New pickups needed!

[terribleguitar]

Hello everyone,

So I traded my Music Man Albert Lee for a Carvin CS6. I loved my MM, but it wasn't suitable for the genres I play. The Carvin on the other hand has much more sustain and is exceptionally beautiful, and the craftmanship is on par with any other high-end guitar.

The problem is that these stock Carvin pickups are stellar when playing in E, but get really muddy when tuning down to C. Therefore, I need something with moderate output (the lower the better, actually), better clarity in low tunings, and NOT too much mids (my amp already has a lot of mids). I am looking for clarity, especially in the neck position, because I like to play clean.

By the way, I am using a Matamp Minimat (usually cranked with everything on max) with an old germanium fuzz to a 1x12 open-back cab loaded with a Celestion G12H30. I am planning to swap to to an Eminence Swamp Thang, if that matters.
I play stoner rock, doom, blues-rock and so on. I am looking for sound that's halfway between Sleep and ZZ Top.

I have been looking at SD Pearly Gates for the bridge and Phat Cat for the neck position. I love the sound of a P90 in the neck and don't mind the noise unless it's overbearing.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: New pickups needed!

Behold, the Gibson Tony Iommi signature humbucker. MADE for down tuning!

IMO, a P90-type pickup, in the neck/Rhythm position, on a down-tuned guitar, is asking for muddiness.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: New pickups needed!

Phat can in the neck would be great but I think sticking to a humbucker would be better for the amount of gain you'd be working with, plus it's darker sounding than most p90s and that could get weird with low tunings, so I also recommend the Jazz but its all you. For the bridge I guess I would recommend a Full shred. Very clear and awesome for down tuning without too much mids. Mostly upper mids. PG would also be great too. If you haven't seen Keith Merrow's vid check it out. It's all downtuned so you can hear which pickup really shine with low tunings and a good amount of gain. My favorite is the 59/c hybrid which also sounds appropriate for where you wanna go with your sound but you can be the judge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryzie8mham8

 

[terribleguitar]

Re: New pickups needed!

Hey, thanks for your suggestions!

But please keep in mind that I'm looking for vintage sounds that are still clear. I think Full Shred and Iommi pickups are more modern-voiced?
I mean, what I play is nowhere near what Keith plays in the video. And my amp is a completely different animal, too.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: New pickups needed!

Hey, thanks for your suggestions!

But please keep in mind that I'm looking for vintage sounds that are still clear. I think Full Shred and Iommi pickups are more modern-voiced?
I mean, what I play is nowhere near what Keith plays in the video. And my amp is a completely different animal, too.

Then 59/c hybrid. Definitely.

 

[terribleguitar]

Re: New pickups needed!

Thanks! I'll check it out.

What do you guys think about DiMarzio Air Classics? Are they good for what I'm after?

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: New pickups needed!

Thanks! I'll check it out.

What do you guys think about DiMarzio Air Classics? Are they good for what I'm after?

The problem is for stuff like doom and stoner rock your amp and effects is going to be doing most of your work anyway. I don't have any experience with the air classics at lower tunings. Most lower output pickups tend to flub up with low tunings unless you get rid of a lot of the bass elsewhere. I actually think I would recommend the PG more than the Air Classics.