Pickups for Mike Shannon Vintage Series Soloist?

[T. Erickson]

I have a new Mike Shannon Custom Shop Jackson SL2H-V Vintage Series Soloist with a polar body, non-recessed Floyd, EVH volume pot, an '81 era Rhoads prototype smaller headstock, and gold Rhoads prototype Jackson logo, that compared to my Custom Shop "Lucky 7" Charvel has less defined and less percussive lows, less growl, and sounds less open overall, and I was wondering if a Duncan Distortion in it, rather than the JB that's in it now (Charvel has a JB too but in that it's perfect) might get the Jackson closer to matching up on the same level with the Charvel? Since basically a JB and Duncan Distortion have a similar EQ curve, which is good since I like high mids for cut and singing leads, but the Distortion has a ceramic magnet, that might tighten up the lows, have a little more growl, be a little louder, and open it up a little? It also have a '59 in the neck on the Jackson, which lacks enough sweetness on leads & harmonies, and is slightly muddy overall, and on cleans it sounds kind of boring, so I was thinking maybe a Jazz, since my Jazz in my old Rhoads always sounded much better than a '59, any thoughts guys? This guitar is incredible but needs the exact right pickups but nothing that lacks high mids, growl, and a good mix of open top clarity, sweetness on leads, and attitude! Similar to Lynch tone on "Under Lock And Key" in a song like "The Hunter" to be exact! My Charvel through my EVH 5150 III nails that style, and with the right pickups, so can this killer Jackson!! Any input is GREATLY APPRECIATED!! :cool2:

 

[T. Erickson]

Re: Pickups for Mike Shannon Vintage Series Soloist?

View attachment 30507

I'm leaning towards a Duncan Distortion and a Jazz at this point for this specific situation. Here's the Jackson and it's specs...

Pink with Platinum Pearl Finish
Poplar Body
Neck-Thru-Body Construction
Quartersawn Maple Neck
Ebony Fingerboard
25.5" Scale Length
12-16" Compound Fretboard Radius
1-11/16" Nut Width
24 Jumbo Frets
Ivoroid Fretboard and Headstock Binding
Seymour Duncan JB Bridge & ‘59 Neck Humbuckers
3-Way Toggle Switch
Brass Control Knobs and Endpins
Non-Recessed Floyd Rose Tremolo
Gold Legacy Crown Head Tuners
EVH Low-Friction Volume Potentiometer
Smaller-Sized Rhoads Tribute Headstock with Gold Script Logo
Black Hardware

 

[T. Erickson]

Re: Pickups for Mike Shannon Vintage Series Soloist?

I've heard that a Duncan Distortion isn't as fluid as a JB on leads but what does that mean since Lynch used them in the mid 80's, when his tone was at it's best, and he always got KILLER lead tone with them???

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: Pickups for Mike Shannon Vintage Series Soloist?

I don't have much to say about your pickup questions, but that's a killer Soloist!

 

[T. Erickson]

Re: Pickups for Mike Shannon Vintage Series Soloist?

Haha, thanks! I'm trying to decide on a Duncan Distortion and a Jazz or maybe try a Tone Zone or some other Paul Gilbert style DiMarzio along with one of their neck pickups to kick this Jackson up to the level of my Custom Charvel? I don't know much about DiMarzio pickups though, so not real sure about which one for that direction?

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: Pickups for Mike Shannon Vintage Series Soloist?

I'd love to hear a Custom bridge and Full Shred neck in it.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Pickups for Mike Shannon Vintage Series Soloist?

Awesome!!! How is the guitar?? That model has been on my top 2 want list since musiczoo sent me the pron... I was wondering if the smaller headstock diminishes any sustain or anything?

As far as your question......
Hmm.. Distortion may do the trick. If you want something more big and "open", you may try a Custom. (Custom8 is a fav of mine)

If you are just looking for alittle more sizzle, the JB with an alnico 8 magnet is cool.. But sounds like you want more of a change..

 

[T. Erickson]

Re: Pickups for Mike Shannon Vintage Series Soloist?

