Pickup repplacement for ESP Eclipse II

Aaron Cheney

Aaron Cheney

New member
I've got a ESP Eclipse with the JB/Jazz combination. It's a bright guitar, and I'm finding the overall sound a little harsh. I want to replace both pickups for more bass and smoother top end. More beef, less sizzle.

I'm aiming for hard rock sounds, ranging from ACDC to Slash-land. I dont' want high output metal tones.

I was thinking Alnico Pro II/ 59, or maybe Custom/59.

Opinions? Suggestions?
 
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Re: Pickup repplacement for ESP Eclipse II

I have a similar LTD version of that guitar.
It is also bright and a bit harsh in the high end.

I put in an Air Zone in the bridge -- seems to be working good. fatter, bigger, less harsh top end. Like a hotter, beefier paf sound, not high output at all... balances well with my neck pickup which is a low 7.6k
I still have to roll off the tone control a bit on the bridge pickup. I also modded the tone control so that I have 1 dedicated tone control for each of the pickups, just like a les paul.

For the neck any of those would be good, I'd go with the A2pro or the slash model.
Any low wind 7.6k - 8.0k with an A2 mag would probably sound good in the neck.
 
Re: Pickup repplacement for ESP Eclipse II

THanks.

Now you've got me looking at the Andy Timmons model too. Very similar specs...just a hint more high end and less bass and mids.
 
Re: Pickup repplacement for ESP Eclipse II

I haven't tried the AT-1 yet but I definitely want to.

The airzone, AT-1 and the Norton seem to be in the same ball park.

Does the eclipse II have 2 tone pots or just 1?
 
Re: Pickup repplacement for ESP Eclipse II

Dimarzio PAF 36th. I'm suggesting those because I heard an Eclipse with that set of pickups and it sounded insanely good.
 
Re: Pickup repplacement for ESP Eclipse II

Custom Custom or AT-1 is the way to go. Both pickups have a smooth top. Also the Air Norton neck is very nice.
 
Re: Pickup repplacement for ESP Eclipse II

Slash = Alnico 2 Pros

i love the Antiquities in my Les Paul

or anything else with alnico 2's
 
Re: Pickup repplacement for ESP Eclipse II

AC/DC to Slash is a lot less hot than the Air Zone. That's a really warm fat pickup, very different beast.

The ceramic Custom probably has more bite than you want, though a lot of people like it for a hotter take on AC/DC.

Brobucker if you want to go Custom Shop is probably the ultimate for that range of tone. Instant Angus, but it's degaussed magnet makes it smooth enough to pull off Slash nicely.

Pearly Gates can cover a bit of that gamut, might have more bite than you want, though. Have the low end growl that it sounds like you want, though.

Slash's signature pickups might be a good choice, or Brobucker with a Slash neck. Slightly hotter, warmer take on the Alnico II Pro humbucker.

Custom Custom is all mids, all the time. I've heard them in some Gibson clones where they did sound balanced, and they are very warm. But a lot of people find them TOO mid-focused, and the bass a bit too squishy. I've heard some Schecters and ESPs where they were perfect, though.
 
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