Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

[Ptolemaeus]

Hey guys.

I'm getting one of my buddies a new set of pickups for his Epiphone Explorer for Christmas. He doesn't like the Burstbuckers that came with it, so I thought it'd be a good present to swap out his pups.

He wants to be able to sound like Mark Tremonti and Brendan Small with this particular guitar. The problem in that is that Tremonti uses a relatively high output humbuckers whereas Small uses the lower output Burstbuckers. They're two completely different pups from what I understand. What I was thinking of going with was a Custom in the bridge and either a Sentient orba Full Shred neck. Thoughts?

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

Custom/Full Shred wouldn't be bad, Jb/Jazz is always a good choice, or a Black Winter set

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

I'm getting one of my buddies a new set of pickups for his Epiphone Explorer for Christmas. He doesn't like the Burstbuckers that came with it.

It came with Gibson Burstbuckers?

 

[InbredJunk]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

Try the custom 8 and a 59n with a polished a4. Sounds great in my epi explorer

 

[lostinthemasses]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

If you're going for the Metalocalypse/Galaktikon sound I'd say either Black Winter or Blackouts AHB-2/AHB-1 set.

 

[Ptolemaeus]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

I don't really wanna go active...and I hadn't considered a Black Winter set. I kinda only get one go at this and wanted to get as much rock and metal versatility out of the ones I give him as I can.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

Friends don't let friends sound like Mark Tremonti.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

59 and Custom

 

[Ptolemaeus]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

59 and Custom

Is there a specific reason in going with a '59 in the neck rather than a Full Shred or a Sentient other than preserving the PAF-like tones? What about the full Black Winter set someone else mentioned? Is it really as versatile as people say it is, or is it a one trick pony?

 

[lostinthemasses]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

I have Black Winters in this creation:



I have a Wilde Pickups Q-Filter wired to the tone pot and both pots are push/pull for coil split. I can get so many tones out of this guitar it's tough to put it down, and I have 34 guitars.

 

[Heaven&Hell]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

Super distortion/super 2 set!!!


Metal for life!!

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

I've had a few pickups in my Gibson Explorer.

- Stock Gibson 500T/496R set: They were too shrill, couldn't pull 'em fast enough.

- Black Winter set: They had too many low mids in that guitar (great in other guitars though).

- Gibson Burstbucker 1 & 2 set (currently in there): Some great tones to be had, but they seem to be lacking something. I think they would benefit greatly from a mag swap.

- Screamin' Demon in the bridge with a Pearly Gates Neck in the neck: The Demon is just about perfect for my Explorer. It sounded nothing short of great in there and the only reason I pulled it was because I got ahold of the Burstbuckers and wanted to try them out. The PGn was good too, but a little too boomy for this guitar. If I do put the Demon back in the bridge, the Explorer will probably get a Fullshred neck to go with it.

 

[lostinthemasses]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

If I wasn't so lazy I'd throw my Black Winters in my Explorer and give you a rundown on how they sound.

Can't say I have issues with low mids with them in the Telecaster, but If that was a problem it could be solved with the Q-filter.

 

[Ptolemaeus]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

I've had a few pickups in my Gibson Explorer.

- Stock Gibson 500T/496R set: They were too shrill, couldn't pull 'em fast enough.

- Black Winter set: They had too many low mids in that guitar (great in other guitars though).

- Gibson Burstbucker 1 & 2 set (currently in there): Some great tones to be had, but they seem to be lacking something. I think they would benefit greatly from a mag swap.

- Screamin' Demon in the bridge with a Pearly Gates Neck in the neck: The Demon is just about perfect for my Explorer. It sounded nothing short of great in there and the only reason I pulled it was because I got ahold of the Burstbuckers and wanted to try them out. The PGn was good too, but a little too boomy for this guitar. If I do put the Demon back in the bridge, the Explorer will probably get a Fullshred neck to go with it.

I hear a lot of good things about the Screamin' Demon. Care to give me a rundown as to why you like it?

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

Try the custom 8 and a 59n with a polished a4. Sounds great in my epi explorer

Excellent choices! C8's are powerful, full, hard hitting PU's, and A4's are the mags '59N's should come from the factory with. Hard not to like this set.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

Lace Deathbuckers.

 

[lostinthemasses]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

Threw a set of Deathbuckers in a client's guitar, he wanted an active pickup sound without all the BS that comes with active pickups, they sound pretty great, work well for many different types of music.

 

[bazie]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

I have tested several PU's in Epi Explorer. The best choice so far was Gibson Dirty Fingers at bridge (I like it more than 500t) and Entwistle Nemesis at neck. These PU's play good together, neck is obviously darker and warmer while Dirty Fingers is wild. When I finally decided to put it there, I felt my guitar was alive.

 

[Detroitblues]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

I have an older Epi Korian Explorer. I'm really surprised how good the Gibson 496R and 500T sound it in. I'm not a heavy player, but the harmonic overtones and pinch harmonics I get from it with little effort is incredible.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pickup Recommendation for a Epi Explorer

500t = Duncsn Distortion

If it is tael you seek, get a set of Distortions or Black Winters