Pickups for modern death / prog metal?
- Thread starter offworld92
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offworld92
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Re: Pickups for modern death / prog metal?
I think DM was recommending a D Activator for the bridge and a Dominion for the neck. Not either or for the bridge.
I'm leaning toward a Super 3 / PAF Pro combo right now. Has anyone here used the Super 3 and can compare it to anything?
Seems like there really is no clear cut answer to this. And it looks like all this thread has done is make me more unsure than I was before. :laugh2:
Has anyone used a PAF Joe?
The D Activator seems to be recommended a lot. Definitely not ruling it out. Just afraid it might be bland, or too bright or something.
I think DM was recommending a D Activator for the bridge and a Dominion for the neck. Not either or for the bridge.
I'm leaning toward a Super 3 / PAF Pro combo right now. Has anyone here used the Super 3 and can compare it to anything?
Seems like there really is no clear cut answer to this. And it looks like all this thread has done is make me more unsure than I was before. :laugh2:
Has anyone used a PAF Joe?
The D Activator seems to be recommended a lot. Definitely not ruling it out. Just afraid it might be bland, or too bright or something.
vinta9e
New member
Re: Pickups for modern death / prog metal?
The D Activator sounds scooped to me. It's tight and edgy almost like an EMG81 but much smoother. It's very shredable and does not go muddy in low tunings. If your S series is all midrange and you would like more contour, it could work well. The DActivator has all the balance, clarity and character every great pickup has to have. It's just its lack of midrange peak that does not work for me.
The Super 3 is thick. Crazy thick, as much as a Duncan Invader but tamer. It sounds like an overweight Super Distortion. It won't stay as tight as the DActivator when downtuning because you can't have a big lowend and a tight lowend at the same time, unless you play bass. The S3 does try to hit the sweet spot right between those two, which means it's easy to dial in mud when you overdo gain and downtuning.
The D Activator sounds scooped to me. It's tight and edgy almost like an EMG81 but much smoother. It's very shredable and does not go muddy in low tunings. If your S series is all midrange and you would like more contour, it could work well. The DActivator has all the balance, clarity and character every great pickup has to have. It's just its lack of midrange peak that does not work for me.
The Super 3 is thick. Crazy thick, as much as a Duncan Invader but tamer. It sounds like an overweight Super Distortion. It won't stay as tight as the DActivator when downtuning because you can't have a big lowend and a tight lowend at the same time, unless you play bass. The S3 does try to hit the sweet spot right between those two, which means it's easy to dial in mud when you overdo gain and downtuning.
Franknfilms
New member
Re: Pickups for modern death / prog metal?
I would recommend the Duncan Detonator. You can get one for $25. It is a Duncan Distortion (but made overseas) with Invader poles. The perfect compromise for someone who wants to try a distortion with a big thick ceramic magnet, but add emphasis on big tight lows. It sounds stupidly good in drop C when you are banging out the metal rhythm. The cleans are nice too, very spacey. The Jazz would be a good match in the neck if you like it sparkling clean.
I would recommend the Duncan Detonator. You can get one for $25. It is a Duncan Distortion (but made overseas) with Invader poles. The perfect compromise for someone who wants to try a distortion with a big thick ceramic magnet, but add emphasis on big tight lows. It sounds stupidly good in drop C when you are banging out the metal rhythm. The cleans are nice too, very spacey. The Jazz would be a good match in the neck if you like it sparkling clean.
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JOEBACCA
New member
Re: Pickups for modern death / prog metal?
Based on what your describing I'd say the Full Shred Set would work very well. The Full Shred Bridge has plenty of presence and is arguably the most articulate passive that SD makes but I don't find it
to be an overly bright pickup, it definitely has treble but its not harsh, yet the wound strings have a tight dry chunkiness to them. The FS will handle any Drop Tuning you can throw at it. I know
Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth has used the FS set in his PRS for years. That guy runs the gamut from cleans to aggressive tones and the FS pulls it off very well.
You mentioned Between the Buried and Me, I know Paul uses Bare Knuckle Black Hawks in his PRS and Dustie uses Dimarzio D'Activators in his PRS. I can't speak for the BK Blackhawks but the
D'Activators IMO are one of the best pickups for drop tunings they definitely have Presence & Cut, they are extremely articulate as well. They sound equally good for leads and tight palm mutes and
have very aggressive harmonics. They have a very fast, immediate attack when you dig in hard but are surprisingly dynamic when you lighten up on the pick attack, which is unique being how hot the
DA's are. I would lean toward's the FS for what you're asking for.
Based on what your describing I'd say the Full Shred Set would work very well. The Full Shred Bridge has plenty of presence and is arguably the most articulate passive that SD makes but I don't find it
to be an overly bright pickup, it definitely has treble but its not harsh, yet the wound strings have a tight dry chunkiness to them. The FS will handle any Drop Tuning you can throw at it. I know
Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth has used the FS set in his PRS for years. That guy runs the gamut from cleans to aggressive tones and the FS pulls it off very well.
