ChaosCreed7
New member
Hi, there. I'm a little stuck trying to decide on what pickups to put in place of my current ones. As of now, I have a Behringer Strat Metalien which has cheapo stock pickups. The middle and neck pickups are junk, but the bridge isn't too bad for a stock pickup. However, I've seen what other pickups can do and would really like to swap out for some new ones. Right now, I'm trying to choose between one of two options:
First of all, here's a picture of my guitar so you can see what it looks like. It's got a basswood body, maple neck, and rosewood fretboard with a standard tremolo. I got it for $200: http://media.photobucket.com/image/metalien/metalb4/actualone.jpg?o=2
So, I'm trying to choose between either:
1.) Passive
Bridge: DiMarzio D-Activator or SD Dimebucker (I've also heard that the L500XL Bill Lawrence is pretty good too and cheaper than both these two)
Middle: SD Hot Rails
Neck: SD Hot Rails
2.) Active (pre-wired pickguard)
Here's a picture: http://www.guitarcenter.com/EMG-EMG...ed-Pickguard-Pickup-Set-101594729-i1323644.gc
Bridge: EMG 81
Middle: EMG S
Neck: EMG S
My problem with the passive is that I can't choose which bridge pickup I want even after having heard all of them on youtube. I did buy a used DiMarzio pickup, hoping to install it at my guitar shop, but they said they couldn't because they had too many in front of me to take mine yet. So, I did some research before I swapped pickups and found the Dimebucker and after more research found that the Bill Lawrence cost the same price brand new as the used pickup I bought. Also, I'll of course have to pay to get all of this installed.
With the actives, the pre-wired pickguard will save me the trouble of getting the pickups installed since they're already wired and don't require soldering. That said, I've heard that EMGs can be sterile depending on your guitar and since I have a low class guitar, I worry that they'll be plently powerful but lack tone. Also, when it comes time to change the battery, since my guitar doesn't have a mod, I'll have to remove the pickguard to replace it which could prove to be annoying.
So, what do you guys think? I'm open to other pickup suggestions as well. Also, I play heavy metal music a la Pantera, Metallica, Megadeth, Trivium, etc. so I'm going for that sort of tone (hence why the pickguard is a Kirk Hammett signature).
First of all, here's a picture of my guitar so you can see what it looks like. It's got a basswood body, maple neck, and rosewood fretboard with a standard tremolo. I got it for $200: http://media.photobucket.com/image/metalien/metalb4/actualone.jpg?o=2
So, I'm trying to choose between either:
1.) Passive
Bridge: DiMarzio D-Activator or SD Dimebucker (I've also heard that the L500XL Bill Lawrence is pretty good too and cheaper than both these two)
Middle: SD Hot Rails
Neck: SD Hot Rails
2.) Active (pre-wired pickguard)
Here's a picture: http://www.guitarcenter.com/EMG-EMG...ed-Pickguard-Pickup-Set-101594729-i1323644.gc
Bridge: EMG 81
Middle: EMG S
Neck: EMG S
My problem with the passive is that I can't choose which bridge pickup I want even after having heard all of them on youtube. I did buy a used DiMarzio pickup, hoping to install it at my guitar shop, but they said they couldn't because they had too many in front of me to take mine yet. So, I did some research before I swapped pickups and found the Dimebucker and after more research found that the Bill Lawrence cost the same price brand new as the used pickup I bought. Also, I'll of course have to pay to get all of this installed.
With the actives, the pre-wired pickguard will save me the trouble of getting the pickups installed since they're already wired and don't require soldering. That said, I've heard that EMGs can be sterile depending on your guitar and since I have a low class guitar, I worry that they'll be plently powerful but lack tone. Also, when it comes time to change the battery, since my guitar doesn't have a mod, I'll have to remove the pickguard to replace it which could prove to be annoying.
So, what do you guys think? I'm open to other pickup suggestions as well. Also, I play heavy metal music a la Pantera, Metallica, Megadeth, Trivium, etc. so I'm going for that sort of tone (hence why the pickguard is a Kirk Hammett signature).
