Best pickups for high gain and effects?
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Archer_of_Fish
New member
Re: Best pickups for high gain and effects?
There is no best.
Many people think EMG and Dimarzio work really well with complex rigs.
There is no best.
Many people think EMG and Dimarzio work really well with complex rigs.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Best pickups for high gain and effects?
I'd say actives. Duncan or EMG.
I'd say actives. Duncan or EMG.
Marshall_Abuser
New member
Re: Best pickups for high gain and effects?
I have EMGs and Full Shred and have used PAF-Pros.
Those are absolutely the BEST when it comes to a thick sound with lots of gain and effects. I use chorus, delay, reverb + an insane amount of gain and all those pickups are king when the time comes to slice through and produce a beautiful tone.
The edge goes to the Full Shreds though, they sound a lot like improved PAF-Pros, with more output, a calibrated neck model, and a bit more character.
I have EMGs and Full Shred and have used PAF-Pros.
Those are absolutely the BEST when it comes to a thick sound with lots of gain and effects. I use chorus, delay, reverb + an insane amount of gain and all those pickups are king when the time comes to slice through and produce a beautiful tone.
The edge goes to the Full Shreds though, they sound a lot like improved PAF-Pros, with more output, a calibrated neck model, and a bit more character.
alex1fly
Well-known member
Re: Best pickups for high gain and effects?
APHs eh? Not what I would have expected... which Dimarzios in particular?
The Virtual PAF set in my Les Paul muds up a little when I pile on the distortion, and I stop being able to hear individual notes - as well as getting hum and feedback.
I'm going for max gain with max clarity, like with multiple distortions, effects. I'm putting together a one-man show, and I'll be running this guitar through my laptop and Gearbox.
Marshall would you pick Full Shreds over EMGs?
APHs eh? Not what I would have expected... which Dimarzios in particular?
The Virtual PAF set in my Les Paul muds up a little when I pile on the distortion, and I stop being able to hear individual notes - as well as getting hum and feedback.
I'm going for max gain with max clarity, like with multiple distortions, effects. I'm putting together a one-man show, and I'll be running this guitar through my laptop and Gearbox.
Marshall would you pick Full Shreds over EMGs?
Marshall_Abuser
New member
Re: Best pickups for high gain and effects?
I exclusively use active EMGs live. They cut through better, provide more output, the low impedance circuit can handle my long cables / or is not loaded too much by my wireless system and finally, they offer isolation from the amp's ground circuit because they don't require grounding. I would not use passive pickups live, but that's just me!
Now if you talk about tone, I like the Full Shreds for recording over any other pickups, clarity, thickness, definition, accuracy, tightness, responsiveness, edge, tone, brilliance, sweetness.....name it, it's got it ! But lower output than EMGs.
I don't like EMGs that much for recording, as they tend to sound muffled or dead. But when played live with my band, they sound less harsh, fuller, while still being able to punch clearly through all my FX and insane gain settings (I max out the gain on everything I play on...).
I exclusively use active EMGs live. They cut through better, provide more output, the low impedance circuit can handle my long cables / or is not loaded too much by my wireless system and finally, they offer isolation from the amp's ground circuit because they don't require grounding. I would not use passive pickups live, but that's just me!
Now if you talk about tone, I like the Full Shreds for recording over any other pickups, clarity, thickness, definition, accuracy, tightness, responsiveness, edge, tone, brilliance, sweetness.....name it, it's got it ! But lower output than EMGs.
I don't like EMGs that much for recording, as they tend to sound muffled or dead. But when played live with my band, they sound less harsh, fuller, while still being able to punch clearly through all my FX and insane gain settings (I max out the gain on everything I play on...).
alex1fly
Well-known member
Re: Best pickups for high gain and effects?
What do you use to record? Amp + mic, direct in with cab emulator? I'd like to hear some of your clips using a Full Shred if you have any available
With this guitar I'm going for what you've described - massive gain, fx, but keeping the real tone in there!
What do you use to record? Amp + mic, direct in with cab emulator? I'd like to hear some of your clips using a Full Shred if you have any available
With this guitar I'm going for what you've described - massive gain, fx, but keeping the real tone in there!
T
Thunder
Guest
Re: Best pickups for high gain and effects?
JB / DD / PAF PRO / Evolution / FRED ... IMO.
