Need help choosing pickups for a special guitar.

M

MrJohn

New member
Hello everyone,

So here's the deal. I'm in the process of selling my gaming computer (not really into it right now) to fix an 80's Aria Pro II I inherited from my father.

Obligatory album here.


It's a 24-fret Sycamore/Maple body guitar with a 5 piece mahogany maple set-in neck with a rosewood fretboard. My dad had already upgraded it with a Hipshot bridge and Sperzel locking tuners but it really needs a refret and a pickup swap.

I'm having it refretted as soon as I sell the computer and since the neck pickup doesn't work I'm gonna choose a brand new set of Duncans to get it really going.

Right now I'm looking at the following combos:
- 59' neck and bridge
- 59' neck | JB bridge
- 59' neck | Custom 5 Bridge
- Hot Rodded Set
- Pearly Gates Neck | JB Bridge
- P-Rails Neck and Bridge, if I get a good deal selling the computer.

I'm looking for a hard rock, heavy blues sound that can also remain tight with heavy fuzz, but like most I'm not certain of what to choose!

So, can you help me? :)
 
Re: Need help choosing pickups for a special guitar.

Do you want to keep the double creme color of the pickups to maintain the original look of the guitar? (Which is beautiful by the way...)
 
Last edited:
Re: Need help choosing pickups for a special guitar.

Thanks! I'm up for cream or zebra, which I think would also look good.
 
Re: Need help choosing pickups for a special guitar.

Beautiful guitar.

I am a strong advocate for the P-Rails pups. They sound absolutely great and are extremely versatile.

Another set of pups that would be good for your guitar would be:

Custom 8 bridge,
Pearly Gates or Screamin' Demon neck.
 
Re: Need help choosing pickups for a special guitar.

Although I've yet to try a Custom 8, the Screamin' Demon and the Pearly Gates make for great neck pups. The Demon if you like a clearer top end, Pearly if you like it warmer in the top (it's almost like having the tone rolled back all the time, reminds me of Carlos Santana's neck tone), which could be a good thing with a maple neck through. I've been wanting to try the A8 in a Custom, I just put a regular Custom in one of my guitars (also neck through, but mahogany) and I'm loving it. Custom 5 is great in the right guitar (something with a mid range-ey tone).
 
Re: Need help choosing pickups for a special guitar.

Isn't the 8 kind of muddy?

Also diggin some SH-6 clips. Can it do blues?
 
Last edited:
Re: Need help choosing pickups for a special guitar.

#1 59 set (love that neck pup)
#2 P-Rail in the neck and P-Rail Hot in the bridge
#3 Whole Lotta Humbucker
 
Re: Need help choosing pickups for a special guitar.

Yeah the Whole Lotta Humbucker does seem pretty awesome. But can It cut through fuzz?

Did a bit more research and I'm almost dead set on a Custom Custom bridge and 59 neck. I decided on the custom because i have an essentially maple bodied guitar and the 59 to blues up the neck.
 
Last edited:
Re: Need help choosing pickups for a special guitar.

Guess it depends what and effects you have or intending to get?

Some of the vintage output pups can really get dirty and clean up plus everything in between!
 
Re: Need help choosing pickups for a special guitar.

For this guitar I'm looking for modern, but still organic, rather than a classic sound. As for effects I need it to cut through fuzz, as my other guitar can get lost and muddy sometimes. (for reference it's a stock Hagstrom Super Swede).

Having trouble deciding on the custom custom or a screamin demon. Damn tone hunting.
 
Last edited:
Re: Need help choosing pickups for a special guitar.

Between those two, I'd go with the Custom Custom. Nice midrange, really smooth lead tone.

I'd like to +1 the suggestion of the Pearly Gates neck - beautiful sweet blues tone.
 
Re: Need help choosing pickups for a special guitar.

I may just go with that. Why the Pearly Gates instead of the 59'?
 
Re: Need help choosing pickups for a special guitar.

for what you are looking for sounds like the Whole lotta humbuckers would work for you. When you said you wanted modern but still organic tone, I would whole heartedly recommend the custom 8 in the bridge with jazz in the neck. the custom8 will give you a vintage feel but its hot and modern with the A8 mag. Not too hot though. It cleans up very well. very versatile. 59 neck would work good too. even better neck pickup is the jazz/59 hybrid neck pickup. its the best ive ever heard especially with A4 mag.
 
Re: Need help choosing pickups for a special guitar.

I'd rather stay away from hybrid mixed since I don't live in the US and even a screamin demon or custom 8 is hard to go by here. Not really feeling the Jazz in the neck because it seems to me that it would be unbalanced. Never tried an Alnico 8 magnet though.
 
Re: Need help choosing pickups for a special guitar.

Oh and by the way thanks for all the input so far guys.
 
Re: Need help choosing pickups for a special guitar.

If you go with the Custom Custom (One of my faves) and the '59, you'll always have the option of switching the magnets and trying the Custom Custom with the A5 (Custom 5), and the '59 with the A2 mag...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top