ARS
New member
Hey guys. Just getting back into playing after many years, & am hoping maybe some of you might be able to give me a good recommendation for some new pups to replace the stock ESP pups in my guitar. It's an LTD M103 FM, basswood body, maple top, full maple neck & fretboard, Floyd Rose Special, with an H-S-S setup.
The stock pups aren't bad, just not the greatest as far as output & sustain. Music I usually play & will typically play varies quite a bit. Everything from Boston. Styx, Foreigner, up to heavier stuff like Bush, Collective Soul, Damage Plan, BLS, Queensryche, etc. Big fan of guys like George Lynch, Dimebag, Chris DeGarmo, Zakk Wylde, Santana, Nugent, Satriani, etc.
Am wanting to put in a new set that gives me that aggressive hard rock/metal growl & bite, when I want to hit the heavier stuff, with great sustain, but with the flexibility to cut through with those singing highs & bright solos/riff from stuff like Boston, or Foreigner. Rather hard to explain.
I have been thinking on using the Invader for the bridge, with it's great aggressive sound, or maybe a Black Winter with it's balanced EQ curve, with a pair of Hot Rail in the 2 single slots, but am thinking that may be a tad to mid heavy with the 2 Hot Rails. Unfortunately, my shop here in town doesn't have any guitars on the floor with any of these pups to try out. If I chose to drop one of the Hot Rails, I thought about using a DuckerBucker, lil' Screamin' Demon, or a Lil' 59 for the middle slot instead, to add a bit more on the treble side of the EQ with a Hot Rail in the neck slot. To many choices. The Alternate 8 also looks extremely interesting for the bridge, but, having a tough time finding it. I will also be adding a coil tap when the new pups are put in.
Will using an Invader with a pair of Hot Rails work good for what I am looking to do, or, should I go a bit different? Any & all advice is welcome. Will be looking to order the new pups in a couple weeks, so not in any hurry.
Thanks in advance. Any questions, fire away. Like I said, just getting back into playing, & I see a little bit has change over the years.
The stock pups aren't bad, just not the greatest as far as output & sustain. Music I usually play & will typically play varies quite a bit. Everything from Boston. Styx, Foreigner, up to heavier stuff like Bush, Collective Soul, Damage Plan, BLS, Queensryche, etc. Big fan of guys like George Lynch, Dimebag, Chris DeGarmo, Zakk Wylde, Santana, Nugent, Satriani, etc.
Am wanting to put in a new set that gives me that aggressive hard rock/metal growl & bite, when I want to hit the heavier stuff, with great sustain, but with the flexibility to cut through with those singing highs & bright solos/riff from stuff like Boston, or Foreigner. Rather hard to explain.
I have been thinking on using the Invader for the bridge, with it's great aggressive sound, or maybe a Black Winter with it's balanced EQ curve, with a pair of Hot Rail in the 2 single slots, but am thinking that may be a tad to mid heavy with the 2 Hot Rails. Unfortunately, my shop here in town doesn't have any guitars on the floor with any of these pups to try out. If I chose to drop one of the Hot Rails, I thought about using a DuckerBucker, lil' Screamin' Demon, or a Lil' 59 for the middle slot instead, to add a bit more on the treble side of the EQ with a Hot Rail in the neck slot. To many choices. The Alternate 8 also looks extremely interesting for the bridge, but, having a tough time finding it. I will also be adding a coil tap when the new pups are put in.
Will using an Invader with a pair of Hot Rails work good for what I am looking to do, or, should I go a bit different? Any & all advice is welcome. Will be looking to order the new pups in a couple weeks, so not in any hurry.
Thanks in advance. Any questions, fire away. Like I said, just getting back into playing, & I see a little bit has change over the years.
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