Ive been TRYING to like these pickups in my Ibanez Prestige RG 1550M,ive tried different heights and different adjustments and still not liking them,so any suggestions,i play alot of early Van halen,my other strats(Warmoth parts guitars) which are made of northern ash(hard ash)have seymour Duncan 59 pickups in them,has anyone used Duncan 59 pickups in there 1550m guitars,basswood and hard ash are completely different woods im just wondering how they would sound or would i have to go with alittle more output in the pickup since basswood tends to be soft and might damper the output of a lower output pickup like the duncan 59,the duncan 59 sound great in my ash body strat but how would they sound in basswood,i looked at the discribtion of the Duncan custom 5(SH14)which is a higher output version of the duncan 59 same treble-mids-bass of the duncan 59,i thought about putting that pickup(duncan custom 5 SH14) in the bridge postion of my 1550m,anyway any thoughts on this.
Ibanez Prestige rg1550m stock pickups V8-S1-V7 need to go..
- Thread starter pittbull
- Start date
ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: Ibanez Prestige rg1550m stock pickups V8-S1-V7 need to go..
well this may not be what you want to hear but
I have a JB/Jazz in my RG2 and I think they sound very 80's rock and roll
others disagree
some think the JB in a basswood body has too much of a midrange spike
I haven't found that to be the case
the Jazz is an under wound PAF style pickup
7.7k with A5 magnet
sounds wonderful to me digging the split coil neck tones at the moment
my RG2 arrived with the V7 & V8
now the RG4 arrived with the INF series
I kinda like these
the bridge has a JB-ish quality in that it has to be at just the right height to come alive
it is over wound to 16k and has a ceramic magnet
I think it would benefit from an A8 magnet ( or at least those are my plans )
the neck is a rocker
abit too high out put in my opinion
wound to 12k and has an "alinco" magnet tho I cant find which one in any publication
well this may not be what you want to hear but
I have a JB/Jazz in my RG2 and I think they sound very 80's rock and roll
others disagree
some think the JB in a basswood body has too much of a midrange spike
I haven't found that to be the case
the Jazz is an under wound PAF style pickup
7.7k with A5 magnet
sounds wonderful to me digging the split coil neck tones at the moment
my RG2 arrived with the V7 & V8
now the RG4 arrived with the INF series
I kinda like these
the bridge has a JB-ish quality in that it has to be at just the right height to come alive
it is over wound to 16k and has a ceramic magnet
I think it would benefit from an A8 magnet ( or at least those are my plans )
the neck is a rocker
abit too high out put in my opinion
wound to 12k and has an "alinco" magnet tho I cant find which one in any publication
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Marshall_Abuser
New member
Re: Ibanez Prestige rg1550m stock pickups V8-S1-V7 need to go..
I would put a Duncan Custom Trembucker (TB-5) in the bridge and a '59 bridge model in the neck.
Another good option for the bridge would be the PATB-1 or PATB-3 depending on if you prefer a thicker PAF (PATB-3) or a ballsy versatile pickup (PATB-1) that's not too PAF-ish.
I had JB/Jazz set in a basswood Ibanez and totally HATED it, especially the Jazz, which IMO sounds piss poor in every type of wood...
I'd also steer away from the Duncan Custom 5 (TB-14) for that guitar.
I would put a Duncan Custom Trembucker (TB-5) in the bridge and a '59 bridge model in the neck.
Another good option for the bridge would be the PATB-1 or PATB-3 depending on if you prefer a thicker PAF (PATB-3) or a ballsy versatile pickup (PATB-1) that's not too PAF-ish.
I had JB/Jazz set in a basswood Ibanez and totally HATED it, especially the Jazz, which IMO sounds piss poor in every type of wood...
I'd also steer away from the Duncan Custom 5 (TB-14) for that guitar.
Marshall_Abuser
New member
Re: Ibanez Prestige rg1550m stock pickups V8-S1-V7 need to go..
Buy a '59 bridge and try it. If it's good, keep it and buy a '59 neck for the neck.
