new pup suggestions needed

[smegolas]

Hi. I have an old 1985 basswood Ibanez Roadstar 2 with stock H-S-S pups that needs some lovin'. Im thinking about changing them with some new Dimarzios or Duncans. Im looking for a nice thick SRV/Gary Moore type blues distorted tone and some really nice full sounding clean tones.

Im looking for something different from my new guitar (Ibanez RGT320Q) which is more of a hard rock guitar - maple through-neck, mahogony wings, maple top. Its got 2 humbucking Dimarzio/IBZs, which according to their website:

"The DiMarzio(r)/IBZ pickups in the Ibanez RG2120 and RG2570EX are
specifically designed and manufactured by DiMarzio(r) for Ibanez, and
they are not available separately. Like all DiMarzio(r) pickups, they
are made in our New York factory. Both neck and bridge pickups are
high-output models. The neck pickup is fairly bright-sounding, similar
to a Super 2(tm) (DP104). The bridge pickup is a little louder and
warmer-sounding, and resembles a cross between the Steve Morse Bridge
Model(tm) (DP200) and the Super Distortion(r) (DP100)."

So, Im looking for suggestions. Again, it's a bridge humbucker, and a single in the neck and middle. Id also like to avoid the old single coil hum if possible.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: new pup suggestions needed

Welcome to the forum!

For the Roadstar, I think that a pair of the new Stack Plus pickups would work in the neck and mid and a Custom Custom would work well in the bridge for the tones you mentioned.


For the RG, I'd put a Pearly Gates in the neck and a Custom in the bridge and call it a day. :burnout:

 

[smegolas]

Re: new pup suggestions needed

Thanks. I shouild clarify that Im not lookin for pup for the RGT, just the Roadstar. According to the Tone Wiz, I should be looking at the Hot Stacks or Vintage Staggered in the mid/neck (Im also considering the Cool Rails), and a JB in the bridge. I'll probably go with the JB in the bridge since everyone seems to love it. And I'd like a bucker up front, so that leaves the Cool Rails or the Hot Stacks. What do you guys suggest?

or how bout the little 59?

 

[DI_IORIO]

Re: new pup suggestions needed

A long time friend of mine had an old Ibanez roadstar with a JB on bridge. It sounded awesome, especially on Marshalls
It had a bright tone, but in a good way. Perfect for hard rock