JB / DD / PAF PRO / Evolution / FRED ... IMO.
xxxplorer
Well-known member
Re: Best pickups for high gain and effects?
Bill and Becky L500XL. All the punch of the EMG but that 'organic' quality of passives. Plus they are not compressed much... very open and dynamic. Dimebucker may be close. EMGs would be second in my book. Also like the good ol' 59. These are what I use when I have a high gain amp. If I am pushing an amp (ala my 800) the Suhr Aldrich is great. So many good choices.
Bill and Becky L500XL. All the punch of the EMG but that 'organic' quality of passives. Plus they are not compressed much... very open and dynamic. Dimebucker may be close. EMGs would be second in my book. Also like the good ol' 59. These are what I use when I have a high gain amp. If I am pushing an amp (ala my 800) the Suhr Aldrich is great. So many good choices.
JacksonMIA
Lemur-buckerologist
Re: Best pickups for high gain and effects?
Careful which active Duncans you get if you go that route. You don't have to throw a lot of gain at the Live Wires. You can do it, but just be aware that you're dealing with insanely hot pickups.
Careful which active Duncans you get if you go that route. You don't have to throw a lot of gain at the Live Wires. You can do it, but just be aware that you're dealing with insanely hot pickups.
alex1fly
Well-known member
Re: Best pickups for high gain and effects?
I heard a clip of the Metal Livewires the other day. It was metallicious.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6izAIRcHAxg
I heard a clip of the Metal Livewires the other day. It was metallicious.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6izAIRcHAxg
anewdefguitarist
New member
Re: Best pickups for high gain and effects?
you want a really clean signal...at least thats what EMG tells you. otherwise, get a PAF and an EQ pedal. or one of those MXR micro amps to boost your signal through the chain.
if you want to color the sound of the pedal, then get a high output pickup. if you want the sound of the pedal then get something that will put out a very clean sound and something to push the pedals. how many pedals are in the chain?
you want a really clean signal...at least thats what EMG tells you. otherwise, get a PAF and an EQ pedal. or one of those MXR micro amps to boost your signal through the chain.
if you want to color the sound of the pedal, then get a high output pickup. if you want the sound of the pedal then get something that will put out a very clean sound and something to push the pedals. how many pedals are in the chain?
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idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
Re: Best pickups for high gain and effects?
Vintage spec pickups in general don't handle high gain and signal processing that well. For a pickup to handle high gain and effects it needs to be slightly bright, compressed and clear.
In order to cut through effects and high gain a pickup needs a boost in the treble range around 2.5k, a treble cut past 3.5k, a midrange cut around 500k and a compression of the dynamic range to keep its output from fluctuating too wide.
A cut at 500k keeps the pickup from sounding boomy and dark, a boost at 2.5k gives presence, a cut at 3.5k reduces noise and compression reduces volume fluctuations. If your looking for a pickup that has all of these qualities the PAF Pro is for you! The only thing I can fault the PAF Pro for is low output and it sounds flubby under high gain.
I would recomend the screamin demon, but it is way too bright and under high gain it sounds very nasal, like a wah at its 3/4 point. The screamin demon is good at medium gain, but sounds boxy and compressed with high gain.
Vintage spec pickups in general don't handle high gain and signal processing that well. For a pickup to handle high gain and effects it needs to be slightly bright, compressed and clear.
In order to cut through effects and high gain a pickup needs a boost in the treble range around 2.5k, a treble cut past 3.5k, a midrange cut around 500k and a compression of the dynamic range to keep its output from fluctuating too wide.
A cut at 500k keeps the pickup from sounding boomy and dark, a boost at 2.5k gives presence, a cut at 3.5k reduces noise and compression reduces volume fluctuations. If your looking for a pickup that has all of these qualities the PAF Pro is for you! The only thing I can fault the PAF Pro for is low output and it sounds flubby under high gain.
I would recomend the screamin demon, but it is way too bright and under high gain it sounds very nasal, like a wah at its 3/4 point. The screamin demon is good at medium gain, but sounds boxy and compressed with high gain.
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anewdefguitarist
New member
Re: Best pickups for high gain and effects?
couln't you just use a vintage pup and an eq to boost certain frequencies?
couln't you just use a vintage pup and an eq to boost certain frequencies?
Nagarajah725
New member
Re: Best pickups for high gain and effects?
Full shred set.
Full shred set.
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