Need some 'all rounder' Pick ups

atf

atf

New member
I bought a grassroots LP that I want to use for testing pedals and amps. I want a humbucker set that isn't high gain or extremely vintage, so I can get I good baseline idea of what the amp or pedal sounds like without being pushed or driven unnecessarily. Something clear and well rounded. Hopefully my question makes sense.

Any suggestions?


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Re: Need some 'all rounder' Pick ups

Custom 5 is a great pickup but might be a bit on the hot side and a little compressed for the OPs stated purpose.

I'd suggest the straight up 59 set. It's a true classic, a great all-rounder. And despite the name it isn't really super vintage in feel. Between the two that set is capable of quite a broad palette of tones at an output level that isn't over the top. A good balance of sparkle, purr, growl, and scream, just about perfect for comparing amps & pedals IMO. If the LP in question is especially boomy or bassy in character the Jazz neck could be a better choice. But for nearly all LPs the 59 set is very well suited indeed.
 
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Re: Need some 'all rounder' Pick ups

eclecticsynergy said:
Custom 5 is a great pickup but might be a bit on the hot side and a little compressed for the OPs stated purpose.

I'd suggest the straight up 59 set. It's a true classic, a great all-rounder. And despite the name it isn't really super vintage in feel. Between the two that set is capable of quite a broad palette of tones at an output level that isn't over the top. A good balance of sparkle, purr, growl, and scream, just about perfect for comparing amps & pedals IMO. If the LP in question is especially boomy or bassy in character the Jazz neck could be a better choice. But for nearly all LPs the 59 set is very well suited indeed.
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Will take a look, thanks!

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Re: Need some 'all rounder' Pick ups

A4/A8-modded '59 set.

All other possibilities are either not as good-sounding and/or more expensive.

HTH,
 
Re: Need some 'all rounder' Pick ups

LtKojak said:
A4/A8-modded '59 set.

All other possibilities are not as good-sounding and/or more expensive.

HTH,
Click to expand...
How does the 59 compare to Gibson 57s?

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Re: Need some 'all rounder' Pick ups

what pickups are currently in the guitar and what about them do you want to be different?
 
Re: Need some 'all rounder' Pick ups

darthphineas said:
what pickups are currently in the guitar and what about them do you want to be different?
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Grassroots came with stock G&B PU.They had to go. For the time being I replaced them with the Jackson LP HM 38 set. Too much high end and very little warmth in tone.The ceramic nature of the pickup shines through.i have other guitars with Jackson pickups and they are another league.

So I was thinking of making this my main practice guitar, I use other ones for gigs, all with different configurations etc. So essentially I need pickups that have clarity, good output(doesn't drive the amp or is too low output), and has a nice b,t,m (not too focused in one range)

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Re: Need some 'all rounder' Pick ups

PATB-1's

I love the 59/C5 set. (My 1st Duncan set.) But they do have they're own personality. The PATB's are a bit more . . . revealing.
 
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Re: Need some 'all rounder' Pick ups

I think a 59 neck & bridge is probably the king of 'all around'. They aren't compressed, get a wide range of tones, sound great clean up to mega-distorted, and can be found relatively cheap compared to some other models (and are also easier to find).
 
Re: Need some 'all rounder' Pick ups

In my PRS I went with a 59 and JB for the same reasons as you. Really pleased with them
 
Re: Need some 'all rounder' Pick ups

Mincer said:
I think a 59 neck & bridge is probably the king of 'all around'. They aren't compressed, get a wide range of tones, sound great clean up to mega-distorted, and can be found relatively cheap compared to some other models (and are also easier to find).
Click to expand...
Yeah that seems like the general consensus, and quite frankly I don't have that set. J80S, J90s, DiMarzios,PAF, Duncan qps etc I have or have tried but never those. Time to go shopping.

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Re: Need some 'all rounder' Pick ups

59 bridge / Seth neck would be better than a 59 set IMO. The Seth neck solves most of the issues people have with the 59 neck. A Jazz would also be a better neck than a 59 neck (if the unpotted Seth were a problem).

But I would have suggested Pearly Gates set over the 59 set. If you are testing amps and pedals, to my ear, the Pearly Gates set is like a 59 set with more frequency range and a touch more output to play with.
 
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