Dave Mustaine's Pickups - Over the years

[Yash]

Re: Dave Mustaine's Pickups - Over the years

First off, this is a bit nitpicky, but your comparison of the 59 and L500R based off of DCR and magnets is completely invalid due to the wealth of construction and wind differences between the two. Like I said, this is nitpicky so no need to feel like you need to justify your comment or anything like that.

But the real intention of this comment is asking why do you think there is no modern replacement for the L500R? Wilde, Bill and Becky, and Bill Lawrence USA all make authentic, non-reissue L500s whereas the Dimebucker is merely an SD interpretation that costs three times the price.

OK... So, we kinda don't know what pickups are really in there. I'll try to find out, someone on Facebook does have an all original King V Pro from 93 or 94.

I suppose it's possible that SFSGSW was a J80 instead of a JB. J2713 had the stock pickups in all of the '87 photos I was able to find, while it definitely had the JB and Bill Lawrence in '88. I've never heard that story about Holy Wars, so I can't comment on that.

He could've used just about anything on Risk; when Jackson still had the Custom Shop archive online, they had a ton of stuff from '97/'98 where Dave was obviously experimenting and working toward what became the Y2KV. He was also playing one of the original Y2KVs at Woodstock '99, so you're probably right about that.

Yep, then it was most likely a J80 instead of JB on SFSGSW, the sound was pretty different as well on that album, let's just blame it on the producing though XD

The Rocktron/EL-34 setup he did use later and I actually meant his live setup. While I didnt listen to much after Youthanasia I much preferred his live tone for those older songs at that point.
I also said he most likely used an L500R in the neck not an L500XL.

No matter cause the guitar tones on the albums in a full band setting with all the studio polishing and over dubs and extra tracking are night and day compared to his isolated tracks, which arent too far removed from what anyone can accomplish with decent gear. Now replicating the studio tone in a live setting, impossible. Replicating his studio tone in the studio, not impossible, but almost impossible.

Lots of really really good info was posted and I knew someone would deliver the goods on this.

Well, I really enjoy his live tone to be honest, not just studio. The live tones are pretty amazing in my opinion, really crunchy, and I love the In My Darkest Hour clean tone, nothing super special, just right. It's probably the 12 string.

PS - The live tones I am referencing here are from the Warchest DVD (Live London, 1990 and 1992) and the live at the Cow Palace '92 stuff. Totally dig it.

This is to your "any info on these Jackson pickups?'

http://www.charvelusa.com/images/big-jackson-pickups.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v664/Chucksplatter/CJ Catalogs Ads etc/SDCJCPC.jpg
http://www.charvelusa.com/images/jackson-pickups-chart.jpg

The J80 is one of the harder one's to come by.

Thanks a lot! Hopefully, there's some old Jackson KV still with that pickup. Hopefully, will find something. Best thing about the modern times is, anything and everything can be replicated

I also posted that second sheet a few responses above. One thing to note is that there is a difference between the Jackson pickups manufactured in the the USA, and the ones made in Japan after production moved there. As to which Dave had, I don’t know.

The KV Pros were made in Japan, so, yes, the bridge pickup might differ, but I think the neck pickup in J2713 (the Megadeth logo KV appearing in the Holy Wars and tons of early Megadeth vids), and the King V Pros should be the same, right?

Now, last silly question, I don't get it, but, what's the Bill Lawrence pickup in the neck? The specs clearly mention L500XL. I'll ask someone to pull it out and confirm

Thanks for the tons of information guys. You're all awesome.

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: Dave Mustaine's Pickups - Over the years

If you look at the specs, the j80 is very similar to the custom 5, the j80c a custom. This is particularly true with the USA made pickups pre Japanese production. The difference between the two is that the Japanese pickups often had very short filister poles that never protrude from the base plate, this changes the attack of the pickup slightly.

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Dave Mustaine's Pickups - Over the years

Did you have the ESP DV8 or an LTD? How do they compare to the Jackson KV1? I too prefer his old JB tones!

