Jackson KV2 + engl savage 120, which pick ups for more low mids?

eric_kv2

New member
I have a jackson king v (alder body, maple neck thru) that currently has a '59 in the neck and a jb in the bridge. I like the 59 in the neck with every other amp i've owned and will probably keep it in there. The jb might get replaced if it doesn't pair up well with the savage 120 (6550 tubes and has a lot of high mids) and the engl vintage 30 cab. What would you reccomend for more lows and lower mids to contrast the amp? I'm debating between an invader or a tone zone. Any suggestions?


Thanks,

Eric
 
Re: Jackson KV2 + engl savage 120, which pick ups for more low mids?

Wait, your amp has a mid range spike and u want to add in a Tonezone? heh... i'd say go with the Duncan Custom 5 for more and tighter lows and highs that dont get brittle. just my 2 cents.
 
Re: Jackson KV2 + engl savage 120, which pick ups for more low mids?

Wait, your amp has a mid range spike and u want to add in a Tonezone? heh... i'd say go with the Duncan Custom 5 for more and tighter lows and highs that dont get brittle. just my 2 cents.

Thanks Ken, I think that may be a good combo with the 59. The engl Savage 120 has a lot of highs and high mids due to the voicing of the amp and the fact that its going thru celestion vintage 30s. I should have plenty of mids with the amp and speakers alone. I thought a tone zone added more bass and that was why I thought about it. The Custom 5 still has some mids doesn't it?
 
Re: Jackson KV2 + engl savage 120, which pick ups for more low mids?

Thanks Ken, I think that may be a good combo with the 59. The engl Savage 120 has a lot of highs and high mids due to the voicing of the amp and the fact that its going thru celestion vintage 30s. I should have plenty of mids with the amp and speakers alone. I thought a tone zone added more bass and that was why I thought about it. The Custom 5 still has some mids doesn't it?

yes it has some mids, but nothing close to the JB or Tonezone.
although the tone charts show that its really scooped, it doesnt really sound that way IMO. and if your amp is mid heavy, then getting a scooped pup wouldnt really matter that much anyway...think John Petrucci in the early 90s. his amps were really mid heavy and he used a Dimarzio Steve Special, which IMO is more scooped than a C5.
 
Re: Jackson KV2 + engl savage 120, which pick ups for more low mids?

Look into a PATB1. It will fatten your tone, keep things tight, and balance the tone.
 
Re: Jackson KV2 + engl savage 120, which pick ups for more low mids?

If your amp has a lot of high mids and you're looking for more low mid chunk, you're absolutely right, the JB is the wrong pickup. Especially in a neck though guitar like the King V. Neck through guitars that I've owned all tended to further accentuate the upper mids, and be little thin in the low end.

If you want to beef up the low mids, I second Benjy's suggestion of the PATB1. It's a very chunky sounding pickup, and it'll take some of the harsh edge off that you often get with guitars that have neck through construction and ebony fretboards.

Other pickups I'd recommend are the Custom, which has a fat, chunky lower midrange but plenty of high end sizzle too, or the Custom Custom, which has a mellower high end and fat chunky mids that crunch like a chainsaw. If your ebony fretbaord already makes the guitar sound edgy and bright, the Custom Custom might be the better choice.

The C5 may be good too. I agree with I M Ken, though the tone chart gives the impression it has a lot of midrange scooped out, the one I have in my Jackson PC-2 sounds as crunchy as any of the more midrangey pickups available. And there's a little more bottom, which also would probably complement a guitar with neck through construction.

BTW, I'm in no way knocking neck through guitars. I've owned several, still have a few, and I like them. But they do sound different than bolt on's or set necks, and their unique tonal properties are something you have to take into consideration if you're looking to install pickups to alter the tone. Have fun! :)
 
Re: Jackson KV2 + engl savage 120, which pick ups for more low mids?

If your amp has a lot of high mids and you're looking for more low mid chunk, you're absolutely right, the JB is the wrong pickup. Especially in a neck though guitar like the King V. Neck through guitars that I've owned all tended to further accentuate the upper mids, and be little thin in the low end.

If you want to beef up the low mids, I second Benjy's suggestion of the PATB1. It's a very chunky sounding pickup, and it'll take some of the harsh edge off that you often get with guitars that have neck through construction and ebony fretboards.

Other pickups I'd recommend are the Custom, which has a fat, chunky lower midrange but plenty of high end sizzle too, or the Custom Custom, which has a mellower high end and fat chunky mids that crunch like a chainsaw. If your ebony fretbaord already makes the guitar sound edgy and bright, the Custom Custom might be the better choice.

The C5 may be good too. I agree with I M Ken, though the tone chart gives the impression it has a lot of midrange scooped out, the one I have in my Jackson PC-2 sounds as crunchy as any of the more midrangey pickups available. And there's a little more bottom, which also would probably complement a guitar with neck through construction.

BTW, I'm in no way knocking neck through guitars. I've owned several, still have a few, and I like them. But they do sound different than bolt on's or set necks, and their unique tonal properties are something you have to take into consideration if you're looking to install pickups to alter the tone. Have fun! :)

Which one out of those 3 has the least harsh highs? This amp has the highs as well.

Thanks for the replies everyone.
 
Re: Jackson KV2 + engl savage 120, which pick ups for more low mids?

Which one out of those 3 has the least harsh highs? This amp has the highs as well.

Thanks for the replies everyone.
Of the Custom, Custom Custom and Custom 5? The Custom Custom would have the smoothest highs. I recently put a Custom Custom in a guitar that had ice pick high end and it warmed it right up. Filled out the midrange too.

I wouldn't overlook the PATB-1. It also has a warm high end and lots of chunky lower mids. Makes it easy to get Boston's guitar tone. The mids are boosted in about the same frequency range, though not quite as narrowly.
 
Re: Jackson KV2 + engl savage 120, which pick ups for more low mids?

Of the Custom, Custom Custom and Custom 5? The Custom Custom would have the smoothest highs. I recently put a Custom Custom in a guitar that had ice pick high end and it warmed it right up. Filled out the midrange too.

I wouldn't overlook the PATB-1. It also has a warm high end and lots of chunky lower mids. Makes it easy to get Boston's guitar tone. The mids are boosted in about the same frequency range, though not quite as narrowly.

Would you say that the PATB-1 has smoother highs and more low end chunk compared to the custom custom? I'm debating between these two now.

Thanks again all. :)
 
Re: Jackson KV2 + engl savage 120, which pick ups for more low mids?

Do any of you think I should switch the neck pick up as well?
 
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