Hard rock pickup for ash guitar?

[Hot Octopus]

Late yesterday I bought a Sterling James Valentine guitar on a whim. It played very well in my hands- I played the EBMM BFR model right after it too- the sterling very much held its own and cost a fraction of the price. Anyhow... Swamp ash body, roasted maple neck and fingerboard. In my 20+ years of playing its my first swamp ash guitar and I find it to be unique tone wood.

I play 80’s hard rock- the Dokken/ Ratt/ Priest kind of thing and want a bridge pickup for the guitar. Something high output with balls (nice low mids) to match the swamp ash body. Its also got to sound great in split coil mode. Not looking for a jb/ distortion/ demon/ full shred. What pickup pairs well with ash?

 

[EmiAba]

Re: Hard rock pickup for ash guitar?

Swamp ash has brighter and more pronounced tone than other tone woods. It produces chiming highs, clear midrange and strong low. My KM6 has swamp ash body, maple neck and ebony fingerboard and comes with the black winter set in it. Great sounding guitar so far. But even if the black winters are very versatile, in spite of the fact they are ceramics and hot, I want to suggest the perpetual burn. I think it is a good blend with that guitar

 

[Shooweri]

Re: Hard rock pickup for ash guitar?

Perpetual Burn is a great option for brighter instrument, I love it on my PGM301. It's very clear sounding and has higher output pickup feel to it. However, it's a bit neutral sounding and if you want more low mids in same output category try Pegasus, which has less high end and is a bit more touch sensitive.

 

[BlueSnMettle]

Re: Hard rock pickup for ash guitar?

Dimarzio AT-1. This pup is definitely rich in low mids.
It's like a JB if you shifted that high mid spike to low mids,
rounded the highs and tightened the lows. My favorite
pup at the moment. Check into it.

 

[CK71]

Re: Hard rock pickup for ash guitar?

A couple of years ago I had a swamp ash guitar with an sh-14 that I really liked. It had a lot of presence and sounded really good with gain. I think it would work well for the music you like.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Hard rock pickup for ash guitar?

I use the Custom Custom, or the 59/Custom Hybrid in ash. The CC has more low mids, while the Hybrid is more open. Both sound great, but are EQ'd differently. The CC takes up more 'sonic space' in the mix.

 

[Francois]

Re: Hard rock pickup for ash guitar?

I have a northern Ash guitar with a maple neckthrough. It sounds quite good with its stock Super Distortion pickups.
They can work for the vintage hard rock you mentioned and their clean split sound is lovely.

 

[daenius]

Re: Hard rock pickup for ash guitar?

Dimarzio Tone Zone would be excellent here

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Hard rock pickup for ash guitar?

Dimarzio Tone Zone would be excellent here

+1


The Tone Zone is a great pickup. Singing, vocal quality to it for leads that never sounds harsh or strident. It also splits really well.

 

[PDC]

Re: Hard rock pickup for ash guitar?

A couple of years ago I had a swamp ash guitar with an sh-14 that I really liked. It had a lot of presence and sounded really good with gain. I think it would work well for the music you like.

I just posted my review of the SH-14 in a Hard Ash body. I’m really digging it. Ive got a Swamp Ash Guitar too, and I find Swamp Ash to be considerably ‘softer’ and ‘warmer’ than traditional Northern Hard Ash. I’ve got a Jalen Bee (A-8 mag, 9 ish resistance) in my Swamp Ash guitar and it sounds incredible.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Hard rock pickup for ash guitar?

Late yesterday I bought a Sterling James Valentine guitar on a whim. It played very well in my hands- I played the EBMM BFR model right after it too- the sterling very much held its own and cost a fraction of the price. Anyhow... Swamp ash body, roasted maple neck and fingerboard. In my 20+ years of playing its my first swamp ash guitar and I find it to be unique tone wood.

I play 80’s hard rock- the Dokken/ Ratt/ Priest kind of thing and want a bridge pickup for the guitar. Something high output with balls (nice low mids) to match the swamp ash body. Its also got to sound great in split coil mode. Not looking for a jb/ distortion/ demon/ full shred. What pickup pairs well with ash?

I personally LOVE the Alt 8 in ash. had 2 in Swamp Ash Washburn USA'a and the tones killed.

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: Hard rock pickup for ash guitar?

Ash is sort of bright and for me Custom Custom bridge always worked like a charm in brighter guitars.

I've seen the Tone Zone recommended above. Great call, too.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Hard rock pickup for ash guitar?

Ash is sort of bright and for me Custom Custom bridge always worked like a charm in brighter guitars.

I've seen the Tone Zone recommended above. Great call, too.

Hard ash is very bright and had a quick bordering on harsh attack but true swamp ash is warmer softer and rounder in tone the particular piece of ash can make a huge difference. If the guitar is naturally hard and bright sounding I would recommend the Dimarzio Gravity Storm if it has a softer and rounder attack and tone recommend the Alt 8.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Hard rock pickup for ash guitar?

I have an ash Ibanez and it has a Tone Zone which is a bassier pick up and that seems to balance out the brighter ash well. Anything with a good amount bass should help balance out the highs, if that is what you are looking for.

 

[Hot Octopus]

Re: Hard rock pickup for ash guitar?

Lately, I’ve been avoiding Dimarzio stuff. There’s this muffled sound on all their pickups and I can’t quite un-hear it. That said, I can look i to the TZ. How’s the Evo and d-activator in ash?

As for duncans, I’d go with a custom custom, but already have the similar evh franky pickup in another guitar. How would the regular custom sound? I’m also thinking atl 8. Might be fun.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Hard rock pickup for ash guitar?

The regular Custom has the opposite EQ of a CC. It has the basic EQ of a PAF, but is more powerful. The Alternative 8 is more balanced, but has more of everything. The Custom (or anything from the Custom series) might be a good choice, just because it is so easy to change with magnet swapping.

 

[hioctane]

Re: Hard rock pickup for ash guitar?

I have three recommendations for an ash guitar:

1. Duncan Alternative 8: Like several others in this thread, I think it would be a good choice. Balanced EQ and a strong tone, but not harsh. It wouldn't take anything away, but wouldn't make any particular frequency overbearing.
2. Duncan Custom: A bit of a "looser" pickup (in a good way) that should blend well with the tightness and fast attack of ash to yield a good compromise.
3. DiMarzio X2N: This pickup really seems to work well in guitars/with woods that are tight and have some highs - similar to the idea with the Custom above.