Need advice on pickups for Jackson

[jimbo1]

I have a jackson DKMG with a floyd rose bridge and emghz H3's in it. Its either basswood or alder with a flame maple veneer. I am not happy with the tone. Its muddy with distortion and mellow when clean. I play through a tube amp with usually a high gain distortion pedal. I play alot of metal. I would like to get something that is very tight, crunchy, won't get muddy under high gain and cuts through. But I must say I play through a 4X10 amp and don't want something that sounds too bright, thin or harsh. I want to replace both pickups. Any suggestions?

 

[Roosje Urbach]

Re: Need advice on pickups for Jackson

TB-5 (Duncan Custom) will do the job nicely in the bridge position.

 

[CJRocker]

Re: Need advice on pickups for Jackson

My advice (its alder btw) is to overall it completely. First, rip out the electronics, including the TurboCharger. Next, wire it Volume/Volume/Tone with nicer pots such as CTS. Also put in a nicer switch. Now for pickups. A '59 is always a winner in the neck for chunky, tight metal. For the bridge, a Duncan Custom would work nicely as suggested. A Distortion may be a bit harsh for you, as would a JB. I would avoid JBs for sure. You may also want to consider a Pearly Gates. What will you be playing it through?

 

[jimbo1]

Re: Need advice on pickups for Jackson

My advice (its alder btw) is to overall it completely. First, rip out the electronics, including the TurboCharger. Next, wire it Volume/Volume/Tone with nicer pots such as CTS. Also put in a nicer switch. Now for pickups. A '59 is always a winner in the neck for chunky, tight metal. For the bridge, a Duncan Custom would work nicely as suggested. A Distortion may be a bit harsh for you, as would a JB. I would avoid JBs for sure. You may also want to consider a Pearly Gates. What will you be playing it through?

I'm playing through a 4X10 traynor ycv 80, 80w tube amp.

 

[jimbo1]

Re: Need advice on pickups for Jackson

Would I need trembucker spacing for the neck pickup?

 

[CJRocker]

Re: Need advice on pickups for Jackson

I'm playing through a 4X10 traynor ycv 80, 80w tube amp.

For heavy metal? I would get a new amp, as that could very much be part of the problem, particularly if your distortion is something like a Metal Muff or Metal Zone.

 

[jimbo1]

Re: Need advice on pickups for Jackson

For heavy metal? I would get a new amp, as that could very much be part of the problem, particularly if your distortion is something like a Metal Muff or Metal Zone.

I know I should have at least got the 2X12 version. But wouldn't the 10's make the jackson sound brighter? It still sound muddy and bassy.

 

[Roosje Urbach]

Re: Need advice on pickups for Jackson

You probably don't need trembucker spacing for the neck pickup.

 

[CJRocker]

Re: Need advice on pickups for Jackson

I know I should have at least got the 2X12 version. But wouldn't the 10's make the jackson sound brighter? It still sound muddy and bassy.

What distortion pedal are you using? Those Traynors are vintage voiced amps. They have lots of mids and with the voicing isn't as "tight", particularly with the 4X10 configuration. The amp has a lot more to do with the tone than pickups. Pickups are simply an accent. Heavy metal through a Traynor and a distortion tends not to work well, but heavy metal through a 5150 combo does, and vice versa. Always consider if its your amp or EQ before going for pickups.

 

[jimbo1]

Re: Need advice on pickups for Jackson

I have a digitech rp 350. I use the heavier distortions on that.

 

[CJRocker]

Re: Need advice on pickups for Jackson

I have a digitech rp 350. I use the heavier distortions on that.

That could be part of your issues. Why don't you try it through a nicer higher gain amp rather than a vintage voiced Traynor and a Digitech pedal.

 

[hanumanlangur]

Re: Need advice on pickups for Jackson

You don't need a big monster 5150 to get good metal tones. Good pickups, pedals, and a clean tube amp is a fine solution. If you want to play metal but you're unsure of what exactly you're looking for, a Jazz/Distortion or Jazz/Custom combo is probably a good place to start.

 

[Iron Horse]

Re: Need advice on pickups for Jackson

You don't need a big monster 5150 to get good metal tones. Good pickups, pedals, and a clean tube amp is a fine solution. If you want to play metal but you're unsure of what exactly you're looking for, a Jazz/Distortion or Jazz/Custom combo is probably a good place to start.

Yes, but I'd say that you'd have to play thru a good pedal, if you go that route.

 

[Istanbul]

Re: Need advice on pickups for Jackson

Duncan Custom (Bridge)
Pearly Gates (Neck)

Thats the pair i use with gibson explorer and i recommend that set for the tone that u ve described..

 

[memphiskat]

Re: Need advice on pickups for Jackson

I have that guitar and had those pickups and changed them for EMG 81/85 set. Dropped the Turbo Charger and went with 2 volumes and a tone. But I'd try fitzing with your setup first. Does your Traynor have an effects loop? If so, try running the Digitech straight into the return which will bypass the tone controls and preamp section. Thats how I used an RP300 I had for a while and I got some nice tones. It's how I use my PODxt now and I play mostly metal as well. That being said, you can't lose with what you want to play and active EMGs. I also have an SLSMG that's neck thru mahogany and tried a Distortion in it. Not bad sounding, but I then tried Blackouts and stuck with them. You may want to consider those as well. On the otherhand, my friend who leans more towards rock than metal preferred the Distortion in that guitar. DUH!

Karl

 

[jimbo1]

Re: Need advice on pickups for Jackson

I have that guitar and had those pickups and changed them for EMG 81/85 set. Dropped the Turbo Charger and went with 2 volumes and a tone. But I'd try fitzing with your setup first. Does your Traynor have an effects loop? If so, try running the Digitech straight into the return which will bypass the tone controls and preamp section. Thats how I used an RP300 I had for a while and I got some nice tones. It's how I use my PODxt now and I play mostly metal as well. That being said, you can't lose with what you want to play and active EMGs. I also have an SLSMG that's neck thru mahogany and tried a Distortion in it. Not bad sounding, but I then tried Blackouts and stuck with them. You may want to consider those as well. On the otherhand, my friend who leans more towards rock than metal preferred the Distortion in that guitar. DUH!

Karl

Where is the emg wiring diagram for 2 volumes and one tone with a 3 way, non gibson style switch?

 

[memphiskat]

Re: Need advice on pickups for Jackson

This was the first guitar I changed the pickups in and had a tech do it. But it's not a big deal (now that I've done it a bunch of times You can use the diagram at the SD site under Wiring diagrams/humbuckers/LIVEWIRES 2 vol, 1 tone, 3 way. I'll copy the link at the bottom.

Just note that EMGs use a braided outer shield instead of a seperate bare wire for the ground, but the connections are the same. As for the switch, just note where the leads connect from the HZ's and that's where the new hot leads go. Worked for me on many other guitars. Also if you follow the Livewire diagram you'll have the 18v mod. This assumes you were talking about installing EMGs

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?
schematic=livewire_2v_1t_3way

Karl