 57/66, I was just itching to try some low output passives. Never had any before.

The two I had singled out were the 36th and WLH.


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[kingneptune117]

Re: Best pickups for ESP Eclipse?

You mean this?

http://youtu.be/bwQiaPAVr2M

I agree that they sound awesome in the Eclipse. I have an Eclipse and I asked the same question you did a while back. I still have the EMG 57/66 in mine... Life kind of got in the way of my plans. And I don't dislike the 57/66, I was just itching to try some low output passives. Never had any before.

The two I had singled out were the 36th and WLH.


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That's the video! Such an incredible tone. Those crunchy gain tones on the bridge are incredible, and exactly what I am looking for out of my Eclipse. I'm just hoping my Eclipse has the bridge post grounding wire hole already predrilled...It's a brand new ESP E-II Eclipse.

 

[Dahla]

Re: Best pickups for ESP Eclipse?

I have a ESP Eclipse I CTM. Mine have the ground wire installed. Easily visible if you open the cavity cover.

But if you do wanna try some different actives first, the 57/66 are awesome, awesome pickups! I do love them in my Eclipse, it's just that I have more guitars with various EMGs in them, and I'm re-he-he-heeeeally curious about some (I hate the word, but) "real" PAFs.

I also love the Het set. The 57/66 and Het set are so good, it's hard to rip them out just for poo and giggles...


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[RStabler]

Re: Best pickups for ESP Eclipse?

When I bought my Eclipse, I ripped out the EMG 81/60 before I ever even plugged it in.

This guitar now has a 57/66 set in it and I couldn't be happier.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Best pickups for ESP Eclipse?

From what I gather of EMG's numbering scheme, they relate to tones of a given year, i.e. the 81 is vintage high-gain Metal ala Rhoads (over-saturated to the point that playing Major chords is out of the question), the 85 is the more refined mid-80s Hair Metal tone where chords are more articulate even under distortion, and the 89 gives you those all-important split-humbucker-in-the-neck tones for Whitesnake and Winger Metal. Given that, and having not heard them in person, I'm assuming the 60 (which I understand to be a single coil in a humbucker housing) is a "traditional Fender tone", ala Hendrix or Stones, while the 57 would be a PAF and the 66 a P-90?

Has anyone put a 60 in the bridge, or is it voiced/marketed for the neck only?


As for the original question, if you're looking to darken the guitar's tone somewhat, the SH-5 Custom would do it. If you're concerned about the output level, simply adjust your amp's and/or pedal's gain to compensate so it doesn't break up so easily. You might also have to tweak the bass control, but that's why they put them on amps.

 

[kingneptune117]

Re: Best pickups for ESP Eclipse?

I have a ESP Eclipse I CTM. Mine have the ground wire installed. Easily visible if you open the cavity cover.

But if you do wanna try some different actives first, the 57/66 are awesome, awesome pickups! I do love them in my Eclipse, it's just that I have more guitars with various EMGs in them, and I'm re-he-he-heeeeally curious about some (I hate the word, but) "real" PAFs.

I also love the Het set. The 57/66 and Het set are so good, it's hard to rip them out just for poo and giggles...


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Is there a significant difference between the 81 and the 57?

Thanks.

 

[RStabler]

Re: Best pickups for ESP Eclipse?

Is there a significant difference between the 81 and the 57?

Thanks.

 

[RStabler]

Re: Best pickups for ESP Eclipse?

Honestly, that question is not much different from asking if there was a significant difference between an SD '59 and a JB.

 

[kingneptune117]

Re: Best pickups for ESP Eclipse?

Honestly, that question is not much different from asking if there was a significant difference between an SD '59 and a JB.

I've seen that exact demo before. There does appear to be quite a bit of difference, I will admit.

EDIT: Man, after reading some reviews...I might just give these a shot. The demos all sound fantastic, and the reviews are all very, very positive.