Pickups for a natural oil mahogany Jackson SL2H-V Soloist?

[T. Erickson]

I'm getting a few Jackson SL2H-V Mike Shannon Custom Shop Soloists from The Music Zoo that I need pickup advice for. The tricky part is the Natural Mahogany oil finish and Mahogany oiled neck through, with an ebony fretboard. This one has a cool Wild West vibe to it, and unique look for a Jackson Soloist. I've never owned an all mahogany guitar like this one, and on top of that it's got the gunstock oil finished neck and body, so it is different than a painted guitar tone wise. What do you guys think whould be good pickups for a nice Lynch "Under Lock & Key" era tone in this kind of natural finish mahogany and ebony board? I want something with that nice growl "The Hunter" and killer pick harmonics. Nothing that would be muddy in the lows, and it would need the right mids, and highs. Would a JB and Jazz be right, or a Distortion and Jazz or a '59 in the neck? I need good cleans and sweet solo tone from the neck and that nice growl in the bridge like i was saying? What do you guys think?

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Pickups for a natural oil mahogany Jackson SL2H-V Soloist?

What pickups does it have in it now and what are they lacking?

 

[T. Erickson]

Re: Pickups for a natural oil mahogany Jackson SL2H-V Soloist?

It has a JB & a '59 in it. I haven't got the guitar yet, but he's going to have the set I choose put in it. I normally don't like the '59 neck in most guitars since the lead tone lacks sweetness, is a little muddy, and the clean tone is kind of sterile. I did like the Jazz tone in my RR-1 Jackson but wasn't sure it would be just as good a match with a natural mahogany? In the bridge I usually go with a JB in Charvel's for that early DeMartini style tone, but I wanted something with a little more growl that sounds similar to a JB if that pickup would also sound right in a oil finished mahogany Jackson? I wasn't sure if the wood and finish would change what I need frequency wise compared to my alder body Charvel which is cool with a JB?

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Pickups for a natural oil mahogany Jackson SL2H-V Soloist?

If you havent heard the guitar yet its going to be something of a guess no matter what. My leanings would be tword the C5 and a Pearly gates in the neck. The finish will make a difference but what the difference is can be hard to quantify without hearing the guitar first. . The JB 59 set might actually be the cats meow in it.

 

[T. Erickson]

Re: Pickups for a natural oil mahogany Jackson SL2H-V Soloist?

What would be the main differences between a JB & '59 -vs- a Duncan Distortion & Jazz? I hear the JB and Distortion are similar in EQ and output, and '59 and Jazz are both vintage style?

 

[MikeM]

Re: Pickups for a natural oil mahogany Jackson SL2H-V Soloist?

Maybe you should have it refinished in nitro so it can sound better?

 

[RayBarbeeMusic]

Re: Pickups for a natural oil mahogany Jackson SL2H-V Soloist?

It wont get any better sounding than oil finish, that lets the wood resonate better than anything else.

Sounds like a cool guitar; was that a special order and how much $ did you shell out?

 

[T. Erickson]

Re: Pickups for a natural oil mahogany Jackson SL2H-V Soloist?

I was really just curious if my usual JB and Jazz combo would be right for an all mahogany for that '85 era Lynch tone like my Charvel with a JB or if a Distortion and Jazz since mahogany is warmer and might need a little bit brighter but similar EQ curve like the Distortion has compared to a JB? Plus I hear a Distortion has tighter lows which I may need with mahogany compared to my alder Charvel? The Jazz over a '59 neck was to get better clean tone and sweeter lead tone if that sounds right?

 

[metalmachine]

Re: Pickups for a natural oil mahogany Jackson SL2H-V Soloist?

i hate you because your getting these guitars and i am not

 

[T. Erickson]

Re: Pickups for a natural oil mahogany Jackson SL2H-V Soloist?

Haha, nice! I had to sell a few to get them if that makes you feel better? haha

 

[metalmachine]

Re: Pickups for a natural oil mahogany Jackson SL2H-V Soloist?

no not really. but thanks for trying. i have 1 usa jackson and she is my number 1. its just a stock sl-1 but with random bridge humbuckers

 

[T. Erickson]

Re: Pickups for a natural oil mahogany Jackson SL2H-V Soloist?

I'm trying to make one of these Jackson's my #1 but my "Lucky 7" Charvel has tone that none of my other guitars I've ever owned has ever been able to match, so the trail by fire is on!! I'm thinking a Duncan Distortion and a Jazz might get one of the Jackson's to the level of the Charvel with a JB? Jackson's with a JB fall just short of the Charvel, so maybe with the Distortion might give it the growl, tighter lows, and slightly more open top to make the jump to '85 era Lynch style tone "The Hunter" and "Unchain The Night" since he did use them then. I haer some say that pickup isn't as fluid as a JB on lead tone but what does that mean??? Lynch had killer lead tone then!! Anyone that's used both a lot in Jackson's know the differences between a JB and Duncan Distortion?

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Pickups for a natural oil mahogany Jackson SL2H-V Soloist?

I was really just curious if my usual JB and Jazz combo would be right for an all mahogany for that '85 era Lynch tone like my Charvel with a JB or if a Distortion and Jazz since mahogany is warmer and might need a little bit brighter but similar EQ curve like the Distortion has compared to a JB? Plus I hear a Distortion has tighter lows which I may need with mahogany compared to my alder Charvel? The Jazz over a '59 neck was to get better clean tone and sweeter lead tone if that sounds right?

Getting a modded JCM800 would get you closer to Lynchs lead tone than any pickup will.

To me the JB has a singing vocal lead tone where the Distortion has more of a screaming lead tone. The Distortion has more output so gets more of a crushed glass quality to it when palm muting while the jb is a bit chunkier.

Keep in mind most of the subtle nuances that you hear in a oil finish guitar are going to for the most part disappear after you hit it with 5 gain stages and a compressed power section. Not saying they will all sound the same just saying no need to split hairs on it.

Not sure if i would characterize the Jazz as sweeter than the 59 in the neck. Theres a lot of times when the Jazz is kinda just shimmery clean without a lot of character which can be good or bad

 

[metalmachine]

Re: Pickups for a natural oil mahogany Jackson SL2H-V Soloist?

I would do a custom in the bridge

 

[robertkoa]

Re: Pickups for a natural oil mahogany Jackson SL2H-V Soloist?

I don't know as much about Pickups as these guys but man- that sounds like it will be a great resonant, sustaining warm Guitar.

Give us a Tone Report when you get it.

 

[gman128]

Re: Pickups for a natural oil mahogany Jackson SL2H-V Soloist?

Get a JB and swap the a5 mag for a REGULAR sized ceramic - gives wht's know as a JB+. I did this to one of my JBs that didn't hold up too well to lower tunings - and the bottom end tightens up - but you don't get as much midrange grind as a DD. It's kind of a halfway point between the JB and DD. Maybe get the JB Jazz set and mod the JB as I suggested. I like JB+ for when the guitar it's going into was a bit too in your face when equipped with a DD (which i love in certain guitars).

I reckon with this very resonant mahog Jackson the DD might be borderline overkill - or you might love it - who knows until you try!

 

[dvanburen]

Re: Pickups for a natural oil mahogany Jackson SL2H-V Soloist?

Duncan Distortion in mohogany works very well. If you dont mind the high end with the JB and that ebony board then you will like the DD. I have DD and jazz in a mohogany Les paul that I love. Ive also used custom and jazz in a mohagany ibanez that was sweet. 59 is good but i would swap the mag to A2 or A4 for nice cleans. But you will like the jazz in the neck on that guitar. It is one of the best clean tones ive ever heard. you can go wrong with any of those combos