New guitar = new pickups = need help

[SCOTT502]

Hey Everyone,

I got a new Guitar and need some pickup advise....

Ibanez RGA 121 mohagany body w/ maple cap....fixed bridge...maple/rosewood bolt on neck.

I have owned poplar body guitars w/ maple neckthrough, and basswood body w/ bolt on maple necks but this is my 1st mohagany / maple body..

I play mostly distorted single line stuff but need good articuation for chords...

i want a more aggressive and modern sound from the bridge p/u with a lot of harmonic overtones (but it has to stay relatively clear for fast runs)....but I also want some decent cleans / split sounds as well. I plan on putting a PAF Pro in the neck position.

I have a Steve's Special and a JB in other guitars, so I'm looking for something different.

Pickups I'm considering...

Distortion
Custom
Evo 2
PAF Pro bridge

Let me know your opinions on these or any others in this type of guitar...I'm looking for a good starting point..(much like the JB) in which to begin my quest.

Thanks!! :beerchug:

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: New guitar = new pickups = need help

I'm thinking "Custom," but I don't know much about the PAF Pro, so I don't know how well they'd go together. I think it would be an excellent choice if it will.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: New guitar = new pickups = need help

It always seems that everyone wants to recomend the custom. So I'm going to stray from the norm and recommend something else. A Dimarzio (don't shoot!)

From what you say you are looking for, I would go w/ the Evolution. Very articulate under high gain. Great for fast runs! It's also a very unforgiving pickup and doesn't leave you any room for sloppiness.

 

[SCOTT502]

Re: New guitar = new pickups = need help

Thanks for the replies guys... All interesting choices so far...How do the Custom and the Air Zone compare in the harmonics area?

If I went for the Evolution I would probably try the Evo 2 first...only because of what I've read here regarding the sometimes over the top high end of the Evolution...or would this be a factor with this body wood combo?

 

[filipe_zen]

Re: New guitar = new pickups = need help

Hello there. My suggestion would be the same as you thought, if you chosed to go for the evolution, cause in my case, i have a Ibanez JEM 555, with both the neck and the bridge Evolution, but i wouldn't say you'd get good cleans as you'd probably would with any of your other choices(for what i've heard of them, i had never listened to any), nor you'd get much good split tones. Specially with the already implicit warmth with a mahogany body.
Another suggestion of mine would be a PRS HFS or the Tremonti model for the bridge, which from what i heard in the site sounded pretty good(and most PRS's are mahogany body with rosewood fingerboard).

-= Filipe =-

 

[SCOTT502]

Re: New guitar = new pickups = need help

Thanks for the suggestion Filipe. I Think I might try the Air Zone 1st...

Appreciate the help guys!