No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

[iamthesuck]

Hey guys, this is my first post on this forum but I'll try to get to the point. I think I need a new bridge pickup in my PRS paul allender SE. It currently has stock pickups in both positions, with the bridge being called an HFS for this era guitar (not sure if it was on my model or a cheaper version).

The issue i'm having is ice-pick tone from the bridge. The neck pickup is beautiful for both rhythm and soloing (VB in that position), but when it comes time to solo I have to switch to the bridge or try to get the volume on my amp up. I generally don't turn down my volume knob lower than 8 because I lose myself in the band. I use an original Fender Hot Rod DeVille 2x12. A contributing part of the issue is that this guitar doesn't have individual knobs for each pickup, but even with the tone at 0 the bridge pickup is fairly harsh.

What I need from a new pickup is fairly significant output levels and a tone that lets individual notes in a solo be clear without being harsh or raspy. I only use the bridge for solo work and single note rhythms. I play a wide variety of styles but the general distortion levels I will use with the bridge range from slight breakup to full-tube-scream solos a la Trey Anastasio. I am totally lost, and have no clue which direction to go. I don't play extreme metal except for some sabbath-type doom improvs, so I know I don't need EMG's. I will also say that the super distortion I put in my Epi SG is still too bright for me. Any and all advice will be appreciated!

 

[Demanic]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

I'll throw out three off the top of my head: 59, Custom Custom or maybe even a JB (though some say it can be ice picky in mahogany).

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

SH8, Invader (big mids and lows with mellow highs...not too bright)
SH15, Alt8 (this one has some brightness to it but it has huge mids and solid lows).

 

[iamthesuck]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

Thanks for the recommendations, I'll start researching those. I'm really not super familiar with SD's line up presently. One item I really want to emphasize is that I do like significant output in my bridge pickups. By that I mean I like there to actually be a noticeable volume boost when switching from the neck. I really like the neck for almost all of my rhythm work so that's why the volume boost would make sense. One friend recommended the BKP warpig. If it has decent moderate distortion sound I think it could be good.

 

[Uncle Fred]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

I always grab a 59 Neck and a JB when in need.

 

[Demanic]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

SH8, Invader (big mids and lows with mellow highs...not too bright)
SH15, Alt8 (this one has some brightness to it but it has huge mids and solid lows).

I have a TB-15 in my Ibanez, it will definitely give you a volume boost as compared to the neck.

 

[Gibson 1964]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

If you are looking at the Warpig, try the SD Custom Shop SLUG. I own both the Warpig and the SLUG. Slug is $130 and is the better choice.

 

[sosomething]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

If you're not averse to going custom shop, I have an S-Deco 8 in a G&L that I put there after finding a lot of other bridge pickups a little too bright and brittle in that guitar. Fixed the problem for good. That's my personal endorsement.

But..

I'm betting your problem would be solved by any number of Alnico 8 pickups. As Doc said, the Alternative 8 would provide plenty of output and it is on the darker side.

 

[iamthesuck]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

If you are looking at the Warpig, try the SD Custom Shop SLUG. I own both the Warpig and the SLUG. Slug is $130 and is the better choice.

What are the differences to your ear? Again, the warpig was at the recommendation of a friend, and he may be full of it. He's a few states away so I can't try it out. But of the non-custom shop models, the SH-11 caught my fancy as a high output pickup for bright guitars. I fear the SLUG might be a little insane for me (I play some grateful dead songs with my band). I liked the descriptions I was reading of ALNICO II magnets, I'll read more about 8's. Thanks for the help thus far everyone!

 

[dominus]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

Dimarzio Air Zone.

 

[iamthesuck]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

Dimarzio Air Zone.

Air Zone over Tone Zone? Any particular reason? I do still want some improved output over the stock HFS.

 

[Gibson 1964]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

What are the differences to your ear? Again, the warpig was at the recommendation of a friend, and he may be full of it. He's a few states away so I can't try it out. But of the non-custom shop models, the SH-11 caught my fancy as a high output pickup for bright guitars. I fear the SLUG might be a little insane for me (I play some grateful dead songs with my band). I liked the descriptions I was reading of ALNICO II magnets, I'll read more about 8's. Thanks for the help thus far everyone!

