Help with pickup choice

[savage8190]

Looking for some help with a pickup upgrade. I have typically always played Les Pauls, and Ive been hit and miss with pickups. I liked the traditional with the 59 tributes enough, though the bridge was a bit flabby. Also liked my old les paul classic with the 57/57+...these were open coil zebras, Ive hated pretty much every other 57 strangely enough but these were nice. Kinda liked the bridge in my old studio (498), but the 490 neck was mud. I also had a deluxe, loved the neck mini humbucker for its warmth and chime, but the bridge was way too thin. Finally, I HATE burstbucker pros.

These days Im rocking a Fender Blacktop Jaguar HH. Its short scale, Alder body, Maple neck, Rosewood board with a TOM style bridge. I dont know what it is about this thing....I just love how it plays. I also love that it was cheap and I dont have to worry about it lol. That said, the pickups suck. They are both very hot and muddy and dont do anything particularly well. I play through a Helix, no amp these days. Looking for versatility. I play a wide range from pop to classic rock, to funk, to modern rock, and "metal" (no speed/thrash stuff, more like classic 80's, 90's).

Based on what Ive liked before I would think I might like something like an A2 Pro in the neck, and maybe a Custom Custom in the bridge. I dont like the sound of ceramics. Ive always liked A2's but I dont know about it in the bridge. The only time Ive tried A5's was an Epi Les Paul with a 59/Custom 5 setup and I didn't love it...but then I never love Epi's for some reason. Just sounded cold if that makes sense.

If it helps at all my favorite band is Highly Suspect. Love the bluesy rock tone he gets out of that Strat humbucker, would like a nice warm/chimey neck tone to go with it.

What do you guys think?

 

[David Garner]

Re: Help with pickup choice

If you know you don’t like A5s (though that is what the 498t has), the CC/AP2 or CC/Pearly Gates setup would be solid.

 

[weepingminotaur]

Re: Help with pickup choice

Legit question: would an A2 be beefy enough to play the metal you want to play, though? I know you said you don't like ceramic pickups (which I get, because crappy ceramic pickups are baaad), but for all the styles you're interested in, consider the Black Winter set. Very, very versatile -- don't let the name fool you -- and they will obviously do any kind of metal with ease. If your guitar has coil-splitting, they're even better.

 

[savage8190]

Re: Help with pickup choice

Legit question: would an A2 be beefy enough to play the metal you want to play, though? I know you said you don't like ceramic pickups (which I get, because crappy ceramic pickups are baaad), but for all the styles you're interested in, consider the Black Winter set. Very, very versatile -- don't let the name fool you -- and they will obviously do any kind of metal with ease. If your guitar has coil-splitting, they're even better.

I've never heard a ceramic I liked...or anything active for that matter. Honestly my favorite metal type player tone is Tony Rombola...and I think he used JB's and PG's back in the day.

 

[savage8190]

Re: Help with pickup choice

If you know you don’t like A5s (though that is what the 498t has), the CC/AP2 or CC/Pearly Gates setup would be solid.

Ya...it's really tough to judge like I said, I've never bonded long with an Epiphone and that's what that set was in. Would the A5's be bright in an Alder guitar?

 

[gsammo79]

Re: Help with pickup choice

You might consider the SD custom shop, depending on what you wanna spend on a pickup. They do awesome work

 

[David Garner]

Re: Help with pickup choice

Ya...it's really tough to judge like I said, I've never bonded long with an Epiphone and that's what that set was in. Would the A5's be bright in an Alder guitar?

It's hard to say without trying it. I know the Pearly Gates bridge is popular in Strats, so maybe A2 is the way to go.

 

[David Garner]

Re: Help with pickup choice

You might consider the SD custom shop, depending on what you wanna spend on a pickup. They do awesome work

+1

The Custom Shop Pearlies are outstanding. I imagine they can wind literally anything you want. Try their build your own pickup feature.

 

[savage8190]

Re: Help with pickup choice

Honestly, I'm going with Duncan's because they're so accessible and cost effective...I don't want to go the custom shop route.

After doing a little more digging I've found several of my favorite players use a JB in the bridge of Strats, which is probably similar to my Jag tone wise, so I'm gonna try the JB bridge.

Now I just need to pick a neck pickup...I'm thinking I might try the 59 again. Might be better in this guitar.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Help with pickup choice

As always let’s start with sound of the guitar. Then, what do you need more/less of. Then we can discuss the right pickup...

 

[Mincer]

Re: Help with pickup choice

The Alnico II Pro/CC is a great choice. If you want a more open sound, I'd suggest a 59/Custom Hybrid. No matter which of these bridge pickups you pick, that will be a great guitar.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Help with pickup choice

Looking for rock to 80’s metal, you like 59 tributes and 57s, don’t like Burstbuckers; all things said, with alder body maple neck, I think Custom Custom bridge / A2Pro neck might be a solid choice. If those have too much of a mid bump for you (toward Burstbuckers) a 59/C bridge Pearly Gates neck might be better.

Another set that might work for you is Whole Lotta Humbucker set. It’s a like a fantastic refined Custom Shop 59 set, except its production model. Uses RCA5 mags which lends a softer top end for a bright Fender type guitar, has a little more output to drive amps to cover heavy rock.

A JB with an A2 mag bridge with a Jazz neck is an amazing all around heavy rock set. Sounds like a hotter Whole Lotta / 59 set. The JB A2 is a touch warm/dark in a Les Paul but in an Alder Maple Fender could be amazing.