Good pickup combinations in a double guitar setting.

[Rowan]

Howdy howdy. I play guitar in a band and me and the rest of the guys (3) decided to grab our friend for 2nd guitarist. Now I was wondering what pickups sound good matched for two guitars. I have an older LTD m255 with a jb in it and I f'ing love the thing. He has an ibanez RG350dx with stock pickups. However, after a long day of jamming on my guitar he now wants a JB.........understandable right?
Now I'm wondering would a JB sound good with another JB or would it sound better matching an alcino 5 with a ceramic or something like a custom 5. I have no experience in this matter.

-Rowan

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Good pickup combinations in a double guitar setting.

Depends 100% on style, amp and amp settings and fingers

If you both have an otherwise identical tone, it will mush together...if your tones are distinctly different, then it´s almost impossible to screw it up by merely swapping a pickup

Ex. Slayer or Metallica...Both guitarists use EMG 81s, but their tones are distinctly different, so they are still both heard just fine

 

[Rowan]

Re: Good pickup combinations in a double guitar setting.

Ah yes how could I forget the amps and such? I usually play my axe thru a metal zone or a large crate amp. He runs his through a big marshall valvestate, with that distortion. Our guitar styles are similar with lots of finger movement amongst bass chords.

 

[diggamark]

Re: Good pickup combinations in a double guitar setting.

I play in a 2 guitar band...

lead guitarist plays fernandes lp copy with jb/ap2
I play (rhythm guitar) - pacifica with jb/jb jr OR cheapo ibanez with jb bridge...

the individual guitar tones still come through, and it blends well for chunky riffs..

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Good pickup combinations in a double guitar setting.

If your buddy loves the JB and wants a JB for his guitar there's really only thing to do: get one! :laugh2: It ain't that complicated... :laugh2: ...if it sounds good it IS good.

Lew

 

[Boleslaw Gers 666]

Re: Good pickup combinations in a double guitar setting.

Depends 100% on style, amp and amp settings and fingers

If you both have an otherwise identical tone, it will mush together...if your tones are distinctly different, then it´s almost impossible to screw it up by merely swapping a pickup

Ex. Slayer or Metallica...Both guitarists use EMG 81s, but their tones are distinctly different, so they are still both heard just fine

Exactly. In the 80's Adrian and Dave from Iron Maiden both used Super Distortions most of the time. But it didn't run together, because Dave is smooth and fluid, while Adrian is rhythmic with a slower, vibrato/bend style. It mostly depends on style I think. What kind of stuff will you be playing?

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Good pickup combinations in a double guitar setting.

Hmm... even though it shouldn't be a problem, I would advise you to have him get something else. I've been listening to a lot of old 70's two-guitar bands, and noticed that quite a few of them have one dude with a Les Paul and the other with a Strat, and it sounds fantastic!

If you're using a JB, maybe have him get a Custom, or Screamin Demon?

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: Good pickup combinations in a double guitar setting.

If you're using a JB, maybe have him get a Custom, or Screamin Demon?

Good idea +1

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: Good pickup combinations in a double guitar setting.

you'll be fine with both using JBs since you have two different amps and two different guitars...what's your M made of? alder? his ibanez should be basswood so that alone makes a tone change.

-Mike

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Good pickup combinations in a double guitar setting.

The other ninja I play with uses a semi hollowbody with gibson pups, a '57 classic in the bridge whereas I generally use a '59 neck and JB bridge in a solidbody. Real good contrast and variation in tone. It's cool when we trade off solos and there's a completely different timbre.

 

[ex-250]

Re: Good pickup combinations in a double guitar setting.

ninja? :laugh2:

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Good pickup combinations in a double guitar setting.

ninja? :laugh2:

yeah, he just joined the board as a matter of fact, guitartesta. Another ninja in disguise like I.

 

[Forbes]

Re: Good pickup combinations in a double guitar setting.

I use an Invader and bandmate uses a JB, we have always EQ'ed our amps very differently and prefered different sounds anyway, but these two sound great together.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Good pickup combinations in a double guitar setting.

No. Difference. Whatsoever.

Different amps, different guitars, different players, different parts of the same room. Even with identical guitars, you guys couldn't sound the same if you tried, so rest easy.