HELP!!! CHANGING MY ESP ECLIPSE II PICKUPS

MattiaS

New member
Hi Guys!

Long time since my last post.... After a lot of years with my faithfull Snow White ESP Eclipse II, I decided to change my old EMGs... And I decided to go with my favorite Pasive Pickups: Seymour Duncan.

I was pretty sure about my choice of Duncans, a SH-11 (Custom Custom) for the Bridge and a 59 for the Neck... but now I'm not so sure about my initial choice for the bridge and I'm wondering if I should use the usual SH-4 (JB) for the Bridge....

I play through a Mesa Boogie 3 Ch Dual Recto (the old version) plugged into a Laney 4x12 with Celestions V30... I used to play things like Metallica and Megadeth, but now I'm playing more Alter Bridge and Black Stone Cherry kind of stuff and going back to Hard Rock Styles as Guns And Roses.

So... What are your opinion guys???... Suggestions, advices, etc?

From now, thanks a lot!
 
Re: HELP!!! CHANGING MY ESP ECLIPSE II PICKUPS

Does the guitar have a carved maple top or is it all "mahogany". How many frets?
 
Re: HELP!!! CHANGING MY ESP ECLIPSE II PICKUPS

Yep, Carved Maple Top, Mahogany neck, Ebony Fretboard... 22 Jumbo Frets
 
Re: HELP!!! CHANGING MY ESP ECLIPSE II PICKUPS

If you're okay with changing magnets, any of the Customs will work, and you can fine tune it with a magnet swap. I do recommend going TB spaced though.
 
Re: HELP!!! CHANGING MY ESP ECLIPSE II PICKUPS

just go with the black winter and never look back.
 
Re: HELP!!! CHANGING MY ESP ECLIPSE II PICKUPS

For those styles I'd recommend a stock SH5 Custom over the JB. The Black Winter is also incredibly versatile and great sounding.
 
Re: HELP!!! CHANGING MY ESP ECLIPSE II PICKUPS

The SH5 is not my favorite pickup at all, thats why I never recommend that puppy. The black winter is so good for so many styles.

BUT... I'm a moron. I missed that part where you said you go for less gritty stuff (alter bridge, GnR). So I change my vote.

Alternative 8. Oh baby that pickup is so good. It's the best, most versatile, most dynamic pickup I've ever tried in the segment of hotter pickups (with the exception of the L500XL by Bill Lawrence but that pickup is so unique, it's in a league of its own).

For the neck? Screaming demon. most versatile, best pickup ever for the neck.
 
Re: HELP!!! CHANGING MY ESP ECLIPSE II PICKUPS

Thanks a lot for your answers guys!.... but it's funny that none of you told something about my 2 first options... I mean, about the Custom Custom and the JB... I'm looking in the wrong direction????

Thanks a lot!
 
Re: HELP!!! CHANGING MY ESP ECLIPSE II PICKUPS

No it's not that, but you said metal, so generally you're looking for a higher output pickup and the JB, in my opinion, doesn't work in mahogany. I would look at a distortion.
 
Re: HELP!!! CHANGING MY ESP ECLIPSE II PICKUPS

No it's not that, but you said metal, so generally you're looking for a higher output pickup and the JB, in my opinion, doesn't work in mahogany. I would look at a distortion.

Actually, I never said "Metal"... I said that I used to play things like Metallica and Megadeth.... but that now I'm more into things like Alter Bridge and Black Stone Cherry.... and even starting to play some Guns and Roses stuff again.... But it's OK ;)
 
Re: HELP!!! CHANGING MY ESP ECLIPSE II PICKUPS

Actually, I never said "Metal"... I said that I used to play things like Metallica and Megadeth.... but that now I'm more into things like Alter Bridge and Black Stone Cherry.... and even starting to play some Guns and Roses stuff again.... But it's OK ;)

Fair enough. I'd still take a look at the distortion. I use for for nearly anything except blues (I have a Casino for that). Alter Bridge is pretty heavy still. And especially if you're playing in the low tunings that they are.
 
Re: HELP!!! CHANGING MY ESP ECLIPSE II PICKUPS

Thanks a lot for your answers guys!.... but it's funny that none of you told something about my 2 first options... I mean, about the Custom Custom and the JB... I'm looking in the wrong direction????

Thanks a lot!

No offence, but yes :) The custom custom is perfect for strat like guitars, but in a les paul style guitar? nah. Unless you're santana. It's too warm, too creamy, too smooth. The JB is renown and notorious to be a major hit or miss in mahogany. The Alt8 combats those issues. Don't let the name deter you: the alt8 is very like a JB but better for mahogany guitars. The JB is perfect for 'fenders'. alt8 for 'gibson'. (with some crossover of course, but this is my rule of thumb).
 
Re: HELP!!! CHANGING MY ESP ECLIPSE II PICKUPS

I have a custom custom in my CS6 carvin. It's a mahogany body maple cap and it has a ebony fretboard that brightens the guitar up a bit. (This guitar has been a pain to find the right pick up for) The custom custom has a great vintage tone with bite and it is warm, but not muddy in my application. If you want something that does GnR and those old Metallica tones well, this is the pick up. But if you want to switch to more modern tones you would be better off getting a pick up a little more versatile like a JB or some of the other pick ups that were mentioned. Personally I would love to try an alternative 8.
 
Re: HELP!!! CHANGING MY ESP ECLIPSE II PICKUPS

Thanks a lot guys!

To be honest, I thought about Custom Custom because I watched a video about Myles Kennedy's Rig and seems like he changed the bridge pickup in his PRS SC 245 for a Custom Custom... So I thought that would be a good choice for my guitar too...

I will check the pickups that you suggested... But please, let's keep this topic moving forward... I would like to read more opinions and experiences from you guys...

From now, thanks a lot!


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Re: HELP!!! CHANGING MY ESP ECLIPSE II PICKUPS

I like a Custom 5 and 59 set up. Very familiar with the guitar ad unless it is an overly bright guitar for some reason I think that would suit you well.

The Custom Custom and an A2 neck would be my second choice
 
Re: HELP!!! CHANGING MY ESP ECLIPSE II PICKUPS

I had one of those same guitars. I tried a number of pickups in them. I tried the emgs that came with it and ripped them out. tried the JB and it did not do it for me. Tried the distortion/jazz and it was getting close. distortion actually sounded really good in that guitar but then i put the sh5 custom in the bridge and the 59 in the neck and it never sounded better. The 59 was not boomy in the neck slot like it is in my les paul. and the custom just slays in the bridge. it can do so many things. Thats my vote
 
HELP!!! CHANGING MY ESP ECLIPSE II PICKUPS

I had one of those same guitars. I tried a number of pickups in them. I tried the emgs that came with it and ripped them out. tried the JB and it did not do it for me. Tried the distortion/jazz and it was getting close. distortion actually sounded really good in that guitar but then i put the sh5 custom in the bridge and the 59 in the neck and it never sounded better. The 59 was not boomy in the neck slot like it is in my les paul. and the custom just slays in the bridge. it can do so many things. Thats my vote

Great post! I was waiting for that "first hand" experience... Would be too much ask you for some sound clips of your guitar And maybe tell me what amp and cab are you using???

From now thanks a lot!!!


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