Hello Seymour Duncan forum! Its been a while since I've posted on here (I think like 3 years actually) and I wish to call on all of ya'lls expertise. As the title says I am looking for a humbucker that can pull off those 70's and 80's style metal tones. As a template I am thinking of early Maiden (Number Of The Beast through Powerslave) and early Priest tones (Stained Glass and British Steel specifically). I've looked all over this forum reading a bunch of different things for this kind of style of music but I couldn't find something that I was looking for exactly. What I want is a humbucker that has tight, cello-like bass, full and fat mids, and highs that are a little darker and smoother, but with plenty of cut (preferably no alnico 2 style pickups) and has the ability to roll back for some decent warm cleans .The aforementioned tones are a good idea of what I'm looking for, but also I found that the guitar tone in "Balls To The Wall" is the most accurate I can think of. Its full, fat, sustaining, cutting, and has that cocked-wah or "awwwww" sound that I love.Also, lets keep this to just passive pickups, I always found active pickups kind of one trick ponys that don't sound very good in any other application besides high gain stuff. I found a few different ideas but I just couldn't choose between them so I thought it couldn't hurt to ask. I looked at a SH-4 with an Alnico 8 magnet, a Dimarzio Super Distortion, an SH-15, and I think someone mentioned a Duncan Distortion. This will be going into an alder body strat with a maple fretboard btw. Any help with this is appreciated!
Pickup for 70's/80's metal tones.
- Thread starter Arkas6767
- Start date
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Re: Pickup for 70's/80's metal tones.
This is a great guide written my one of the forum members
http://www.tmrzoo.com/2014/60603/seymour-duncan-vintage-guitar-pickup
This is a great guide written my one of the forum members
http://www.tmrzoo.com/2014/60603/seymour-duncan-vintage-guitar-pickup
Re: Pickup for 70's/80's metal tones.
Definitely Dimarzio Super Distortion for Maiden and Priest tones. Accept used EMG81's, but since you want to stay passive I suggest a Dimarzio Tone Zone. It has that cocked-wah tone you described and works well with Alder. But I still think you want a Dimarzio SD.
Definitely Dimarzio Super Distortion for Maiden and Priest tones. Accept used EMG81's, but since you want to stay passive I suggest a Dimarzio Tone Zone. It has that cocked-wah tone you described and works well with Alder. But I still think you want a Dimarzio SD.
Mark Le Comte
New member
Re: Pickup for 70's/80's metal tones.
Super Distortion in the bridge. Add a good marshall and a pedal (TS or D+ used as a boost) and you have Iron Maiden. Paf neck is my preferrence, but a paf pro gives you more cocked wah sounds and looks the same as a Super D.
Duncan distortion if you want to be tighter/brighter.
Super Distortion in the bridge. Add a good marshall and a pedal (TS or D+ used as a boost) and you have Iron Maiden. Paf neck is my preferrence, but a paf pro gives you more cocked wah sounds and looks the same as a Super D.
Duncan distortion if you want to be tighter/brighter.
Rockstar216
New member
Re: Pickup for 70's/80's metal tones.
I'd say try either Custom Custom or a PATB-3.
I'd say try either Custom Custom or a PATB-3.
darthphineas
New member
Re: Pickup for 70's/80's metal tones.
JB
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JB
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9unslin9er
New member
Re: Pickup for 70's/80's metal tones.
A few options:
1. DiMarzio Super Distortion
2. Rockfield Mafia (can be found very cheap, used on eBay)
3. Gibson 500t
That cocked "aww" wah sound is a characteristic of picking technique. You can get that with any pickup, so I wouldn't use that as a guideline for your ears.
And a big no to the Duncan Distortion for what you've described.
A few options:
1. DiMarzio Super Distortion
2. Rockfield Mafia (can be found very cheap, used on eBay)
3. Gibson 500t
That cocked "aww" wah sound is a characteristic of picking technique. You can get that with any pickup, so I wouldn't use that as a guideline for your ears.
And a big no to the Duncan Distortion for what you've described.
Last edited:
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Pickup for 70's/80's metal tones.
I don't know that there is "one" pickup that will do it for you.
For MAiden - my go to has always been a Super Distortion. No surprise - it's what Maiden used.
For Priest, My go to has always been a Duncan Distortion. Just a more sharp/agressive edge to it (also for Balls to the wall)
Honestly, you are either going to have to compromise, or get two guitars! I suggest another guitar. I have a SuperD in a 73 Les Paul and a Distortion in a 79. Great approach.
However - might I suggest something else….
Get a JB and put an A8 magnet in it. Takes the edge off the highs (not too much), evens the miss (just a bit though), and nice tight, but big (noir too big) bass.
However - another option you might consider is a DiMarzio PAF Pro. It seems to be the overall sound you are looking for also in a more m,ild output package.
