Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

[B.Cross]

Hey guys I have a pacifica 1221 MS that refuses to get a good full tone out of my drive channel on my peavey classic 30. I have tried a SD SH-11 too mushy on the bigger strings, SH-5 too bright and not enough power. Dimarzio DP-100 sounded like bees in a can. And of course the originals which were dimarzio but they were only registering 7k resistance. I have a les pual studio that sounds tremendous through this amp and it has stock pups although a little too bright on the thinner strings. Any suggestions would help
Thanks

We are a cover band, we do anything from zeppelin to bob seger to queensryche to powermad

 

[Kam]

Re: Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

I got all excited because I have one of the alder strat-shaped Pacificas and no one EVER asks about those so I thought it was finally my time to shine. Looks like I'll have to keep waiting.

Anyways, floyd Rose? Basswood body? Full, thick tone? Versatility? Looks like you should be heading for one of the PATB series, mate.

By the way, you should learn how to swap magnets in your pickups. You could have traded that SH-11 for an SH-5 in about ten minutes.

 

[B.Cross]

Re: Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

I got all excited because I have one of the alder strat-shaped Pacificas and no one EVER asks about those so I thought it was finally my time to shine. Looks like I'll have to keep waiting.

Anyways, floyd Rose? Basswood body? Full, thick tone? Versatility? Looks like you should be heading for one of the PATB series, mate.

By the way, you should learn how to swap magnets in your pickups. You could have traded that SH-11 for an SH-5 in about ten minutes.

So which one are you thinking? I was reading about the PATB 2, the problem that I am having is that I either get a pup that's too bright for the guitar or too mushy on the bigger strings so far

 

[Kam]

Re: Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

Well, the only one that I have personal experience with is the neck model, so I'm hesitant to offer you advice without first-hand knowledge. I know that there are guys who browse this part of the forum regularly with great amounts of experience with both, so I'll let them give you the details.

If it was my guitar and I had to make an educated guess, I'd probably go with the PATB-3. It's often described as a beefed up '59 model that cleans up to an old-school PAF type vibe with the volume knob, which sounds about perfect for you given the list of covers you play. Don't take my word for gospel, though.

And judging from my neck pickup and reviews I've read here, I don't think you'll have problems with them being mushy. The Parallel Axis polepiece design makes them very tight, articulate and sensitve little beasts.

 

[B.Cross]

Re: Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

Well, the only one that I have personal experience with is the neck model, so I'm hesitant to offer you advice without first-hand knowledge. I know that there are guys who browse this part of the forum regularly with great amounts of experience with both, so I'll let them give you the details.

If it was my guitar and I had to make an educated guess, I'd probably go with the PATB-3. It's often described as a beefed up '59 model that cleans up to an old-school PAF type vibe with the volume knob, which sounds about perfect for you given the list of covers you play. Don't take my word for gospel, though.

And judging from my neck pickup and reviews I've read here, I don't think you'll have problems with them being mushy. The Parallel Axis polepiece design makes them very tight, articulate and sensitve little beasts.

That is a alnico pickup and afraid it would be too mushy and the output is kind of low. Was really wanting something with more output

 

[Despair]

Re: Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

SH-5 not having enough power is curious. Are you sure the problem is the guitar and not the amp?

The PATB-3 is the lowest output of the Parallel Axis bridge models, but if you back the volume off to 85% it's very close to a '59b in every respect. So it's not exactly a low output PAF...

Still, if you want more, but not all-out gonzo metal, the PATB-1b may be more up your line. I absolutely love it in my Ibanez RG570 (rosewood fretboard, maple bolt-on, basswood body with floating vibrato bridge). PATB-1b description, as I don't feel like retyping it.

The PATB-2 Parallel Axis Distortion is an awesome pickup, but it's pretty much pure metal. Compressed, extremely high output. You'll be hard-pressed to get cleans out of it. Not what I'd recommend for a cover band, unless you don't do cleans or low gain on the bridge pickup at all, or unless you are doing thrash covers of Seger.

 

[B.Cross]

Re: Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

SH-5 not having enough power is curious. Are you sure the problem is the guitar and not the amp?

