Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

[Garfish]

Hi. This is my first post here. I finally managed to score back my old explorer after I've been hunting it down for years.
As I don't dig the 500t (or the majority of gibson pu's) I want something else in it. However, I after I started researching I got more and more confused and in doubt. My original plan was to throw in a set of black winters, however they may become too "hot" and bright as I run a modded jcm2000 dsl through a 4x12 orange V30 loaded cab. I boost thhe amp with a tube screamer.
What I've been suggested so far:
Sh-5
Sh-6
black winters
Nazgûl
Pegasus
Alternative 8
Dimarzio Super Distortion
Dimarzio Dominion
BKP C-pig
BKP C-bomb
BKP Miracle Man

As you can see, I got quite a few in my scope. I plan to run a pearly gates in the neck.
I generally do not like the super scooped mids sounds. I prefer it to be organic, have clarity and be dynamic. Versitility is not necessarily a big need. Im just fearing that it either will be too bright with the marshall or too dark and muddy.
I would greatly appreciate any input from you guys. Please let me know if want more info about my rig.

 

[EDX]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

well, it's better to have more high end on tap than needed than be struggling to brighten a muddy mushy tone, and that is just mor true for thrash and death metal, also hot pickups, hot amp and boost ain't a bad combination, it means you will have to run your amp and booster (a tube screamer in this case) with lower gain to achieve the same result, which is a very good thing as doing so gives you a better signal to noise ratio

now we gotta take the guitar on count too, how is the explorer acoustically, being it is a bigger mahogany chunk than a flying v and a lp it will be naturally darker sounding with more low mids on there, so i would suggest something with more high mids content and a quite tight low end, this rules out the sh-5 (nice amount of low mids), Dimarzio Super D (not enough high end and a full low end), BKP C-Warpig (again to much low end content and lots of low mids)

that said, a very solid choice will be the Duncan Distortion SH-6, a very classic used on both thrash and death, the black winters are a nice option too if you want a more modern and controlled tone..... but outside of the shred virtuossos who wants that on a thrash/death setting? lol
the nazgul and pegasus i don't know so let's keep going, the alternative 8 is a great pickup for aggressivity without losing the warmth some guys feel they lose with ceramic pickups, also it is so bold

the dimarzio dominion is a good option for death metal, but with a marshall and a tube screamer it might be a bit too middy and nasal, but mark uses it with mesa's which are inherently middier but also have a whole different thing going on the low end and high end voicings, well aso it ain't like a nasal tone is a bad thing in thrash and death metal, it depends on the overall mix

i haven't read bad things on the miracle man, only that some guys deem it scooped, but then again with your rig you might not have problem of lacking mids

also 2 pickups i would suggest are the dimarzio x2n and the duncan dimebucker, the x2n is really dependant on the guitar's natural sound as it's is somewhat flat eq'ed, so you will really need to take your time messing with the amp eq and tone knob on the screamer, and when i say messing with the knobs i mean you turn them and set just by your ears, don't even look at the numbers while you set it

whereas the dimebucker likes big chunky guitars, specially big chunks of mahogany (like a explorer) and plays super nicely with pearly gates (it has some of the fuzzy searing top texture that the pearly gates has), plus it ain't as screetchy and midless as everyone says, as the pickup has flat and clean mids with it's huge spongy tight bottom and brow rising high end content, also the tone you get depends some on what you blast it through, if you run it on a tube screamer or boss sd-1 overdrive it gets you a very distinctive 80's thrash/ death style death metal tone

a better guiding and narrowing down of the pickup selection could be done if you give info on how your explorer sounds unplugged (dark, middy bright, complex?) and what thrash and death metal tones you like as a starting point

 

[Demanic]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

I'll throw Lace Deathbuckers into the list and second the Distortion, Dimebucker and X2N.
Maybe even an Invader set.

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[probo_squad_henry]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

Another vote for the distortion. I've got the mayhem set (distortion bridge and neck) in my epiphone explorer and they scream

 

[Garfish]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

Thanks a lot for the feedback!
I'd say my explorer is naturally low mids heavy, though it is very resonant and clear - overall the guitar has great sonic attritbutes in all the ranges. As of now I think the SH-6 is what I'm gonna tryout first. Im planning to borrowing a friends V with a Sh-6 in the bridge.


I haven't really checked out the lace pickups. I know the mastodon dudes uses them as well as Matt Pike, who I am a huge fan of as well as Wino. It opens up a whole new world eventhough they are kinda pricy like BKP

 

[EDX]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

Hmm if i remember right the deathbucker is just as expensive as the dimebucker, alternative 8 and parallel axis distortion, so not something really pricy

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[Garfish]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

Hmm if i remember right the deathbucker is just as expensive as the dimebucker, alternative 8 and parallel axis distortion, so not something really pricy

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I think it depends where you are in the world. Here in EU Lace are quite expensive compared to say Dimarzio and SD.

