Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

[Fierce_Swe]

Hi!

I cannot decide what pickups I shall put on my Ibanez RG2550MZ (maple fretboard) I want a tight metal sound and I've looked at the Custom or Distortion but both pickups has the description; Works especially well with a rosewood fretboard. I also wonder which neck pickup that matches the custom and the distortion. I use the neck pick a lot and want full and warm sound and I don't want to loose to much gain when I switch over to the neck pickup. :scratchch

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

Welcome to the forum.

I suggest that you compensate for the maple fingerboard by choosing the SD Custom Custom bridge/Treble position pickup. Try a Pearly Gates for the neck/Rhythm position.

 

[9unslin9er]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

What kind of metal sound?
Name some artists.

 

[Despair]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

Custom Custom isn't what I'd recommend for a tight metal sound. Yeah, a maple fretboard will make it a bit snappier than rosewood, but if what's being looked for is a ceramic attack, it's the polar opposite.

Need some more specifics on branches of metal favored. Speed/thrash rhythm guitarists tend to favor active pickups or high output ceramic pickups (though there are plenty of A5 magnet models that get used there, and a few oddballs like A2 magnets as blades like the Seymour Duncan custom shop El Diablo, or the lead guitarist who uses something like a customized JB with A2 magnet).

Then there's Stoner which tends towards lower output pickups and letting the pedals & amp do the work...

And no shortage of variations in between.

Some more details on what you expect from each position [artist/song examples really help] and what the rest of your signal chain is like [pedals/amp/speakers or what sort of patch you use on your amp sim] would make it a lot easier to give useful advice.

Also, a description of how the stock pickups fell short wouldn't hurt.

All that said, I'd probably look at a PATB-2 (bit smoother for leads, fatter and hotter than the standard Distortion) in the bridge and in the neck a Screamin' Demon or SH-6n Distortion neck.

TB-5 or TB-6 could work well, also, depends on your tastes. I'd probably wind up with an A8 magnet in the Custom if I went that way in anything other than a warm Les Paul. Distortion is tighter and more biting, but also harsher. I don't usually like it for anything but metal rhythms, but it's one of the most popular pickups in that niche for good reason.

 

[orpheo]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

In an ibanez i would go with a patb2 in the bridge and a patb1n or screaming demon in the neck.all to get warmth and clarity.

 

[Fierce_Swe]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

What kind of metal sound?
Name some artists.

A combination between Keith Merrow/Ola Englund and Petrucci/Michael Romeo.

Another guitarist that has a great tone is Wolf Hoffman of Accept.

I have a Peavey 6505+ and a Randall 4x12 with V30's (actually 60watt speakers)

Thanx for your answers!

 

[LonePhantom]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

Custom would be awesome in the Ibanez. For the neck the Pearly Gates neck or Screamin' Demon for sure!

 

[Fierce_Swe]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

I've listen to a lot of clips on youtube and I really like the sound of the Distortion but what would be a good complement in the bridge position? I don't want the neck pickup to have to less gain compared to the bridge pickup.

 

[9unslin9er]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

Can't go wrong with the Duncan Distortion.

In general, it's good to have a lower output neck pickup to complement the bridge for versatility.

But if you just want to go full retard on the gain all the time, just use a Mayhem set.

*On a side note, make sure you measure your pickguard cavities and pickup pole spacing before you throw down on a trembucker. Those larger bobbins might be a snug, or improper fit. There's a reason DiMarzio's and Ibanez guitars go so well together. Their F-spacing doesn't require larger bobbins.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

Welcome to the forum! Yeah, dont let the description turn you off on them. It wont be aweful in maple.. The distortion or the Custom would both be great or the PATB1 or PATB2.

IMO, you can get away with alot of neck pickups as i normally have to run them pretty low so they wont outpwer the bridge. My RG has a PATB3 and a 59 in the bridge.

 

[verbotenco]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

DiMarzio seems more suited to Ibanez metal guitars for reason I don't hell know.

 

[Fierce_Swe]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

I have A Tone Zone on another Ibanez and it sounds good but I wan't to try something different and I like the way the JB/Custom and Distortion sounds. I really hope there's no problem installing one of those on an Ibanez. :11:

 

[gman128]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

*On a side note, make sure you measure your pickguard cavities and pickup pole spacing before you throw down on a trembucker. Those larger bobbins might be a snug, or improper fit. There's a reason DiMarzio's and Ibanez guitars go so well together. Their F-spacing doesn't require larger bobbins.

I have a JB+ and DD trembucker in my rg550s - they fit fine. Very snug, yes, but the poles line up a lot better than dimarzio f-spaced pickups.

Also the DD slays in a maple necked RG - trust me.
I've also started using the JB+ in my maple necked rg550 - again it sounds great for thrash.

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

Crunchlab and Liquifire.....

 

[Fierce_Swe]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

DD trembucker= SD Distortion trembucker?

 

[Despair]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

DD is shorthand for Duncan Distortion, so yeah, Seymour Duncan's TB-6 Distortion.

 

[Fierce_Swe]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

Thanx! Another stupid question, What's the JB+? I've only seen regular JB's. Another pickups that are interesting is Crunch Lab and Liquifire!

 

[Despair]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

JB+ is a forum nickname for a JB with a standard sized ceramic magnet.

For gonzo metal mayhem, it's really hard to beat the PATB-2. Plenty of bite and growl for thrash rhythms. More beef than the standard Distortion for fat riffs, and leads are a bit smoother like the JB. Pick articulation tends to show up in tone more than volume variation, but it's remarkably responsive to it for such a hot pickup.

For my tastes, it's the best of a Distortion, Invader and JB in one pickup.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

Regardless of your fretboard you can't go wrong with either pick up for a tight metal sound. A lot of it will depend on your amp too though. I understand why it says that due to the fretboard and the potential for too much bright/ice picky. You may or may not encounter this though due to a host of factors. I would try one of those two pick ups. Between the two I like the Custom a bit more. It has a more balanced EQ and a bigger bottom end than the Distortion. It is also smoother on the highs. The Distortion will give you a bit more output, more mids and more crunch and sizzle but will not have the "umph" in the lows that the Custom has.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Bridge and neck pickup for Ibanez RG2550MZ

JB+ is a forum nickname for a JB with a standard sized ceramic magnet.

For gonzo metal mayhem, it's really hard to beat the PATB-2. Plenty of bite and growl for thrash rhythms. More beef than the standard Distortion for fat riffs, and leads are a bit smoother like the JB. Pick articulation tends to show up in tone more than volume variation, but it's remarkably responsive to it for such a hot pickup.

For my tastes, it's the best of a Distortion, Invader and JB in one pickup.

I have the PATB-2 in my Jackson and it is an AWESOME pick up for all the reasons you state. I've paired it with a Jazz neck and it's a great combo so far.