Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

[SepultuRick]

Hello there, i am looking to buy a bridge humbucker pickup and was wondering which one you guys would suggest for me.

I will be putting the pickup in an Ibanez sz320 mahogany neck and body and maple top (carved i think), rosewood fretboard, 25.1 scale neck.. The guitar has a really thick tone already, somewhat similar to a classic les paul sound only perhaps not as thick.

I play a lot of 80's to modern heavy metal in standard tuning. decentish cleans would be preferred but not essential. Good pinched harmonics would be great as well as a sweet lead tone. i.e not too harsh.

What would you suggest? thanks

P.S. some of the band i like to try and play are: Megadeth, Ensiferum, Bal Sagoth, Opeth, Boston and loads other stuff similar to the bands listed.

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

I'd start with a JB, if it fits the bill great - of not, you have a baseline to use and compare with the Duncan tone chart and the forum.

 

[Iron Horse]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

Perhaps a SH-5 Custom, even a Screamin' Demon

 

[Jay 77]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

Custom for sure.

 

[BG00]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

JB, Screamin Demon, Full shred, or Custom 5

 

[SepultuRick]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

any dimarzio suggestions?

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

How important are palm-chugs? The Anderson H3 is loud, has a big bottom for palm-chugs, lacks the spikey nature of many pickups, and harmonics are there if you want them...they just don't fall out of the guitar like a bucket of nails.

 

[peace_destroy_many]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

I've had good luck with the Duncan Distortion in mahogany body maple top guitars. I can pull great pinch harmonics out of it and it always has a cutting lead tone that doesn't get harsh. It's not quite hot enough for more modern types of metal but fits perfectly in with old school thrash and stuff.

Another suggestion would be the custom, but I don't think the pinch harmonics are as good in the custom as with the distortion. But, the custom has kind of a dark quality to it. It's an edgy pickup that you may like. I dig the way it chugs on palm mutes. The lead tones are really nice too and can do metal or classic rock well.

 

[SepultuRick]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

How important are palm-chugs? The Anderson H3 is loud, has a big bottom for palm-chugs, lacks the spikey nature of many pickups, and harmonics are there if you want them...they just don't fall out of the guitar like a bucket of nails.

Palm chugs are important in a lot of music i play so it is essential the pickup can pull them off with decent amounts of punch and clarity

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

Palm chugs are important in a lot of music i play so it is essential the pickup can pull them off with decent amounts of punch and clarity

The H3 has a big, juicy bottom like Beyonce Knowles. Dark and gorgeous, with not as much meat on top, like Beyonce Knowles! Natural, just the way I like it!

The H3 has lots of chunk! I do have misgivings that it would be great 80's metal pickup...but I tend to think most guys use palm chugs more than they let onto in the first place. The forward-punch you are looking for is not likely found with the H3 in retrospect, but Anderson has some great pickups.

I re-read your original post. I think you need a more "forward" tone than the H3.

 

[agent007]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

custom custom, patb-1 ,anything dimarzio probably, but to be quite honest emg 81 would be hard to beat for metal these days.

 

[emilio]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

duncan distortion :headbang:

 

[3th3r]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

Patb-2

 

[Loserchief]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

Duncan: Custom or Full Shred. Both are great metal pups
Dimarzio: In Mahog nothing beats the Evolution. It's cut and presence balances perfectly with the thick mahog tone and it's tight with the craziest harmonics to be found on passive pups.

 

[SepultuRick]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

sigh, this is tough. any other sz users out there done any pickup changing?

 

[Karmadog777]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

Yes I actually have a SZ520 basicly same make up as your 320 , I have a Custom Custom in the bridge and a jazz in the neck , it is the sweeetest sounding guitar I have , the custom custom is Great for harmonics and a big fat bottom end , the highs are full and round ...smooth

some say the bottom isnt tight enough with this pup but it suits me fine, I have wondered what a Sh-5 custom would sound like or even a distortion , but not enough to yank out the CC .
Palm mutes and harmonics set this apart from all my other guitars, so if you dont mind alittle bounce in the bottom Id definately give it a try.

I love my CC for classic rock heavy rock and metal
some say its not a metal pickup but Dave Murray of Iron maiden and the dude from Queensryche used them so...... custom custom is my #1 pick

if I had to swap Id try a custom or a distortion

Peace!

 

[jimlp]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

any dimarzio suggestions?

Dimarzio Air Zone. It is voiced kind of dark but it has that something special going on with the airbucker technology, some people call it the Tone Zone light but I think it is a much more musical pickup than the TZ. I have it in a LP style guitar and play through a Marshall which kind of balances out the pickup which seems to have a lot of low mids, depending on how dark your amp is it could be to dark in mahogany.

 

[bloodswords]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

i have the following combo in my SZ320: Alnico II Pro / Custom Custom (b) because i need something chug-friendly in the bridge but not excessively bassy + i relegate all solos to the neck, the AIIP is fine for this.

however, IMO the Custom does better for a more boomy bottom end if you are after this kinda tone (have it in my RG321) exclusively.

 

[SepultuRick]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

Yes I actually have a SZ520 basicly same make up as your 320 , I have a Custom Custom in the bridge and a jazz in the neck , it is the sweeetest sounding guitar I have , the custom custom is Great for harmonics and a big fat bottom end , the highs are full and round ...smooth

some say the bottom isnt tight enough with this pup but it suits me fine, I have wondered what a Sh-5 custom would sound like or even a distortion , but not enough to yank out the CC .
Palm mutes and harmonics set this apart from all my other guitars, so if you dont mind alittle bounce in the bottom Id definately give it a try.

I love my CC for classic rock heavy rock and metal
some say its not a metal pickup but Dave Murray of Iron maiden and the dude from Queensryche used them so...... custom custom is my #1 pick

if I had to swap Id try a custom or a distortion

Peace!

Cool, thanks for your input. Have you never considered the full shred? that is also on my list of possibilities

 

[Karmadog777]

Re: Help me choose a bridge humbucker for Metal (Mahogany)

Dimarzio Air Zone. It is voiced kind of dark but it has that something special going on with the airbucker technology, some people call it the Tone Zone light but I think it is a much more musical pickup than the TZ. I have it in a LP style guitar and play through a Marshall which kind of balances out the pickup which seems to have a lot of low mids, depending on how dark your amp is it could be to dark in mahogany.

I actually had a Air Zone in my SZ and thought I found my tone,but I wanted alittle more crunch on the bottom end, I found it in the CC....the A/Z is definatly a unique sounding pup tho..

sorry SepultuRick,
I dont know squat about the full shred