Need advice on new pickups!

[JamesLens]

Hey guys.

So I'm pretty tired of my EMG's, they sound really sterile and I was hoping for something more alive.

I need the pickups to be able to play heavy stuff, such as Tool or Opeth, but at the same time have a warm quality so that the clean sounds good, perhaps even John Mayer or Maroon 5 type of sound?

If this helps I have quite a heavy guitar, alder body, maple neck and ebony fingerboard.

Of course I understand the guitar itself and the amp are highly responsible for the sound, but the EMGs at the moment are way too hot such that the cleans sound horrible and always slightly distorted, especially when strumming chords.

Any advice appreciated

Thank you in advance.

 

[dominus]

Re: Need advice on new pickups!

Custom, Custom 5, or Custom 8 in the bridge.

Jazz, 59, or PG in the neck.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Need advice on new pickups!

Welcome to the forum.

It would have helped to know which EMG pickups you have, in what guitar and through what amplification.

Within the EMG range, the -X versions have improved dynamic response. If your guitar employs Quik Connect wiring, you can easily change to other 9v active pickups (even other brands). The various Seymour Duncan Live Wire models might answer the brief.

 

[JamesLens]

Re: Need advice on new pickups!

Thank you for the replies

I'll check out those pickups thanks

If it helps, at the moment I have EMG 81 and 85, and I'm running though a Laney VH100R. The guitar is an ESP Jeff Hanneman signature.

I was going to try the 18V mod on the EMGs first, seeing as that increases headroom and could decrease distortion, but I'm finding that I prefer the sound of passive pickups since there's more dynamic range and I'm looking for more versatility.

Also I checked out the pickup comparison video on the website and found that I liked the sound of the distortion and JB for the bridge, how do those fare? Maybe if I installed something like that in the bridge and a jazz one in the neck that would solve the problem?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Need advice on new pickups!

You mentioned batteries. When did you last change yours?

 

[JamesLens]

Re: Need advice on new pickups!

Haha no don't worry I change the battery regularly. Besides this has been an ongoing issue for a while.

 

[dr. ad]

Re: Need advice on new pickups!

i think dominus has pointed out some good options, but i'm wondering if you might enjoy something lighter again...
i'm not super-familiar with them, but i'm pretty sure john manwhore and the marooned 5s use strats for most everything?
i'd think a p-rails in the neck would cover the single-coil requirements; and your guitar and amp should be capable of tool crunch with anything hotter than a pearly. i'd recommend a stag mag for the neck but i think your gui's fingerboard is flat enough for the radius of the poles to sound unbalanced.
just opinions, but if you want a radical change, that'll do it.
don't forget the pots, and check if your bridge claw has a wire attached to it before you round up your materials...
what about a p-rails neck and an alt8?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Need advice on new pickups!

I think the Jazz may be going too far in the sterility direction for you, a Pearly Gates should fit all of your needs for the neck position (P-Rails is a very viable option).

The C8 IS the answer for your bridge pup.

 

[dvanburen]

Re: Need advice on new pickups!

good suggestions already. As much as I like the custom and custom8, I may recommend the JB for your guitar. It sounds really good in alder body with ebony board to me. It can be funny in mohogany but I think that would work well. I also think the cleans are pretty good in the jb. And if I'm not mistaken, I believe Adam Jones in Tool uses a JB.

 

[DeanSweden]

Re: Need advice on new pickups!

DIRTY FINGERS!!

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Need advice on new pickups!

You mentioned Tool as a baseline sound. Adam Jones uses a JB in the bridge of his LP's.

 

[JamesLens]

Re: Need advice on new pickups!

Noob question, but the custom 8 involves changing the stock magnet with an alnico 8 magnet on which pickup model? Any one? Or is there a specific one?

Guitar Doc, you mean the Jazz would be too unsterile for my liking? Because I'd actually prefer a neck pickup that would be used only for cleans, not distortion.

So far I'm inbetween a C8 and JB for bridge and Jazz or PG for neck. Thank you all for the advice.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Need advice on new pickups!

Noob question, but the custom 8 involves changing the stock magnet with an alnico 8 magnet on which pickup model? Any one? Or is there a specific one?

Guitar Doc, you mean the Jazz would be too unsterile for my liking? Because I'd actually prefer a neck pickup that would be used only for cleans, not distortion.

So far I'm inbetween a C8 and JB for bridge and Jazz or PG for neck. Thank you all for the advice.

You can do the A8 mag swap on any of the Custom Series pickups. They're all the same except for the mag. If you're going that route, I suggest getting the rest of the magnets to try with it. They're $2 or $3 and can open a lot of different sounds with just the mags.

I think what GuitarDoc was saying is that the Jazz neck is overly sterile for a passive pickup, and it is. If you're trying to get away from sterile pickups, then you don't want the jazz neck. It's very clean and articulate, but offers very little in warmth or dynamics.

I don't think you've mentioned your guitar or amp, but if it were me, I'd start with the JB/PG combo and go from there. If you buy them from an authorized Duncan deal, you can use the 21 day return policy if you don't like them and want to try something else as long as you don't cut the wires or modify the pickup.

 

[El Dunco]

Re: Need advice on new pickups!

Put your 85 in the bridge and see how that sounds. My only EMG loaded axe has an 85 and an 89 (which is an 85 and an SA in the one pickup) and I find it fantastic. That's from someone who uses Seymour Duncan passives in a majority of his guitars and Dimarzios in one other.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Need advice on new pickups!

Mr 9finger is absolutely correct...I think the Jazz may be too sterile for what you want. It certainly can do cleans, but there isn't much character there. The PG can do cleans marvelously in the neck with nice supporting overtones, but it can do so much more as well, and do it with character. With a little OD it is smooth and creamy...just yummy. But if and when you want to push it over the top, it can handle that wonderfully as well. The PG is a big favorite for neck pups. One of mine, for sure!!

I haven't personally tried the JB, but I understand that it can be heaven or hell depending on the guitar. I will definitely have to try it myself one of these days.

 

[JamesLens]

Re: Need advice on new pickups!

I did try the EMG 85 in the neck, it sounds nicer but still there is the problem of it sounding distorted on the clean.

Right then, I'll settle for PG in the neck pups, and probably will try JB for now, will switch to C8 if necessary.

Thank you all very much!