Need your advice: pickups for mahogany

[I-1]

Just bought an old USA Hamer Chaparral (mahogany, no maple top, S/S/H) the guitar is amazing, but I really don’t like active EMG pickups. I am going to replace them with Seymour Duncans. But… what model to choose?
I love Eklundh sound (Caparison Apple Horn - Caparison SH-27F in neck Caparison PH-R in bridge). A friend said Little '59 in neck and JB TB-4 in bridge would be a good choice. What do you think?

 

[Bones]

Re: Need your advice: pickups for mahogany

Just bought an old USA Hamer Chaparral (mahogany, no maple top, S/S/H) the guitar is amazing, but I really don’t like active EMG pickups. I am going to replace them with Seymour Duncans. But… what model to choose?
I love Eklundh sound (Caparison Apple Horn - Caparison SH-27F in neck Caparison PH-R in bridge). A friend said Little '59 in neck and JB TB-4 in bridge would be a good choice. What do you think?

I think thats a great choice, but remember to get 500k pots for them.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Need your advice: pickups for mahogany

First off, what kind of music will you e playing, and what sounds are you chasing?
Also, what's the amp situation like?

 

[theodie]

Re: Need your advice: pickups for mahogany

First off, what kind of music will you e playing, and what sounds are you chasing?
Also, what's the amp situation like?

That would be very helpful info!!

 

[I-1]

Re: Need your advice: pickups for mahogany

We play a sort of funk’n’heavy music, my gods are Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) and Mattias Ia Eklundh (Freak Kitchen). My Hamer is close to Eklundh’s Caparison Apple Horn – you know that biting dry sound of mahogany. I use Peavey Classic and Laney LC combos and Ibanez TB-100 sometimes.
What I need is meaty distortion sound (Freak Kitchen’s “Raw”, “Appetizer” are good examples) and thick oily clean.

 

[I-1]

Re: Need your advice: pickups for mahogany

Well?

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Need your advice: pickups for mahogany

I'm not familiar with how the Li'l 59 sounds, but the JB is a brightish pickup. Mahogany is a warmer sounding wood, not as bright as maple so the JB might be about right. Naturally, I'd have to actually play your guitar first but I like more bass than most out of my bridge pu so I'd probably go for a Custom Custom or Custom 5 or a Custom 4 (Custom 5 with Alnico 4 magnet).

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Need your advice: pickups for mahogany

For the thick cleans and meaty distortion sounds, I think you'd be very pleased with a Custom in the bridge and a pair of Cool Rails in the neck and middle.