I had the LTD. This was when they just came out. I never got to compare it against other Vs but it was a nice guitar and I have always regretted selling it. It was the white one. The one drawback was the lacquer on the neck - I far prefer satin finishes. As one can see in pictures it looks amazing

 

[Yash]

Re: Dave Mustaine's Pickups - Over the years

I had the LTD. This was when they just came out. I never got to compare it against other Vs but it was a nice guitar and I have always regretted selling it. It was the white one. The one drawback was the lacquer on the neck - I far prefer satin finishes. As one can see in pictures it looks amazing

Cool. I wanna get an ESP Axxion next Amazing guitar. Tried an LTD and felt great. Maybe I'll get both of them somewhere down the line

 

[Tone Meister]

Re: Dave Mustaine's Pickups - Over the years

Nearly all of the Bill Lawrence original patented designs are still available, and the L500C & L500R are the very same pickups as they were in the late 70's. The L500XL didn't come until a few years later iirc. There is definitely a lot of mud in the water regarding BL pickups and the various companies, but the important versions of the originally patented designs are still available from Wilde Pickups, Bill & Becky.

I've been using BL pickups since 1979 and would always talk directly to Bill when ordering until his death. I still have guitars loaded with those originals, and the ones I buy today (just bought two L500XL and a L280SM) sound and react/perform the same as the 40 year old models.

So yes, they are still available in all their original glory, the bad news being a 42% price increase on July 1 (from $60 to $85) on his humbuckers.

Who is Dave Mustaine?

 

[EDX]

Re: Dave Mustaine's Pickups - Over the years

an angry strawberry blonde who enjoys playing sic guitar riffs and trolling people

 

[Yash]

Re: Dave Mustaine's Pickups - Over the years

an angry strawberry blonde who enjoys playing sic guitar riffs and trolling people

Lol! Bang on description. But he can be so nice on Twitter and persicope (when he used to stream. But his twitter replies can be savage. Love them haha

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Dave Mustaine's Pickups - Over the years

http://www.jacksonguitarpalace.com/davemustaine/kv1.htm

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Dave Mustaine's Pickups - Over the years

http://www.jacksonguitarpalace.com/davemustaine/kv1.htm

http://www.jacksonguitarpalace.com

Some where on this page he goes down through each model. Im fairly certain the KV1 came with a JB/L500R but if you cant find that info try the jackson charvel forum.

 

[RolanTHUNDER]

Re: Dave Mustaine's Pickups - Over the years

I have owned his signature Dean VMNT and it had his signature LiveWire set as standard. Awesome axe and awesome pickups! Definitely his tone. I now have the same pickup set in my RG470FM (basswood/flamed maple top, bolt on wired to one volume) and its awesome! I'd like to try the Thrash Factor set and see how they compare. As it is I love his sig actives from SD. Thanks to you I now know that the neck pickup is basically a modded Jazz which explains why its so articulate for high gain leads
Sorry I'm unable to answer your questions on his older gear/pickups.

 

[Yash]

Re: Dave Mustaine's Pickups - Over the years

I have owned his signature Dean VMNT and it had his signature LiveWire set as standard. Awesome axe and awesome pickups! Definitely his tone. I now have the same pickup set in my RG470FM (basswood/flamed maple top, bolt on wired to one volume) and its awesome! I'd like to try the Thrash Factor set and see how they compare. As it is I love his sig actives from SD. Thanks to you I now know that the neck pickup is basically a modded Jazz which explains why its so articulate for high gain leads
Sorry I'm unable to answer your questions on his older gear/pickups.

As I said in the thread, don't go with the Thrash Factor set, just get the Thrash Factor bridge pickup and a Jazz in the neck, for a similar tone to the livewires, but passive.
High gain leads, as far as I have seen and kinda hear, Dave always solos on the bridge pickup. I am yet to see him use the neck pickup, as said above, he can be a tricky.

 

[Yash]

Re: Dave Mustaine's Pickups - Over the years

Update - I got my Jackson KV1. It has dual JBs. TB4 and JB in the neck. Too similar. Want to change the neck pickup. Any recommendations? I was thinking Jazz or Alnico II Pro (I love Slash!) Any other recommendations? I want to get a Duncan of course. How does a JB work out with an Alnico II Pro (or Slash's Alnico II Pro)

Also, how does Dave's guitar do this? Can someone explain? It's got a livewire in the neck



Should I start an NGD thread?

 

[blooze96]

Re: Dave Mustaine's Pickups - Over the years

Agreed regarding the Bill Lawrences; I find it extremely unlikely that he was using an L500XL in the neck.