If the '59 bridge doesn't sound good in the bridge, put it in the neck and buy a Custom for the bridge.
Buy a '59 bridge and try it. If it's good, keep it and buy a '59 neck for the neck.
If the '59 bridge doesn't sound good in the bridge, put it in the neck and buy a Custom for the bridge.
Re: Ibanez Prestige rg1550m stock pickups V8-S1-V7 need to go..
I'd argue against the JB in an all-basswood guitar as the first thing to try. But some people do like it. Given you talk about EVH, though...
If you want to make a superstrat sound more like a les paul, look at the PATB-series. PATB-1b seems to sound a bit like an overwound Custom 5 (except it likes basswood, unlike a Custom 5), only more dynamic than you'd expect and with more harmonics & sustain. I've heard people pull off some great early EVH tones with it. (Much like with a Custom Custom, though this has a bit more presence & grunt.)
PATB-1b seems a bit weak on palm mutes, I've not played it myself, but the clips I've heard in that vein didn't work for me.
If you want a sound more like a '59 in the bridge of an LP, look at the PATB-3 Blues Saraceno pickup.
PATB-1n seems to be somewhere between a Jazz and a '59 from the clips I've heard, seems like a great choice if you go for a PATB bridge.
Middle pickup is a bit of a harder choice in HSH, I'd look at the Stack Plus series, particularly the Vintage Hot if you tend to use it by itself more, or the Classic if you use 2 + 4 switch positions more.
I'd argue against the JB in an all-basswood guitar as the first thing to try. But some people do like it. Given you talk about EVH, though...
If you want to make a superstrat sound more like a les paul, look at the PATB-series. PATB-1b seems to sound a bit like an overwound Custom 5 (except it likes basswood, unlike a Custom 5), only more dynamic than you'd expect and with more harmonics & sustain. I've heard people pull off some great early EVH tones with it. (Much like with a Custom Custom, though this has a bit more presence & grunt.)
PATB-1b seems a bit weak on palm mutes, I've not played it myself, but the clips I've heard in that vein didn't work for me.
If you want a sound more like a '59 in the bridge of an LP, look at the PATB-3 Blues Saraceno pickup.
PATB-1n seems to be somewhere between a Jazz and a '59 from the clips I've heard, seems like a great choice if you go for a PATB bridge.
Middle pickup is a bit of a harder choice in HSH, I'd look at the Stack Plus series, particularly the Vintage Hot if you tend to use it by itself more, or the Classic if you use 2 + 4 switch positions more.
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J
Jessie Sammler
Guest
Re: Ibanez Prestige rg1550m stock pickups V8-S1-V7 need to go..
I was a big DiMarzio fan in the days when I was into those kinds of guitars. Breeds really did it for me, everything from Van Halen to Slayer.
I was a big DiMarzio fan in the days when I was into those kinds of guitars. Breeds really did it for me, everything from Van Halen to Slayer.
A
alashredder
Guest
Re: Ibanez Prestige rg1550m stock pickups V8-S1-V7 need to go..
Breeds are my fav. in basswood Ibanez's. IF you must go with Duncans, try a full shred in the bridge and a 59 in the neck. I personally haven't tried a full shred, but I hear alot of good reviews on basswood bodies. One of the RG Prestige's did come with a Duncan Full Shred stock before. I personally did not like the JB with basswood bodies. It sounded too dull to me.
Breeds are my fav. in basswood Ibanez's. IF you must go with Duncans, try a full shred in the bridge and a 59 in the neck. I personally haven't tried a full shred, but I hear alot of good reviews on basswood bodies. One of the RG Prestige's did come with a Duncan Full Shred stock before. I personally did not like the JB with basswood bodies. It sounded too dull to me.
Ashurbanipal
Well-known member
Re: Ibanez Prestige rg1550m stock pickups V8-S1-V7 need to go..
