New pickups for Schecter

[SamD]

To be honest I'm not completely satisfied with the Blackouts in my Schecter Blackjack ATX C-1.
I picked up my Bullseye Les Paul (EMG HZ-4s) after playing the Schecter and it sounded miles ahead. It was just clearer and more organic.

I think the Blackouts weren't totally what I was after, but I wanted a guitar with a thinner neck and better access to the upper frets...

So...I've decided I want to swap the pickups in the Schecter with some passives. I play metal and rock, but also play lots of alternative so nice cleans would be good.

I'm after this sort of tone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBvcjfxJCxQ
Even though these guys use Bare Knuckles in Teles, I'm sure I could get something similar.

I also play in either E Standard, Drop D, or Drop C but I didn't feel that the Blackouts had a really tight bottom end in Drop C.

The Schecter is a mahogany body, with a set mahogany neck and an ebony fretboard.

I had a look at Bare Knuckles, but they're just too expensive for me at this stage. I was thinking of maybe a Custom or a Custom 5 in the bridge, but I'm not so sure about the neck. What are your recommendations?

 

[javimm]

Re: New pickups for Schecter

You could try a Distortion or a Custom in the bridge. I have a Custom in a Les Paul and it's great. The Distortion has more output and is better for metal, but worse for cleans.
I use a Jazz neck and it's fantastic. A great combo right there.
OTOH, you could try some active EMGs, as you already have the 25k pots installed and you like your HZs. Maybe the Blackouts are not your cup of tea and the EMGs are. 81/60, 81/85 or 85/81 are all great combos.

 

[dominus]

Re: New pickups for Schecter

Custom in the bridge, 59 in the neck.

Make sure you have a ground wire coming from the bridge before you install passive pickups.

 

[richard parker]

Re: New pickups for Schecter

For metal sounds have a look at:

 

[SamD]

Re: New pickups for Schecter

Thanks for your replies!

I considered just swapping the Blackouts for the 81/85 combo, but I don't want my 2 guitars to sound too similar, even though the direct swap wouldn't require any rewiring at all.

Yep, I'll definitely remember to ground the passives.

So I've basically narrowed it down to 2 choices...
Either a Custom or a Distortion in the bridge, and either a Jazz or a '59 in the neck.

Maybe I'll go for the hotter one of both, seeing as this guitar is mainly for metal. I'll leave everything else to my Les Paul

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: New pickups for Schecter

I've done both of those sets in my Schecter C1+! Started with Distortion/Jazz, ended up with Custom/59. Then of course there are all the magnet swaps I did, so I really ended up with Custom 8/59 with an UOA5.

Distortion and Jazz are more versatile then you might think, they are very clear and bright, sound good for rock and metal. What I like about the Custom/59, however, is that they both are much heavier on the bass. Also, they just sound better through my amp, which already has a stupid amount of gain (peavey xxx).

If you have a 24 fret schecter I definitely recommend the 59 over the Jazz, you'll want that extra bass. The Custom is crunchy as all hell and would sound amazing in standard and drop tunings. If you feel like softening up the highs on that Custom and making it sound a bit more organic you can try a alnico 8 magnet.

 

[SamD]

Re: New pickups for Schecter

I've done both of those sets in my Schecter C1+! Started with Distortion/Jazz, ended up with Custom/59. Then of course there are all the magnet swaps I did, so I really ended up with Custom 8/59 with an UOA5.

Distortion and Jazz are more versatile then you might think, they are very clear and bright, sound good for rock and metal. What I like about the Custom/59, however, is that they both are much heavier on the bass. Also, they just sound better through my amp, which already has a stupid amount of gain (peavey xxx).

If you have a 24 fret schecter I definitely recommend the 59 over the Jazz, you'll want that extra bass. The Custom is crunchy as all hell and would sound amazing in standard and drop tunings. If you feel like softening up the highs on that Custom and making it sound a bit more organic you can try a alnico 8 magnet.

It's funny because I was actually reading some of the threads you were involved in when I was doing some research! It's a small internet!

I think I'll go for the Custom and the 59. Seems like a solid combo, and exactly what I'm after. Thanks for all your help guys

Oh yes I'll definitely do the magnet swaps too, what magnets should I use?

 

[SFW]

I ran a few different pickups through my Schecter Omen Extreme 6, and finally settled on a DiMarzio Tone Zone. It sounds big and percussive in that guitar. It also kept a fast attack, and sounded great in drop c.