The PATB-3 is the lowest output of the Parallel Axis bridge models, but if you back the volume off to 85% it's very close to a '59b in every respect. So it's not exactly a low output PAF...

Still, if you want more, but not all-out gonzo metal, the PATB-1b may be more up your line. I absolutely love it in my Ibanez RG570 (rosewood fretboard, maple bolt-on, basswood body with floating vibrato bridge). PATB-1b description, as I don't feel like retyping it.

The PATB-2 Parallel Axis Distortion is an awesome pickup, but it's pretty much pure metal. Compressed, extremely high output. You'll be hard-pressed to get cleans out of it. Not what I'd recommend for a cover band, unless you don't do cleans or low gain on the bridge pickup at all, or unless you are doing thrash covers of Seger.

Hey thanks for the response and you have to understand the peavey classic 30 is not a high gain amp but medium gain I suppose as compared to a b52 at series I have. The thing is that this amp sounds sooo good on the drive channel with my studio paul but it's not my main guitar being really heavy and hard to reach around the neck unless you wear it on your nipples. Anyway so you are recommending the patb-2? The problem with the SH-5 is that it sounded shrill on the smaller strings and a little mushy on the bigger strings. Of course I know the guitar is a totally different animal than my paul but like I said it sure is lighter and a non nipple guitar lol. Oh and it's a shredder by far the best neck I own

 

[Kam]

Re: Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

That is a alnico pickup and afraid it would be too mushy and the output is kind of low. Was really wanting something with more output

While a pickup's characteristics depend on lots of elements and not solely the magnet, it does play a big part. But don't discount all alnico magnets as mushy. Alnico 5 is generally quite clear and crisp. The Custom 5 is one of the tightest pickups I've ever played and it's sound was much more pleasing to my ears than the regular Custom.

 

[Kam]

Re: Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

Do you know what pickups are in your Les Paul?

 

[B.Cross]

Re: Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

Do you know what pickups are in your Les Paul?

Yeah they are the standard paf's I believe.

 

[B.Cross]

Re: Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

They are 498T's in the bridge

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

Once upon a time I had a Pacifica 712. It had locking sperzels and a wilkinson trem if that helps. I have no idea what your model is....

I had a DiMarzio PAF Pro in there and it was awesome. It had two un-named, but highly suspiciously appearing Dimarzio stacked singles also...

 

[B.Cross]

Re: Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

Once upon a time I had a Pacifica 712. It had locking sperzels and a wilkinson trem if that helps. I have no idea what your model is....

I had a DiMarzio PAF Pro in there and it was awesome.

Mine is a 1221 MS and rebuilding and painting two 921's So your guitar had the metal plate that connected the neck heel and the body? And what wood was it made out of?

 

[B.Cross]

Re: Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

I am actually thinking of trying the crunch lab by dimarzio or the PATB but leaning dimarzio on this one

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

All I can say is those guitars absolutely suck and you should just give it to me.

But for real, I've wanted one of those for years. Killer guitars. I've always liked the stock pups though! Had just enough bite and were extremely clear.

Anyways. Basswood = DiMarzio for me. I think that CL would fit very nicely for what you want.

 

[B.Cross]

Re: Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

All I can say is those guitars absolutely suck and you should just give it to me.

But for real, I've wanted one of those for years. Killer guitars. I've always liked the stock pups though! Had just enough bite and were extremely clear.

Anyways. Basswood = DiMarzio for me. I think that CL would fit very nicely for what you want.

If you are making an offer I am willing to part with it. Also have some 921's as well

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

Mine is a 1221 MS and rebuilding and painting two 921's So your guitar had the metal plate that connected the neck heel and the body? And what wood was it made out of?

Yes - Metal plate. Don't know on the wood (Candy Apple Red) but it was fairly light.

One of the best built guitars I've had short of my Gibsons and definitely one of the best necks period.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Pickup for a pacifica 1221 MS

If you are making an offer I am willing to part with it. Also have some 921's as well

Groovy. I'm in no position to be buying gear atm but shoot me a pm with some prices and pics. I may start putting money aside.