Help choosing versatile (metal) high output pickups for Ibanez RG
- Thread starter Razwithz
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Re: Help choosing versatile (metal) high output pickups for Ibanez RG
I'm not really sure about actives, and I can't fit the battery in my guitar anyway...
I do like it's crunch :33:
I liked the nazgul but couldn't find demos or info on it's clean capabilities so I guess they're not that great, that's why I liked the BW, which are in a similar tonal spectrum as the nazguls but are also good for clean settings.
It's ok, man
I'm not really sure about actives, and I can't fit the battery in my guitar anyway...
I do like it's crunch :33:
I liked the nazgul but couldn't find demos or info on it's clean capabilities so I guess they're not that great, that's why I liked the BW, which are in a similar tonal spectrum as the nazguls but are also good for clean settings.
It's ok, man
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Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: Help choosing versatile (metal) high output pickups for Ibanez RG
Honestly, I don't hear lots of middle pickup action in there, LOL, but I think you'd probably find more use in something more modern and relatively hot like a Hot Rails Neck.
I think you could be happy with Duncan Distortions. Those would be my first choice for those kinds of grindy tones. I have not tried Black Winters, but I don't doubt those could pull it off nicely too.
Gibson 500T and 496R I bet could be good too. Honestly, I don't oppose the idea of Evolutions either. Good-quality high-output ceramics in general seem to be a safe bet.
It would seem like you and me have a similar taste in tone, then.I have now, thanks for that, I read the mahogany part and found the BW suggested there as well. I guess I'll go with those.
I probably should've done this from the beginning, but here are a couple tracks with many parts of songs that represent the musical spectrum that I will be playing. Note that I don't necessarily want to emulate or get close to their tone, rather have a guitar that will be able to play those genres with clarity, expressiveness and aggression.
This first track has the most rhythmic/brutal styles.
http://yourlisten.com/Razwithz/samplesrythm
This one features the kind of solo stuff I will be playing as well as examples of cleans and some ambient stuff that I will be doing also.
http://yourlisten.com/Razwithz/samplesolocleans
I tried to make them as short as possible after I realized I was packing quite a number of songs in them, still the clips are a bit lengthy, but I think it's much more direct for you to listen to them than to try to imagine what I'm talking about
So, after hearing those songs, or some of them, what would you recommend? to get a single coil sized humbucker to have a different voice to use in solos or in clean passages, or a true single coil? Personally I think I'd go for a single coil sized humbucker.
Oh yes, I forgot to mention, I'll be using the guitar with heavy processing, most likely a POD HD.
Honestly, I don't hear lots of middle pickup action in there, LOL, but I think you'd probably find more use in something more modern and relatively hot like a Hot Rails Neck.
I think you could be happy with Duncan Distortions. Those would be my first choice for those kinds of grindy tones. I have not tried Black Winters, but I don't doubt those could pull it off nicely too.
Gibson 500T and 496R I bet could be good too. Honestly, I don't oppose the idea of Evolutions either. Good-quality high-output ceramics in general seem to be a safe bet.
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Re: Help choosing versatile (metal) high output pickups for Ibanez RG
:headbang:
Yeah, the Hot Rails seem to have some serious crunch
I liked both the Nazgul and Distortion, but is the cleans that keeps me coming back to the Black Winter
I read somewhere that the Dist was similar to the BW ¿? :dunno:
Thanks a lot for your opinions guys
It would seem like you and me have a similar taste in tone, then.
:headbang:
Yeah, the Hot Rails seem to have some serious crunch
I liked both the Nazgul and Distortion, but is the cleans that keeps me coming back to the Black Winter
I read somewhere that the Dist was similar to the BW ¿? :dunno:
Thanks a lot for your opinions guys
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: Help choosing versatile (metal) high output pickups for Ibanez RG
Yes, if you're comparing bridge pickups, the Black Winter and the Distortion have a very similar wind. The Distortion has a single oversized ceramic magnet, and the Black Winter has an oversized ceramic and two smaller side magnets (like the Invader or the Gibson 500T).
Yes, if you're comparing bridge pickups, the Black Winter and the Distortion have a very similar wind. The Distortion has a single oversized ceramic magnet, and the Black Winter has an oversized ceramic and two smaller side magnets (like the Invader or the Gibson 500T).
bloughlin16
New member
Re: Help choosing versatile (metal) high output pickups for Ibanez RG
I'd suggest the EMG 57/66 set, the Bareknuckle Juggernaut Set, or the new Alpha/Omega set from the SD Custom Shop. Not all ultra high output (the EMG set is definitely the highest), but you honestly don't need that to get a great metal tone. They are also known to be ultra versatile sets, and I'd be comfortable using any of them for any style of metal. Planning on getting one of the three for both of my guitars soon, and I am very much a metal guy for the most part.