If you're handy with a soldering iron, you can try some coil swaps and/or air buckering before forking out for new units. Plus, mucking around with pups is fun
. This is what I did with my stock Ibanez pickups with pleasant results. I constructed a hybrid for the neck of my RG320: INF2 slug coil and remaining Powersound coil, kept the ceramic but air buckered it. More definition and overtones, brighter, excellent parallel sound.
The V7 is ceramic while the V8 is A5, so maybe try switching the mags around so the ceramic is in the bridge and A5 in the neck. I find that lower end pickups with a ceramic mag in the neck is too overwhelming - either a swap for something else or air bucker to tame it.
If you're handy with a soldering iron, you can try some coil swaps and/or air buckering before forking out for new units. Plus, mucking around with pups is fun
. This is what I did with my stock Ibanez pickups with pleasant results. I constructed a hybrid for the neck of my RG320: INF2 slug coil and remaining Powersound coil, kept the ceramic but air buckered it. More definition and overtones, brighter, excellent parallel sound.
The V7 is ceramic while the V8 is A5, so maybe try switching the mags around so the ceramic is in the bridge and A5 in the neck. I find that lower end pickups with a ceramic mag in the neck is too overwhelming - either a swap for something else or air bucker to tame it.
J
Jessie Sammler
Guest
Re: Ibanez Prestige rg1550m stock pickups V8-S1-V7 need to go..
What is this airbuckering you speak of, and how can I get some?
What is this airbuckering you speak of, and how can I get some?
Re: Ibanez Prestige rg1550m stock pickups V8-S1-V7 need to go..
That's why they pursued the Airbucker approach, in an attempt to get an A2 tone out of a full strength A5 magnet.
Jessie Sammler: Airbuckering is a technique of putting non-magnetically conductive spacers between the magnet and the poles, which weakens the magnetic field a bit. I've never tried modding a pickup for it myself, for that you'll have to search for directions, or hope someone else can help.
INF series are designed or made by DiMarzio for Ibanez, I forget which. DiMarzio nearly always uses ceramic or A5 magnets.
That's why they pursued the Airbucker approach, in an attempt to get an A2 tone out of a full strength A5 magnet.
Jessie Sammler: Airbuckering is a technique of putting non-magnetically conductive spacers between the magnet and the poles, which weakens the magnetic field a bit. I've never tried modding a pickup for it myself, for that you'll have to search for directions, or hope someone else can help.
ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: Ibanez Prestige rg1550m stock pickups V8-S1-V7 need to go..
link to the patent on air buckering
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT5399802&id=-yUaAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&dq=5399802#v=onepage&q=&f=false
link to dimarzio forum air bucker mod
http://www.dimarzioforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=1697.msg13440#msg13440
link to the patent on air buckering
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT5399802&id=-yUaAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&dq=5399802#v=onepage&q=&f=false
link to dimarzio forum air bucker mod
http://www.dimarzioforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=1697.msg13440#msg13440
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Ashurbanipal
Well-known member
Re: Ibanez Prestige rg1550m stock pickups V8-S1-V7 need to go..
The others have it right. It's dead simple and reversible. I just cut some plastic to the correct size so it eliminates contact between the magnet and the polepieces.
This is the neck ceramic mag from my old Epiphone with the spacers on it. The mag is a good deal larger than those in my Ibanez pups - enough gauss to knock out a herd of wilderbeest. After treatment the pu is a good bit cleaner sounding.
This is the Ibanez bridge pickup being treated - only used one layer of plastic to take the edge off a little (mostly for the out of phase mix positions). The Epiphone pup needed two on either side.
Construction of the neck hybrid - INF2 coil is soldered on and spacer about to be cut to size.
So, viz. this thread topic, I'd try these kinds of mods with my stock pups before deciding to toss them.
The others have it right. It's dead simple and reversible. I just cut some plastic to the correct size so it eliminates contact between the magnet and the polepieces.
This is the neck ceramic mag from my old Epiphone with the spacers on it. The mag is a good deal larger than those in my Ibanez pups - enough gauss to knock out a herd of wilderbeest. After treatment the pu is a good bit cleaner sounding.
