Hey, first post here on the forums. I got a new Ibanez recently and I dont like the tone zone bridge in it, I think it sounds too muddy and boomy in my guitar. My guitar is Mahogany body with poplar cap and wenge neck and fretboard. I really like the tones Keith merrow gets off his conquering dystopia work and I enjoy the guitar tones off of the new In Flames album. I have an evh 5150 el34 and want to get some of those tones, I know both have used 5150s before. I'm not necessarily trying to emulate the sounds of either but I want to get close still and can say that kind of sounds like them. I don't think my guitar has enough room in the cavity for actives otherwise I'd consider emg's and I know keith merrow used duncans for a long time. The duncans I've been looking at are the Pegasus, 59/custom, and a regular sh-5 custom. If you guys have any suggestions it would be helpful and thanks.
Bridge pickup for metal
- Thread starter ImIrish
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Der Oberherr
New member
Re: Bridge pickup for metal
Of the pickups you listed, I'd go for the sh-5, purely because it's the only one in the list that I've used. It does metal really well and sounds great in my 7 string (which has a korina body and wenge neck, for reference). The sh-5 also has a nice agressive thump when plam muting that I really like.
Of the pickups you listed, I'd go for the sh-5, purely because it's the only one in the list that I've used. It does metal really well and sounds great in my 7 string (which has a korina body and wenge neck, for reference). The sh-5 also has a nice agressive thump when plam muting that I really like.
Thundermtn
New member
Re: Bridge pickup for metal
Of the three you listed I'd go 59/Custom hybrid, I had a custom for metal for a few months, it wasn't bad but was just a hair too sterile for me.
Of the three you listed I'd go 59/Custom hybrid, I had a custom for metal for a few months, it wasn't bad but was just a hair too sterile for me.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Bridge pickup for metal
All three options can cover a lot of ground. Other than being too boomy and muddy, what do you not like about your current set?
All three options can cover a lot of ground. Other than being too boomy and muddy, what do you not like about your current set?
Re: Bridge pickup for metal
The main problem I'm having with them is when I palm mute using my current set they dont have that aggressive punch that I like on my alternative 8 in my other guitar. They're mostly the same construction with the main difference being a maple neck. I actually do like the highs on the tone zone more than the alt 8 they're less ice pick like however, I just feel like palm mutes get lost easier. So something with the low end of an alternative 8 with maybe a little more low end but keeping the same punch and taking away some of the painful high end at times.
The main problem I'm having with them is when I palm mute using my current set they dont have that aggressive punch that I like on my alternative 8 in my other guitar. They're mostly the same construction with the main difference being a maple neck. I actually do like the highs on the tone zone more than the alt 8 they're less ice pick like however, I just feel like palm mutes get lost easier. So something with the low end of an alternative 8 with maybe a little more low end but keeping the same punch and taking away some of the painful high end at times.
weepingminotaur
Well-known member
Re: Bridge pickup for metal
Seconding the Black Winter set. The Winters will do everything you want and more.
Seconding the Black Winter set. The Winters will do everything you want and more.
Bowtomecha
Active member
Re: Bridge pickup for metal
The Black Winter is probably what you want. The SH-5 is solid but a bit strident, the Pegasus can chug and sound good with effort but gives up output for clarity so you need to use more gain, and the hybrid is pretty much a suped up 59 which is nice but the coils are unbalanced so you get more noise under high gain. It’s pretty versatile but if your needs are mostly metal, the winters are great. I love how the neck model sounds especially.
The Black Winter is probably what you want. The SH-5 is solid but a bit strident, the Pegasus can chug and sound good with effort but gives up output for clarity so you need to use more gain, and the hybrid is pretty much a suped up 59 which is nice but the coils are unbalanced so you get more noise under high gain. It’s pretty versatile but if your needs are mostly metal, the winters are great. I love how the neck model sounds especially.
Re: Bridge pickup for metal
I'd look at TB (trembucker) spacing, for most Ibanez guitars. If it's Fender or Floyd spaced bridge, you want a TB. TB-5 Custom is a great pickup for metal rhythm, and no slouch for other things. What comes across as sterile often depends on the guitar and amp.
For my tastes, I don't tend to get along with ceramic magnets, so I'd tend to swap out for an A8, particularly in the Custom. But that can be an oddly vintage metal tone, too mid-focused pickup for some tastes. But if Custom is too bright or bland, cheap to try.
If the guitar is bassy and tube screamer
Besides pickups, tube screamer is the standard into 5150-series input to tighten up bass for metal, set for 0-20% gain, unity or higher for output (60-70% pretty common), and tone to taste (usually not much more than halfway up). Parametric or graphic EQ in the effects loop is handy for a lot of metal rhythm tones, too. Can use both for mid-notch (narrower than scoop!) and to recover from cutting bass at pedal/preamp to reduce flub.
If pedal & EQ don't fix it, pickups are likely the culprit, and a lot of fans of tight rhythm don't get along with the Tone Zone. Any number of options, depends on your tastes. PATB-2 Parallel Axis Distortion is an awesome gonzo metal pickup, but possibly a bit bassier than you want, some rhythm players don't like that growl, and it also might be a tight fit if the pickup routes are small on the guitar, as it has a nonstandard bobbin shape (less rounded corners due to different polepiece shape). Custom, Black Winter, standard Distortion are all great choices depending on what character you want and how much you mind harsh high end (I find the presence on the standard Distortion rather unpleasant, though it's possible to control that with post EQ, and often is in recording studios).
