Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

[weepingminotaur]

Just what the title says. This is for a future guitar purchase, so I can't provide specifics on the guitar yet. But I do know that I want this guitar to be metal-oriented. In other words, I don't care about versatility.

Would play lots of: Megadeth, Testament, Slayer, Exodus, Judas Priest
Would play some: Dio, Arch Enemy, Vulgar-era Pantera, Metallica, Death Angel, Mercyful Fate, King Diamond
Would play a bit of: Machine Head, Black Sabbath

So what bridge pickup and what neck pickup would you recommend, apart from the JB? Keep in mind that I have no interest in recreating the scooped tone of the '80s thrash scene. I like a lot of mids when I play metal (or anything, actually).

 

[Gtrjunior]

Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

Well, the JB is all about mids. Besides the JB would be capable of doing all (or at least most) of the bands you listed.
Is there a reason you don’t want the JB? Because it’s a perfect fit for what you listed, IMO.

 

[weepingminotaur]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

Well, the JB is all about mids. Besides the JB would be capable of doing all (or at least most) of the bands you listed.
Is there a reason you don’t want the JB? Because it’s a perfect fit for what you listed, IMO.

Because I want to see what people have to say besides, "All the bands you listed played with JBs, so use a JB." At this point, the JB is a known quantity. But I'd like a broader range of options.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

Fair enough, but the JB really is the one here.

 

[weepingminotaur]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

Fair enough, but the JB really is the one here.

Also, what about neck pickup?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

Distortion. [/Thread]

JB would not be my first choice for any/most of what you said, or even 2nd, 3rd....

 

[Bowtomecha]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

Rust In Peace era megadeth is essentially the JB sound though

 

[Despair]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

PATB-2 Parallel Axis Distortion, gonzo metal distortion, tons of growl and harmonics. Like Distortion and JB, gobs of upper mids.

Invader can work, too. I've heard people get sounds reminiscent of a JB out of them for soloing, and they have a lot more bass punch for riffs and rhythm.

Black Winter would probably do nicely as well.

Neck depends on bridge choice, and what you want out of your neck pickup. Cleans only? Neck solos? Do you mind a big drop in output?

 

[weepingminotaur]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

Distortion. [/Thread]

JB would not be my first choice for any/most of what you said, or even 2nd, 3rd....

Interesting. Thank you. Distortion neck, too?

 

[weepingminotaur]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

PATB-2 Parallel Axis Distortion, gonzo metal distortion, tons of growl and harmonics. Like Distortion and JB, gobs of upper mids.

Not something I would have considered. Thanks.

Neck depends on bridge choice, and what you want out of your neck pickup. Cleans only? Neck solos? Do you mind a big drop in output?

Cleans and neck solos. I don't mind some output drop if it's vintage output, but it can't be huge.

Rust In Peace era megadeth is essentially the JB sound though

I know, I know. But I'm not interested in recreating tones from that record, much as I love it.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

I'd pick the Distortion, too. As well as Parallel Axis Distortion. A Custom would even work well.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

If you don't want a JB because it's "too obvious", then I'd like to recommend the Thrash Factor.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

Jazz neck w/ the Distortion, for general thrashing

If you want to solo, and the guitar is extra dark, Full Shred will work too.
For thick hot crunchy neck rhythm, go with the Distortion neck.

 

[akio]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

Another vote for Distortion or Invader.

 

[Hsb]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

Ive had a distortion previously and having one installed in a guitar I have now, so my vote is distortion as well.

As for neck, Im thinking Sentient, Black Winter or Full Shred neck in the future install, all of which will go nicely with the Distortion

 

[weepingminotaur]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

If you don't want a JB because it's "too obvious", then I'd like to recommend the Thrash Factor.

I see what you did there.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

Distortion set gets my vote.

 

[Despair]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

Cleans and neck solos. I don't mind some output drop if it's vintage output, but it can't be huge.

For neck cleans that are still not too low output, Sentient is excellent. Good for solos, too.

PATB-1n is good for cleans, and sounds good under gain as well, but it's a sizable volume drop.

Black Winter gets a lot of props for versatility for the ceramic neck pickup out of the set, supposed to have surprisingly good cleans for a ceramic pickup.

Some people like a Screamin' Demon in the neck position, too. Darker growl, but still plenty of sparkle and not excessive bass.

You could even try an SH-16 '59/Custom in the neck. Especially fun if you do a Free-Way or PRS/Music Man style switch which gives you both outer coils and both inner coils as options. P-Rails neck has similar crazy options, but you'd probably want to default to parallel instead of series for humbucking mode, as it's loud and fat in series (being a P-90 coil and a Hot Rail coil, though with A5 magnets by default).

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

Loving my fluence modern ceramic for thrash.

 

[jclogston]

Re: Best pickups for thrash/classic metal excluding JB

I use the Duncan Distortion and a DiMarzio Evo Neck for exactly the same type of music.