This is the Ibanez bridge pickup being treated - only used one layer of plastic to take the edge off a little (mostly for the out of phase mix positions). The Epiphone pup needed two on either side.
Construction of the neck hybrid - INF2 coil is soldered on and spacer about to be cut to size.
So, viz. this thread topic, I'd try these kinds of mods with my stock pups before deciding to toss them.
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ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: Ibanez Prestige rg1550m stock pickups V8-S1-V7 need to go..
I got the INF3 and INF4 in my RG4
and while the bridge is workable as is
the neck is just a bit too hot and muddy
do ya think this kinda mod might help?
or maybe a mag swap and air mod?
trying to make it sound more like th Jazz in my RG2
I got the INF3 and INF4 in my RG4
and while the bridge is workable as is
the neck is just a bit too hot and muddy
do ya think this kinda mod might help?
or maybe a mag swap and air mod?
trying to make it sound more like th Jazz in my RG2
Ashurbanipal
Well-known member
Re: Ibanez Prestige rg1550m stock pickups V8-S1-V7 need to go..
Well, actually the INF3 is ceramic and the INF4 is alnico. INF1-2 and V7-8 are the same - seems to be an Ibanez thing to have a ceramic neck and alnico bridge. The way to tell: ceramic is dark grey while alnico is shiny and silvery. As far as I know Ibanez use only A5.
So, given that you've got a ceramic and an A5 try swapping them so the ceramic is in the bridge and the Alnico is in the neck. When I was doing my experiments I did try the INF2's A5 in my hybrid but it wasn't to my taste. Give it a shot and see. Because your INF3 is 12k, doing the air mod might be a good idea to take it down a few pegs. I found that the air mod had a very positive effect on the mix positions, particularly in single coil mode - more of that Fendery percussive spank and plunk.
Another thing I do when adjusting pup height is having the bass side a few mils lower, which gives me a slightly tighter sound on the low end.
Another possibility for decreasing output is degaussing, which is explained well in this thread, read Zhangliqun's post: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=121187&highlight=gauss
Making hybrid doesn't affect the output so much as the response/tonal quality. Mismatched coils effect results in the pickup sensing more overtones, giving it a more 3D quality - the '59/Custom thread explains it well. I think a typically bland Ibanez neck pickup benefits from something like this.
For further different flavours, you can experiment with different mags, of course: http://www.wymoreguitars.com/Humbucker-Magnets_c_60.html.
So, there's lots you can do for cheaper than forking out for a new pup.
Hope that helps!
Well, actually the INF3 is ceramic and the INF4 is alnico. INF1-2 and V7-8 are the same - seems to be an Ibanez thing to have a ceramic neck and alnico bridge. The way to tell: ceramic is dark grey while alnico is shiny and silvery. As far as I know Ibanez use only A5.
So, given that you've got a ceramic and an A5 try swapping them so the ceramic is in the bridge and the Alnico is in the neck. When I was doing my experiments I did try the INF2's A5 in my hybrid but it wasn't to my taste. Give it a shot and see. Because your INF3 is 12k, doing the air mod might be a good idea to take it down a few pegs. I found that the air mod had a very positive effect on the mix positions, particularly in single coil mode - more of that Fendery percussive spank and plunk.
Another thing I do when adjusting pup height is having the bass side a few mils lower, which gives me a slightly tighter sound on the low end.
Another possibility for decreasing output is degaussing, which is explained well in this thread, read Zhangliqun's post: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=121187&highlight=gauss
Making hybrid doesn't affect the output so much as the response/tonal quality. Mismatched coils effect results in the pickup sensing more overtones, giving it a more 3D quality - the '59/Custom thread explains it well. I think a typically bland Ibanez neck pickup benefits from something like this.
For further different flavours, you can experiment with different mags, of course: http://www.wymoreguitars.com/Humbucker-Magnets_c_60.html.
So, there's lots you can do for cheaper than forking out for a new pup.
Hope that helps!
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