Help needed for 80's tone

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whitehamster

New member
Hi everyone, i have a basswood Jackson Dinky with a rosewood fingerboard and 2HUMs. Recently i've been thinking removing the stock pickups and placing 1 HUM to the bridge position (i've some fancy plans for the neck one=).
The thing is i'm digging for that characteristic tones of Vivian Campbell / John Sykes. My playing style is close to 80's Viv, i especially use a lot of high e 's b's on my rhythm parts (see: Dio-Rainbow in the dark) so i want a pickup that can stress high notes well.

From my search on net, tho its not even close to players own experiences, George Lynch Screamin Demon pickups have my interest. Do you think those pups can do the trick?

i tried to give every needed detail but if you need more please ask.

thanks..
 
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Re: Help needed for 80's tone

The Demon or the Full Shred would do the trick for you. Or you could also go with the JB, which is what a lot of 80s players used.
 
Re: Help needed for 80's tone

you are right, jb is one hell of a pickup and somewhat a more versatile pickup than the Demon. But i'm a guitar-straight-to-amp guy and i liked demon s performance better than JBs. But full shred.. hmm lets search more about this one

thanks for your advice

oh and anyone tried Suhr Aldrich pickups? Will it be too marginal for a basswood superstrat
 
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Re: Help needed for 80's tone

Jb would be my choice.....I tried the Screamin' Demon when it first came out and I was dissapointed. It's very clean and articulate.......it let my sloppy playing shine thru! Never tried a Full Shred....
 
Re: Help needed for 80's tone

well.. i was really thinking of buying the demon, i felt like yeah this one when i first heard it (never played it actually)
but all you guys suggesting jb and i know you cant go wrong with jb then what do you think about Neck/JB - Bridge/demon guitars..
i know some mates happy with that combination

maybe i'll buy a demon and if it dont appear to be the right one i'll just throw it to neck position
 
Re: Help needed for 80's tone

any high output pickups like the JB, gibson dirty fingers, or CC should do it.
 
Re: Help needed for 80's tone

whitehamster said:
you are right, jb is one hell of a pickup and somewhat a more versatile pickup than the Demon. But i'm a guitar-straight-to-amp guy and i liked demon s performance better than JBs. But full shred.. hmm lets search more about this one

thanks for your advice

oh and anyone tried Suhr Aldrich pickups? Will it be too marginal for a basswood superstrat
Click to expand...

For your application, the JB and the Full Shred would proly get my vote.
I in fact tried both the Suhr Aldrich pickups (I tried and removed the bridge pickup and tried and LOVED - and still have - the neck pickup) in my Mahogany (neck and wings) with an Ebony top Neck-thru.

In that guitar, the Full Shred was as clear and as articulate as crystal.
However it would take at least a couple of effects to breath some life and character to that pickup; straight guitar-cable-amp like I tried it (NO volume/tone pot) it was sterile as hell (even more than EMGs if you can believe it!). Maybe in the Basswood that could change since it's the exact opposite from my guitar's woods.

Again in my guitar, the Doug Aldrich bridge pickup was considerably more organic/fuller sounding but in comparison to the Full Shred much less articulate/clear. Not bad on its' own right, not by any means, in fact if I hadn't tried the Full Shred right before it I'd probably love it but...

In the end I settled on the Tom Anderson H3 - Not as articulate as the Full Shred (but close, and considerably more than the Aldrich - it has a Ceramic magnet after all) but every bit as organic as the Aldrich and fuller-sounding (probably due to the more scooped mids) to boot.

Not absolutely perfect but certainly the best compromise that I've found 'till now; then again I haven't tried the newer Tom Anderson pickups.
 
Re: Help needed for 80's tone

I'd suggest using a JB, it's the classic 80's pickup.

Now, if you want to get experimental with it, you could try the PATB-3. It's a much newer design, rather low output (9.8 k I believe) but has a really great chunk to it. The lead tone is where it shines though - really fat and thick, even in the upper frets. It sounds very 80's to me. I use alot of.. strange chords and it's very clear for all of those, it has really good definition.

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=JKCJ5fLaWzc - I'm not all that great of a player, but here's a clip outlining a nice lead tone I found with it.
 
Re: Help needed for 80's tone

thanks guys those were really informative. Guess i'll order a TB 4 today.
What i didnt understand it what is the screamin demon for..? More glamish sound? EVH style?
 
Re: Help needed for 80's tone

The JB should do it.
The Demon is the first George Lynch signature pickup. It's basically a hotter PAF (those old Gibson buckers) with 6 allen heads to add high end. Should do all kinds of rock very well.
 
Re: Help needed for 80's tone

JB is the "correct" answer here. But as for a second choice - I'd go distortion.

Demon was never used for those Lynch/Dokken tones you dig. That didn't show up until Lynch Mob. Cambell/Sykes - CC, full shred,Dirty Fingers etc....I'm not feeling them.
 
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Re: Help needed for 80's tone

thanks guys you really helped me a lot, now instead of starting a new topic i'd like to ask another question on here..

i have a floyd rose installed guitar but i really like those becker/vai like colored pickups.. now i've never seen any fancy colored tb pickup (hmm lets see if i had a rossington les paul would i buy a flashy green pickup hehe)
If i place a SH to my bridge will it make dramatic differences?
 
Re: Help needed for 80's tone

Well, the pole pieces won't line up under the strings correctly.

Many people don't notice a difference and say it's mostly an aesthetics thing.
Other people say they notice a difference in volume, particularly while bending (I am one of the latter in case you were wondering.)

I guess you could contact the SD Custom Shop and ask them if they'd be willing to make you a colored bobbin TB-4 as a shop floor custom pickup (that means it's a production pickup with sth extra, usually there's either a small upcharge or none at all - depending what you ask for)

Another way would be to order normal black and get some bobbin toppers:
http://www.universaljems.com/cart/bobbin.htm
 
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