Looking for a crystal clean set.

[misterwhizzy]

I have my Les Paul set up to do all the gain tones I like, and my PRS SE Custom 22 basically just hangs on the wall most of the time. I think I want to set it up to do crystal clean tones on both neck and bridge, maybe Metallica MOP-era cleans. What pickup set would you recommend? And for consistency's sake, I think I'd like a pair designed as a set, which is why I don't really want, "Oh, dude, you just need Humbucker from Hell, and you're there."

 

[AlexR]

Re: Looking for a crystal clean set.

Crystal cleans in that case was more about the amp.....a Roland JC 120 was either on that album or the next according to various sources.

Any low output humbucker will be clean if the amp allows it to be. It all depends on the flavouring as to what pickup to choose.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Looking for a crystal clean set.

Wilde Pickups by Bill and Becky Lawrence are the clearest pickups out there.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Looking for a crystal clean set.

TV Jones into a Twin Reverb :fing2:

I have a 1976 Ibanez Artist and it is getting a set of TV Jones . . . soon.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Looking for a crystal clean set.

Crystal cleans in that case was more about the amp.....a Roland JC 120 was either on that album or the next according to various sources.

Any low output humbucker will be clean if the amp allows it to be. It all depends on the flavouring as to what pickup to choose.

Agreed. I just spent an hour with my Texas Special-loaded Strat going into my dimed Super Reverb, no pedals. With the guitar's volume on 10, it's grindy as hell. Back it off to 5, and it's glassy clean. The same is true for my LP/SG with PAFs, and my Peavey Predator with a Duncan Designed version of the JB.

So, before you start swapping out anything, give the PRS's volume knob a workout.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Looking for a crystal clean set.

I'd go with a Jazz neck and a Jazz bridge. Even a set like the Wide Range Humbucker would work (you might be able to get them normal sized).

 

[AlexR]

Re: Looking for a crystal clean set.

^ The Creamery does a WRHB in a humbucker size.

 

[elelpe]

Re: Looking for a crystal clean set.

Wilde Pickups by Bill and Becky Lawrence are the clearest pickups out there.

This. And also Bartolinis.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Looking for a crystal clean set.

What Mincer said,
Jazz neck, Jazz bridge. I've tried both and love them for that clean quality.
SJB

 

[freefrog]

Re: Looking for a crystal clean set.

Most of the pickups named above are low inductance pickups (at least if the mentioned Bill Lawrence models are his 3.2H L500's) and any other low inductance models would give low output/clean tones... including a normal humbucker wired in parallel.

Other ways to achieve "crystal clean tones" would be...
-an inductive or LRC filter in parallel with the pickups : Bill Lawrence Q filter, Gresco Qube, Torres mid control or simple dummy coils;
-a preamp mounted just before the output jack, in order to defeat cable capacitance - a "Stratoblaster" preamp with a trim pot set on unity gain would do that and would be small enough to go in a regular electronic cavity... but an Atlantic Audio "Zerocap cable" would be an easier mean to achieve the same thing.

IOW, there's no need to change the pickups to obtain crystal clean tones as a few cheaper electronic tricks can do that. I've recently mounted a dummy coil in a guitar with two P90's and once this dummy coil enabled, the P90's warm gainy sound becomes the same low output / sparkling tone than with a lipstick strat pickup directly compared to it.

FWIW...

 

[blueman335]

Re: Looking for a crystal clean set.

I'd go with a Jazz neck and a Jazz bridge.

+1. Jazz set.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Looking for a crystal clean set.

I ordered a set of Bill and Becky Lawrence L-90s. Let's see how that works out.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Looking for a crystal clean set.

I would suggest the Lace Sensor Alumitone neck and Deathbucker Bridge, if you don't mind the aesthetic. The neck does perfect cleans, and the bridge does as well. The name "Deathbucker" is a bit misleading, it can go anywhere from jazz to metal. It also has a phenomenal "split" tone.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Looking for a crystal clean set.

I ordered a set of Bill and Becky Lawrence L-90s. Let's see how that works out.

It will work out. I bought the hottest L-90 last year and sold it almost immediately because it was too clean and bright and articulate for what I play.