Need Help

[Sir Royal Eddie]

So I've been on a major quest to get my favourite heavy metal tone of all time, from a band called STONE. To hear what I'm trying to achieve, listen hear.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syT8k4o7zKA actual song and single guitar riff starts at 1:09 for a better representation. This was Roope Latvala's (current in Children of Bodom) original band. They had custom RR's most likely made of poplar back in the day with single pick ups and OFR and they came with Jackson J-50BC pickups with JE-1000 active electronics gain/mid boost. Alexi Laiho of COB had the same set up in his early Jacksons.

Some of my guitars actually can get... a little close to the tone, surprisingly my strat that has hot rails in it? Surprised me because of the tonal characteristics described on the website and the treble side wasn't very high. The over all Stone... tone. Is very high with lots of treble and mids and very crunchy and distinctive. Not much bass, as they like to let the BASS take care of that... which is exactly how I think a bands sound should be. Anyway the guitar I'm looking to put a new pick up in is my Jackson RR24 which has a single Dimarzio X2N in it now... it has plenty of gain but not as sharp and clear as I wish as the tone I'm seeking.

I've been doing a lot of research and asking questions on two Jackson forums and a lot of people recommend me getting the J-80C which is a bit higher gain and has similar qualities to the J-50BC... here's some old scans from the jackson catalog which has info on the pickups...


http://audiozone.dk/cm/displayimage.php?album=15&pos=7

http://audiozone.dk/cm/displayimage.php?album=66&pos=3

It can be a challenge to get these pickups since most of them only appear on ebay and you have to be quick when buying them as they seem to go fast. People have recommended all J-50BC, J-80C and J-90C, most the 80 and 90 I suppose since I am not getting any active electronics installed as far as the Je-1000 and Je-1200 which just add more gain and a bit of eq. The descriptions for each pickups are in the links I posted above, but I'm also just really trying to get that STONE sound.

I have a spare Seymour Duncan distortion and one user said the J-50BC and J-80C are a bit similar to the Duncan distortion. I'm pretty convinced I need something with a ceramic magnet and something with a decent gain and high treble and mids and sort of dry sounding. SO... does anyone have any suggestions or ideas or comments on what pick up I should go for whether it being a Seymour Duncan or even another Dimarzio? I've been doing so much research and just want to get what will be best with out spending a lot of money on different pickups and installing them.

Thanks a lot for reading this LONG question and taking the time to answer.

- Andrew

 

[Yngwiestein]

Re: Need Help

Sounds like you need a JB or a Screamin Demon. Both will give you that trebly crunch sound you're looking for.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Need Help

Hmmm.. Yeah, I think a JB could easily get that searing tone.. It sounds a bit 80s metal to me (in tone, not in structure). Sxstringsales, do you think a Custom could get it too??
I have a couple of Charvel model 4's and pulled out the stock J50 or 90 (pretty sure it was a 50) out of both as I thought they were kinda bland..

 

[Sir Royal Eddie]

Re: Need Help

I use to have a JB in my old guitar... but I kind of forget its tonal characteristics now because I had different amp settings back then. :33: I noticed the Duncan distortion has very high mids and treble which are part of the settings, but you still think a JB or even a custom would maybe do? It's definitely sort of a super dry/extra sharp pickup sound combo when used on any setup, but not twangy or chunky in any category.