Hi all. I don't really trust the pickup selector when it comes to Explorer shaped guitars, and was not surprised when it recommended a JB/Jazz combo for my Kelly. It is a JS32 series with a basswood body, rosewood fingerboard, maple neck, and a floyd. The stock pickups are surprisingly good. They are high output yet sound good with cleans also. The only thing i feel that they lack are some of the rich overtones you can get from better pickups, so I'm looking for recommendations. I have considered getting Black Winters for it, but please suggest away. I play Prog and Metal, so a good heavy distorted tone and good cleans. Thanks!
Pickups for a Jackson Kelly
- Thread starter kyrthon
- Start date
treyhaislip
New member
Re: Pickups for a Jackson Kelly
My favorite combo in Basswood was a SD Screamin Demon in the bridge paired with a DMZ Liquifire in the neck of an Ibanez Iceman. (non traditional setup, but the mix worked extremely well for me!)
Might not be the direction you are going but it was awesome for crunch to high gain tones and sounded superb with cleans.
My favorite combo in Basswood was a SD Screamin Demon in the bridge paired with a DMZ Liquifire in the neck of an Ibanez Iceman. (non traditional setup, but the mix worked extremely well for me!)
Might not be the direction you are going but it was awesome for crunch to high gain tones and sounded superb with cleans.
Rand-O-Monium
New member
Re: Pickups for a Jackson Kelly
Had me at BWs...
Had me at BWs...
treyhaislip
New member
Re: Pickups for a Jackson Kelly
I have an '87 Charvel Model 2 that is Basswood and the previous owner put a Screamin Demon in it. It only has one pickups and I prefer two
I have an '87 Charvel Model 2 that is Basswood and the previous owner put a Screamin Demon in it. It only has one pickups and I prefer two
EDX
New member
Re: Pickups for a Jackson Kelly
for a floyded kelly there are only two combos y can think of, the Distortion Mayhem set or the Black Winter set, they're very similar, yet very different, the ol' Distortions are the old school 80's tone, while the Black Winter is the modern take on the Distortion, if you were only playing metal i would say go with Distortions but the prog really calls for something more balanced than the old school Distortion, so Black Winter set, they're so damn versatile that you won't believe it.
for a floyded kelly there are only two combos y can think of, the Distortion Mayhem set or the Black Winter set, they're very similar, yet very different, the ol' Distortions are the old school 80's tone, while the Black Winter is the modern take on the Distortion, if you were only playing metal i would say go with Distortions but the prog really calls for something more balanced than the old school Distortion, so Black Winter set, they're so damn versatile that you won't believe it.
Re: Pickups for a Jackson Kelly
The JB/JAZZ is a classic combo that covers many things. The selector will throw that out for lots of purposes. Id say BWs too. There is a thread with many pages of love for that set. Seems to be great at what its aimed for and suprisingly good all around.
The JB/JAZZ is a classic combo that covers many things. The selector will throw that out for lots of purposes. Id say BWs too. There is a thread with many pages of love for that set. Seems to be great at what its aimed for and suprisingly good all around.
dystrust
New member
Re: Pickups for a Jackson Kelly
+1
Never played BWs since I'm not really into metal anymore, but the JB/Jazz combo is a classic for a reason and it's been the standard H-H setup in USA Jacksons for years. I have a Custom/Jazz set in my Explorer which is similar, but with a slightly fatter and less bright bridge pickup.
+1
Never played BWs since I'm not really into metal anymore, but the JB/Jazz combo is a classic for a reason and it's been the standard H-H setup in USA Jacksons for years. I have a Custom/Jazz set in my Explorer which is similar, but with a slightly fatter and less bright bridge pickup.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: Pickups for a Jackson Kelly
Hate to go against the SD line, but in all honesty, the best pickup I've heard myself use in a Kelly was a Gibson 498T, and I normally do not like Gibson pickups in anything except a Gibson, and don't like any non-Gibson pickup in a Gibson. I'm certainly not a Gibson snob (own all Jacksons currently), but that combo was amazing. Too bad I don't get along with Explorer-shaped bodies (though the Warrior I do love).
If you can find the closest Duncan to a 498T, I'd say go with it, otherwise, definitely give an uncovered 498T a try.
Hate to go against the SD line, but in all honesty, the best pickup I've heard myself use in a Kelly was a Gibson 498T, and I normally do not like Gibson pickups in anything except a Gibson, and don't like any non-Gibson pickup in a Gibson. I'm certainly not a Gibson snob (own all Jacksons currently), but that combo was amazing. Too bad I don't get along with Explorer-shaped bodies (though the Warrior I do love).
If you can find the closest Duncan to a 498T, I'd say go with it, otherwise, definitely give an uncovered 498T a try.