I'd suggest the EMG 57/66 set, the Bareknuckle Juggernaut Set, or the new Alpha/Omega set from the SD Custom Shop. Not all ultra high output (the EMG set is definitely the highest), but you honestly don't need that to get a great metal tone. They are also known to be ultra versatile sets, and I'd be comfortable using any of them for any style of metal. Planning on getting one of the three for both of my guitars soon, and I am very much a metal guy for the most part.
Gone_Shootin
New member
Re: Help choosing versatile (metal) high output pickups for Ibanez RG
I didn't read everything, but I'd throw a Dimebag set in it.
I have Dimebuckers that I've tried in several guitars and didn't really care for them after the honeymoon wore off. Then one day last year I threw one in my RG320 on a whim and it sounds great in that guitar! IMHO, Dimebuckers really shine when they're in Basswood.
I didn't read everything, but I'd throw a Dimebag set in it.
I have Dimebuckers that I've tried in several guitars and didn't really care for them after the honeymoon wore off. Then one day last year I threw one in my RG320 on a whim and it sounds great in that guitar! IMHO, Dimebuckers really shine when they're in Basswood.
Re: Help choosing versatile (metal) high output pickups for Ibanez RG
Cool :33:
I'm not sure about EMGs and I can't fit batteries in my guitar, BKP are too pricey, and SD's Alpha/Omega are too signature/exclusive for me, probably will be very pricey too. But thanks for your suggestions, man.:bigok:
I didn't like it's over-trebly EQ at all. And my guitar is mahogany body/maple neck.
The Deathbuckers have nice cleans but they sound kinda thin distorted
Thanks everybody!
Cool :33:
I'm not sure about EMGs and I can't fit batteries in my guitar, BKP are too pricey, and SD's Alpha/Omega are too signature/exclusive for me, probably will be very pricey too. But thanks for your suggestions, man.:bigok:
I didn't like it's over-trebly EQ at all. And my guitar is mahogany body/maple neck.
The Deathbuckers have nice cleans but they sound kinda thin distorted
Thanks everybody!
Gone_Shootin
New member
Re: Help choosing versatile (metal) high output pickups for Ibanez RG
Ok, I missed the Mahogany part when I was skimming the thread. So, yeah, I agree, the Dimebucker would be the wrong pickup. I first had one of my Dimebuckers in my Les Paul and didn't care for it in there.
I have an RG321MH, which has a Mahogany body, and it's super bright, which I found out when I threw my Black Winter set in it. It'll probably end up with an Invader set or Distortion set, or maybe even some sort of active set.
Ok, I missed the Mahogany part when I was skimming the thread. So, yeah, I agree, the Dimebucker would be the wrong pickup. I first had one of my Dimebuckers in my Les Paul and didn't care for it in there.
I have an RG321MH, which has a Mahogany body, and it's super bright, which I found out when I threw my Black Winter set in it. It'll probably end up with an Invader set or Distortion set, or maybe even some sort of active set.
Progbusters
New member
Re: Help choosing versatile (metal) high output pickups for Ibanez RG
D-Activator and D-Activator X in my basswood RG sounds great but I don't know about Mahogany. I have Dimarzio Titan's in my mahogany Schecter and it works there. For metalz.
D-Activator and D-Activator X in my basswood RG sounds great but I don't know about Mahogany. I have Dimarzio Titan's in my mahogany Schecter and it works there. For metalz.
bloughlin16
New member
Re: Help choosing versatile (metal) high output pickups for Ibanez RG
Totally understand your point about the expenses, though if you can find a way to fit a battery in, I would really give the EMG 57/66 set a shot. I was super skeptical about it, but everything I have seen and heard has blown me away. If you're still very hesitant, Black Winters would probably be your best bet!
Totally understand your point about the expenses, though if you can find a way to fit a battery in, I would really give the EMG 57/66 set a shot. I was super skeptical about it, but everything I have seen and heard has blown me away. If you're still very hesitant, Black Winters would probably be your best bet!
Lucy Diamond
New member
Re: Help choosing versatile (metal) high output pickups for Ibanez RG
Black Winter Set.
All day every day.
The neck pickup will blow you away.
Black Winter Set.
All day every day.
The neck pickup will blow you away.
