pickups for ibanez ak85

[EmiAba]

Hi guys
need a little help from your side. I bought a used ibanez ak85 in a really good shape (it's a 2005 guitar) and after playing it for a while I decided to replace the pickups. I am searching for a more responsive, articulate sound. I want to play mainly jazz (with clean or slightly overdriven sound) with this guitar. It is my very first attempt in this world (I'm a metal head). No pedals between the guitar and the amp (a fender twin). At the moment, I have only a spare pickup and it's a Gibson 490R and I don't want to use it in the neck slot.
Really appreciate your suggestions

 

[jeremy]

Re: pickups for ibanez ak85

if that was my guitar, id put a set of seth lovers in

 

[gregory]

Re: pickups for ibanez ak85

Everyone is going to recommend Seth Lovers.

I'd also consider a pair of Benedettos. A pair of Air Classics could be good too.

 

[jeremy]

Re: pickups for ibanez ak85

which benedetto would you suggest?

 

[gregory]

Re: pickups for ibanez ak85

P.A.F. for the neck (just a Seth Bridge with an A5, right?)
A6 for the bridge

 

[jeremy]

Re: pickups for ibanez ak85

i like the a6 and s6 but only have heard them in the neck, never heard the paf that i can recall.

 

[EmiAba]

Re: pickups for ibanez ak85

Everyone is going to recommend Seth Lovers.

When I think to a jazzy tone, a sweet and mellow sound comes in mind. Seths are the quintessence of that sound. Yes, easy, you are right

I'd also consider a pair of Benedettos. A pair of Air Classics could be good too.

Benedetto, in italian, means "blessed by god". what a strange name. How would you describe its sound (the A6 one)? I do not have any experience with air classic but I am not happy with dimarzios, because i have always found them not so clean even with low gain.

 

[gregory]

Re: pickups for ibanez ak85

Benedettos are full and round, specifically designed and well suited for Jazz. You can of course go for a thinner, brighter pickup and roll back your tone.

With DiMarzios, I'm a big fan of their medium output neck pickups, most of which are extremely clear and sound great clean. Put them in the bridge and they're even brighter and cleaner. They even some of the higher output models are extremely touch sensitive.

I figure if you were only interested in Seths there would be no point in starting a discussion, unless you're just looking for affirmation.

 

[EmiAba]

Re: pickups for ibanez ak85

I figure if you were only interested in Seths there would be no point in starting a discussion, unless you're just looking for affirmation.

No I don't. I want my guitar sounds better, so every suggestion is highly appreciated.

 

[gregory]

Re: pickups for ibanez ak85

I do think Seths are a good choice, but for jazz I like full bodied and warm. The hollow body does contribute a great deal, but I think a hotter wind with an A5 is better.

Don't buy into the BS about A5 being scooped. I'll offer the WLH set to nullify the claim. People will also way A5 is bassy, but bass really depends on height, how you set your amp and the guitar. Even if you don't agree, there's a reason that Duncan makes Benedettos and markets them to jazz players in jazz guitars.

By the same token many of the DiMarzios have similar characteristics, namely being touch-sensitive, clear, full and articulate. Other good sets would be Air Zone/LiquiFire or Air Norton/36th Anniversary.

 

[EmiAba]

Re: pickups for ibanez ak85

all dimarzios you mentioned are air buckers (not sure about liquifire, but I think it a classic humbucker) and that is a matter of consideration. i have tried to find out second hand benedettos but it seems quite impossible here in italy. it's easier to get dimarzios or even seths. In regards with A5, i have experienced only one 59 too bassy in the neck slot of a les paul (modded with A4). Scooped or not if the pickup gets the job done, it is all that matters. The pair Air Norton/36th Anniversary teases my imagination

 

[jeremy]

Re: pickups for ibanez ak85

even in the usa, used benedettos are pretty rare. the people that i know that have them, love them and im sure if you bought one of bobs guitars you arent going to mess with it too much

 

[Mincer]

Re: pickups for ibanez ak85

I have to admit that my experience with most Benny pickups is limited. I played a few guitars with them, but not my own, so I don't know how they changed the sound. Every one of them sounded great, though. Add me to the pile of people that recommend Seths, too. I really like A2 pickups for jazz.

 

[gregory]

Re: pickups for ibanez ak85

The good news is that you can most likely buy a Seth Bridge, stuff an A5 in it and it should pass as a Benedetto P.A.F. which you could then pop in the neck. The next trick is to find a suitable medium-output bridge pickup, which really shouldn't be all that hard; even if it is from another manufacturer. To be honest though, I really don't know what a bridge pickup is good for in a jazz guitar except to give you the ability to run both together for a brighter and more complex, hollow-sounding voicing, in which case it isn't such a big deal if the neck overpowers it because of the location.

Regarding the LiquiFire, it uses Air technology as well as Virtual Vintage technology where inductance is increased without sacrificing brightness/glass by putting ferromagnetic material between the coils. The LiquiFire is one of the best neck pickups I have ever played or heard and works extremely well for Jazz.

Teasing the imagination with choices beyond Seymour Duncan is all I really wanted to do. I do mention DiMarzio a lot, but it's just because there are already so many Duncan recommendations that are usually the same and by the same usual suspects. This isn't to say they are bad choices; I think they're great/sound choices in most situations. In the case of DiMarzio they have a lot of different models in the three major humbucker categories to choose from.

 

[Blille]

pickups for ibanez ak85

Everyone is going to recommend Seth Lovers.

I know at least one that may recommend 59s with A3s.

Others 57s.

 

[elelpe]

Re: pickups for ibanez ak85

I recommend Jaen pickup.
Not affiliated, just a happy user.