I'd look at TB (trembucker) spacing, for most Ibanez guitars. If it's Fender or Floyd spaced bridge, you want a TB. TB-5 Custom is a great pickup for metal rhythm, and no slouch for other things. What comes across as sterile often depends on the guitar and amp.
For my tastes, I don't tend to get along with ceramic magnets, so I'd tend to swap out for an A8, particularly in the Custom. But that can be an oddly vintage metal tone, too mid-focused pickup for some tastes. But if Custom is too bright or bland, cheap to try.
If the guitar is bassy and tube screamer
Besides pickups, tube screamer is the standard into 5150-series input to tighten up bass for metal, set for 0-20% gain, unity or higher for output (60-70% pretty common), and tone to taste (usually not much more than halfway up). Parametric or graphic EQ in the effects loop is handy for a lot of metal rhythm tones, too. Can use both for mid-notch (narrower than scoop!) and to recover from cutting bass at pedal/preamp to reduce flub.
If pedal & EQ don't fix it, pickups are likely the culprit, and a lot of fans of tight rhythm don't get along with the Tone Zone. Any number of options, depends on your tastes. PATB-2 Parallel Axis Distortion is an awesome gonzo metal pickup, but possibly a bit bassier than you want, some rhythm players don't like that growl, and it also might be a tight fit if the pickup routes are small on the guitar, as it has a nonstandard bobbin shape (less rounded corners due to different polepiece shape). Custom, Black Winter, standard Distortion are all great choices depending on what character you want and how much you mind harsh high end (I find the presence on the standard Distortion rather unpleasant, though it's possible to control that with post EQ, and often is in recording studios).
Re: Bridge pickup for metal
thanks for all the suggestions. I have looked up some videos and sound clips of the black winter and I do like them quite a bit. I noticed not many said anything about the pegasus and I'm wondering if thats just not many people have tried it. I've heard a video of the pegasus through a 5150 and it sounds really damn good imo but so does the black winter. I'm a little interested in hearing if anyone here has tried a pegasus themselves.
thanks for all the suggestions. I have looked up some videos and sound clips of the black winter and I do like them quite a bit. I noticed not many said anything about the pegasus and I'm wondering if thats just not many people have tried it. I've heard a video of the pegasus through a 5150 and it sounds really damn good imo but so does the black winter. I'm a little interested in hearing if anyone here has tried a pegasus themselves.
O
OLDERBUDWISER
Guest
Re: Bridge pickup for metal
I have the Pegasus and I had the 5153. The Pegasus isnt a super high output metal pickup. Its great IMO, just dont expect a super loud screamer. I love mine. The other pickup not mentioned here is the Nazgul, personally I preferred the Naz to the Winter but I am in the minority, most prefer the Winters
I have the Pegasus and I had the 5153. The Pegasus isnt a super high output metal pickup. Its great IMO, just dont expect a super loud screamer. I love mine. The other pickup not mentioned here is the Nazgul, personally I preferred the Naz to the Winter but I am in the minority, most prefer the Winters
Re: Bridge pickup for metal
Thanks guys for the responses, I do have a ts9 as well as a fulltone ocd and like to change it up and see which one sounds better for me with the setup and I do prefer the ocd using my other guitar with an alternative 8. It's already a tight pickup so it mostly just adds that extra bit of gain for me. With that being said I'll try out the pegasus first and see if I like it. If not I'll try out the black winter or get one later on if I like the pegasus to compare them.
Thanks guys for the responses, I do have a ts9 as well as a fulltone ocd and like to change it up and see which one sounds better for me with the setup and I do prefer the ocd using my other guitar with an alternative 8. It's already a tight pickup so it mostly just adds that extra bit of gain for me. With that being said I'll try out the pegasus first and see if I like it. If not I'll try out the black winter or get one later on if I like the pegasus to compare them.
weepingminotaur
Well-known member
Re: Bridge pickup for metal
Tough one. I have the Naz and the Winter in different guitars, and love them both, for different reasons. To me, the Naz is the King of Chug. Brutal chug with full mids that is totally controllable at high gain. The Winter bridge is tighter IMO, with a grainier high end but less full-on chug. Both are great. But the Winter bridge is more versatile.
Tough one. I have the Naz and the Winter in different guitars, and love them both, for different reasons. To me, the Naz is the King of Chug. Brutal chug with full mids that is totally controllable at high gain. The Winter bridge is tighter IMO, with a grainier high end but less full-on chug. Both are great. But the Winter bridge is more versatile.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: Bridge pickup for metal
The SH5 custom will do what you want. It gets overshadowed at times but its still a solid metal pick
The SH5 custom will do what you want. It gets overshadowed at times but its still a solid metal pick
Iron1
New member
Re: Bridge pickup for metal
This might be the perfect description of the Nazgul. Especially through a 5150/6505. Super brutal - especially with palm mutes and chugs, but not so inspiring clean. I'm honestly pretty surprised at how many people knock this pickup - unless it was bought for any reason other than metal.
This might be the perfect description of the Nazgul. Especially through a 5150/6505. Super brutal - especially with palm mutes and chugs, but not so inspiring clean. I'm honestly pretty surprised at how many people knock this pickup - unless it was bought for any reason other than metal.
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