You can try an UOA5 (had one in a JB and sounded very smooth) or rough cast A5. Grab some magnets and experiment. My favourite is JB with A8, a somewhat flatter EQ under gain, but still maintain its character. Then again, I like that honky thing it has, even it it's less noticeable with the A8 magnet. JB A2 might sound good too, some folks like it.
Bridge pickup for an ESP Jake E. Lee signature model
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Ascension
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Would pair well with both. Have owned a couple have a Zebra now that has been in a couple guitars. May go back in my Purple Carvin DC 127 as the PG that's there now is a little thin and harsh when you roll the volume back. Really like the PB.
Despised
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With its stock A5, I like the amount of highs and lows it has. It's the midrange "honk" it has... If I can dial back some of the midrange the JB has by trying a different magnet, or if I can find a passive humbucker I like, that will be ideal... I'm also thinking about an A8 swap on a Distortion, to maybe add a little warmth to it...
Despised
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This is what I'm considering doing - along with doing the same to a Distortion... But I'm also considering trying an Alternative 8 or a Pegasus as-is first - after the Super 3 of course... I saw another thread here where someone was asking what actual humbucker was closest to the Hot Rails, King IzzO))) and a few others mentioned the Super 3. So I wanna try this first before I start getting other pickups and magnet swapping a few...
Despised
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Funny you mention the Transition, I was actually looking at that one as well!!! It's not as hot as the Super 3, and the EQ shaping is similar, just dialed back a very little bit... I think it would be another one that could work as well!! Let me see how the Super 3 works out first...
Years ago, a buddy of mine put a Super 3/Evolution Bridge set in an Ibanez RG350MDX, and the tone was absolutely shocking and amazing!! Since then, I have been itching for a maple FB'd guitar to throw a Super 3 in!!
devastone
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So, he put a Evo bridge in the neck position? I can't imagine a Super 3 in the neck. The S3 is a fun pickup, not sure if it will get you exactly where you want to be, it's compressed and warm with lots of harmonics. The Transition is much more open sounding. But, both are great at what they do.
Despised
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Yep, the Evo in the neck. I was floored by the sound he got out of it, in both positions TBH... For a 6-string, that's his main passive go-to set if he's not running EMG's...
And I'm hoping to not have to constantly take this thing apart because of these pickups... I hate having to do that on ANY guitar, really... I have another one I'm in the same boat with - an ESP LTD AW-7...
But I'll see how the S3 is first, am hoping for good results. Will keep the Transition in mind next while Ibstill try and decide on what I wanna do Duncan wise...
Bill Dennis
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You have not yet received it yet and you are planning a pickup change? Charvel usually puts good stuff in their guitars and I am pretty sure it comes with Duncans. I know this is Seymour's place and all but for $2800, I would at least listen to what came in it
Despised
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The E-E was crisp, while the low B it self was muddy... and it wasn't just this guitar I've noticed it on either, the first AW-7 I bought when they first came out was the same exact way. DiMarzio claims they made the DA7's particularly to work well with and in mahogany, but that's complete bullshit... I've used the DA7'S since they were introduced in tons of guitars, and they ALWAYS sound the best in Basswood. And I have had others that play guitar have tried them in mahogany and have said the same thing...
On the first AW-7, I had a set of Duncan Designed HB-7's rewound by Mike @ JGC Pickups in PA that were great and totally balanced the guitars dark tonality right out. I am considering doing the same thing for this current AW-7, and I did a pole piece swap on the slug side of both, so they look like a set of Screamin Demon 7's!!! I'm debating doing a ceramic magnet swap on the bridge pickup, but wanna talk with Mike first to see what he thinks...
Despised
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The guitar came in last Friday, and needed a complete rewire as it wasn't done right... And now that it is right, I know what the thing actually sounds like, as I mentioned earlier in this thread...
My issue with the current set is the JB has this midrange spike that's honky and I don't care for it, while the SSL-2's are way too vintage for what theyre going to be used for. I want something with a much tighter midrange, and more powerful tones from the single coils - and possibly a SC-sized HB for the neck to fill it in more tonally...