No offense intended, but you seem to have the timeline a bit muddied as far as which gear he was using when.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think KIMB was a stock JMP or JCM800 with EL-34 tubes based on the thinner midrange-heavy tone. Peace Sells was probably the same amp, but I'm thinking he switched to 6550s because the tone is a lot thicker with a lower frequency focus. Both of these albums would've been BC Rich with a Super D.

SFSGSW was primarily recorded with the Megadeth logo'd King V (J2713) and the 'Thrash Factor' JB into a JMP. I've heard that it was modified and I have seen a few photos of the amp, but nothing stood out as definitely not stock.

Rust in Peace was J2713 again, but he abandoned the JMP in favor of a Bogner Triple Giant preamp. AFAIK this was Reinhold Bogner's first rack preamp design which he later sold to Hafler. I've never played either, but I've heard that Hafler cut several corners with their Triple Giant resulting in it not sounding as good as Bogner's. I've also heard that the Triple Giant was a predecessor to the Bogner Fish and that the two sound somewhat similar. Dave's power amp was a VHT 2150.

Dave may have used J2713 on Countdown, or possibly the newer Silver Sparkle V; he used the latter almost exclusively on the Countdown tour. Dave kept the VHT 2150, but swapped out the Triple Giant in favor of a CAE 3+ preamp. He upgraded to a 3+SE for Youthanasia.

Cryptic Writings saw Dave switch to a Marshall JMP-1 & EL-34 100/100, though he was still using the Poplar King Vs. He then switched to the Prophesy for Risk and to Y2KVs for TWNAH.

I've been able to get very close to Dave's Cryptic Writings tone with either a JB or Custom into a Marshall JMP-1 and (original) Mesa 50/50. Like Nagisa, I've never seen Dave use a neck pickup, though I suppose he may have done so in the studio. I've also heard that his live guitars were wired JB -> Volume knob -> output jack.

TL;DR:
KIMB: BC Rich w/ Super D into Marshall 2203 w/ EL-34s
Peace Sells: BC Rich w/ Super D into Marshall 2203 w/ 6550s
SFSGSW: Poplar King V w/ JB into Marshall 2203 (possibly modded)
Rust: Poplar King V w/ JB into Bogner Triple Giant / VHT 2150
Countdown: Poplar King V w/ JB into CAE 3+ / VHT 2150
Youth: Poplar King V w/ JB into CAE 3+SE / VHT 2150
Cryptic: Poplar King V w/ JB into Marshall JMP-1 / EL-34 100/100
Risk: Poplar King V w/ JB into Rocktron Prophesy / Marshall EL-34 100/100
TWNAH: Y2KV w/ JB into Rocktron Prophesy / Marshall EL-34 100/100

http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=42282&mobile=on
Confirmed by this thread here, Dave had L500s in both positions of his BC Rich during the Peace Sells tour. It's hard to tell what's on the album, but I don't think L500s are a bad guess for that tone.
Also, Dave himself tweeted this pic of him and the guitar in 1985 at Keystone Palo Alto.
https://twitter.com/davemustaine/status/368146044636237825
Since PS was recorded in 1986, I think there a much greater chance of the Rich having the Lawrence than the Super Distortion at the time.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Dave Mustaine's Pickups - Over the years

http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=42282&mobile=on
Confirmed by this thread here, Dave had L500s in both positions of his BC Rich during the Peace Sells tour. It's hard to tell what's on the album, but I don't think L500s are a bad guess for that tone.
Also, Dave himself tweeted this pic of him and the guitar in 1985 at Keystone Palo Alto.
https://twitter.com/davemustaine/status/368146044636237825
Since PS was recorded in 1986, I think there a much greater chance of the Rich having the Lawrence than the Super Distortion at the time.

Thanks for the update! During the Metallica days Dave had a Super Distortion in his natural finished Bich, but I wasn't aware that the black one had different pickups.

 

[Toejam]

Re: Dave Mustaine's Pickups - Over the years

Thanks for the update! During the Metallica days Dave had a Super Distortion in his natural finished Bich, but I wasn't aware that the black one had different pickups.

I think it's the same exact guitar, just got painted black after he was gone from Metallica.