Pickups advice for Jackson Kelly KE3

[BetaCAM]

Hey all,

I've recently bought this axe brand new and I love it.
What I don't like is the pickups it has, the Detonators if I read correctly.
Here's the thing, they simply have way TOO much bass in general.

I need something to brighten up the guitar and lower the excessive bass it delivers, don't get me wrong, I like fat guitar, but this is way over the top.

I've read in the forum that people compare the Detonators to Invaders as they look like them, and if that's the case, I have seconds thoughts about using a real Invader.

I want to keep this guitar's character, as a metal shredding guitar, but being able to have more headroom, dynamic control, and get out loud when required.

Obviously the neck pickup has to be as bright as a 59.
I'm guessing that my selection is Duncan Custom for bridge and 59 for neck with 4 conducters so I can use push pull pot to split them both simultaneously.

What are your insights for pickups that will complement this guitar?

Thank you very much.

BetaCAM.

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: Pickups advice for Jackson Kelly KE3

For the bridge, I think you might want to consider either: Distortion, Custom or JB. Which one? I'll let you know once I finally figure it out.

For neck, IMO the Jazz is the way to go. Best Duncan ever made IMO. Don't let the name fool you, it doesn't spend it's time in jazz bars - it's a great neck pup for metal, it is very articulate and smooth. I use them wherever I can, and wish Duncan would build a single-coil version.

I've never played a 59, so I'll let others help you on that one. But, I hear good things.

 

[BetaCAM]

Re: Pickups advice for Jackson Kelly KE3

Bump!

Any other insights?

Thanks!

 

[ShredFetus]

Re: Pickups advice for Jackson Kelly KE3

I've been borrowing a KE3 with the Detonators & just got a TB-11 Custom Custom & '59n put in my kelly, so I know where you're coming from. I'm swapping the CC for a TB-5 Custom because the overall bite & tight lows I'm after are lacking in the CC. I will have it back in a few days, so I'll let you know how it goes. I was wary of going for a Distortion in the alder bodied Jackson with floyd rose trem because I thought it might be too bright and piercing.

 

[BetaCAM]

Re: Pickups advice for Jackson Kelly KE3

Hey all,

After spending some time with the audio samples my choice for bridge position is between Duncan Distortion and Duncan Custom (not 5).

The distortion has much more high end and a it sounds more gainy but on the other hand I fear that it will have a little too less bass response,
therefore I feel that The Duncan Custom is a more balanced choice,
especially since all the samples are played on a LP and my guitar is alder body.

For the neck position I'm pretty peaceful with adding a 59 in there.
So the big question is which one should go to the bridge.

I don't think JB would be a good choice for me, as it sounds like it was made for a Les paul, and I remember it from my one of the previous guitars which was a Framus made with Swamp ash and it really sounded thin and harsh there, the 59 was clear and rich, yet thin, but that I blame on the Tone Wood.

So, what should it be then?:banana:

Thanks!

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: Pickups advice for Jackson Kelly KE3

You could get the parallel axis Distortion trembucker, it's supposed to be 'slightly' darker and louder than the regular Distortion trembucker, oz fox from stryper uses them in his Waynes and I like his tone a lot...so that's what I'd get.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Pickups advice for Jackson Kelly KE3

You could get the parallel axis Distortion trembucker, it's supposed to be 'slightly' darker and louder than the regular Distortion trembucker, .....

That matches my experience perfectly... slightly hotter and a bit darker than a TB-6