You didn't mention the amp though. You might also think about modifying the tone of a Distortion or SuperDistortion with an MXR EQ, say, to go from Maiden to Priest…
I don't know that there is "one" pickup that will do it for you.
For MAiden - my go to has always been a Super Distortion. No surprise - it's what Maiden used.
For Priest, My go to has always been a Duncan Distortion. Just a more sharp/agressive edge to it (also for Balls to the wall)
Honestly, you are either going to have to compromise, or get two guitars! I suggest another guitar. I have a SuperD in a 73 Les Paul and a Distortion in a 79. Great approach.
However - might I suggest something else….
Get a JB and put an A8 magnet in it. Takes the edge off the highs (not too much), evens the miss (just a bit though), and nice tight, but big (noir too big) bass.
However - another option you might consider is a DiMarzio PAF Pro. It seems to be the overall sound you are looking for also in a more m,ild output package.
You didn't mention the amp though. You might also think about modifying the tone of a Distortion or SuperDistortion with an MXR EQ, say, to go from Maiden to Priest…
darthphineas
New member
Re: Pickup for 70's/80's metal tones.
Try to remember that you pretty much described what metal was in the 80s.
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Try to remember that you pretty much described what metal was in the 80s.
Sent from my armored battle station using Tapatalk
Re: Pickup for 70's/80's metal tones.
Thanks for the replies so far! And whoops, I completely forgot my amp. I'm using a Peavey Classic 30 with a WGS Green Beret in it. For boosting I usually use my rangemaster clone, but I have a BBE Green Screamer as well. Also, out of curiosity, has anyone tried doing a magnet swap with a Super Distortion? Maybe to Alnico 5 or 8?
Thanks for the replies so far! And whoops, I completely forgot my amp. I'm using a Peavey Classic 30 with a WGS Green Beret in it. For boosting I usually use my rangemaster clone, but I have a BBE Green Screamer as well. Also, out of curiosity, has anyone tried doing a magnet swap with a Super Distortion? Maybe to Alnico 5 or 8?
9unslin9er
New member
Re: Pickup for 70's/80's metal tones.
Definitely a Super Distortion. You already have two pedals that act as a high pass filter. Anything more and you'll cut your head clean off, unless that's your thing.
I use a BBE Green Screamer exclusively as well. Best overdrive on the planet.
And the Tone Zone is very close to what an Alnico V Super D would be.
Definitely a Super Distortion. You already have two pedals that act as a high pass filter. Anything more and you'll cut your head clean off, unless that's your thing.
I use a BBE Green Screamer exclusively as well. Best overdrive on the planet.
And the Tone Zone is very close to what an Alnico V Super D would be.
jaybonitrane
Snickerdoodle Milk
Re: Pickup for 70's/80's metal tones.
The Awwww sound can be had in different ways including wiring out of phase.
With your strat built to be bright and bouncy and you want dark and smooth but will cut on command...I vote for...
Dimarzio Evolution 1...wired out of phase.
It will warm the hell out of your strat and everything you want.
The Awwww sound can be had in different ways including wiring out of phase.
With your strat built to be bright and bouncy and you want dark and smooth but will cut on command...I vote for...
Dimarzio Evolution 1...wired out of phase.
It will warm the hell out of your strat and everything you want.
JB6464
New member
Re: Pickup for 70's/80's metal tones.
It depends what one calls metal , "Balls To The Walls " is metal in my book compared to most hair bands in the 80's playing Dokken or EVH tunes.
As a person who lived it and played it , almost every Hair band in the 80's i've shared the stage with played a JB in their gutars , most metal players playing stuff like Priest , RR/Ozzy , Accept , Iron Maiden and so on in the 80's were playing much hotter pickups with ceramic mags in them for a tighter high gain sound..
No , what i described what Hair Metal in the 80"s .
It depends what one calls metal , "Balls To The Walls " is metal in my book compared to most hair bands in the 80's playing Dokken or EVH tunes.
As a person who lived it and played it , almost every Hair band in the 80's i've shared the stage with played a JB in their gutars , most metal players playing stuff like Priest , RR/Ozzy , Accept , Iron Maiden and so on in the 80's were playing much hotter pickups with ceramic mags in them for a tighter high gain sound..
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: Pickup for 70's/80's metal tones.
Somebody forgot to tell Scott Ian and Dave Mustaine that they werent playing metal with their JB's...
Somebody forgot to tell Scott Ian and Dave Mustaine that they werent playing metal with their JB's...
JB6464
New member
Re: Pickup for 70's/80's metal tones.
In responding to darth , I was describing that mostly metal Hair bands used JB pickups .
I did'nt say metall bands in the 80's did'nt use them , i've even seen some do it with 59's if the amps are hot enough .
In responding to darth , I was describing that mostly metal Hair bands used JB pickups .
I did'nt say metall bands in the 80's did'nt use them , i've even seen some do it with 59's if the amps are hot enough .
