From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

[KyloTheBird]

Hey all. I'm concerned about the pick ups I want to buy. I have my eyes set on the Invader Neck pick up and the Dimebucker for the bridge, but my concern is that if they pair well.

The kind of tones I'm looking for is something with high gain, that will give me chunky, heavy rhythm tones but also give me some clear, bright clean tones. Is that too much to ask for? Lol Genuine question.

My guitar's body is made of Basswood while the neck is made out of maple, if that helps.

 

[TVFV]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

If you have something that allows for coil splitting, what you are asking for is possible. I personally would go with a different pickup choice.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

The Dimebucker bridge is a good choice for heavy tones, but I wouldn't go with an Invader in the neck. I know you didn't mention him, but Dimebag usually paired the Dimebucker with a 59' neck. However, if you want really bright tones from your neck, then the Jazz is the clear choice. The Jazz is often paired with higher output pickups like the JB or Distortion, so don't worry about it pairing well. The Invader is going to be dark and thick, which is the opposite of what you're describing.

What is your amp, and what specifically is your guitar? Is it a strat style, LP style or what? The more info you give us about your setup, along with which bands influence you and what songs you play, the better we can help you find the right pickups.

Chunky rhythm and bright cleans are pretty generic terms and could apply to hundreds of bands and songs. Get specific with us or you'll possibly end up wasting your money on the wrong set. There are a TON of knowledgeable guys and gals here to help out. Help us help you.

 

[Adieu]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

The Dimebucker bridge is a good choice for heavy tones, but I wouldn't go with an Invader in the neck. I know you didn't mention him, but Dimebag usually paired the Dimebucker with a 59' neck.

Pantera... not exactly renowned for gorgeous tone.


Ymmv

 

[Demanic]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

Pantera... not exactly renowned for gorgeous tone.


Ymmv

That's entirely subjective.

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[weepingminotaur]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

Hey all. I'm concerned about the pick ups I want to buy. I have my eyes set on the Invader Neck pick up and the Dimebucker for the bridge, but my concern is that if they pair well.

The kind of tones I'm looking for is something with high gain, that will give me chunky, heavy rhythm tones but also give me some clear, bright clean tones. Is that too much to ask for? Lol Genuine question.

My guitar's body is made of Basswood while the neck is made out of maple, if that helps.

As Jeff_ has already mentioned, being more specific about what you're looking for (particularly the bands whose music you want to play) will help a lot. Basswood is already a bright tonewood, so finding a pup for bright tones shouldn't be impossible.

Just guessing here, but if you want high-gain riffing, you're probably going to spend your time playing rhythm on the bridge pickup, saving the neck pup for cleans and lead playing. So don't double up by taking both the Invader and the Dimebucker. For the neck, go with a '59 or a Jazz, as others have mentioned -- something that has been proven to pair well with more aggressive bridge pickups.

One choice you might consider, though I realize it's a bit polarizing here, is the Nazgul/Sentient combo. I have this combo in a mahogany-body/maple neck Schecter and I love it. The Nazgul gives me that beastly low-end chug for heavy riffing, and the Sentient is a nice, balanced pup that can handle a wide range of leads and clean tones. Or if you tend toward more progressive heavy music, there's the Pegasus/Sentient combo too.

 

[Mincer]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

Welcome to the forum!

Do you use the neck pickup for clear clean tones? Then get either a Jazz or '59. They will pair better with your choice of bridge pickup.

 

[KyloTheBird]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

As Jeff_ has already mentioned, being more specific about what you're looking for (particularly the bands whose music you want to play) will help a lot. Basswood is already a bright tonewood, so finding a pup for bright tones shouldn't be impossible

Some of those bands would be Alice In Chains, Pantera, Symphony X, Stone Temple Pilots. I really like the heavy tone they have in their songs.

 

[KyloTheBird]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

I just looked it up and it sounds very close to what I want! Have you ever done it? Is it expensive?

 

[Adieu]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

That's entirely subjective.

