Hey Guys,
Well, I didn't want to ever do this, but the time has finally come: I need a BRIDGE pickup recommendation/ advice...
I'll make this as brief as I can:
JCM 800 2204 vertical input - LOVE that amp it is my holy grail amp
2x12 closed back cab 1x K 100 and 1 V30 - perfect amount of bass juicyness for "legato" and midrange grind
2 stratesque japanese Westone guitars to choose from: 1 is all maple with rosewood fretboard (HUm HUM) -The other is all maple (H,S,S,) -Right now the maple with the rosewood fretboard is my go to with this amp set up. The rosewood dampens the forthrightness of the maple just enough. Both have tremolo bridges that I don't use at all. The all maples is stopped off with a wooden block.
My tone really is great just with the stock Japanese pick up BUT:
It is too thin -and the eq isn't right. Not enough upper mids to get the notes really jumping out.
After MUCH research and reading on this forum, I decided to try the FULL SHRED. I figured that in such a low tuning the lack of bass (especially paired with the K100, which is such a juicy, bassy speaker) would make for a really good tight sound. AND... I was right. I didn't have to try to get those notes out at all. they were just flying out of the guitar and for once, I didn't have to give myself a carpal tunnel trying to get those notes out. The full shred was almost there... BUT, a couple things: WAY too much gain. And it lacked a bit of beef to it. I know that I was trying to use it in an unconventional manner, but there just wasn't enough mids to cradle the treble(?) -and the bass notes just weren't there. Another problem with the full shred was that the more I dug in, the less defined and focused the sound got, and the more it just started to sort of widen and get a bit fluffy on me. You know when your playing and getting the opposite of what should be happening? Also, the full shred was a regular humbucker, when i really should have used a trembucker, but the stock pickup was just a regular humbucker anyway and still, the full shred had too much gain, not enough girth/ balls etc.
Anyway, i called a SUPER NICE guy from SD. He suggested that I try the CUSTOM (ceramic magnet in theory would be tighter etc. etc.) So i sent back the full shred and popped in the custom... TOTAL DUD for my application. -Wrong EQ (Pretty much the oppostie EQ that I need.) WAY TOO compressed (*I'm all about right hand picking dynamics -the less compression and gain the better) and Way too much gain (again). I GET ALL THE GAIN I NEED FROM MY AMP. I'm not a gain guy. I like just enough break up to hurt.
SOOO... after another lengthy chat with the gentleman today, he gave me an RA number for the 59/ Custom Hybrid. He really seemed to think that was the ticket.
I have my doubts... The pickup seems a bit gimmicky to me. I like a good old fairly neutral, articulate sound, where the amp and the guitar just speak for themselves. I'm not too much a fan of pickups that impart a certain NEW CHARACTER or voicing. I just like a visceral, low tuned, punchy sound. Ala tool or RATM. Early Pearl jam. Early Alice in chains.
So, what do ya'll have to say about this?!
We were almost there with the Full Shred. I'm thinkin that those hex pole pieces were a winner perhaps. (BTW. i put the full shred in my all maple and the Custom in my all maple with the rosewood fretboard. I know that would have made a difference, but i know my rig well enough to know what was going on.)
The ideal pickup for this application would be:
-Almost full shred EQ (maybe 4,6,8 ?)
-As little gain and compression as possible
-and good articulation and "percussiveness" -a hard hitting, punchy, physical attack on the that low string.
Suggestions on which guitar to experiment with? I'm probably getting into custom pickup territory... I know, I tune low...
I truly thank you for your time. THANKS.
Well, I didn't want to ever do this, but the time has finally come: I need a BRIDGE pickup recommendation/ advice...
I'll make this as brief as I can:
JCM 800 2204 vertical input - LOVE that amp it is my holy grail amp
2x12 closed back cab 1x K 100 and 1 V30 - perfect amount of bass juicyness for "legato" and midrange grind
2 stratesque japanese Westone guitars to choose from: 1 is all maple with rosewood fretboard (HUm HUM) -The other is all maple (H,S,S,) -Right now the maple with the rosewood fretboard is my go to with this amp set up. The rosewood dampens the forthrightness of the maple just enough. Both have tremolo bridges that I don't use at all. The all maples is stopped off with a wooden block.
My tone really is great just with the stock Japanese pick up BUT:
It is too thin -and the eq isn't right. Not enough upper mids to get the notes really jumping out.
After MUCH research and reading on this forum, I decided to try the FULL SHRED. I figured that in such a low tuning the lack of bass (especially paired with the K100, which is such a juicy, bassy speaker) would make for a really good tight sound. AND... I was right. I didn't have to try to get those notes out at all. they were just flying out of the guitar and for once, I didn't have to give myself a carpal tunnel trying to get those notes out. The full shred was almost there... BUT, a couple things: WAY too much gain. And it lacked a bit of beef to it. I know that I was trying to use it in an unconventional manner, but there just wasn't enough mids to cradle the treble(?) -and the bass notes just weren't there. Another problem with the full shred was that the more I dug in, the less defined and focused the sound got, and the more it just started to sort of widen and get a bit fluffy on me. You know when your playing and getting the opposite of what should be happening? Also, the full shred was a regular humbucker, when i really should have used a trembucker, but the stock pickup was just a regular humbucker anyway and still, the full shred had too much gain, not enough girth/ balls etc.
Anyway, i called a SUPER NICE guy from SD. He suggested that I try the CUSTOM (ceramic magnet in theory would be tighter etc. etc.) So i sent back the full shred and popped in the custom... TOTAL DUD for my application. -Wrong EQ (Pretty much the oppostie EQ that I need.) WAY TOO compressed (*I'm all about right hand picking dynamics -the less compression and gain the better) and Way too much gain (again). I GET ALL THE GAIN I NEED FROM MY AMP. I'm not a gain guy. I like just enough break up to hurt.
SOOO... after another lengthy chat with the gentleman today, he gave me an RA number for the 59/ Custom Hybrid. He really seemed to think that was the ticket.
I have my doubts... The pickup seems a bit gimmicky to me. I like a good old fairly neutral, articulate sound, where the amp and the guitar just speak for themselves. I'm not too much a fan of pickups that impart a certain NEW CHARACTER or voicing. I just like a visceral, low tuned, punchy sound. Ala tool or RATM. Early Pearl jam. Early Alice in chains.
So, what do ya'll have to say about this?!
We were almost there with the Full Shred. I'm thinkin that those hex pole pieces were a winner perhaps. (BTW. i put the full shred in my all maple and the Custom in my all maple with the rosewood fretboard. I know that would have made a difference, but i know my rig well enough to know what was going on.)
The ideal pickup for this application would be:
-Almost full shred EQ (maybe 4,6,8 ?)
-As little gain and compression as possible
-and good articulation and "percussiveness" -a hard hitting, punchy, physical attack on the that low string.
Suggestions on which guitar to experiment with? I'm probably getting into custom pickup territory... I know, I tune low...
I truly thank you for your time. THANKS.
