Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

[TheThunderShark]

Hey everyone, I'm new on the forums and just wanted to know if anyone could help me decide on what pickups to put in my Epiphone Thunderhorse explorer. The specifications can be found in this link to it's page on Epiphone's website. http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Electrics/Designer/Brendon-Small-Thunderhorse-Explorer.aspx

Now, the reason I want new pickups is because the guitar's neck pickup is very weak and has virtually no bite on it whatsoever. I use the bridge pickup for pretty much all my distorted soloing and rhythms, but the high notes in leads also have no bite on them and sound muddy and flat a lot. I'm looking for a passive set of pups that deliver a really crisp distortion sound that can play scorching leads and crushing riffs. Nothing to Mid-ish, a nice balance between the three with maybe a little less high.
Here is my list of equipment I'm using along with the guitar.
Randall RG75 G3 Combo Tube Mosfet Amplifier
Boss MT-2 Metal Zone Distortion
Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor
I appreciate any feedback.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

Hi and welcome to the forum! Just bumping your thread here as it was awaiting moderation for a while.

Any ideas guys?

 

[blueman335]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

What kind of music are you playing? For the neck slot, I'd recommend a JazzN. The bridge depends more on your genre. If you're playing metal or hard rock, a Custom (SH-5) would be very good.

 

[TheThunderShark]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

What kind of music are you playing? For the neck slot, I'd recommend a JazzN. The bridge depends more on your genre. If you're playing metal or hard rock, a Custom (SH-5) would be very good.

I'm going to be playing all types of metal, mostly thrash and melodic death metal. I play anything from Metallica and older bands like CCR to Amon Amarth and Dethklok, so I need something really versatile, but still very powerful and clear.

 

[speed2dirt]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

I'd recommend the Dimarzio X2N for a "nice balance between the three with maybe a little less high" that will "deliver a really crisp distortion sound that can play scorching leads and crushing riffs".

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

Distortion bridge and 59 neck. the 59 gives you incredible leads, and still keeps that vintage vibe. The Distortion is all the gain you'll ever need.

 

[Inder_Cine_Mann]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

I prolly say this too much but a Super Distortion would be awesome

Or Duncan Custom

I love the 59n. And ppl on here really like the Screamin Demon in the neck for rock and metal

Air Norton and Liquifire are perfect for shredding on the neck also

 

[TheThunderShark]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

I prolly say this too much but a Super Distortion would be awesome

Or Duncan Custom

I love the 59n. And ppl on here really like the Screamin Demon in the neck for rock and metal

Air Norton and Liquifire are perfect for shredding on the neck also

Hmm, interesting selections. I'll take a look at the SD and the Liquifire, but I was also considering some passive EMG H2's. What's the verdict on those?

 

[Inder_Cine_Mann]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

Cant comment on em. Just curious, what caught your attention about them?

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

Hi! Welcome to the forum!! Great post in giving us all your gear and all! Ill give you two options.. First, if you want a great metal set, go with a JB in the neck (yeah, really) and a distortion in the bridge. I never thought about using a JB in the neck till I bought a US gunslinger and it came with the JB/distortion set.. Man, that axe rips!! I also have an explorer and in that, I run a 59b in the neck and a Custom8 in the bridge. Amazing tones!! The 59 bridge model gives alittle bit more of a "smokey" blues flavor over the neck model and I run alnico 8 magnets in my Customs (a regular Custom is great too!!). The alnico 8 mag makes it alil warmer and more vibe. Rolls down the highs just alittle.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

You want crisp and biting? Why not have a pair of Duncan Distortions?

I recommend that you take said pedals out of the circuit, plug your guitar straight into the amp, then start tweaking.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

Pics,Dammit!!!

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

Not having actually tried them, unfortunately, I was under the impression that the Burstbucker-1 had a bit of bite to it. Is my second-hand knowledge of them wrong?

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

Burstbuckers do have a little bite, but they also are unpotted, and so they aren't good under high gain. Also they aren't very tight in my opinion.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

Burstbuckers do have a little bite, but they also are unpotted, and so they aren't good under high gain. Also they aren't very tight in my opinion.

OEM installed Burstbuckers are potted.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 4

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

OEM installed Burstbuckers are potted.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 4

Not the Epi Thunderhorse ones. Says right on the website that they aren't potted. Gibson does make most of their OEM Burstbuckers potted, but Brendan Small wanted unpotted pickups.

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

If you want versatility with a relatively flat eq I would go with the Dimarzio breed or dominion set....

 

[Nacho8807]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

I can't recommend the Distortion set enough for what you play. I don't need to say anything about the bridge pickup, but the neck pickup is criminally underrated in my opinion. It keeps impressing me day after day.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

Not the Epi Thunderhorse ones. Says right on the website that they aren't potted. Gibson does make most of their OEM Burstbuckers potted, but Brendan Small wanted unpotted pickups.

But you say they're not good for high gain... Which is what Brendan Small uses. :-D

I was just trying to get to the root of the tone issues rather than suggesting a change simply for the sake of changing. Ya know?

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[Bfeeney]

Re: Epiphone Thunderhorse pickup suggestions.

Isn't the common answer to Gibson pups changing the magnets?