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Hence the YMMV

Still, I firmly believe anyone and everyone who makes an honest effort can, even on a sub-$1k rig budget, get a rig that can make ANY riff off any Pantera record sound superior to the original

Darrell just wasn't too particular about gear selection

PS i dont actually dislike the pickup combination or either by itself, I've just heard other people get much better sounds from it than Pantera ever achieved

 

[KyloTheBird]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

Thank you for your questions, I really appreciate them.

Right now, I have a Marshall Combo amp, the DSL40CR.

I have an LP styled guitar. This one: https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=115&cp_id=11501&cs_id=1150101&p_id=610366
(Don't let the price fool you, this is actually a really great guitar. Except for the pickups, which is why I'm here lol)

As for the type of music I want to play, we switch a bit. One song I play cleanly while another song it's very Alt-metal-esque. I know this looks like shameless promoting , but I just think it would be better to have you listen to what I'm talking about. The guitar in the beginning of the song is me:
https://youtu.be/y81-GAiiNhY

I want to accentuate that tone a little more.

As for how I want my "metal" tone to sound like, something closer to Alice In Chains "Man In The Box."

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

I wouldnt go with either of the pickups that you are looking at. The Dimebucker is cool but it wouldnt be my first pick for a STP or AIC tone. I think you would be much happier with a SH5 for the bridge and a SH2 for the neck.

These pickups will do the heavy less metalish tones you are after but will still do metal if you want the too. The dimebucker is just more finicky.

 

[Demanic]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

Dimebag, from what I recall, wanted the clearest pickup that he could find, which was the original Bill Lawrence XL500, so he could get that dry, nasty, heavy sound. As I recall, he paired it with a 59b in the neck position.
Now, admittedly, it's not a warm creamy overdriven or even distorted sound. But I think that he intentionally went for the opposite of that, so that he could inflict sonic pain, which was very much what Pantera was all about.
You were supposed to enjoy it as much as you did a dentist visit when you heard the drill start up before you felt the Novocaine kick in.

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[KyloTheBird]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

Dimebag, from what I recall, wanted the clearest pickup that he could find, which was the original Bill Lawrence XL500, so he could get that dry, nasty, heavy sound. As I recall, he paired it with a 59b in the neck position.
Now, admittedly, it's not a warm creamy overdriven or even distorted sound. But I think that he intentionally went for the opposite of that, so that he could inflict sonic pain, which was very much what Pantera was all about.
You were supposed to enjoy it as much as you did a dentist visit when you heard the drill start up before you felt the Novocaine kick in.

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And that's exactly why I love them.

 

[Demanic]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

+1

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[Joey Voltage]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

I honestly think he did it because those were the only two models offered in the stew Mac catalogs at the time, and they were relatively affordable . It’s also the very same reason Nuno uses that same combo.

 

[Adieu]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

I honestly think he did it because those were the only two models offered in the stew Mac catalogs at the time, and they were relatively affordable . It’s also the very same reason Nuno uses that same combo.

For real?

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

Dimebag, from what I recall, wanted the clearest pickup that he could find, which was the original Bill Lawrence XL500, so he could get that dry, nasty, heavy sound. As I recall, he paired it with a 59b in the neck position.
Now, admittedly, it's not a warm creamy overdriven or even distorted sound. But I think that he intentionally went for the opposite of that, so that he could inflict sonic pain, which was very much what Pantera was all about.
You were supposed to enjoy it as much as you did a dentist visit when you heard the drill start up before you felt the Novocaine kick in.

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I have never been a huge Pantera fan or hater (don't seek them out, don't change the station when they come on unless it's that long slow thing) but recently I heard a live recording on the radio and his tone was much warmer and [in my ears] better. I was surprised.

 

[Demanic]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

Yes, of course, warm.
That's the Grail, isn't it?.

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[Dave Locher]

Re: From chunky rhythms to bright clean tones

I can't tell if you are being serious or sarcastic?
All I am saying is that the one live recording I have heard sounded fuller, warmer, and less ice picky than the few studio songs I am familiar with, which made me think the studio recording and mix might have emphasized the aspects of his tone that some don't care for?
OTOH, I think Hell Bent for Leather is full of great rock guitar sounds so I am probably not Pantera's target demographic...