Pickup/guitar combination for ibanez/jackson in drop C

[ShredZ]

I play lead in a thrash metal band using drop C all the time. For this I currently go back and forth between a dave mustaine with livewires, jackson sl-1 with TB-4 and ibanez s320 with a PATB-2. I recently got an S5470 cause I like the S model but wanted the other neck. It currently has EVH wolfgang pickups and these seem to sound rather overly bassy and undefined even on my fryette sig-x which usually is extremely articulate.

My current opinion on the different guitars/pickups:
- I love the sound of the active dave mustaine livewires, fits the sound very nicely, also the heaviest of the guitars but it sounds very "alive"

- Jackson SL-1 with TB-4 sounds awesome for recording due to its note definition, but whenever I bring it to rehearsals or shows it feels lacking in output (i.e. for pinch harmonics or single note runs) compared to the mustaine or s320

- S320 ibanez with the PATB-2 (and sh-4 in neck) sounds HUGE, I absolutely adore how it makes the heavy stuff sound good with single note runs chunking through quite nicely. The downside here is that the definition of the SL-1 is not there anymore and I don't know if it just has to do with the cheaper vs usa guitar or the pickups.

So now I got the S5470 which is at least on par with the soloist for playability but I need pickups for it and actives are a chore cause it is so thin.
Was thinking of just getting me some more PATB-2 to fit the jackson and the s5470 but that seems rather boring having them all have the same pickup.
Was considering duncan distortion or nazgul / black winter type pickups. But since soldering needs to be done I don't mind swapping some around.

So in short:
I wonder which guitar would suit the PATB-2 I have best and which other pickup(s) would give me drop C sounds I like. (SL-1 & S5470 mainly, S320 could take the JB I guess but I kinda like its current sound). What do you guys suggest ?

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Pickup/guitar combination for ibanez/jackson in drop C

You've expressed one of the things about the JB I don't like - sounds good recorded, sounds not so good elsewhere.

Put the PATB2 in the bridge of the SL1.

One thing about all your live guitars having the same pickups - consistent tone. Although guitars do have their own unique tone, having the same pickups in similar guitars keeps them tonally similar enough to be reliable for any situation.

The drummer isn't swapping out heads for different songs, so stick with what works. Joe Moshpit doesn't care if one guitar has subtle nuances that only other guitar players notice.

And FYI - as I understand it, the Mustaine LiveWires are active JBs. Might be something to think about.

 

[ShredZ]

Re: Pickup/guitar combination for ibanez/jackson in drop C

Guess the PATB2 moving to the jackson is gonna happen.
Seems like finding a new PATB2 where I live is not so obvious, so what pickup should I put in the S5470 ? SH-6 ? Nazgul ? some other I overlooked maybe ?

 

[elelpe]

Re: Pickup/guitar combination for ibanez/jackson in drop C

Distortion, Dimebucker or Alt8 - Jazz.
Blackwinter set.
Nazgul - Sentient.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Pickup/guitar combination for ibanez/jackson in drop C

Full Shred

 

[Aku Tonklips]

Re: Pickup/guitar combination for ibanez/jackson in drop C

Not the best answer but drop tunings need a better than stock pickup in them because the factory only plays it in standard, I'd go with one you like in a mohagany body that's has a pretty wholesome and thick body shape. Ask a silly question, get a silly answer but have you placed heavier string gauges on your guitars?

 

[Juanhanglo]

Re: Pickup/guitar combination for ibanez/jackson in drop C

How about the dimarzio d'activator? I have one paired with an air norton s in an ibanez rg. I also run a set of full shreds in another rg

I love both bridge pickups equally. Both will do thrash all day, as well as all things rock. You just need to play with your eq..

The neck pickups, while i like both, i somehow think that if they could combine the two, the result would be perfect.

 

[ShredZ]

Re: Pickup/guitar combination for ibanez/jackson in drop C

Not the best answer but drop tunings need a better than stock pickup in them because the factory only plays it in standard, I'd go with one you like in a mohagany body that's has a pretty wholesome and thick body shape. Ask a silly question, get a silly answer but have you placed heavier string gauges on your guitars?

I put 10-46 sets on these and replace the 46 by a 52.
I'll check out some d'activator clips. Alt-8 sounded pretty good from what I heard but will it have the power of the patb-2 ?

 

[dominus]

Re: Pickup/guitar combination for ibanez/jackson in drop C

I put 10-46 sets on these and replace the 46 by a 52.
I'll check out some d'activator clips. Alt-8 sounded pretty good from what I heard but will it have the power of the patb-2 ?

What you'd want to do is either take a 42-9 set and toss the 9 and move every string up one and add a 52, or take a 46-10 set, toss the 10 and move every string up one and add a 56.

 

[RStabler]

Re: Pickup/guitar combination for ibanez/jackson in drop C

What you'd want to do is either take a 42-9 set and toss the 9 and move every string up one and add a 52, or take a 46-10 set, toss the 10 and move every string up one and add a 56.

D'addario makes a production 11-52 set, which is the first one. They also make an 11-56 set if you're a heavy-handed rhythm player. For the last one, you can just buy an Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 7-string set and use the high e elsewhere.

 

[dominus]

Re: Pickup/guitar combination for ibanez/jackson in drop C

D'addario makes a production 11-52 set, which is the first one. They also make an 11-56 set if you're a heavy-handed rhythm player. For the last one, you can just buy an Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 7-string set and use the high e elsewhere.

I've always found it cheaper to buy the lighter gauge sets and buy the heavier singles in bulk.

 

[Aku Tonklips]

Re: Pickup/guitar combination for ibanez/jackson in drop C

I've always found the 3rd string is too floppy for drop b, I wonder what I can get away with bigger than a 22p without destroying my fingers

 

[dominus]

Re: Pickup/guitar combination for ibanez/jackson in drop C

I've always found the 3rd string is too floppy for drop b, I wonder what I can get away with bigger than a 22p without destroying my fingers

I play in Open B, and use 56-46-36-26-17-13. I'm currently using all stainless strings purchased in bulk. (Supposed to brighten up the tone a little.)

Back on topic, the Dimarzio D-Activators would probably work great for you.

 

[ShredZ]

Re: Pickup/guitar combination for ibanez/jackson in drop C

I think after a lot of reading, youtube comparisons and trying out the guitars I have while paying special attention to the responses through the amp... *sigh* this pickup quest'ing is really exciting and tedious at the same time I gotta say.

The PATB-2 definetly needs more highs to my taste in the mahogany body of the S320 in conjunction with my amp so I hope the SL-1 will bring out just that being alder with the ebony board.
I seem to always prefer the DD's sound in about every video/description I came across, the d-activator seems decent, but I really don't like the EMG type sound for some reason. (btw, I did take a very good look at the bw/nazgul/pegasus ones as well but I don't think these are for me with the sig-x already delivering more than enough mid)

So I'm going PATB-2 in the jackson bridge, TB-6 for the S5470 bridge which just leaves me with deciding on the neck pickup, but this seems to boil down to the jazz to get some smoother leads compared to the DD. So unless somebody steps forward screaming I'm wasting my money and effort, I can finally go heat up the soldering iron

(PS about the string, I really hate a wound G-string (no pun intended) so moving them all up is not an option)