Help me chose pickups for a Custom Korina Guitar

[sinnerx96]

Hey guys. I will be ordering a Custom hand made guitar. It will have a body shape similar to a PRS. The Body is Solid Black Korina wood. The Neck is Maple, and the fretboard is Ebony. I need help deciding which pickups to order it with. I play Hard Rock/Metal. I play some Classic Rock and 80's metal too. I like Low-Mid Growl, thick mids, and smooth highs with some bite. I want this to be a Versatile guitar. But geared more towards playing lead. I play through a Marshall JCM800 2204. I dont like that Scooped Nu-Metal tone. I'd like the tone to be very dynamic. Almost like a "Vowel" efect when bending and such. I like the JB in my Heritage H150(LP), but I wanna try something different. I can always swap them. I was thinking maybe a Screemin' Demon? But I've never heard one. Throw some opinions and suggestions at me to concider.
Thanks.

 

[RACER X]

The DD/59 combo will scream in that guitar.

 

[Jeff_H]

Sounds to me like you're describing the CC almost to a "T". Since you have the 2204, you really don't need anything that hot to push the amp, you want the tone of that nice wood and neck to really shine through. Even a set of 59's would sound great, and cover all of the bases you need. That will be a really classy guitar, so a nickel covered set will look super sharp as well.

Especially since I got my Marshall (2205 circut) I have found that I really like the lower output pickups to let the guitar and amp breath. The C5 and the CC are about the highest output pups I can stomach....but that is purely personal taste.

For the neck I am completly sold on the APH II, but some find it a tad to smooth and bassy....not for me at all since the Marshall's can be bright and crunchy. Slash tone all the way. The Seth Lover is a great pickup, a little more open than the APH, but still smooth. I had no issues with microphonics either, since it's not potted I thought I would mention that. Cranked thru my 2205 it did not squeal at all unless I stood right in front of the amp.

If you click on the www at the bottom of my signature, it will take you to my sound file page and a few clips down there are some short tunes with the PG and the Seth in my Hardtail, which is similar to the PRS.

Those are my suggestions. Good luck.

 

[Rocker35]

Seeing as your using a JCM 800, another shout here for a CC, although the Screamin Demon would also be worth considering (less output and mids, more growl).

 

[RACER X]

You also might think about a SH-5 Custom too. Just a bada$$ p/u.

 

[sinnerx96]

Thanks guys. I was thinking about the CC,...but the description makes it seam as though it would be too "Buttery" for me. I'm looking for "Aggressive". A progressive type of rock tone with easy harmonics. Beefy and Tight low end. Growly mids. Biting highs, But NOT harsh. I dont think I want a very high output pup like the Custom though. I want it to be Very Responsive and Dynamic to my playing. That is key. The more I think about it,...the more I think the Deamon would do it for me. I've heard the deamon in an old Kramer strat, and was kinda bright, but I liked it. I figure that the Korina body would tame some of the brightnes. I'm pretty set on the Alnico 2 Pro for the neck though. It sounds really Big and warm. Good choice for a 24 fret guitar, I think. Feel free to give some more thoughts.
Thanks Again

 

[sinnerx96]

By the way,...here is what the body will most likely look like. The fingerboard will be ebony, and the hardware will be chrome though. I like the look with the Zebra pups.

 

[sinnerx96]

And here is the Inlay I'm getting on the fingerboard.

 

[Benjy_26]

Personally, I would go with a CC at the bridge and a PG at the neck. Don't be fooled, the CC is only "buttery" when compared to the Custom. It's still a pretty crankin' pickup.

 

[Zerberus]

My Choice would be one of the following:

Distortion/JB/Custom/CC Bridge, Custom Custom and JB being IMO closest to what you´re probably looking for. The Dime is also a possibility, but probably a bit too "modern" for your taste.

59 or Seth Neck.

Depending on what exactly you´re looking for, of course. I use a CC with an extra (read second) A-5 magnet under the baseplate in my ´83 Flying V and love it. Its a bit fuzzier and smoother than the Custom in my Dinky, and a bit less output, but will cover the bases almost as well. But the Dime also does great in my other Dinky, but it does lack a tad of old school flair. And the ´59 Neck is always a great choice, and fits that axe like a dream as well

And BTW, guys: a 2203 or 2204 doesnt have enough gain for anybody I know, but LOOTS of headroom. I don´t know anyone that likes the "natural maximum" of those amps, that´s why we use Boosters and get them Modded.

Although I think I oughta try my Dime-MidBoost-Preamp combo thru mine, just might be enough into the High input ...

 

[jeremy]

looking at your original post, id say get a pearly gates set. growl, good mids, smooth highs with bite. sounds great into a jcm 800, i just played a pg loaded axe into an '81 4102 (i think), a 50w single channel 2x12 jcm 800 and it sounded great!! probably not enough gain for some folks but with a duncan pup booster or some other pedal for a boost you could get there

 

[sinnerx96]

Re: Help me chose pickups for a Custom Korina Guitar

Thanks Guys. What about the C5? I've heard it has a nice "Aww" vowel type of tone when playing lead. That's what I'm looking for. A singing lead tone with a "vocal" quality. But I need it to Crunch too. I know you guys keep recommending the CC. But from the description, and a clip I've heard it in,...it seams like it's too smooth for what I'm looking for. Remeber,..I like my JB, and dont want to stray TOO far from that. Anyway,...keep 'em comin.