Need pickup suggestions?

[Michael_S]

Hi, I'm looking to upgrade my Ibanez axe with a set of SD humbuckers and could really use some help. First off, this is the guitar in question. Mahogany body, rosewood fingerboard, maple neck. Not particularly high end but as an aspiring guitarist it mostly suits me just fine, though I feel it could use an upgrade.
I want to preserve the feel of the guitar, so basically my question is: what Seymour Duncan pickups could I get that sound similar to what I have, but better? In particular I'm looking for a bit more clarity and a more percussive tone. I play metal rhythm guitar, with a lot of palm muting if that gives you an idea of what I need. Any help would be appreciated.
Also, my guitar basically sounds like this: (youtube video). Main issue I have with it is that it can get quite muddy when using chords, but I like the deep tone of it, the neck pickup at least. I'd record something myself but don't really have the means to do it. And I've been looking at a range of pickups, JB, 59, Jazz, Dimebucker, Invader, Black Winter, Screamin Demon, Custom, Distortion.... pretty much any passive humbucker would do. Thanks in advance

 

[Big Flannel]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

Distortion/jazz (neck) or black winter set. It all depends on your amplifier though.

 

[Michael_S]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

Well I don't have a tube amp (yet), I'm using a Line6 Spider IV 15W amp for my bedroom playing, planning to upgrade that next. Though I do get some decent sounds out of it, especially with my Hot Rails strat.

And I suppose I should mention, my current pickups are INF 3 (ceramic, allegedly 11.90k Ohms) in neck and INF 4 (alnico V, allegedly 15.62k Ohms) in bridge.

 

[Big Flannel]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

For what you're doing, a line6 is ok...but trust me when I tell you that you won't get the full effect of your pickup swap without a better amp. Use the money you have saved for pickups and buy a good amp. It will have a much more drastic effect on your tone.

 

[dominus]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

Eh, if you can get good tones out of the Spider, don't worry about it. I get great tones out of cheap amps. I don't get good tones out of cheap stock pickups with good amps. (It's like they design the pickups with ice-pick bright amps in mind.)

Custom or Full Shred should do well in the bridge of that guitar.

 

[Michael_S]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

Thanks for the suggestions, though I'm concerned when looking at the statistics. I know I probably shouldn't even care but a lot of these pickups have some really high treble with much less bass and mids. I don't know how that would affect the tone and tightness but I don't plan to be soloing any time soon. Think the high treble could be an issue?

 

[uOpt]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

If the guitar is heavy enough (probably is with the mahogany body) an you have good control over your playing then this is probably a case for the Duncan Custom (the one with the ceramic magnet). It can be a bit sleepy unless some steam is put behind it with a good mass of guitar and non-fizzly playing, but it is ultimate control and doesn't mud up.

Michael Schenker's sound would be an example.

Another advantage of the DC is that that magnet changes give you an easy range of popular options.

 

[Big Flannel]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

I have the Custom and I like it. In my guitar it's been very touchy about pickup height an screw pole adjustments but overall, I dig it. I'm still of the mindset that a new amp should come first. You'll greatly appreciate your tone through a decent tube amp more than the spider.

 

[dominus]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

I have the Custom and I like it. In my guitar it's been very touchy about pickup height an screw pole adjustments but overall, I dig it. I'm still of the mindset that a new amp should come first. You'll greatly appreciate your tone through a decent tube amp more than the spider.

I'll take any of my solid state amps over just about any tube amp for playing metal rhythm guitar like the OP. Different tools for different uses.

 

[dominus]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

Thanks for the suggestions, though I'm concerned when looking at the statistics. I know I probably shouldn't even care but a lot of these pickups have some really high treble with much less bass and mids. I don't know how that would affect the tone and tightness but I don't plan to be soloing any time soon. Think the high treble could be an issue?

Tightness = brightness. You need less bass and more treble for that. Let the amp provide the lows, have the pickups provide the cut.

 

[Big Flannel]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

I'm not saying that tube amps are the be all end all for playing metal. I'm just suggesting that a step up from the line6 should take precedent. I've played the spider line and whereas I got decent tones from them, they had very little in the way dynamics. It's my opinion that putting ~$140 into pickups isn't going to return his money's worth in tones. I've played through great solid state amps that do metal VERY well. Maybe he should try one of them?

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

Tightness = brightness. You need less bass and more treble for that. Let the amp provide the lows, have the pickups provide the cut.

This right here. Less bass and a decent amount of treble and mids.

Really both are right that better pups and a better amp would make the most difference but if I had to pick one I'd choose getting a better amp with a good speaker(s) over a better pup.

To answer the OPs question of pup recommendation I'd suggest a Duncan Distortion or Alt 8 or Black Winter for the bridge and for the neck i'd recommend either a Duncan Distortion or Black winter neck.

 

[Michael_S]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

Thanks, I appreciate all the advice. I can't help but agree with Dominus, to be honest, as I have found a setting on my amp that sounds good to me with every pickup I used it with, and probably won't need a lot of those dynamics offered by tube amps for simple rhythm playing. Especially at my current bedroom level. As for pickups, I'm starting to lean towards a Full Shred bridge and either a Jazz or Full Shred in the neck. Any opinions?

 

[dominus]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

Also, if you're okay with the neck pickup the way it is, leave it and replace just the bridge pickup.

 

[Michael_S]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

Also, if you're okay with the neck pickup the way it is, leave it and replace just the bridge pickup.

I'm still unsure about replacing it. On the one hand, I like the tone, both clean and distorted. It's warm and has good depth. But it gets pretty muddy, which isn't necessarily all that bad, I don't know.

 

[dominus]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

I'm still unsure about replacing it. On the one hand, I like the tone, both clean and distorted. It's warm and has good depth. But it gets pretty muddy, which isn't necessarily all that bad, I don't know.

Wire it in parallel. (Not sure about the color codes, but one coil tap goes to ground and one to lead. If you do it correctly, the resistance measures at 1/4 the original.) That will brighten it up and reduce the output a little bit.

 

[Big Flannel]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

I'm still unsure about replacing it. On the one hand, I like the tone, both clean and distorted. It's warm and has good depth. But it gets pretty muddy, which isn't necessarily all that bad, I don't know.

I replaced the bridge pickup in my ibanez about 2 weeks before I changed the neck. The nec and bridge pickups wew out of phase and I LOVED the in between tones. Only snall issue is that when installing a neck pickup, the lead wire routes through the bridge pickup cavity so be prepared to pop out the bridge 'bucker. I was a moron and was trying to force the wire through before I realized what was going on lol.

 

[Michael_S]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

Alright, thanks a lot for the help, I appreciate it. I'll buy a Full Shred bridge pickup, and see where I'll go from there.

 

[Big Flannel]

Re: Need pickup suggestions?

Full Shred is great. If you like White Zombie you'll dig it.