You mentioned Between the Buried and Me, I know Paul uses Bare Knuckle Black Hawks in his PRS and Dustie uses Dimarzio D'Activators in his PRS. I can't speak for the BK Blackhawks but the
D'Activators IMO are one of the best pickups for drop tunings they definitely have Presence & Cut, they are extremely articulate as well. They sound equally good for leads and tight palm mutes and
have very aggressive harmonics. They have a very fast, immediate attack when you dig in hard but are surprisingly dynamic when you lighten up on the pick attack, which is unique being how hot the
DA's are. I would lean toward's the FS for what you're asking for.
offworld92
New member
Re: Pickups for modern death / prog metal?
The Full Shreds sound good on paper, but I really have not liked anything I've heard from them, especially in the comparison videos etc..
I'm not looking for a super tight low end necessarily. The Custom gave me a little bit of that, and I discovered that I like a bit of boom.
I'm leaning pretty strongly toward the D Activator now, after watching many more videos. The Super 3 seems like it would have a little too much output, plus a lot of people say it isn't good in low tunings. /shrug
So if I go for a DA in the bridge... should I get a matching DA neck? Is it clean? Or should I look at a Dominion/Breed?
Oh and btw, I love all the input here. I've asked this question on multiple forums, and this is by far the most input I've gotten, for possibly anything ever. I'm really enjoying reading all of the input and opinions.
The Full Shreds sound good on paper, but I really have not liked anything I've heard from them, especially in the comparison videos etc..
I'm not looking for a super tight low end necessarily. The Custom gave me a little bit of that, and I discovered that I like a bit of boom.
I'm leaning pretty strongly toward the D Activator now, after watching many more videos. The Super 3 seems like it would have a little too much output, plus a lot of people say it isn't good in low tunings. /shrug
So if I go for a DA in the bridge... should I get a matching DA neck? Is it clean? Or should I look at a Dominion/Breed?
Oh and btw, I love all the input here. I've asked this question on multiple forums, and this is by far the most input I've gotten, for possibly anything ever. I'm really enjoying reading all of the input and opinions.
JOEBACCA
New member
Re: Pickups for modern death / prog metal?
I would say if you go for the DA's, I'd get the set. The neck DA matches up perfectly with the bridge DA volume wise and they are EQ'd to pair together perfectly. They came stock in my Ibanez Iceman ICT700, I really liked
them but my curiosity got the better of me and I switched to the Full Shred's a few years ago. Although I do like the FS, I kinda feel like the DA's voicing was better suited with my Iceman......I might go back to the DA's myself
but I sold the ones that came in my Iceman, I'd have to buy a new set. Keep us posted with your decision!
I would say if you go for the DA's, I'd get the set. The neck DA matches up perfectly with the bridge DA volume wise and they are EQ'd to pair together perfectly. They came stock in my Ibanez Iceman ICT700, I really liked
them but my curiosity got the better of me and I switched to the Full Shred's a few years ago. Although I do like the FS, I kinda feel like the DA's voicing was better suited with my Iceman......I might go back to the DA's myself
but I sold the ones that came in my Iceman, I'd have to buy a new set. Keep us posted with your decision!
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Re: Pickups for modern death / prog metal?
You could have a look at the Lace Aluma Deathbar or XBar, or even the older Deathbucker (I have one & it's awesome). Pretty radical design, they're passive & can be split (without any drop in volume) really full sounding, open, round & thick/organic (ie ...meaty as hell!), but amazingly clear, tight and articulate as well. Great sweet sounding cleans too.
Quite a few decent videos on you tube..
Here are a few...
Deathbar:
XBar:
Deathbucker (solo tone):
You could have a look at the Lace Aluma Deathbar or XBar, or even the older Deathbucker (I have one & it's awesome). Pretty radical design, they're passive & can be split (without any drop in volume) really full sounding, open, round & thick/organic (ie ...meaty as hell!), but amazingly clear, tight and articulate as well. Great sweet sounding cleans too.
Quite a few decent videos on you tube..
Here are a few...
Deathbar:
XBar:
Deathbucker (solo tone):
allstarrme
New member
Re: Pickups for modern death / prog metal?
The full shred bridge is loosely based on the custom 5, so yeah right there with the custom again.
I haven't tried the deactivator's but if I were going that way I think I would take the black hawks over them.
The liquifire and crunch lab or D sonic haven't been mentioned yet, for a thinner 24 fret S series those would be my first choice for clear and articulate while full sounding.
The full shred bridge is loosely based on the custom 5, so yeah right there with the custom again.
I haven't tried the deactivator's but if I were going that way I think I would take the black hawks over them.
The liquifire and crunch lab or D sonic haven't been mentioned yet, for a thinner 24 fret S series those would be my first choice for clear and articulate while full sounding.
JOEBACCA
New member
Re: Pickups for modern death / prog metal?
The FS wind is based on the Custom Family but it is not "based loosely" on the Custom 5. The FS was introduced in the 80's well before there was an SD Forum or mag swapping. Even though they come from the same wind
and both have Alnico V mags, the FS double row of allen screw poles changes the tonality completely compared to the slug coil/flat head screw coil of the Custom 5. They don't sound alike. Just wanted to clarify.
The FS wind is based on the Custom Family but it is not "based loosely" on the Custom 5. The FS was introduced in the 80's well before there was an SD Forum or mag swapping. Even though they come from the same wind
and both have Alnico V mags, the FS double row of allen screw poles changes the tonality completely compared to the slug coil/flat head screw coil of the Custom 5. They don't sound alike. Just wanted to clarify.
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