Pickups for Jackson SLX

[jonsick]

Just about to pick up a Jackson SLX. Basswood body, comes with two Duncan Designed Whocaresamabob pickups.

My current favorite set is the Dimarzio Super Distortion and Gravity Storm in my Jackson SL2H (Alder/Maple) construction. But I'm after a slightly different set up here. This guitar is to serve as a back up for D-D tuned band gigs. Need things smooth with a good amount of low mids. Think sounds like Insomnium (Markus Vanhala uses a JB and Jazz set) and I would guess Dream Theatre's early work (Images and Words). I mainly do lead motifs throughout songs and occasional riffing.

Amp is a Marshall TSL100.

So, what pickups?

 

[Mad-Max]

Re: Pickups for Jackson SLX

Are you specifically talking about the bridge or the neck? For the bridge, if you want something smoother sounding, I would look into Alnico II pickups for their darker character. If you're looking for something fairly higher output than your typical Alnico II pickup, then look into the Custom Custom. It's designed to smooth out the frequencies of bright sounding guitars. Great for thickening up the tone a little bit, and give you liquid sounding leads.

As far as the neck goes, I'd look into the 59. I have a Jackson guitar of similar tone woods (Basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard) with a 59 in the neck and it works perfectly. Very warm and thick sounding, but with just enough articulation to cut through. I use it for cleans occasionally for a thicker lead tone, and it works great for those.

 

[jonsick]

Re: Pickups for Jackson SLX

Both positions - I don't have the guitar yet, just about to order it. The yellow has taken me.

I may go for the Custom Custom, mainly as I haven't owned one yet...

 

[chassless]

Re: Pickups for Jackson SLX

the Custom Custom is great for creamy leads, but i would advise it against an Insomnium type of sound. it's a bit too mushy for riffs to my taste. remember though, Ville Friman uses EMG's on all his guitars.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Pickups for Jackson SLX

Parallel Axis PATB-2 or Alt8 for the bridge, JB for the neck, a pair of TripleShots, and use your volume and tone knobs for more than just 10 and 0.

 

[tombogiri]

Re: Pickups for Jackson SLX

I love the Custom Custom But it may take a bit of work to get the Insomnium thing going...

 

[Mad-Max]

Re: Pickups for Jackson SLX

Also, look into the Nazgul and Sentient set, or the Pegasus and Sentient.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Pickups for Jackson SLX

Alternative 8 bridge with either a Jazz or Sentient neck. That's my two cents.

 

[jonsick]

Re: Pickups for Jackson SLX

Hmmm, I may have to make use of my one remaining Liberator pot....

 

[elelpe]

Re: Pickups for Jackson SLX

Duncan: Alt8 - Demon
Dimarzio: Tone Zone - Air Norton

 

[jonsick]

Re: Pickups for Jackson SLX

the Custom Custom is great for creamy leads, but i would advise it against an Insomnium type of sound. it's a bit too mushy for riffs to my taste. remember though, Ville Friman uses EMG's on all his guitars.

True! But he uses mahogany 24 3/4" affairs, whereas this Jackson is a basswood 25.5". Markus uses a JB / Jazz (sometimes a Distortion / Jazz for Omnium Gatherum - I got to chat to him a few times given I had a big Jackson shirt on me hahaha).

Plus I have recently not liked EMG too much. I still have them in some of my guitars where they sound good. Oddly mahogany wooded guitars seem to love them so I left them in.

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Pickups for Jackson SLX

comes with two Duncan Designed Whocaresamabobs?

Just for fun, try a set of Alnico 8 magnets in the DD's.