Re: Ibanez RG350DX
Daemon...an invader not having enough bottom!!?? wow...now that's a first ahaha. Hey Rob, welcome to the forum!! I'd suggest the amp before anything. Not only does a better/louder amp help when you're jamming, but all in all, the amp colors your tone a LOT. really the best thing is go to a store and just play em all with your guitar and whatever pedals you use. Here it's really up to your ear. As for the pickups...avenged, metallica, and guns really are different sounding things. I'm not gonna tell you Invader just because I'm very fond of it. Syn uses it and I think they also used it in Master of Puppets. But really a JB/Invader setup will be hot. Like hot hot. So you should really think up the fact that you'll probably want to have a very versatile guitar later on.
So, in a nutshell
Invader (Synyster Gates): Hot, tight, strong bass and mids. Some say it has a shrill high end but with me that's not the case. In my guitar it sounds tight. Some think it's muddy...
EMG 81 (Kirk Hammett): Compressed, tight, kinda on the bright side. It's been branded lifeless and sterile, but altogether it's a good pickup. Just not my pickup. Maybe a Blackout?? but they really have a similar tone, just the blackout is improved...
EMG 60 (James Hetfield): No idea about this one
JB (Zacky Vengeance): it cuts through, and it screams, thanks to the high-mid spike it has, problem is, some people find it too ice-picky, and not tight enough. i think in a band situation this pickup shines...
Alnico ll Pro (Slash): Smooth, warm, low output. Really nice pickup. You may not find it hot enough though. It has really smooth highs.
I won't suggest any of these pups specifically though. Just try a lot of 'em. And play similar guitars with different set ups so you can figure out what do you want in a pickup. remember, AMP FIRST!!!