Help beginner choose pickups

B

bm229

New member
Firstly i will apologise for my question as im sure the answer is in this forum somewhere but I’ve searched and had no luck and i dont really want to read through 1500 pages of threads.
Anyway, I have a Jackson DK1 Dinky(alder body) with the set of EMG 81/85 pickups. I like it as a rock/heavy metal setup but im having trouble getting cleaner sounds.
I am wanting to play a bit of different music such as SRV, Pink Floyd, Hendrix, Gary Moore, Vai, Satriani and the EMG's are not really suitable for this.
I was thinking of buying another guitar such as a strat, but with money being a bit tight, i was wondering, is there is a set of Seymour duncans that i can replace the EMG's with to give me a pretty flexible sound from blues to heavy metal?
The heavier stuff im wanting to play is mainly 80's type rock/heavy metal such as AC/DC,Ozzy,Maiden,Metallica and Pantera.
I am playing through a Blackstar HT-5R combo. I dont have any pedals, just a PODXT.
So is this possible, or do i need to keep saving for another guitar?
Should I be looking at JB/Jazz combo?

Cheers
 
Re: Help beginner choose pickups

I'd say a JB/Jazz combo would put you close to where you want to be in that setup. It's a very versatile set.
 
Re: Help beginner choose pickups

Nice guitar. Basically a bolt-on version of the SL2H Soloist.

2803010859_frt_wlg_001.jpg


That's a lot of ground for one guitar to cover, and there should be plenty of suggestions from the forum to help.

Personally, I'd go with a JB in the bridge and a P-Rails with a Triple Shot mounting ring in the neck.
 
Re: Help beginner choose pickups

thanks for the replies

so if i was to go with the jb/jazz combo then this is the SH4 and SH2 set?
also, is this a straight swap for the emg's?

and if i went with the p-rails jb combo then i would need to replace my 3 way toggle switch with a push pull toggle?
 
Re: Help beginner choose pickups

TB4 and SH2n. As you have a trem, you want a TremBucker in the bridge. (neck takes standard spacing either way).

No, you keep the 3-way switch, Triple Shot pickup ring/switch is recommended to give all 4 sounds [high output humbucker (series), PAFish (parallel), and the split tones P-90 or rail single coil] from the P-Rails.

You could do a Triple Shot on the bridge, but a lot of people prefer quick access to full on bridge humbucker for leads/heavy rhythm. You could also do a push/pull knob set to split the bridge humbucker.

There's even more complicated options, like a pair of Triple Shots, plus a blower switch. [Switches to just the bridge humbucker in series mode, ignoring other settings. Allows setting up a teleish split bridge + split neck tone, and quickly switching to distorted leads, for example.]
 
Re: Help beginner choose pickups

Welcome to the forum!
whichever pups you get, you will need to replace all the pots and caps too, cos EMGs are low impedance and use different values.
You will need 2 x 500 k pots and a .022uf capacitor (preferably sprague orange drop)

I reckon a jb trembucker in the bridge will be great and either a jazz or a 59 in the neck. Both combinations are tried and tested by thousands of axe grinders for versatile and killer tones.
Jbz and jazzes come with 4 conductor wiring, so thats probably the best bet cos they are easily splittable for single coil sounds. Maybe when you put in the new pots, get them in push/pull config so you can split the pickups that way. the tone pot to split the jb and the vol pot to split the jazz. That way you can just use a regular 3 way switch for pus selection and the knobs for splitting.
so youll get:
Neck hum
Neck and bridge hum
bridge hum
bridge split
bridge split and neck hum
bridge and neck split
neck split and bridge hum
neck split.
thats a lot of sounds!
you can get all the pots (push pull and otherwise) and sprague caps at guitarfetish.com

Youll love the difference in using real passive pups instead of EMGs! have fun!
 
Last edited:
Re: Help beginner choose pickups

How much free space do you have in the control cavity? Consider sticking with the EMG-81/-85 set and adding the EMG-EXG tone control. Alternatively, fit an EMG-HAX in the neck position and get the EMG-SPC midrange booster.
 
Re: Help beginner choose pickups

Have you tried switch around the pup so 85 in the bridge and 81 in the neck?
That is usually the first tip thrown here before change entire system. Oh and 18 volt mod too if you have space in your electronic cavity.
Edit: I'm a satan disciple now. :evil:
 
Last edited:
Re: Help beginner choose pickups

Thanks again for the replies.

Im liking the sound of the JB/jazz combo as this seems to come up a bit in threads for people wanting versatile tones. The Triple shot sounds interesting as well.

Gibson175...i was having a look at the setup you suggested and found a diagram on the website. Are you sure i need the .022 capacitor as the diagram says i need the .047?

View attachment 26555
 
Re: Help beginner choose pickups

interesting.
there are no rules.
but caps work like this....the smaller value ones (eg .022 uf) will trim off the highs at a higher point than a larger value one.
Usually, people use .047 with singles and with hums (that naturally have less highs) they use .022.
But its all preference. Lots of ppl use 250k pots for jbs too, cos it darkens the sound a little compared to 500k pots.
So i guess standard is 500k and .022 for hums
and 250k and .047 for singles.
After that, its just preference and seasoning to taste.
The parts only cost a few bucks, and in a guitar like yours they are easy enough to try both. Keep the setup you like the best!
Definitely at least try the .022 cap first and if you want to trim off more highs with your tone pot, then uprate it to .047. Both will work.
 
Last edited:
Re: Help beginner choose pickups

The JB/Jazz is a classic combo, I guess. For me I would prefer a SuperD/PAF combo for those sounds.

You could put the 85 in the bridge and get an 89, which would give you single sounds in the neck too.
 
Re: Help beginner choose pickups

Welcome! The JB/Jazz set is classic, esp for 80s metal tones.. I have an old Kramer with that set and a charvel pro mod that I pulled the Dimarzios out of and put in a JB/Jazz set and love it!
 
Re: Help beginner choose pickups

Pickups and pots ordered last night. Will hopefully see them by the end of the week.

I ended up going with the JB/Jazz set.

Cant wait to hear the difference.

Thanks to everybody for their help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
Help With Wiring Conversion
Replies
6
Views
404
Artie
Artie
T
Help me understand EMG pickups
2
Replies
27
Views
1K
Rex_Rocker
Rex_Rocker
SirJackdeFuzz II
If you want to your amp to sound tighter, you use a TS9 . . . right ?
Replies
15
Views
444
Bill Dennis
B
S
Amp kick back legs
Replies
17
Views
413
Sam SG
S
S
Pickup angle vs 59n
2
Replies
24
Views
475
Sam SG
S
Back
Top