How much of a difference.....

[Jimbojsr]

...would a new pup make for me? I saw a reference to 10% in another message, but this will be different for everyone. SO your expert opinions please! Current setup:

> Epiphone "dot" (335 copy with solid centre block)
> Behringer V-amp 2
> Boss SD-2 (occasionally)
> Fender Princeton 650

I'm playing alt-rock guitar music all the way from Coldplay thru Eels, BRMC, The Verve, Franz Ferdinand, The Strokes and White Stripes up to Oasis (lots of them!!) and maybe even a wee bit of Muse in the heaviness stakes. Clean sounds are important as well as crunchy ones! Not into metal stuff.

Thinking of getting a '59 or Seth, or perhaps a Phat Cat or even a custom-made minihumbucker in a full-sized cover :saeek: Have considered a DiMarzio PAF Classic cos of price and the fact it has a cover, but i might stretch to a SD if price is right and i can get some nickel on it. SO, my questions are -

1) Any specific recommendations for a pup?
2) How much better will it be? Really? I'm hardly looking for this kind of alnico over that kind of alnico, just would like a less gooey sound.

Cheers guys!!

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: How much of a difference.....

Sounds like the upgrade that I just did to my Dot I can tell you that my Seth in the bridge position of the Dot sounds fantastic, good clean . . . really really good crunch/med. overdrive. The '59 neck gives the guitar a crystal clear clean, and (oddly enough) I like the sound of this pickup with a lot of heavy distortion.

I would definately recommend either the Seth or the '59 for what you want . . . the Seth is a little bit more midrange, and the '59 is a bit bassier, but both of them give me a very even response from string to string (I can hear every note being played in chords now).

I liked the sound of the pickups on my Dot, and it took me a while before i decided to upgrade them, but what a huge world of difference it made. Everything is a lot tighter and more articulate.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: How much of a difference.....

If you've never replaced a pickup, get the '59. It's cheaper, and will still blow you away, tonally speaking.

I think the 10% thing you mentioned was in reference to trying to cop a specific artist's tone. Let's take Metallica for instance... Mesa/Marshall amps will get you 90% of the way there, EMGs will do the other 10. Make sense?

 

[Jimbojsr]

Re: How much of a difference.....

Coool, I may go for the cheaper option, especially as I would probably disgrace the name of Seth by my cr*ppy playing :18: But I would still notice a difference given my relatively modest setup? (i say modest in comparison to the folk here who spent every penny on expensive gear and woudl rather spend their last dollar on a boutique plectrum than food... ) Thanx 4 the advice ppl

 

[Jimbojsr]

Apologies for flooding...

Apologies for flooding...

...I'm trying to get my picture to work over to the left. tis not working so far! :yell:

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: How much of a difference.....

Pickup changes make a huge difference when I'm playing at home, through a Boss Metal Zone & 10 watt practice amp, so I think you'll hear it