Hey everyone! This us my first post here. I have a mci intertek explorer style guitar that came from factory with 3 humbuckers, single volume, single tone, 3 mini toggles and a kahler style locking tail. It has some structural damage that is being repaired now as well as getting new electronic's since it had none upon receiving it. Do you have any suggestions for pups? I want a very versatile guitar. I was thinking about the hotrodded set for neck and bridge and maybe a distortion neck in the middle. What do you think?
Pickup ideas? 3 humbuckers
- Thread starter Jack25
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Re: Pickup ideas? 3 humbuckers
Welcome to the forum!
If you want something versatile, you would need a combination of different-output pickups. A 59/Phat Cat/Custom is really versatile (or P-Rails/59/PRails), but your suggestions might reveal that you play heavier music most of the time. What kind of music do you play?
Welcome to the forum!
If you want something versatile, you would need a combination of different-output pickups. A 59/Phat Cat/Custom is really versatile (or P-Rails/59/PRails), but your suggestions might reveal that you play heavier music most of the time. What kind of music do you play?
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Pickup ideas? 3 humbuckers
Welcome to the forum!
Several pickups can cover all of those. How many Duncans have you played?
Have you played the guitar with the stock pickups yet? What needs to change/what are you wanting to get out of the guitar? (besides versatility)
Welcome to the forum!
Several pickups can cover all of those. How many Duncans have you played?
Have you played the guitar with the stock pickups yet? What needs to change/what are you wanting to get out of the guitar? (besides versatility)
Re: Pickup ideas? 3 humbuckers
I have not played any Duncans yet. Only stock ibanez and epiphones as well as emg actives. When I got this guitar it was completely gutted with a chunk of wood missing around he input jack. It's being fixed right now and just need some suggestions for pickups.
My goal for this guitar is to be able to learn new genres (blues and country) as well as just a change from the heavy metal and rock sound I'm used too. I really want to experiment with sounds.
I have not played any Duncans yet. Only stock ibanez and epiphones as well as emg actives. When I got this guitar it was completely gutted with a chunk of wood missing around he input jack. It's being fixed right now and just need some suggestions for pickups.
My goal for this guitar is to be able to learn new genres (blues and country) as well as just a change from the heavy metal and rock sound I'm used too. I really want to experiment with sounds.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Pickup ideas? 3 humbuckers
Just wanted to see what experiences you've had–nothing wrong with Seymour Duncans, they make great pickups for many genres. Trial and error is the route I took to figuring out what pickups I like (didn't intend to be trial and error but that's how it happened. lol)
There really are many combos you could go with.
Since you mentioned Country to Metal I have to recommend the Dimebucker for the bridge. It is highly underused IMO, people think of Dimebag but it can handle way more than just metal. It is very articulate, sounds awesome clean and can take any amount of gain you want to throw at it.
I've only personally owned one HHH guitar BUT it was a single coil sized middle pickup (HSH body.) I really liked the Screamin Demon in the middle position but again, that was the Lil version and not the full version. That being said, I really enjoyed the pairing with a Dimebucker.
I really like the P-Rails suggestion from Mincer, very versatile pickup there. Hopefully other will chime is as well.
Also, I'm curious what wood it is–my guess would be Basswood or Mahogany (my quick google search produced very little on these guitars)–do you happen to know?
Just wanted to see what experiences you've had–nothing wrong with Seymour Duncans, they make great pickups for many genres. Trial and error is the route I took to figuring out what pickups I like (didn't intend to be trial and error but that's how it happened. lol)
There really are many combos you could go with.
Since you mentioned Country to Metal I have to recommend the Dimebucker for the bridge. It is highly underused IMO, people think of Dimebag but it can handle way more than just metal. It is very articulate, sounds awesome clean and can take any amount of gain you want to throw at it.
I've only personally owned one HHH guitar BUT it was a single coil sized middle pickup (HSH body.) I really liked the Screamin Demon in the middle position but again, that was the Lil version and not the full version. That being said, I really enjoyed the pairing with a Dimebucker.
I really like the P-Rails suggestion from Mincer, very versatile pickup there. Hopefully other will chime is as well.
Also, I'm curious what wood it is–my guess would be Basswood or Mahogany (my quick google search produced very little on these guitars)–do you happen to know?
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Re: Pickup ideas? 3 humbuckers
Wow I never would of thought of the dimebag. I appreciate all of the info! I know the neck is mahogany. I'm unsure of the body but should know soon when I talk to the Lutheir about the repair.
My dad actually bought this guitar new in 85 and it was his firs new guitar. I have wanted this thing since I was 8 and now, almost 20 years later, I have it and want to play it.
Wow I never would of thought of the dimebag. I appreciate all of the info! I know the neck is mahogany. I'm unsure of the body but should know soon when I talk to the Lutheir about the repair.
