Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

[Nagisa]

I have an Ibanez AZ hss prestige which I adore, but the bridge is a bit too mild. I'm considering switching it out. I currently have an rg that has an evo bridge which is close to what I want. I want higher output but probably with alnico. The evo in the rg (basswood) has the right amount of output, but is mushy on chords and lacks a bit of organic-ness that say my uoa5 Custom in my lp has.

The hyperion in my az is apparently close to a Pegasus. I really thought it would be powerful enough given the Pegasus is marketed as a "prog rock" pup but it just doesn't punch. Sounds good for classic rock. It generally sounds "thin". It is well-balanced in terms of no actual points that stick out. When I hit a power chord on my uoa5 custom it goes "bahhhhh!" The hyperion goes "bah." When I hit a single note on the evo it's saturated and thick and present. On the hyperion it feels like that but on 8/10 of the volume pot, a lot of the ballsiness gone.

It annoys me that I need to find a pickup in white to match. I always seem to have specific pickup colors and covers for each guitar, meaning I can't just go back and forth between them. Otherwise I'd put that (pink!) evo in it.

I mostly play instrumental "solos", but chordage is mixed in, like Paul Gilbert's Fuzz Universe.

Thanks!

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

Maybe on the evo...but is there a good a5 alternative?

As for the nazgul, my impression is it's less geared toward soloing and more toward rhythm?

 

[Mononoaware]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

If you're not dead-set against ceramic on principle, consider the Evo 2, which is more organic and fuller than the Evo. It still has that that immediate attack and a touch of stiffness/responsiveness. Very direct, but with a clear warmth. It's a good compromise.

For something with more bloom to the notes and less stiffness, give the Gravity Storm bridge a look. The mad mids cause it to punch way above its weight (it feels "loud" for lack of a more precise term). But I love the openness and touch of Super-D like growl it has. It doesn't sound anything like an Evo, but is still a great all-around choice for instrumental.

(Not a huge Vai fan, but his pickups are fun to play!)

On a separate note, I'm curious about your thoughts on the AZ. I can't stop drooling over them on the Ibanez website. But that's probably another thread.

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

Thanks! I'll listen to clips of those. I've heard good thinks about the gs. The evo 2 may be neat too.


The AZ is great. I recommend getting the prestige as I have read quite a few negative reports on the premium qc.
The single coils are really good. The humbucker is not bad, just not high output. The neck feels perfect, super smooth and great shape. The setup was really good out of the box, no issues. On the hss the serial mix of mid/neck sounds like a neck humbucker enough to get by. Not as full as a real one but for a live gig or practice would be sufficient. The guitar just souds smooth. Not Fender glassy, more like smooth jazz fusion like Martin Miller plays.

 

[sedawkgrep]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

The Evos are kind of the antithesis of what Satriani would play. Immediate, severe almost in its attack, and IME did not work well with the volume knob.

I’d look at the gravity storms, breeds, or paf pro, which for awhile both guys played. Personally I love the paf pro in the bridge.

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

Maybe I should experiment with an a8 in the hyperion 1st? Might give it the edge it needs?

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

I'm having a hard time figurig out output between Duncan and Dimarzio. The pegasus has a 12.5 dcr, the evo 2 has 14.02. The Dimarzio site lists output mv as 365...the duncan site doesn't have this number. I assume the higher dcr the higher the output. What's accurate?

Also any more input on gs, evo2, paf pro or others?

As for the paf pro, looking at satch he went from paf pro to fred to mo joe and so on. Would paf pro be inferior to newer models?

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

Update: after fiddling around with the pole pieces and pup height, I got it sounding good when I crank up the gain a bit on my profiles. Considering how many things this pickup can do, I think I'm going to keep it. A/Bing it with my evolution, it has a lot more openness, so I think anything is going to be a compromise

 

[Mincer]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

I'm having a hard time figurig out output between Duncan and Dimarzio. The pegasus has a 12.5 dcr, the evo 2 has 14.02. The Dimarzio site lists output mv as 365...the duncan site doesn't have this number. I assume the higher dcr the higher the output. What's accurate?

Also any more input on gs, evo2, paf pro or others?

As for the paf pro, looking at satch he went from paf pro to fred to mo joe and so on. Would paf pro be inferior to newer models?

I know you figured it out already, but a higher DCR doesn't always mean more output- and sometimes, a DCR difference of 2k or so is hard to hear anyway. As far as not having milivolt ratings, it wouldn't matter anyway as the testing method between manufacturers would be different.

