Ibanez RG321MH pup suggestion

[ShredNChunk]

I've been searching around these forums for a couple of days for some nice suggestions, but i find myself more confused than initially.

So i have this guitar, with some really bad pickups. I want some new ones now, but i have no idea what to buy. The RG321MH is a mahogany guitar with rosewood fingerboard, but i have heard that even though its a mahog guitar, its not really dark sounding, like normal mahogs.

Initially i was going to buy the JB/Jazz set. Its a pretty inexpensive solution for me. And i heard the JB in the ESP Dave Mustaine V once, and it sounded kickass.

But after reading around here i feel theres a great dislike for the especially the JB pickup.

Style: Gonna play mostly Thrash inspired music. Oldschool Metallica, Megadeth, slayer, exodus and that style. Also i like playing Meshuggah like music.

Equip: Mostly i will be playing modeling amps (Guitarport, Peavey Vypyr 30). But when rehearsing/jamming with band i will play through an all tube amp (Peavey 5150 and Sovtek MIG 100H). So i need something that won't mud out/clip my signal on modeling equipment, but something that can still drive a tube amp really great. The MIG 100H is somewhat of a 2203 JCM 800 replica, so i'd like the new pups to be able to drive that into thrash land.

Sound: I want a really tight but pronounced buttom, for those thrash riffs. I need great attack with lots of bite, but something that can handle Raining blood, Battery, angel of death etc. without mudding. But i also want that really great articulate ring, when doing slower power chord strums. I must say im more of a mid-kind of guy instead of a scoop kind of guy.

For the neck, im still pretty set on the Jazz. I want something really glassy and smooth for the lead parts. Something like the Necrophagist solo sound.

Final words:
I don't want actives. I had EMG 81 in my BC Rich, and while they were really OK, i want something else for this guitar.


Edit:

I just want to say that i won't do any modding of any PU's. Not that i mind people doing that, but i know that i will never get it done, and its simply too much of a hassle. Im more a plug and play kind of guy, and really not an electronics geek.

Already Suggested:

Bridge
- JB
- Duncan Distortion
- C5 (Modified)
- Dimarzio Evo

Neck
- Jazz
- Duncan '59
- Full Shread
- Jazz (Modified)
- Dimarzio Humber from hell
- Dimarzio Bluesbucker

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Ibanez RG321MH pup suggestion

It sounds like a JB would do it for you. Whatever people say about it, for some guitars and some music, it's the right pickup.

 

[Marshall_Abuser]

Re: Ibanez RG321MH pup suggestion

Since you play rhythm on the bridge and leads on the neck :

Neck : Duncan '59 or Full Shred Neck model
Bridge : Duncan Distortion

The Jazz won't "sing" for leads IMO as it tends to sound very flat and boring with high-gain.

 

[CTN]

Re: Ibanez RG321MH pup suggestion

I have a C5/Jazz neck in my ibanez which is also mahogany body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard, and has a two point trem as well.

I'll admit, the low end on the C5 in this set up is a little flubby, not defined enough. adding hex polepieces to replace the stock flathead screws helped a lot. That's leaning towards Full Shred territory. Otherwise it sounds kinda bright, crunchy, pretty tight for the most part, and also pretty articulate.

the Jazz also sounded too sterile and without character, stock. I played around with the height of the flathead polepieces, put a strat kinda vintage stagger on them, and now it sounds a lot better. bright, soulful, still clear and articulate though.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Ibanez RG321MH pup suggestion

hello
just my opinion
<<<<< thats my RG2EX1
basswood body - Jazz/JB
Triple-shots and rewired the switch
there are sound clips and photos at the end of the thread
if your interested

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=174470

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Ibanez RG321MH pup suggestion

I have an Ibanez RG321MHBK. Identical to yours except that the mahogany has been smothered in a matt black finish.

I agree that the stock INF HBs are hopeless. I removed mine and fitted EMG-81 and -H pickups. (Yes, I know that you do not want active pickups!) The point is that the combination of a fat-sounding bridge PU and a "Stratty" sounding neck PU suits the instrument.

Just to be different, my suggestions are;
NECK - DiMarzio Humbucker From Hell or Bluesbucker
BRIDGE - DiMarzio Evolution

 

[ShredNChunk]

Re: Ibanez RG321MH pup suggestion

Wow! Great suggestions guys, keep 'em coming. I still have no clear picture, just a LOT of suggestions.

Main post updated.

 

[dominus]

Re: Ibanez RG321MH pup suggestion

Dimarzio EVO2 in the bridge, Air Norton in the neck.

 

[ryan_1934]

Re: Ibanez RG321MH pup suggestion

It's a weird coincidence, but I recently picked up the same guitar and changed the pickups as well. I too play leads in the neck and rhythm in the bridge.

I ended up putting the Dimarzio 36th Anniversary PAF in the neck and the D-Activator in the bridge. The PAF has nice clarity and warmth for both clean and distorted lead tones. The D-Activator will certainly give you the tight bass response you desire for metal rhythms, and it's not a scooped pickup. I will also add that, for as much talk of the D-Activator being a "bright" pickup and all of that, I found the treble response to be very balanced and full on the higher frets when playing distorted leads.

 

[ShredNChunk]

Re: Ibanez RG321MH pup suggestion

Once again, thanks alot guys. Although i'm actually even more confused now than before. So many suggestions. Maybe its because theres more than one "right" pickup out there?

I took a long hard look at the Duncan Dist.
How does that sound compared to the JB? And if anyone should mention the most negative thing about this pup, what would it be? Will it be able to play clean passages too?

 

[Despair]

Re: Ibanez RG321MH pup suggestion

I'd go with the TB-6 Distortion or PATB-2 Distortion in the bridge for thrash rhythm they're monsters. PATB-2 is slightly thicker, even hotter, and doesn't sound as harsh for leads. Search for Daemonbarbecue on this site, he has an example with both, one panned left, the other right.

Given it's a mahogany body, you have reasonable hopes of a TB-4 JB working. It's not as tight a rhythm pickup, but it's sweeter for leads. If the body's too thin or the wood doesn't cooperate, it might end up with an annoying honk & loose bass, though.

Neck choice depends on if you want cleans & mid-gain. You could go wild and use a JB in the neck if all you care about are screaming leads. If you want more flexibility, I'd probably go with the '59.

The Full Shred would be a good choice if you want less growl, more clarity & bite. Glassy and smooth is a tricky balance, you may have to be prepared to tinker to nail that down, or do a few pickup swaps.

 

[Despair]

Re: Ibanez RG321MH pup suggestion

The Distortion's weakest point is that it's a screaming ceramic pickup with what's often a harsh, biting treble/presence. That's a strength for rhythm, though.

That's why I mentioned the PATB-2, it seems to smooth out the bite slightly for leads, without giving up harmonics or rhythm tone. It's darker, but still amazing for metal rhythm.

The JB is very much the opposite, unless matched with just the right guitar, it's rather loose for rhythm, but it's amazing for leads while generally lacking the often ugly bite of the distortion. Obviously it can work brilliantly, ask any Megadeth fan.