Bridge Pickup advice for my Skulls & Snakes

T

taWsan

New member
Hey all,

I had ESP Skulls & Snakes since 2001. As you will know, it has "Seymour Duncan TB-12 and ESP SH-100" pickup setup as factory defaults. I just need to change my bridge pickup (TB-12), cause of It's not working properly anymore. Let me give you some details about my guitar and share some pics of it.

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SPECIFICATIONS

Bolt-On Construction
25.5" Scale
Alder Body
Maple Neck
Rosewood Fingerboard
43mm Locking Nut (45mm Neck Width)
GL Original U Neck Contour

22 XJ Frets
Black Hardware
Gotoh Tuners
Floyd Rose Original Bridge
Seymour Duncan Screamin' Demon (B) / ESP SH-100 Rail (N) p.u.
Finish: BLK w/ Skulls & Snakes Graphic

Master Volume w/Push-Pull Pickup Selector

So, first of all I need to buy a "TB" right, not a "SH"? Please correct me if I understood wrong? (If I have floyd rose, so TB (Trembucker) is right choice?)

And second, I like sustained and strong tones for playing metal songs. (For example: Lamb of God, In Flames, All That Remains, As I Lay Dying etc.)

I use 42/32/24/16/11/9 (E/A/D/G/B/E) and 42/32/24/16/11/9 (D/A/D/G/B/E) string scales.

Which Seymour Duncan Bridge Trembucker will be the best for my guitar? I'm open for all your advices, need to decide something as soon as possible. I'm thinking about Duncan Distortion (TB-6), but not so sure will it work as the best.

Waiting for your comments,

Thanks in advance,
 
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Re: Bridge Pickup advice for my Skulls & Snakes

TB-6 would be much better for you than the TB-12.
 
Re: Bridge Pickup advice for my Skulls & Snakes

Welcome to the forum.

Yes, you require one of the Seymour Duncan Trembucker models for correct string-to-polepiece alignment.

The question of which model is subjective. The Screamin' Demon is the obvious choice for a George Lynch fan. If you wait a few hours, forum members will post numerous and varied recommendations. Take your pick.

EDIT: First things first. Have you discovered WHY your original pickup no longer works properly? Might be a simple dry solder joint on the push/pull switching portion of the volume pot.

A photograph of the inside of the control cavity would help enormously.
 
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Re: Bridge Pickup advice for my Skulls & Snakes

... looks a bit diff from my old one- I bought mine 1990/91 from Bob Greenlee's shop on Sunset Blvd. Neck was a Mirage/Strat-type headstock, no fancy inlays, no sunken Floyd, came stock w/ a Duncan Distortion. Muddiest neck pup I ever heard. When the 'Demon finally came out I bought one to stick in the bridge - sounded even muddier than the neck... :banghead: Personally, I'd stick an active pup in that guit - an EMcheese or a Blackout. Put a better rail pup in the neck too...
 
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Re: Bridge Pickup advice for my Skulls & Snakes

Funkfingers said:
Welcome to the forum.

Yes, you require one of the Seymour Duncan Trembucker models for correct string-to-polepiece alignment.

The question of which model is subjective. The Screamin' Demon is the obvious choice for a George Lynch fan. If you wait a few hours, forum members will post numerous and varied recommendations. Take your pick.

EDIT: First things first. Have you discovered WHY your original pickup no longer works properly? Might be a simple dry solder joint on the push/pull switching portion of the volume pot.

A photograph of the inside of the control cavity would help enormously.
Click to expand...

Thanks Funkfingers,

I'm not sure what's the exact problem about it but, I brought it to 2 different local luthiers in my country. They said me to buy a new one. I'm thinking about the pickups at the list below.

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All I want is to find the best suitable pickup for this guitar.

If you used any of them waiting for your comments.
 
Re: Bridge Pickup advice for my Skulls & Snakes

I'd try an Alt 8 for the bridge and a hotrails for the neck. That combo will be metal riffing, soloing heaven.
 
Re: Bridge Pickup advice for my Skulls & Snakes

taWsan said:
I'm not sure what's the exact problem about it but, I brought it to 2 different local luthiers in my country. They said me to buy a new one.

All I want is to find the best suitable pickup for this guitar.
Click to expand...

Okay. Here is what I would do.
1) Use the .mp3 soundbite for the SH-12 as your datum point.
2) Decide what properties you like and dislike about the SH-12.
3) Decide what properties you might prefer to have instead.
e.g. You may desire higher output, more treble, less bass or a different midrange emphasis.​
4) Listen to the other .mp3 soundbites.
5) If, for example, you desire higher output and more treble, listen out for which pickup demonstrations drive the amp harder and sound brighter than the SH-12 soundbite.

NOTE: Even though the audio demonstrations were recorded using a Les Paul, they should still give a fair representation of how each pickup on your shortlist would differ relative to the SH-12.​
6) Whichever pickup demonstration appears to correct the shortcomings of your original SH-12 is the pickup for you.
7) Buy that pickup.
 
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Re: Bridge Pickup advice for my Skulls & Snakes

Thanks for all advices. Now, I'm going to buy a Custom 5 (TB-14) for the bridge and ESP SH-100 Rail for the neck. Hope it will work cool with this guitar.

And also, I'm still thinking about JB (TB-4) and Alternative 8 (TB-15).

I'll inform you with the details.

If you have any warnings will be appretiated.

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Re: Bridge Pickup advice for my Skulls & Snakes

Hi again,

Thanks for all the comments.

Now, I need to decide which of the pickup combination will be best for that guitar.

Lot's of suggestions with TB-4 (JB) on bridge and Cool Rails on neck and also TB-6 (Duncan Distortion) on bridge and Cool Rails on neck. I just need a best suitable pickup for a guitar like that. We have the structure information above. I really want an electric guitar that has need a generic range of sounds actually. It should have bright clean tones for all kind of rock music and also it should have sustanied and warm solo tones and also satiated plump tones on rthyms.

I think I got a bid bored of my Screaming Demons.

What if I go with TB-12 (Screamin Demon) which neck pick up go best for it?

Thanks,
 
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