EBMM JP6 came with factory Dimarzio Virtual PAF.......need more juice

[Timius]

I picked up a EBMM jp6 stealth in trade and the original owner had it come with Dimarzio Virtual PAF's direct from the factory (these are OEM pickups for EBMM for other models).

While great sounding pickups I'm more of a 80's/90's metal guy and need some juice. These are direct mounted to the body and the guitar is basswood body, maple neck, rosewood board. Any pickup needs to have the small triangular mounts in order to fit.

I'm playing through a line 6 hd500x into a FRFR powered speaker or directly to my computer.

I have a Jackson Sl2h that has teh JB/59 combo in it. While I enjoy those pickups in that, I don't want that exact tone in the jp6.

Any thoughts on what pickups (any brand) I should look at?

 

[Masta' C]

Re: EBMM JP6 came with factory Dimarzio Virtual PAF.......need more juice

Sounds like the time-proven DiMarzio Super Distortion would be right up your alley!

 

[Masta' C]

Re: EBMM JP6 came with factory Dimarzio Virtual PAF.......need more juice

Also, take a look at the Illuminator (Petrucci sig) set and the Evo Neck/ Evo 2 Bridge combo

 

[Timius]

Re: EBMM JP6 came with factory Dimarzio Virtual PAF.......need more juice

Also, take a look at the Illuminator (Petrucci sig) set and the Evo Neck/ Evo 2 Bridge combo

I have been looking at the Illuminators. I've owned a Dimarzio Super D and Tone Zone. How do the illuminators compare? How does the EVo2 compare?

Thanks!

 

[dominus]

Re: EBMM JP6 came with factory Dimarzio Virtual PAF.......need more juice

Do you want to go brighter or darker with the pickups? Are you replacing both pickups or just the bridge? (VPAF should be fine in the neck.)

Tone Zone for darker, Evo for brighter.

 

[Timius]

Re: EBMM JP6 came with factory Dimarzio Virtual PAF.......need more juice

Do you want to go brighter or darker with the pickups? Are you replacing both pickups or just the bridge? (VPAF should be fine in the neck.)

Tone Zone for darker, Evo for brighter.

I'm going to replace both. I like my neck pickups closer to the paf pro output leve.

The hard part is choose bright or dark. However I am leaning dark since I have a Jackson sl2h with a jb and that is plenty bright.

 

[Axeman16]

Re: EBMM JP6 came with factory Dimarzio Virtual PAF.......need more juice

the crunchlab is great

 

[gregory]

Re: EBMM JP6 came with factory Dimarzio Virtual PAF.......need more juice

Titan set, LiquiFire/Crunch Lab.

I have a Silhouette and like the PAF Pro in the neck but the PAF Pro in the bridge hasn't worked out too well. I'm seriously considering dropping a Breed Neck in the bridge position.

 

[Timius]

Re: EBMM JP6 came with factory Dimarzio Virtual PAF.......need more juice

the crunchlab is great

I know that's the stock pickup and it was designed for the guitar. I think it would be a great pickup I just have no experience with it. If it had come in the guitar stock vs the special order virtual Paf I probably wouldn't be posting

 

[gregory]

Re: EBMM JP6 came with factory Dimarzio Virtual PAF.......need more juice

I believe the issue with the Crunch Lab is that it's probably a one-trick pony. I think high output bridge pickups can be that way, especially when designed for a specific player who plays a specific type of amp and doesn't stray far from a specific sound.

Now I'm of the opinion that well-dreigned high-output neck pickups are going to be more versatile and think you could be well served by a LiquiFire if you want a just a touch darker than an Illuminator with the Illuminator being be bit darker than a PAF Pro. Air Norton is also an obvious DiMarzio choice if you want a darker pickup. The Steve Morse Neck model is yet another option.

I'm not as familiar with competitive SD pickups, but the Black Winter set might be somewhat similar.

 

[gregory]

Re: EBMM JP6 came with factory Dimarzio Virtual PAF.......need more juice

Regarding square tabs, you could probably cut/grind the corners; just seal off the rest of the pickup to be safe. It would probably be an issue if you needed to exchange them, though.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: EBMM JP6 came with factory Dimarzio Virtual PAF.......need more juice

I believe the issue with the Crunch Lab is that it's probably a one-trick pony. I think high output bridge pickups can be that way, especially when designed for a specific player who plays a specific type of amp and doesn't stray far from a specific sound.

If you can only assume, why post?

The Crunch Lab is very versatile and responds to different amps and changes in volume very well. It has a lot of punch, but stays very clear and the bottom end is definitely "crunchy" feeling in a way that is unique to that pickup. It has a pretty balanced sound that can cover a ton of styles, but it can be a bit dark in some guitars and I feel there are better pickups for the OP's needs.

The Illuminators are just as punchy as the Crunch Lab, but open up the sound a bit by adding in some upper-mid brightness, which also tightens up the bottom nicely. This gives them a great rock voicing that can cover a LOT of genres musically. They help the guitar's tone "breathe" a little more than the Crunch Lab, which is why I suggested them and the matched set covers a lot of tonal ground.

The Evo Neck/Evo 2 set is just a straightforward rock-lovers pickup set. The Evo 2 has plenty of midrange punch and top-end brightness to liven up a dull basswood guitar without going over the top and the Evo neck is a great match for clarity and power in the neck. Not quite as refined as the Illuminators, but very versatile.

My first suggestion, the Super Distortion, is a tried-and-true classic that delivers a great balance of mids and top-end presence with a meaty bottom end, lots of dynamics and a nitro-charged PAF flavor. There's a reason it's still so popular 40+ years after it hit the scene. The classic PAF/Super D combo might suit the OP's needs very well.

 

[Timius]

Re: EBMM JP6 came with factory Dimarzio Virtual PAF.......need more juice

I pulled the trigger today. After millions of video samples and reviews I am going with a tone zone for the bridge and air Norton in the neck.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: EBMM JP6 came with factory Dimarzio Virtual PAF.......need more juice

That's a decent combo. I'm sure you'll like it.

Keep us updated!

 

[Mincer]

Re: EBMM JP6 came with factory Dimarzio Virtual PAF.......need more juice

I would have tried the Custom, and Sentient + Dremel!