I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

[BetaCAM]

Hi,

My guitar is RG7321 with fixed bridge, and it's a basswood body, you know how it works...

It has a 5 way toggle switch and 2 humbuckers.

I need recommendations for pickups that would give me high output, smooth sound that won't force me to dig inside the guitar as I play,
something that can give me a lot of juice without too much effort.

Also, I know that the EMG 707 don't fit in the cavity of the guitar as it's a direct mounted... I measured and the size I need is the size of a pickup such as the blackout phase 1 as far as where the holes should be and the size of the pickup itself.

Do you know the measurements of pickups such as JB or Jazz model for 7 strings?

Thanks!

 

[Crazy_Guitar]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

DiMarzio Air Norton 7/Blaze II bridge are direct replacements.

As for the Seymour Duncans, I'm not sure whether you will have to file the edges of the pickup "ears" (the base where you insert the screw).

EMGs will require routing on your guitar.

 

[Crazy_Guitar]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

*** Duplicate Post, Please Delete. ***

 

[BetaCAM]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

Hi,

I forgot to mention, I'm not into the scooped mid sound and even if want that I'd rather scoop my amp than grab a pickup that already does that...

However, I know for sure that evolution is definitely not a pickup that I like.

 

[Crazy_Guitar]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

The Blaze II is similar to the Steve's Special.

A Blaze II pickup when direct mount, delivers a very even sound: though it has scooped mids, they are compensated by being direct mount.

 

[tone_guru]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

I just bought the same RG7321, but mine had direct mount pickups. I installed Dimarzio D-Activators in the bridge and neck. I'm not into that active pickup sound, so I'm looking for something else. They're definitely high output, but it's too much for me. I'm thinking about a Blaze, or maybe look into the JB.

The D-Activator in the neck sounds really good, but the D in the bridge has got to go.

 

[Loserchief]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

Hi,

I forgot to mention, I'm not into the scooped mid sound and even if want that I'd rather scoop my amp than grab a pickup that already does that...

However, I know for sure that evolution is definitely not a pickup that I like.

The Blaze will work well in a 7321, if you want more mids you might try the Blaze Custom.
But what is it that you don't like about the Evolution?if you are comparing with the 6-string version you're quite far from the Evo-7 sound. it's more like the Evo-2 than the regular Evo

 

[bigheadood]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

I put an X2N7 in my RG7321.

Really high output, and quite well balanced.
Here's a clipX2N7

 

[BetaCAM]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

Hi,

What I didn't like about the EVO7 that I had a chance to hear, is that it's too mid rangy and I couldn't notice any bass there, the sound was way too flat...

 

[BetaCAM]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

Btw, that was a really nice sound on that clip of the X2N7, but if you could send me a sample of a slower playing with more power chords, even though I can find nice balance there...

How did you record it btw?

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

Hi,

What I didn't like about the EVO7 that I had a chance to hear, is that it's too mid rangy and I couldn't notice any bass there, the sound was way too flat...

I have an EVO7 and Air Norton 7 in mine, but if that its too middy for you, the Blaze pups are the way to go. I have the Steve's Special and it really is a fantastic pickup (Blaze are very similar)....DMs always seem to be a bit hotter in the mids and tamer in the high end than Duncans, so the tone chart can be tough to gauge. I don't find the Blaze/Steve's Special to be especially mid scooped - I find them be somewhat PAF-ish with a modern twist and more output.

 

[BetaCAM]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

Hi,

First, I had a Steve's special in one guitar, and eventually I hated it because of its lack of balls, it was way too clean and it sounded really dry, lots of gain and every note is heard, but that's pretty much it.

Second, I played a EBMM JP6 with D sonic in it, and I know there's a 7 string version, I disliked the 6 version D sonic, same goes for Air Norton which I had in one Ibanez coupled with Steve's special in the bridge, so I had the famous COMBO, but eventually I was sick of it.

I didn't like the Air Norton having such a bridge pickup feeling in the neck position...

So with this past experience, I'm little scared to try mid scooped pickup in a 7 string... the mid range is important as it always falls short to my opinion. I need something with more juice and high output to be able to play softer and still get a lot of chunk and heaviness in the tone.

Btw,I find it odd that I get here more Dimarzio recommendations than Duncans...