Re: Help choosing versatile (metal) high output pickups for Ibanez RG
... but isn't mahogany supposed to be a dark/warm tonewood? The pots and capacitor values (500k, 500k, 223) are probably the reason for your bright tone. SD suggests 250k pots and .047 caps for their pickups
Thanks everyone for your opinion! I'm going for the BW set and a SHR-1B for the middle :bigok:
... but isn't mahogany supposed to be a dark/warm tonewood? The pots and capacitor values (500k, 500k, 223) are probably the reason for your bright tone. SD suggests 250k pots and .047 caps for their pickups
Thanks everyone for your opinion! I'm going for the BW set and a SHR-1B for the middle :bigok:
Archer250
Well-known member
Re: Help choosing versatile (metal) high output pickups for Ibanez RG
Stop. Stop right there. You never know what the guitar sounds like based on its specs. Every plank is different.
Stop. Stop right there. You never know what the guitar sounds like based on its specs. Every plank is different.
Re: Help choosing versatile (metal) high output pickups for Ibanez RG
I agree with you that there can be subtle differences between instruments that will ultimately affect their final tone and that can't be predicted, but to say that is like saying that you can't know a Lamborghini is fast until you drive it. If he said he installed the pups in an Ibanez RG which typically have high value pots and low value caps (recipe for bright tone) and he said the wood is mahogany which is considered dark but he described his tone as bright, I think it's pretty safe to assume that when he changed the pickups he did the most logical thing and simply solder them in without minding the rest of the components. If you can't predict the tone of any given component by it's specs then I might have just wasted my time asking you all about pickups because what you told me would sound A or B might sound like X or Y in real life...
I agree with you that there can be subtle differences between instruments that will ultimately affect their final tone and that can't be predicted, but to say that is like saying that you can't know a Lamborghini is fast until you drive it. If he said he installed the pups in an Ibanez RG which typically have high value pots and low value caps (recipe for bright tone) and he said the wood is mahogany which is considered dark but he described his tone as bright, I think it's pretty safe to assume that when he changed the pickups he did the most logical thing and simply solder them in without minding the rest of the components. If you can't predict the tone of any given component by it's specs then I might have just wasted my time asking you all about pickups because what you told me would sound A or B might sound like X or Y in real life...
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Re: Help choosing versatile (metal) high output pickups for Ibanez RG
All this being said, I have an Alternative 8 in the bridge and an A4SH-6n in the neck (both in Triple Shots) in my RG-123 (a 120 neck with a 321 body). I love 'em. You can't get much more versatile unless you go with P-Rails or something. The Alt8 is huge and heavy for metal, without loosing the AlNiCo sweetness. The Distortion neck was at first a bit too thick and bright, but with an A4 magnet, it just sings and is super responsive to the tone knob.
However, I did like the original Distortion set as is in the original agathis body. And I would still love to hear what a Black Winter set would sound like, though it would only be different, not better, than what is in there now.
All this being said, I have an Alternative 8 in the bridge and an A4SH-6n in the neck (both in Triple Shots) in my RG-123 (a 120 neck with a 321 body). I love 'em. You can't get much more versatile unless you go with P-Rails or something. The Alt8 is huge and heavy for metal, without loosing the AlNiCo sweetness. The Distortion neck was at first a bit too thick and bright, but with an A4 magnet, it just sings and is super responsive to the tone knob.
However, I did like the original Distortion set as is in the original agathis body. And I would still love to hear what a Black Winter set would sound like, though it would only be different, not better, than what is in there now.
Archer250
Well-known member
Re: Help choosing versatile (metal) high output pickups for Ibanez RG
Sounds like a recipe for shrill brightness, right? What I got is *lots* of mids.
And the kicker is that it sounds middy and not shrill unplugged with my ear to the body.
You could say that alder and maple are supposed to be bright, and that one pickups can be quite different from another. However, even with my limited experience, I can say that pickup manufacturing tolerances are far tighter than that of natural wood.
My main is an alder Jackson with a maple neck. It has a 500k volume pot, no-load tone, a Floyd trem, and a JB in the bridge.I agree with you that there can be subtle differences between instruments that will ultimately affect their final tone and that can't be predicted, but to say that is like saying that you can't know a Lamborghini is fast until you drive it. If he said he installed the pups in an Ibanez RG which typically have high value pots and low value caps (recipe for bright tone) and he said the wood is mahogany which is considered dark but he described his tone as bright, I think it's pretty safe to assume that when he changed the pickups he did the most logical thing and simply solder them in without minding the rest of the components. If you can't predict the tone of any given component by it's specs then I might have just wasted my time asking you all about pickups because what you told me would sound A or B might sound like X or Y in real life...
Sounds like a recipe for shrill brightness, right? What I got is *lots* of mids.
And the kicker is that it sounds middy and not shrill unplugged with my ear to the body.
You could say that alder and maple are supposed to be bright, and that one pickups can be quite different from another. However, even with my limited experience, I can say that pickup manufacturing tolerances are far tighter than that of natural wood.
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