P/U Advice for Ibanez S-series

V

Vincent

New member
Hi guys,

This is my first post!! I badly need some advice regarding the pickups for the bridge position in my Ibanez S-Series.

Here are its specs:

1997 Ibanez S540 ( I think)
Mahogany body, Flame maple top
Lo-Pro Floyd Rose bridge
Rosewood fingerboard (22 frets)
H-S-H configuration.

I have a Breed in the neck position and it rules!!! Very full and fat sounding, but still retains clarity and punch. 325mv output so I am worried that certain Dimarzio/Duncan models will be underpowered since the Breed is pretty beefy.

At the moment I have a faulty Dimarzio Evolution in the bridge that squeals like a pig and to my ears, sounds harsh. I am after a pickup that will put the bass back in the bridge position without sounding muddy. I am after something that retains clarity under the uber-distortion that the 5150 is known for. Van-Halenish tones would be nice, although PAF-powered pickups would be underpowered.

If it helps, I play through a 5150 head into a Marshall 4x12. Give me your pickup suggestions. I am open to either Dimarzios/Duncans or whatever you guys can suggest.

My current ideas:

Duncan Distortion
Steve's special
Custom 5
Custom
JB

Thanks guys. You R the best!! :cool3:
 
Re: P/U Advice for Ibanez S-series

i would go JB trembucker or a dimarzio super distortion.

I love my JB in my Ibanez RG. Great clarity while distorted tight low end and alot of highs but not tooo much. As long as you run it with a 250k volume pot and bring the JB 1/4 of an inch or so away from the strings. It will also help out your sustain which most s-series lack. Very small skinny body.

It won't give you outright the EVH tone but you can adjust it with your 5150 and get you in the ballpark
 
Re: P/U Advice for Ibanez S-series

I would say a JB, but since you mentioned Van Halen id say go with a CC just because its still hot but with more of a vintage vibe than a JB (if only slightly).

Either would probably be great!
 
Re: P/U Advice for Ibanez S-series

If you're going DiMarzio, it's hard to fail with a Super Distortion in bridge. I have one in my Ibanez SA160QM, and it seems to have almost the same specs as your guitar, and I also played it through my old 5150! :)
 
Re: P/U Advice for Ibanez S-series

i have 2X S540 equipped with the following pickups:

1. Duncan Invader (B) + Full Shred (N)

2. Dimarzio Mega Drive (B) + Super2 (N)

i especially like the Duncan combo because they sound very good at high gain settings. many people will dismiss the Invader as a bass excessive pickup but look at the tone chart & you'll see that its midrange surpasses the bass. it sounds bassy- yes, but not muddy.

another option for a good bass response in a floating vibrato unit would be the PATB model. otherwise, go with the Custom model if you prefer the Duncan brand name.
 
Re: P/U Advice for Ibanez S-series

The S is a very light model isn't it? its agathis or something. So i would recommend something fat to compensate for the body, like an Invader. I like bloodsworlds suggestion, as the full shred cuts well, and would sound smooth in the neck position, while the Invader is bassy, and placed in the bridge to insure that both bridge and neck positions are well balanced. (bridge pos:trebly+Invader=balanced, Neck:Bassy+Full Shred=balanced.) You can't go wrong with bloodsworlds choice!
 
Re: P/U Advice for Ibanez S-series

Thanks guys.

My thoughts on your suggestions:

The tone chart suggests that the Custom Custom is very mid-heavy. Would this suit a mahogany-bodied guitar that is by nature quite middy?

If anything, I find that the bridge is VERY thin sounding with the current Evolutions.

The invader looks great and sounds about right, but having listened to it on Duncan's sample clips page, it seems a touch 'muddy'. Do you think it will retain clarity under high gain?

Bloodsword, I heard that the Steve's special sounds a lot like the megadrive that you have in your s540. Would you be able to comment on the DIFFERENCE between how the Invader sounds vs the megadrive? Thanks.

Lastly, any Dimarzio suggestions?

Again, you guys rock and I woudn't know what to do w/o you around.
 
Re: P/U Advice for Ibanez S-series

Listen to my crappy recordings done with a japanese S470 and CC in the bridge:

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=34

Yeah the bridge position on mine with other pickups sounds thin as well. But not with CC. Don't let the eq chart fool you. CC with its pronounced lowermids, spongy soft bass, and creamy highs; I think is the best pickup for a floyd rose guitar, eliminating the metallic highs due to the bridge. Anyway check it for yourself.

B
 
Re: P/U Advice for Ibanez S-series

i have the CC in the bridge of my Ibanez SZ. yes it's midrange rich but it's not as intense as the JB & it's nothing a little EQ tweaking can't cure.
 
Re: P/U Advice for Ibanez S-series

If you already have a Bredd in the neck, why not compliment it with a Bredd bridge position model in the bridge? If not that, then I would vote for a Custom.
 
Re: P/U Advice for Ibanez S-series

Wow! I'm amazed at how synonymous everyone's suggestion appears to be. Custom-Custom it is then. I'm basing my decision on a collective opinion of forum users, methinks.

Hopefully this Custom-Custom will be able to blaze expressively for rock and smooth out for jazz.

Thanks again guys. :32: BTW, those sound clips really did help. I can't believe that's an s-series Ibanez in those clips. Pickups really do make a big difference!

Something I've learnt: Pickups sound very different when placed in guitars of different woods. I thought the Evo sounded great in Ibanez Jems, but it just sounded harsh and, to my ears, lifeless, almost grating in my S.
 
Re: P/U Advice for Ibanez S-series

Vincent said:
Wow! I'm amazed at how synonymous everyone's suggestion appears to be. Custom-Custom it is then. I'm basing my decision on a collective opinion of forum users, methinks.

Hopefully this Custom-Custom will be able to blaze expressively for rock and smooth out for jazz.

Thanks again guys. :32: BTW, those sound clips really did help. I can't believe that's an s-series Ibanez in those clips. Pickups really do make a big difference!

Something I've learnt: Pickups sound very different when placed in guitars of different woods. I thought the Evo sounded great in Ibanez Jems, but it just sounded harsh and, to my ears, lifeless, almost grating in my S.
Click to expand...
yeah, i thought th evo in my charvel was ok but just not me and i tried it in a jem and hated it.
 
Re: P/U Advice for Ibanez S-series

Haven't read the whole thread, but as a current owner of two EBMM Axis guitars, and a former owner of an Evolution equipped Ibanez S series guitar, and an Evolution equipped hardtail Charvel, I can comfortably recommend either the Tone Zone, or the Duncan Custom Custom.

Two pickups which I'd NEVER use in my current setup, yet would work perfectly in the rig you're talking about.

You might even get away with a Hybrid in that guitar, so long as it used an Alnico 2 magnet.
 
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