 

[Loserchief]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

Hi,

What I didn't like about the EVO7 that I had a chance to hear, is that it's too mid rangy and I couldn't notice any bass there, the sound was way too flat...

I don't know through which guitar/amp combination you've hear the Evo-7 but you'r eht first to complain about lacking bass. The bass is really tight and super punchy and not as woofy and big as other pups,but it can really hit you in the chest with the right amp.
I think i'll record a clip for you if i find the time

Hi,

First, I had a Steve's special in one guitar, and eventually I hated it because of its lack of balls, it was way too clean and it sounded really dry, lots of gain and every note is heard, but that's pretty much it.

Second, I played a EBMM JP6 with D sonic in it, and I know there's a 7 string version, I disliked the 6 version D sonic, same goes for Air Norton which I had in one Ibanez coupled with Steve's special in the bridge, so I had the famous COMBO, but eventually I was sick of it.

I didn't like the Air Norton having such a bridge pickup feeling in the neck position...

So with this past experience, I'm little scared to try mid scooped pickup in a 7 string... the mid range is important as it always falls short to my opinion. I need something with more juice and high output to be able to play softer and still get a lot of chunk and heaviness in the tone.

Btw,I find it odd that I get here more Dimarzio recommendations than Duncans...

Since you don't like the Evo/Blaze/Air Norton/D-sonic i'd strongly advise you to get a Blaze Custom. It has more mids and bass,a little more output than a regular blaze and in general sounds fatter.

But to give you a real good recommendation, we need some other things. Your amp,the styles you want to play(some bands), maybe your choice of string gauges.

 

[BetaCAM]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

Hi,

My string gauges: 9-42 and my 7th string is a 56 and I'm using standard tunning.

I'll be using this guitar a lot for recording, that is on the PC using amp sims... that is through POD etc...

My amp is a peavey classic50 combo 212, I have a pedalboard with Nady TD-1 tube distortion, I have a BB Preamp and a Boogie Bottle Rocket.

The styles that I'm involved are more like goth metal, I'm not into death metal or anything with growling in it... I listened to some nevermore songs and I found the sound pretty pleasing to my ears, I also heard DT's song The dark eternal night which is some reference for me, though the sound there is too over controlled to my opinion, but it could be a direction for me.

One album that I loved the 7th string guitar sound was Karmacode by Lacuna Coil if this helps...

 

[Loserchief]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

With the style you have in mind you'll really like the fat and thick sound of a Blaze Custom. It's not as tight and clear for sinlge notes and fast runs like in Death metal but since goth is more about heavy chords and stuff it could work great for you.
You could also try a Duncan Invader-7 for your chordwork but i've nver personally experienced this pup.

But you might want to up the string gauge a little to get some tightness and definition for heavy chordwork. With super thin strings like that most pups will sound muddy.

And to answer your previous question about why you get soe many Dimarzio recommendations: dimarzio seems to hold a bigger market share among 7-stringers than duncans do and Dimarzios gnereally work a lot better with basswood than duncans

 

[BetaCAM]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

Hi,

The reason that I use 9-42's is that I play standard tunning, I can't play Flat tunning, I have perfect pitch hearing and it confuses me and makes me lose perspective if I change tunning...

As far as tension goes, I'm afraid it will be too difficult to play it with 10-46 in standard tunning for me, as I play relatively gentle, all my other 6 strings are stringed with 9-42's...

 

[BetaCAM]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

Thanks again for all your responses, you certainly have given me things to think about, right now the best combo I see is the Blaze Custom in bridge position, and Since I don't like the Air Norton, might consider the Blaze neck, or maybe the Paf 7...

Thank you.

 

[bigheadood]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

Btw, that was a really nice sound on that clip of the X2N7, but if you could send me a sample of a slower playing with more power chords, even though I can find nice balance there...

How did you record it btw?

Unfortunately, that is the only recording I've done with that guitar. It was recorded with a PODxt straight into Garageband.

You and I use the exact same string gauge, so mud can be avoided with the X2N7. Hope this helps.

Good luck

 

[Darth Nihilus]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

Seymour Duncan Blackouts Phase I. These pickups are the ultimate Metal pickup. All other pickups tremble in their presence!

 

[Imp]

Re: I need pickups recommendation from my 7 string Ibanez

yeah, i just had to switch the baseplates when i put my invader-7 in.. what a PITA..

invader's sounding impressive indeed so far though

thought about a 7 string custom?