These are killer guitars! They have a little better highs and tone since they are not all carved out for a recesses Floyd (these are top mount non-recsessed) and the headstock looks way cooler, but doesn't mess with tone. I'm probably sticking with Duncan's but have considered a Tone Zone, or Norton, or Evo 2 or some other DiMarzio to kick this into the right zone? Don't know much about their pickups though and no clue what neck pickup of their's would go with one of those?

 

[El Supremo]

Re: Pickups for Mike Shannon Vintage Series Soloist?

Hey, Ive got a 97 poplar, maple, ebony Jackson DR2 myself. Personally, I prefer brighter pickups for poplar bodies (though mine isn't neck-thru as is yours) and switch back and forth between a Screamin' Demon and Full Shred for the Jackson.
Both very tight pickups with the Demon sounding a bit more cleaner, brighter, punchier and growlier. It's lower output than a JB though. Think I'll put it back in this week now to think of it.

Have the Jazz in the neck position. It's a bit boomy on the high frets of the low strings for my 22 fret guitar but not as much as a 59. A 24 fret guitar like yours should have less of a problem. I'll be trying an A2Pro Neck myself soon just to mix it up.

 

[wolf5150]

Re: Pickups for Mike Shannon Vintage Series Soloist?

I think we need some bigger pics of that guitar.. stunning.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Pickups for Mike Shannon Vintage Series Soloist?

These are killer guitars! They have a little better highs and tone since they are not all carved out for a recesses Floyd (these are top mount non-recsessed) and the headstock looks way cooler, but doesn't mess with tone. I'm probably sticking with Duncan's but have considered a Tone Zone, or Norton, or Evo 2 or some other DiMarzio to kick this into the right zone? Don't know much about their pickups though and no clue what neck pickup of their's would go with one of those?

The Dimarzios will give the tone a more compressed feel. The Tone Zone will be big and punchy sounding, but IMHO will not let the sweet tone of the guitar come thru. I bought one of the Charvel So cals and took the Dimarzios out and put a JB/jazz set in it. I love it! But, I may change the bridge pup to a Custom 8 or Custom/59 hybrid.

 

[JohnnyGuitarCA]

Re: Pickups for Mike Shannon Vintage Series Soloist?

I'd love to hear a Custom bridge and Full Shred neck in it.

+1

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Pickups for Mike Shannon Vintage Series Soloist?

prototype smaller headstock, and gold Rhoads prototype Jackson logo,

That right there is why the JB doesn't sound so good.



:dot:


Seriously, though, try a PATB-2 in the bridge and move the JB to the neck, and put the JB in a TripleShot.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Pickups for Mike Shannon Vintage Series Soloist?

A-4 in the 59 neck will bring it to life big time.
Try a A-8 in the JB before you pull it should work really well in that guitar with the neck through and the poplar body. You might also want to look at an Alt 8 in that wood combo.
IMO a DD will be WAY to bright and harsh in that guitar with the maple neck poplar body Floyd and ebony board.
Tone zone in that combo might be to sludgy and dark but an EVO might work.
A HFS PRS likely would also kill in the bridge.
I have a lot of experience with 90-92 maple neck Carvins with a poplar body and ebony board.

 

[marvelous_seven]

Re: Pickups for Mike Shannon Vintage Series Soloist?

You need a custom shop pickup set with pink bobbins man! 80's rules!

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Pickups for Mike Shannon Vintage Series Soloist?

Who would've thought; an amazing actor and has his own signature guitar!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Pickups for Mike Shannon Vintage Series Soloist?

My suggestion might be to just change the magnet of the JB in there now which is an Alnico 5 to a small ceramic. A lot of people that have tried the JB Ceramic or JB+ REALLY like how it sounds. It takes away some of the weird spiked mid frequencies while making it tighter and adds a little more balls. For the early Dokken stuff I would think it would be perfect, and for your situation it would be the cheapest and least invasive as it's already installed. If that's not enough of a change then I would recommend the Duncan Distortion, but adding the small ceramic to the JB is like a Duncan Distortion Lite.