Pickups for Gary Moore tone

[Benjy_26]

Hi everobody.

I'm looking to change pickups on an SX KY11. I'm looking for a tone similar to Gary Moore's LP tone.

The guitar in question has a 24.75" scale, a rosewood fingerboard, a double cut mahogany body (PRS style), a thick maple top, a huge mahogany neck, and a wrap around bridge.

My initial thoughts are a Seth in the neck and a Custom Custom in the bridge.

Am I off the mark?


BTW, this guitar will be played through a Mesa Mk IV, so there's plenty of gain on tap.

Thanks a lot for your help everybody.

 

[Stevo]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

Custom shop deco 2. That's the pickup that got me the closest to Moore's tone. The Seth Lover will get close also.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

S Deco in the bridge, or all around? Also, Seth in the neck, or also all around?

 

[sunnysideup]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

gary moore use burstbucker pickup and marshall guvnor 2 pedal

 

[Brow]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

I nailed his 'Blues Alive' tone with a Gibson LP Standard with Seth Lovers, into a modded Tubescreamer and into my Orange 1/2 stack

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

I read that Gary uses Burstbuckers as stated already above also...

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

He might use Burst Buckers now; but I doubt he replaced the PAF's in his 59 Burst and that's the tone most everyone is after... I would agree that Seths are on target; although the Burst Buckers are nice too.

 

[gripweed]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

He might use Burst Buckers now; but I doubt he replaced the PAF's in his 59 Burst and that's the tone most everyone is after... I would agree that Seths are on target; although the Burst Buckers are nice too.

Isn't that the Peter Green LP? If it is, turn the neck pickup around. I agree that you should use an a2 magnet as well.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

Isn't that the Peter Green LP? If it is, turn the neck pickup around. I agree that you should use an a2 magnet as well.

That would be the one. However, AFAIK, Gary doesn't use the neck and bridge pickups together. At least, I haven't heard him.... So, flipping the neck pickup and not flipping the magnet too doesn't really buy you a whole lot.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

So a pair of Seths would be it?

Thanks for your help gentlemen.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

Does he still play anymore? I read an article last night that said he went insane over LSD, did a small comback aroung 95,96, and never played again

 

[Brow]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

Does he still play anymore? I read an article last night that said he went insane over LSD, did a small comback aroung 95,96, and never played again

He's toured, and recorded around 4 or 5 albums since 1996, so yeah he's still playing

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

gary moore use burstbucker pickup and marshall guvnor 2 pedal

Burstbuckers weren't around in the early to mid 80's though. I'm sure thats the tone he was referring to, not the blues crap he's been doing since 1989. He was probably using a 490r/498t combo or some other PAF with a Marshall to get his "I've Still Got the Blues" tone. Anything pre 1989 is what I consider to be the real Gary Moore, anything after that I consider him to be a "Victim of the Future" trying to be a blues wannabe.... A pretty lame one at that.

 

[Brow]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

For his UK 'Monsters Of Rock' CD/DVD release his gear was as follows:

Gibson Explorer white
Gibson GM sig LP standard

Dod Supra Distortion
Dod Death Metal Distortion
Ibanez TS10 Tubescreamer
Dod Mystic Blues Overdrive
Dunlop JH-1 wah
Ibanez Chorus
Ibanez Delay III
Custom switch box

Marshall DSL100 amp
Marshall 2203 reissue amp
3 x Marshall 1960BX 4 x 12" cabs

I think he was using Tom Holmes Pickups in some of his guitars (if memory serves correct)

Craig

 

[JeffB]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

Heh..I 'd like to see that article

As for pups...I think I'd be more inclined to go with AlnicoV...only cos Gary's tone is tight compared to most Alnico II buckers...BurstBucker Pros really nail that tone...they are middy like Alnico II, have good bite without the brightness of a typical Alnico V and are tight but not TOO tight in the bass...they have some "give" to them like Alnico II.

In the duncan line , I'd think you'd have to go Alnico II as the 59 and C5 won't do it...at least not optimally...too tight...too much high end. I'd prolly go with an A2 pro neck..and bridge?....hmmm...tough choice...I'm not sure what I'd go with there. If Duncan made that, I'd be buying it for my Hamer. Gary's sound is a little more crunchy and less smooth in the bridge than a typical PAF tone..again the BB pros emulate that well.

Maybe something like an A3 or A4 59/Seth?

 

[JeffB]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

Burstbuckers weren't around in the early to mid 80's though. I'm sure thats the tone he was referring to, not the blues crap he's been doing since 1989. He was probably using a 490r/498t combo or some other PAF with a Marshall to pull that off. Anything pre 1989 is what I consider to be the real Gary Moore, anything after that I consider him to be a "Victim of the Future" trying to be a blues wannabe.... A pretty lame one at that.

Most of his 80s work is Fender Strats (stock), Ibanez (admitted to not really playing them ever, but he had the endorsement) Hamers (circa Run for Cover), and Charvel Strats w/EMGs & Floyds (Wild Frontier/After the War). Back then he'd usually pull out the paula only for Parisienne Walkways. He also had a P-90 LP jr. he recorded some things with during the "strat phase". He didn't really use much in the way of Gibsons after Thin Lizzy and pre-blues era.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

You forgot "The Heritage" pictured on his "After the War" album cover. That was in 1989.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

You forgot "The Heritage" pictured on his "After the War" album cover. That was in 1989.

True.

He did alot of album covers/photo shoots with guitars he never played tho (Ibanez/Hamer Standard/That gibson on the Wild Frontier cover)...but yeah he did play Heritage, had a sig model too, and I bought a HC150 cos he was endorsing them at the time.

 

[shred-dog]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

he used the heritage with pj maxx in the neck and an emg in the bridge on his first tour of his blues stuff as well.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Pickups for Gary Moore tone

One thing about Gary...he has always experimented and switched gear around. He's always open to new ideas to get his perfect sound. Whether it's guitars, amps, pedals, pups, etc.

Apparently he's been playing alot with the Marshall Mode 4 lately. And I supect even as much of a bad rap as that amp gets (undeserved, IMO...barring pricing), I guarantee he still sounds just like Gary.

here's a cool site with pics of most of his guitars...

http://www.garymoore.hu/guitars.htm