New used Guitar, needs pickup help

Frankhenrylee

New member
Hey folks,
Hope your Friday's going well!

I just picked up an old Ibanez RG520QS. It's a mahogany body, locking trem guitar with that classic Ibanez super thin neck. You don't see a lot of RGs in mahogany, but that's why I grabbed this one. It's got a lot more natural acoustic tone than the basswood versions I've picked up and plays great so I think it's a keeper.

Obviously, I'm looking at getting some pickups and wanted to see if you guys could help out. Here's what I'd like to get sound wise as best as I can describe it in words.

Bridge:
Super tight punchy low end, almost percussive like a drum, but still organic in tone.
Mid-high output, but not too strict here.
Organic, crunchy 80's-90's metal mid range
Smooth buttery highs with great harmonics

95% metal tones


Neck
Low-mid output
Smooth warm lows, but no mud.
Present warm and sparkly mid and highs
Won't saturate till fully cranked.
Still need great harmonics

50% metal lead tones
50% super clean warm tones

I'm either full metal gain or almost no gain at all. Not sure why. I just dont seem to be able to dial in anything else I like the sound of.

The V8 in the bridge on this guitar is not too bad. Has a nice tight punch to low end, but highs are very tinny and screechy. Not much thickness in lows, but might be why it sounds as tight as it does. I don't want the bottom too thick, my amp already sounds that way.

Anyhow, let the opinions fly!!!

Thanks for the help!!!!
 
Re: New used Guitar, needs pickup help

59 neck with Distortion bridge.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
Re: New used Guitar, needs pickup help

Lots of options here. I like the Custom in the bridge, with an APH-1 in the neck. For much more modern metal, consider the Pegasus for the bridge as well.
 
Re: New used Guitar, needs pickup help

Thanks for replies. Please keep them coming.

I've been interested in the Parallel Axis, but it just does seem that popular so it makes me wonder why it hasn't caught on. The JB seems tried and true, but this ain't no Les Paul. Even though it's mahogany it still suffers from the locking tremolo brightness or thinness. Thinking Liquifire or PAF Pro or APH-1 in neck maybe, but bridge is still undecided.
 
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