Heavy pickups?

[ricventura]

Hey dudes, new to the forums, so hello everybody

Hey, I was looking for some new pickups to upgrade my current stock ones. Im in a metal band, so I need something that suits very heavy/black metal. Basicly I need a standard Humbucker with very high output, 'chunky' palm mutes and good for medium/low tunings (mostly Eb). But I dont want just a hardout trebely 'fizzer', I need more or less equal bass, mids and treble. I was thinking about either an EMG 81, a Dimarzio X2N, or a Seymour Duncan Livewire Metal Humbucker, but I havent had any experience with any. And the LW-HMET seems very rare, I cant find it in many places. Also a complimenting neck humbucker pickup for lighter stuff would be great. Any suggestions?

Cheers

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Heavy pickups?

I'd go for an 85 in the bridge. I play melodic death/black metal almost exclusively and I haven't found a better 6 string pickup for it.

But what does the Ventura in your username designate?

 

[ricventura]

Re: Heavy pickups?

My second name

85? Everyone i know uses an 85 in neck and 81 in bridge.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Heavy pickups?

Ah ok. I thought you might live in Ventura or something, would've been a small world.

The general thing to do is 81/85, but the 85 in the bridge is thicker, warmer, ballsier, and more real sounding. James Murphy (Death/Testament/Obituary), Soilwork, Killswitch Engage, one guy from Shadows Fall, the entire Andy Sneap forum, and The Absence all run the 85 in the bridge.

The song Transmission on http://www.myspace.com/backmask was all done with an 85 into a 5150, as well.

 

[frehley]

Re: Heavy pickups?

If treble is your deal, the EMG81, but DSS3 is right about the 85. I have one
in a Alder bodied Carvin BoltPlus because the 81 was way too bright on that one and the 85 kills. I prefer the 81 overall but the 85 is no slouch. Try a
EMG60 in the neck too.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Heavy pickups?

Also, listening your guitar/amp and other equipment would help .

 

[ricventura]

Re: Heavy pickups?

Oh, sure, stupid me haha.

I have a Kramer Imperial Explorer with stopbar, rosewood fingerboard and alder body. My amp is a Line 6 Spider 2 30 watt, although upgrading to a Line 6 HD75 and cab within the next year, hopefully :S

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Heavy pickups?

While I'd advise against that head, the 85 would be perfect for you, I'd say.

 

[taphappy]

Re: Heavy pickups?

X2N if you want a balanced tone.

 

[ricventura]

Re: Heavy pickups?

Have you heard anything about the head? Its the most versatile head ive seen so far, and from what ive heard the tones are killer.

Oh, and while I was skimming through some active pickups, I realised I didnt know something. How long would a 9v battery last in an EMG85? And, I saw that the Seymour Duncan Livewire Metal humbuckers are 18v. What would the battery life be in those aswell?

 

[taphappy]

Re: Heavy pickups?

Unless your on a tight budget DONT get the line 6. Especially if your going the active route, supposedly actives and solid states dont mix well(Ive never tried EMGs through a quality solid state so I cant say for sure).

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Heavy pickups?

No clue on Duncan battery life, but I've hated every livewire I've tried. EMG's battery live is 3000 hours plugged in.

 

[frehley]

Re: Heavy pickups?

I say 85 for your guitar since it's an Alder body. That head is ok but it's no
5150. If you're on a budget, try the Carvin V3 head. Mick Thompson from
Slipknot has one and loves it. Leaps and bounds better than that Line6 head.
The V3 is on my list. They go for $899.99.
Emg's can be run on 18volts like the LiveWires but are MUCH better sounding.
I did this mod to all my EMG equipped guitars and it made them more responsive, basically less compressed. I recommend it highly.

 

[ricventura]

Re: Heavy pickups?

Hey Taphappy have you ever used a Dimarzio X2N? Whats it like compared to an active (EMG85, say)?

 

[taphappy]

Re: Heavy pickups?

Ive never used the pups on the same guitar so I cant give you a good evaluation. The X2N has very balanced eq you can check it out at dimarzios website.

In case you didnt know, Chuck from Death used the X2N

 

[ricventura]

Re: Heavy pickups?

But did it sound similar, even though of diff guitars, like similar big palm mutes and 'fat' kinda sound? Because if its at all similar to the EMG that will probably be my solution, as I have some good clean passive pickups for bridge, getting the active would mean having to get another active for bridge. Also its cheaper

 

[theodie]

Re: Heavy pickups?

Balanced EQ, sounds like the Dimarzio X2N!

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Heavy pickups?

Try the EMG 60 !!!Is the best EMG IMO!!!

 

[Danglin' Fury]

Re: Heavy pickups?

I have a Duncan Distortion in the bridge of my Dean ML and it is crunchy as hell! Lots of lows and low-mids without too much treble and absolutely NO MUD! I also have an 81/85 EMG set in my LTD F-100 FM and it is equally awesome. For some reason though, my Duncan seems to be louder than m EMG's. I'm an electronics tech so I know I have them wired right. Anyway, If you want to stay passive, I'd recommend the distortion. Therottingsun on this forum plays in Goatwhore and that is about as black/doom metal as ypu can get and he recommends the Duncan custom. I think it has even less treble than the Distortion. My 2 cents.

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: Heavy pickups?

...I need more or less equal bass, mids and treble.

Welcome! I suggest you look no further than the Parallel Axis Distortion.

The Seymour Duncan tone chart rates it: bass 5, mid 6, and treble 7. This eq creates penetrating mids that keep notes thick. I don't play black/death metal, but I feel for those single note line-riffs you guys do, would undoubtedly benefit from this type of power. It also, has a decent amount of output and greater range of sound due to the 2 extra poles per string.

Keep it rockin'!