 

[Ben1962]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

I know you figured it out already, but a higher DCR doesn't always mean more output- and sometimes, a DCR difference of 2k or so is hard to hear anyway. As far as not having milivolt ratings, it wouldn't matter anyway as the testing method between manufacturers would be different.

I guess they shouldnt really rate amps for power if thats the reason. The millivolts could help plenty of people, there is zero reason for Duncan not to have such info available. Maybe Larry and SD would each use a different method, but if its consistent within each company, that still sets some type of reference to go by

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

Ok back at it. I put an a8 in the hyperion and like it more, but it’s still a bit thin. Nice clarity but definitely thin sounding.

What about a JB? Compared to an Evo 2 it would probably sound more organic with the alnico.
Kind of like..evo 2, jb, gravity storm , paf pro as the likely candidates? I called Dimarzio and they said evo 2 as I like my evo in my Ibanez, but I think it is too ceramic-sounding

 

[dave74]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

Perpetual Burn maybe?

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

Perpetual Burn maybe?

Tell me more, tell me more!

I was looking at that, but I thought it may be a step down in output from the hyperion (apparently the hyperion is based off of the pegasus). It seems the perpetual burn was pretty much made for the purpose I have in mind, but the lower output kind of makes me wonder how different it will be.

How would PB be better than the JB for solos, for example

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

I've really liked the PAF Pro in the bridge in the past, but I wouldn't say it's a thick-sounding pickup by any means. It could very well be the brightest humbucker I've ever tried. It's not as weak as a traditional PAF-type, but I doubt it's louder than your Hyperion either.

I was thinking the JB may do the trick for you. I know it's got a reputation for bright upper-mids, but IME, it's also got full-sounding low-mids (especially compared to the PAF Pro).

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

Keep in mind that, generally speaking, more output = less "organic" and less "open". There are certainly some exceptions, but not many.

I like punchy high-output pickups with a good dose of dynamics. I have had good luck with high-output A5-based pickups, such as the JB and Suhr SSH+/Aldrich.

The Nazgul is in the same vein as the JB/Aldrich and is one of the better "modern" Duncan designs, in my opinion, definitely a beast. The Duncan Custom is ceramic, but exceptionally versatile...a good place to start in the Duncan camp. For an Alnico version with great clarity and a cool look, you could also check out the Full Shred.

Evo 2 is a slightly more polite Evo. For most things, I prefer the Evo 2, but it still deserves the "Evo" name for its punchy, present response and snappy tone. I feel both of these pickups are a bit hard to soften up with just the volume knob.

I recently wrote about the DiMarzio "Satchur8", which I feel is sort of like an "Evo 3" in many ways. Basically, a bit more grunt and growl than the Evo/Evo 2, a little rounded off on top and a little more controllable overall, but still very hot and driving...very similar feel, harmonics, etc. to the Evo family. This pickup is where the Vai-Satriani-Petrucci designs all converge, in my opinion. You might want to check it out!

Hate to share my secret, but one pickup I'm totally digging at the moment is a Sin "Axis" model, which Chris Carter is back selling on eBay. Unbelievable pickup, especially for the price! Ticks all the right boxes for me...expressive, punchy, cutting without being harsh. Pure YUM!

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

That satchur8 really tempts me but your review and the phineas ones are literally the only detailed reciews and there are 0 YouTube vids with it. I have the a8 hyperion- it’s pretty good overall but thin sounding. Do you think the Satchur8 will also sound thin?

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

That satchur8 really tempts me but your review and the phineas ones are literally the only detailed reciews and there are 0 YouTube vids with it. I have the a8 hyperion- it’s pretty good overall but thin sounding. Do you think the Satchur8 will also sound thin?

Can you elaborate on what you mean by "thin"?

The Satchur8 has plenty of "bite" up top and a fairly stiff response (think: Evolution) thanks to the A8, but it's not overly thin in my experience. Hard to compare to the A8 Hyperion, though, since I have no experience with that combo.

It might help to look up JS2480 videos, where the Satchur8 is stock:

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

Compared to the evolution or the uoa5 custom I have in an LP, the hyperion’s notes sound less full and more “plinky” - very good string to string definition, but I guess part of that comes from each note not taking up much sonic space. It sounds good for lighter rock but still kinda lacks for louder solos. The other pickups go “RRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” on big high bends, the hyperion is more like “RRrrrrEeeee...e” lol sorry there’s not a good way to write sounds

 

[DKSEARS]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

What about the Satchur8?


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[Nagisa]

Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus

What about the Satchur8?


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We were writing back and forth about it in this thread. Have you used it?

Very tempted by it and I took a look at the vids as mastac suggested