Pickup Choice for a Peavey Predator

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deltarider99

New member
I've had a Peavey Predator (year unknown) for a few years now...it was handed down to me from somebody I knew in school. After I rebuilt it the summer I got it, I decided to put an Invader in the bridge and a Full Shred in the neck. Unfortunately, it's never sounded quite right with those pickups. At the time, I didn't know too much about pickups and how they match up with certain wood types, but now, it seems clear that there's a potential mismatch here.

So...I'm wondering if there's a better match for my guitar than what I've got, especially for the bridge position. As far as I know, the body is poplar, and the neck/fretboard is maple. Here's a pic of the guitar for reference...

IMG_0468.jpg
 
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Re: Pickup Choice for a Peavey Predator

Welcome! What are you gonna play? And what is it made of...
 
Re: Pickup Choice for a Peavey Predator

Aceman said:
Welcome! What are you gonna play? And what is it made of...
Click to expand...

Thanks, man. Looking to play mostly aggressive rock/metal, so clean tones on this particular guitar is an afterthought.

Poplar body, maple neck/fretboard.
 
Re: Pickup Choice for a Peavey Predator

Nice. I love it. The two Peaveys on the right are my Predator and Patriot. Exactly the same guitar except for the Predator's Kahler tremolo and locking nut:

Peaveys.jpg


I have hybrids in the Predator and a Custom Custom/AII Pro in the Patriot. Both guitars really respond well to A2 mag pups. But I've liked other things as well. The CC/AIIP combo is great, however.

You just gotta try stuff. ;)

Edit: I know that doesn't match with whats in my sig. The Patriot is in a constant state of transition. It's my "experimental" axe.
 
Re: Pickup Choice for a Peavey Predator

I defer to Artie's suggestions. I assume this is a bright guitar. A2P's might be what it needs. Don't freak out about high output pups if your amp has a ton of gain. Low/medium stuff usually has better tone in that situation.
 
Re: Pickup Choice for a Peavey Predator

Sounds good. Do I need a Trembucker? Even though it has a trem, I had it locked with springs.
 
Re: Pickup Choice for a Peavey Predator

Aceman said:
I assume this is a bright guitar.
Click to expand...

The Patriot, yes. The Predator, no. Its amazing how much high-end is lost with the Kahler/locking nut combo.

His has a standard tremolo. I'm not sure what affect that will have on the brightness.
 
Re: Pickup Choice for a Peavey Predator

I'd second the CC. I had it in mine, but it's in my brother's Predator now. I was toying with the idea of something different, but it was all for naught. I just prefer the CC in that guitar. Currently, mine has a 78 in the bridge, hot rails in the middle and a cool rails in the neck. The 78 sounds great, but I actually prefer the CC in it. Plus, the 78 is for another guitar, once I build it.

You can find pics of mine and my brother's in the link in my signature. I don't know that I've seen the color scheme you have on yours. That looks great!
 
Re: Pickup Choice for a Peavey Predator

Try Tone Zone / Air Norton combo
Those pickups will even out the brightness from the poplar and maple, and they'll give ya great rock and metal tones.
 
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