 

[TNTales]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

I have the Black Winters and they are nice and tight even in dropped tunings. But they are in an alder body Yamaha RG with a blocked trem.

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[Progbusters]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

i have and like the Dimarzio D Activators in my all mahogany V-style. The guitar is middy and bright. These pickups have a modern and slightly compressed tone with clarity on this guitar. Its probably similar to the Distortions. The SH-5 also sounded good on this V, a little deeper with better classic and clean sounds.

 

[EDX]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

The d activators are also death / thrash certified, just ask dave davidson from revocation, man he sounds insane!

Again we could narrow down the list or widen it up if you want

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[Garfish]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

Thanks for all the comments guys. I should have mentioned I play in Eb and D.

I have tried to limit down to:
SD Distortion
Dimebucker,
Dimarzio D Activators
Dimarzio x2n.

When people are talking about the SD distortion being a love/hate pickup. What does that mean? What makes it so "controversial" ?

 

[TNTales]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

I have a couple of friends who like d-activators. Did you check out the dimarzio titan?

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[Garfish]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

Isn't the titan based on the D-activator but with less highs and more warmth?

 

[TNTales]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

I'm not that up on them. All I know is that it was an artist model for one of the guys in Polyphia

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[Aceman]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

While I usually would suggest low gain pups - based on JCM2000 having more than enough gain. I'd never need to boost that with a screamer….

Just because the gain is there, doesn't mean you need to use it. You are obviously looking for some ultra aggressive tones.

I would have said Distortion set and rock on. But you don't like the 500t. In that case, I'd also say Black Winter is probably out. Likely the dime bucker as well….

 

[InbredJunk]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

I recently installed the emg 57/66 set in my explorer. The explorer is a dark sounding guitar. Lots of low mids. The emgs balance it out very well. They aren't overly hot sounding, and mix in a nice vintage flavor. I've run a dimebucker in it for years, and the only complaint I have with that pickup is the high end while playing up the neck. It is a perfect rythym pickup. Most everything else geared towards metal sounded very bassy in this guitar. That includes the nazgul, pegasus, jb, distortion, blackouts were ok, all of the customs, full shred, and a few others. I have to say that these emgs, and the dimarzio paf 36th anniversary pups have been the best so far. Suprisingly, pafs do metal very well. Blew me away how good the dimarzios were.

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[Garfish]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

While I usually would suggest low gain pups - based on JCM2000 having more than enough gain. I'd never need to boost that with a screamer….

Just because the gain is there, doesn't mean you need to use it. You are obviously looking for some ultra aggressive tones.

I would have said Distortion set and rock on. But you don't like the 500t. In that case, I'd also say Black Winter is probably out. Likely the dime bucker as well….

I should probably specify that I use the green channel on crunch and boost it with a tiny bit extra, just to drive it a bit more. I would not say my tone is extreme. I would probably describe it as similar to Kill 'em All , just a bit fatter and less highs

 

[Garfish]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

I recently installed the emg 57/66 set in my explorer. The explorer is a dark sounding guitar. Lots of low mids. The emgs balance it out very well. They aren't overly hot sounding, and mix in a nice vintage flavor. I've run a dimebucker in it for years, and the only complaint I have with that pickup is the high end while playing up the neck. It is a perfect rythym pickup. Most everything else geared towards metal sounded very bassy in this guitar. That includes the nazgul, pegasus, jb, distortion, blackouts were ok, all of the customs, full shred, and a few others. I have to say that these emgs, and the dimarzio paf 36th anniversary pups have been the best so far. Suprisingly, pafs do metal very well. Blew me away how good the dimarzios were.

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I do agree, those pickup sound good. I've also looked at the Hetset. It just seem like a hassle to change all the electronics etc.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

I love the X2N in my Ibanez V (maple neck through though). Instant 90's Megadeth like crunch through my Marshall JMP. Very balanced eq wise, so it's easy to dial in sounds on the amp.
The D-Activators are well suited too. Clearer and more dynamic than the X2N, but not as rude and in your face.

As for Duncans, I like the Screamin' Demon as it retains plenty of bass when boosting with my 808 and really comes alive when fed some gain.
The Full Shred is great too, as it's super tight, articulate and has a cool lead tone too.

Between these, the Screamin' Demon is easily the most versatile and the X2N the most brutal. The Full Shred and D-Activators are the tightest and most articulate, with the Full Shred sounding more, ahem, organic.

 

[EDX]

Re: Gibson Explorer - pickups for thrash and death

well not that everyone talks about what they have in their v's, this is the dimebucker in my washburn V, mahogany body, maple cap (like 5mm) and maple neck with rosewood board, and even then it is a very dark and chunky sounding guitar, plus it resonates a lot (even with how heavy it is, against a 58 replica epiphone explorer the explorer seemed light by comparison)

the dimebucker really imposes character, but the overall sound is determined by the gain sources, mxr berzerker overdrive into a peavey envoy modern channel, mids on 4, bass and treble cranked and it screams 80's with the dimebucker character mixed in