Pickup Suggestions? Explorer II / Metal

[Wolfbait]

I have a 1982 Gibson Explorer II. It's made in Kalamazoo, 5 piece walnut/maple body, maple neck, ebony fingerboard, jumbo frets. I play out of a 74 JMP-JCM 800 style 50 Watt Marshall or a 90s 50 Watt JCM 900 depending on if the venue can handle me cranking the 74 to get the gain I like (no master volume on the 1974).

I play music in the vein of Priest, Rainbow, Maiden with influences from modern power metal bands like Hammerfall, Gamma Ray, Avantasia, etc with a pinch of the hard rock influence of bands like (early) Danzig, Motorhead, and Thin Lizzy. It's definitely heavy metal with a concentration on harmonized riffs and melodic solos.

I don't know much about pickups. I'd like to get more gain and sustain of my my guitar by replacing the pickups. Any suggestions on what would be appropriate for such a guitar making such music?

Thank you for your time
Brian, Son Of Darold
http://www.wolfbait.org

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Pickup Suggestions? Explorer II / Metal

I assume your guitar is naturally (unplugged) bright. Am I correct in this?

If so, get a Pearly Gates bridge model for your neck spot and an Invader for your bridge spot.

 

[JWR]

Re: Pickup Suggestions? Explorer II / Metal

Welcome to the board. I have an EII just like that. Made In Kalamazoo in November '81 Mine is an interesting cherry red color. I have nver seen another like it. These guitars came stock with Gibson Dirty Fingers pickups. I've tried a Full Shred and didn't care for it. I then put Gibson Classic+ in each and they sounded ok. I actually just put the stock ones back in.

 

[Mllerrin]

Re: Pickup Suggestions? Explorer II / Metal

I have the exact same guitar as you. I personally decided to go for a Jb/Jazz (I was going to go with a DD until last second, I thought it would be a little too one-trick pony and "metal" for me). I think yours might have had a refret at some point as mine are from from jumbo, or mine got worn down that bad.

I don't have them put in yet (saving the money up for that along with a bunch of other work). If I end up not liking the JB I'm thinking of going for the JB/Custom Hybrid.

 

[UfoPilot]

Re: Pickup Suggestions? Explorer II / Metal

WCR herc's http://www.crcoils.com/New_PIckups/new_pickups.html#herc

 

[ErikH]

Re: Pickup Suggestions? Explorer II / Metal

With a guitar like that and range of metal like that, nothing but the Dirty Fingers will do. Those are the ****z in Explorer guitars.

 

[JohnnyGuitarCA]

Re: Pickup Suggestions? Explorer II / Metal

With a guitar like that and range of metal like that, nothing but the Dirty Fingers will do. Those are the ****z in Explorer guitars.

Amen, my brother! The Dirty Fingers are amazing pickups. (I haven't tried the reissues, but I have an original from the 80's that is just INSANE...)

 

[ErikH]

Re: Pickup Suggestions? Explorer II / Metal

Amen, my brother! The Dirty Fingers are amazing pickups. (I haven't tried the reissues, but I have an original from the 80's that is just INSANE...)

I had one too. One you gave me actually. It was wayyyyyy too hot so I sold it to someone looking for another one. I'm liking "not-so-hot" pickups these days.