My dad actually bought this guitar new in 85 and it was his firs new guitar. I have wanted this thing since I was 8 and now, almost 20 years later, I have it and want to play it.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Pickup ideas? 3 humbuckers
The Dimebucker/Bill Lawrence L500s are really cool pickups. Definitely not just for metal–I play quite a bit of styles from Christian/Praise& Worship to Alternative to Bluesy Rock and Southern Rock–the Dimebucker fit in all of those. They could market the Dimebucker as a Chickin-Pickin pickup–with the right clean settings it sounds very much like a Country pickup–very versatile.
Most welcome, and like I said hopefully some other forum members will chime in with their suggestions.
If the neck is Mahogany then hopefully the Body will be as well for that Explorer-style guitar. That's awesome that your dad bought it and now you have it over 30 years later!
If you can, pics of the axe would be cool.
The Dimebucker/Bill Lawrence L500s are really cool pickups. Definitely not just for metal–I play quite a bit of styles from Christian/Praise& Worship to Alternative to Bluesy Rock and Southern Rock–the Dimebucker fit in all of those. They could market the Dimebucker as a Chickin-Pickin pickup–with the right clean settings it sounds very much like a Country pickup–very versatile.
Most welcome, and like I said hopefully some other forum members will chime in with their suggestions.
If the neck is Mahogany then hopefully the Body will be as well for that Explorer-style guitar. That's awesome that your dad bought it and now you have it over 30 years later!
If you can, pics of the axe would be cool.
iamthesuck
New member
Re: Pickup ideas? 3 humbuckers
Your flavor of Custom (Custom (ceramic), Custom 5 (A5), Custom Custom (A2)) or P-Rails.
Saturday Night Special or Air Norton in the middle.
Pearly Gates Neck in the neck.
You'll be able to do anything and everything.
Your flavor of Custom (Custom (ceramic), Custom 5 (A5), Custom Custom (A2)) or P-Rails.
Saturday Night Special or Air Norton in the middle.
Pearly Gates Neck in the neck.
You'll be able to do anything and everything.
elelpe
Well-known member
GourmetSaint
New member
Re: Pickup ideas? 3 humbuckers
Try a 6 way Freeway switch to give all the options
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Try a 6 way Freeway switch to give all the options
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
iamthesuck
New member
Re: Pickup ideas? 3 humbuckers
I'm going to expand on this a little now that I have time.
In the bridge, a custom will give you a harder, edgy voice. You can choose which magnet you want in it to tweak the response to suit the guitar or your styles. A P-rails would be a good choice as well for versatility. A Saturday Night Special bridge pickup in the middle would give a smooth, even tone that's great for soloing. The Air Norton is also great for this purpose, but it has a little more output than the SNS I believe. The middle is a great choice for a soloing pickup because it's a good split between brightness and body. A pearly gates neck will give you another, warmer solo tone as well as low output PAF tone to round out your arsenal.
I'm going to expand on this a little now that I have time.
In the bridge, a custom will give you a harder, edgy voice. You can choose which magnet you want in it to tweak the response to suit the guitar or your styles. A P-rails would be a good choice as well for versatility. A Saturday Night Special bridge pickup in the middle would give a smooth, even tone that's great for soloing. The Air Norton is also great for this purpose, but it has a little more output than the SNS I believe. The middle is a great choice for a soloing pickup because it's a good split between brightness and body. A pearly gates neck will give you another, warmer solo tone as well as low output PAF tone to round out your arsenal.
NumanSaintKillJoy
New member
Re: Pickup ideas? 3 humbuckers
This may have been mentioned already, but I would consider a Whole Lotta Humbucker neck or '59 neck in the bass slot; '59/Custom Hybrid in the middle; and either a Custom, Custom V, or Distortion in the treble slot.
Sonics and output will progress logically through various 'seasonings' of a fairly basic P.A.F. flavor. Unless you go for the Distortion, which still shares sonic earmarks with the Custom, which in turn is a rather more aggressive variation on the P.A.F. theme.
-N.St.K-J
This may have been mentioned already, but I would consider a Whole Lotta Humbucker neck or '59 neck in the bass slot; '59/Custom Hybrid in the middle; and either a Custom, Custom V, or Distortion in the treble slot.
Sonics and output will progress logically through various 'seasonings' of a fairly basic P.A.F. flavor. Unless you go for the Distortion, which still shares sonic earmarks with the Custom, which in turn is a rather more aggressive variation on the P.A.F. theme.
-N.St.K-J
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Re: Pickup ideas? 3 humbuckers
The Dimebucker might be a little too cutting for cleaner styles. I'd opt for something with less output that lets you explore dynamics more. If it really is going to be for things like blues and country, then a 59 with a 59/Custom Hybrid (with a split switch) will give you a really versatile setup as well. Great for blues, and split, good for country, too
The Dimebucker might be a little too cutting for cleaner styles. I'd opt for something with less output that lets you explore dynamics more. If it really is going to be for things like blues and country, then a 59 with a 59/Custom Hybrid (with a split switch) will give you a really versatile setup as well. Great for blues, and split, good for country, too
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