And lastly about the guitar itself:
*1 - Its a 90'S ESP model, not the current Charvel remake...
*2 - yes mine came with a set of Duncan's, and the new Charvel comes with a JB in the bridge and 2x DiMarzio SDS-1's in it.
*3 - I always pre-plan a pickup swap, irregardless of what it's coming with... This is one that I'm actually NOT going to put actives in for a change...
And as I also mentioned earlier in the thread, that I currently have a DiMarzio Super 3 and 2x SDS-1's waiting to go in the new pickguard that Im gonna try first, while I further elaborate and decide which Duncan HB I get to put in it IF I dont like the DiMarzio set I have for it right now...
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Despised
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PLUS, I only paid $1500 for it, as it was a used piece - and all the other ones listed at the time are rosewood fingerboard models for at least $2k or more...
Despised
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I think so too! I also just scored an Alternative 8 for cheap, as well as a brand new JB to experiment on with magnet swapping... So we'll see what winds up panning out with either set...
I look forward to your findings, especially with the Alt 8.
Despised
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Same here!!! I just scored an Alternative 8 in mint shape for $50, so now I need to make up my mind by Monday afternoon when the new pickguard arrives... now it's a question of which set do I load in it...
Despised
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OK fellas... I've made my decision as to which set is going in this beast first. And my decision is:
The SD Alternative 8 bridge, Custom Staggered RWRP middle, & Hot Rails neck!!! I also wired the Alternative 8 & Hot Rails to a mini toggle switch for the outside coil splits on both pickups for extra dynamics and diversity. Then everything to wired to a new Oak-Grigsby 5-way switch, and the ESP pots that came out of the M-II-7-NT I bought back in '18, and it all goes thru a Switchcraft jack. I figured since I'm in here and doing it, I might as well use all the good stuff on a guitar that's worth having the good stuff in...
Initial results: while the A8 magnet may be slightly brighter than the A5 that is in the JB, the Alternative 8 seems to have tamed the ice pick-ish high end and the honky mids nicely! And if there is a slight increase in the actual highs, that can be easily tweaked via the amp's EQ by either turning the high down a tad, or turning the Presence down a tad to compensate. (Running thru a Peavey 6505MH or a 6505+, into either a Mesa Recto 2x12 w/ G12-T75's, or an Ibanez ToneBlaster X 4x12...)
Plus, the Alternative 8 pairs well with the SSL-5 in both series and outer coil split modes in both the clean and distorted tones - and also likewise with the Hot Rails neck in the same series and split modes as well!!
While I didn't happen to get a sound sample of the guitar with the original JB and SSL-2's, I will work on getting one with the new electronics in it soon. But in the meantime, here's some visual porn of how the end result came out...
Thanks everyone!!
The SD Alternative 8 bridge, Custom Staggered RWRP middle, & Hot Rails neck!!! I also wired the Alternative 8 & Hot Rails to a mini toggle switch for the outside coil splits on both pickups for extra dynamics and diversity. Then everything to wired to a new Oak-Grigsby 5-way switch, and the ESP pots that came out of the M-II-7-NT I bought back in '18, and it all goes thru a Switchcraft jack. I figured since I'm in here and doing it, I might as well use all the good stuff on a guitar that's worth having the good stuff in...
Initial results: while the A8 magnet may be slightly brighter than the A5 that is in the JB, the Alternative 8 seems to have tamed the ice pick-ish high end and the honky mids nicely! And if there is a slight increase in the actual highs, that can be easily tweaked via the amp's EQ by either turning the high down a tad, or turning the Presence down a tad to compensate. (Running thru a Peavey 6505MH or a 6505+, into either a Mesa Recto 2x12 w/ G12-T75's, or an Ibanez ToneBlaster X 4x12...)
Plus, the Alternative 8 pairs well with the SSL-5 in both series and outer coil split modes in both the clean and distorted tones - and also likewise with the Hot Rails neck in the same series and split modes as well!!
While I didn't happen to get a sound sample of the guitar with the original JB and SSL-2's, I will work on getting one with the new electronics in it soon. But in the meantime, here's some visual porn of how the end result came out...
Thanks everyone!!
