giovanni/iron gear/guitarheads pickups

S

satch24

New member
hi,

i have an new explorer (but not a gibson/epiphone) but i would like to change the bridge pickup. it is a weak chinese one and i would like some more steroids one.

i would like to sound like load/reload's metallica tunes but without putting a EMG or active pickups ( i know metallica use only active EMG)

So, i would like a metal pickup but not to much metal.no ceramic because it is to straight and cold sound.
so i think an alnico V is a good choice.

now the brands:

i think about
- giovanni GCH-2
- iron gear dirty torque
- guitarheads alnico supreme.

which one would be the best value?
 
Re: giovanni/iron gear/guitarheads pickups

None.

Get a second-hand Duncan p'up. You can thank me later! ;)

HTH,
 
Re: giovanni/iron gear/guitarheads pickups

You want a specific Metallica tone but immediately eliminate the elements that make that tone... So you don't want that tone?

And you can't base a pickup's tone solely on the magnet type. Your opinion of ceramic magnets is based on cheap OEM pickups that use them.

I have a set of DiMarzio D-Activators in one of my guitars. In my opinion they should work well for what you want.

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
 
Re: giovanni/iron gear/guitarheads pickups

GilmourD said:
You want a specific Metallica tone but immediately eliminate the elements that make that tone... So you don't want that tone?

And you can't base a pickup's tone solely on the magnet type. Your opinion of ceramic magnets is based on cheap OEM pickups that use them.

I have a set of DiMarzio D-Activators in one of my guitars. In my opinion they should work well for what you want.

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

i don't think the metallica tone comes from especially from EMG my friend. i bet they can play on SD, dimarzio or handwound pickups as long as they have mesa or diezel.
then, i don't judge ceramic on cheap ones or else SD SH-5 is cheap for you?

I have already explorer with EMG i just wanted to try something différent to play power rock, heavy metal.

well maybe i could get a second hand dimarzio or SD but i just wanted to have some friendly reviews about these cheap brands not to have some harsh posts or irony.


thank you you were very friendly.
 
Re: giovanni/iron gear/guitarheads pickups

Since I'm guessing Metal is your primary focus I'd suggest a Duncan Custom or Distortion.

If you really, absolutely must have an Alnico flavor than I suggest a Alternative 8.

But like GimourD said a magnet is only one part of a pickup and not all Pups are made equal so don't count out Ceramic.

Also I'm not familiar with those pickups you listed so I can't speak for nor against them.
 
Re: giovanni/iron gear/guitarheads pickups

GilmourD said:
You want a specific Metallica tone but immediately eliminate the elements that make that tone... So you don't want that tone?

And you can't base a pickup's tone solely on the magnet type. Your opinion of ceramic magnets is based on cheap OEM pickups that use them.

I have a set of DiMarzio D-Activators in one of my guitars. In my opinion they should work well for what you want.

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

+1 or, for earlier Metallica a Duncan Distortion will also work well.
 
Re: giovanni/iron gear/guitarheads pickups

dominus said:
That's all in the processing, not the gear.
Click to expand...

A lot of that era's tone is the bump in the midrange which made Papa Het's tone sound a bit mushy to my ear to be honest. There was a good deal more scoop in earlier material, even with the Marshalls they used on Kill 'Em All.

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
 
Re: giovanni/iron gear/guitarheads pickups

satch24 said:
i don't think the metallica tone comes from especially from EMG my friend. i bet they can play on SD, dimarzio or handwound pickups as long as they have mesa or diezel.
then, i don't judge ceramic on cheap ones or else SD SH-5 is cheap for you?

I have already explorer with EMG i just wanted to try something différent to play power rock, heavy metal.

well maybe i could get a second hand dimarzio or SD but i just wanted to have some friendly reviews about these cheap brands not to have some harsh posts or irony.


thank you you were very friendly.
Click to expand...

Well I was just pointing out that you want a very specific tone but are eliminating the actual gear used.

Honestly, I'm currently in the process of building an Explorer myself. It may very likely get a Custom or a Custom/'59 hybrid in it, but I play a wide range of stuff, so I'm not trying to pinpoint a very particular Metallica tone with it.

I honestly wouldn't even use the JH set from EMG for that tone as those have more mids and softer highs. An 81 bridge and 60 neck for Het.

For passives I repeat my suggestion of DiMarzio D-Activators. Duncan Distortion bridge and Jazz neck would work, too. Het also apparently used Invaders at one point, too, but early on.

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
 
Re: giovanni/iron gear/guitarheads pickups

The tone on Load sounded more of a hard rock than straight up metal not that much dirt in the signal.
 
Re: giovanni/iron gear/guitarheads pickups

GilmourD said:
Het also apparently used Invaders at one point, too, but early on.

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Click to expand...

I've seen pictures of that, but there were 2 rows of filister screws from what I could make out of it. Maybe a custom order or an earlier version? Perhaps a Dirty Finger even?
Anyway, when I think Metallica (no matter what era), I really think ceramic without question. But if the OP is hell bent on alnico, I would recommend a Screamin' Demon bridge and Jazz neck (if the amp in question is gainy enough that is).
 
Re: giovanni/iron gear/guitarheads pickups

just slap to that explorer a pearly gates set, crank the volume and put 2 boosters in front of the amp, say thanks
 
Re: giovanni/iron gear/guitarheads pickups

pearlys actually hads some scoop on the mids, a scream on the highs (even being A2 they had more highs than some ceramics and a lot of metal oriented pickups, inclusive more than some ice pick ear piercing ones) and the bass is firm enogh, if you don't play the tight they will not forgive your technique if they don't drive enough, raise them, if not enough crank gain and volume, still not enogh? do you had an overdrive?, put ti in the front of the amp, crank the volume, crank highs, if your ears doesn't bleed you need turn the OD gain slowly till they do
 
Re: giovanni/iron gear/guitarheads pickups

pearly dude, dont let the name confuse you, pearly bridge has done some "high output" buckers feel shame, on the neck slot pearly bridge matches very well a dirty fingers on the bridge if you can get custom floor shop from your dealer and whant to know how an angry pearly sounds ask for a pearly set with A8 mags instead of A2 or just get crazy and ask for side ceramic spacers ala invader along with the A8.....
 
Re: giovanni/iron gear/guitarheads pickups

Load and Reload have some of my favorite Metallica tones because of the more hard rock vibe to the tone. I personally don't hear very much of the EMG vibe in either of these albums, and I wouldn't be surprised if they recorded the majority of them with a few sets of passives. Definitely a warmer, more mid-rangey tone, which I dig a lot.

Going with others' advice, I'd definitely look to score some Duncans second hand. I'd say a Custom in the bridge is a good bet. Try it for awhile and see if you can dig the ceramic. If you want a more alnico flavor, you can order an alnico 8 magnet for less than 5 dollars from Addiction-FX on eBay. This will bump up the mid-range and soften the highs a bit, as well as giving the pickup a bit more give in the lows. A 59 or a Jazz would both work well in tandem with the Custom, and if you want something a bit different down the road, an A4 mag will sound great in either of them.

Keep in mind though, if you buy the pickups new, swapping the magnet out will void the warranty. This isn't a problem if you get them used however.

Another thing to consider is that your amp is going to do the majority of the tone shaping here. If your amp can't give up the goods, it would be worth while to invest in a new one, or perhaps a few solid pedals.
 
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