The differences are: The SLUG has more output, and is a very cool sound. It has a ton of low end thump, tons of low mids and is clearer than the warpigs. The warpigs sound woolier to me. Slug to me inspires me to play Black Sabbath. Clean, it packs a sonic wallop that is very unlike any other pickup I have played in that it thumps.

It is neither harsh, nor raspy. However, while it is a high output pickup, it isn't as insane as you would think given the numbers. The Warpigs are relatively wooly and not as clear.

I was not a fan of the invader either just for the record.

 

[iamthesuck]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

The differences are: The SLUG has more output, and is a very cool sound. It has a ton of low end thump, tons of low mids and is clearer than the warpigs. The warpigs sound woolier to me. Slug to me inspires me to play Black Sabbath. Clean, it packs a sonic wallop that is very unlike any other pickup I have played in that it thumps.

It is neither harsh, nor raspy. However, while it is a high output pickup, it isn't as insane as you would think given the numbers. The Warpigs are relatively wooly and not as clear.

I was not a fan of the invader either just for the record.

That sounds pretty flipping good to me. For a reference I have played a setlist that went Blister in the Sun>Snowblind Jam>Fire on the Mountain>Soul Shakedown party>Midnight rider. I used the HFS bridge to solo for all of them but it felt raspy on most of the songs. I also felt that with vol ~8.5 on the neck pickup my solo with vol ~10 felt too quiet and didn't sound pleasant (too harsh). But I do play slower, quiet solos like Shadedown party, and then would need a louder, tube-driven voice for something like midnight rider, and then all out slammin' for snowblind.

My current thoughts are between the dimarzio tone zone and a SH-11. If the SLUG can be gentle (even with the volume rolled back) enough to be useably dynamic I'll be really likely to go that route.
EDIT: From my research, I feel like I'm looking for a SH-11 with more output, and possibly even more output than a tone zone.

 

[Demanic]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

I have a friend of mine who has a 59 in the bridge of an Epi Les Paul and he likes a more midrange heavy, old school hard rock type sound. In his guitar, for his style, it sounds fantastic. Plenty of mids and top end without being shrill at all. The Alternative 8 is also good, but I warn you, it is LOUD. Though I suppose if you spit it, it would sound good for Dead etc. Though even split into a clean channel, it still sounds like you're running it into an overdrive first.

 

[iamthesuck]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

I feel like the Alt 8 may be too hot for what I want. Not sure. If the tone zone has output comparable to a super distortion I think that would be about where I want to end up output wise. I could stand a bit more, but not too much less. If I used this on a dead song it would be a rockin' solo on truckin', not ripple if that makes sense. I think the tone zone/CC area is a good one tonally. Output wise I'm unsure of the CC, but the tone zone seems about right. I don't mind a satriani type tone for a solo. Maybe that's the route I should take?

 

[Aceman]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

JB2, or….

A SuperDistortion.

 

[Demanic]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

The 59 would rip "Truckin'".

 

[iamthesuck]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

I'm pretty much in between the tone zone and custom custom. I might like a little more output and bass than the sh-11, but maybe the tone zone is too much in that direction. Not sure, I'm leaning sh-11 but I need to hear more dimarzio clips. I've heard some real pretty clean clips of the tone zone, but I hear it's kinda crappy clean. The invader/alt8 are still in the running, but I think I'm in between those. Any advice picking?

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

The Tone Zone is a fantastic lead pickup if you like high gain. It's smooth and vocal sounding. I'm running mine only connected to the volume knob. It splits well if you want a clean bridge sound . . .

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: No idea where to go - need new Pickup!

If the biggest problem is where you sit in the mix I'd look at the JB or the Dimarzio Norton....You''ll notice an immediate difference with the JB and if you have issues with it there's plenty of great tweeks you can do to that pickup to remedy them, plus the JB is easy to find on the used market.... I really liked the JB8 for metal....