Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

[tonello]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

Ok if not the Iommi's then how about a 59/Custom hybrid? That's probably going to give you the best combination of mids and lows for Doom. I'm not a doom player or listener so I don't know about solos is the music, but it does give a nice balance of highs as well.

 

[PonyKiller]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

Ok if not the Iommi's then how about a 59/Custom hybrid? That's probably going to give you the best combination of mids and lows for Doom. I'm not a doom player or listener so I don't know about solos is the music, but it does give a nice balance of highs as well.

I've never thought about that particular p'up. I really liked the Custom 5 I tried. Can I expect kind of like a mix between the C5 and a '59? That'll be really interesting. I'll put it on my list. Thanks!

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

I've never thought about that particular p'up. I really liked the Custom 5 I tried. Can I expect kind of like a mix between the C5 and a '59? That'll be really interesting. I'll put it on my list. Thanks!

It has its own unique harmonic structure because of the mis-matched coils. Really works well in nearly any setting like series/parallel/slpit/etc. Again, another pickup that you can put any magnet in and get nice results. If you want a lower wind, I think it might be perfect for you, and over time try different magnets or save up and buy them all to save money. What country are you in so we can get an idea for shipping?

 

[XPAULPITT]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

I use DDs for the same thing with the same guitar. I find they handle C# very well.

 

[PonyKiller]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

It has its own unique harmonic structure because of the mis-matched coils. Really works well in nearly any setting like series/parallel/slpit/etc. Again, another pickup that you can put any magnet in and get nice results. If you want a lower wind, I think it might be perfect for you, and over time try different magnets or save up and buy them all to save money. What country are you in so we can get an idea for shipping?

I'm in south eastern México at the moment. The problem with shipping is that I either have to gamble losing the package with USPS/local post for $20 or pay over $35 for Fedex/UPS plus whatever they want to charge me for customs (which is higher than the actual customs cost). So it makes no sense to drop around $50 for $10 in magnets.
I'm gonna order a huge stash of magnets when I go back to the states but I don't have a set date at the moment. That's why I want to stick with stock magnets for now.

I use DDs for the same thing with the same guitar. I find they handle C# very well.

I'm trying to avoid the... hifi edge? that ceramic magnets put on the sound. I had a SuperDistortion but now I want to move to low output alnicos and leave all the work to the amp/pedals.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

P90's

 

[PonyKiller]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

P90's

P-90's are awesome for that kind of tone but I already have them on the other SG. I want to stick with humbuckers for this one.

 

[xjbear]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

You might try the TZ's in parallel instead, will be about 4k ish and the phase cancel might bright up the lows just a touch. 1 meg does alot and if the neck overpowers the bridge maybe you can Lpad it with resistors

 

[PonyKiller]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

You might try the TZ's in parallel instead, will be about 4k ish and the phase cancel might bright up the lows just a touch. 1 meg does alot and if the neck overpowers the bridge maybe you can Lpad it with resistors

I'm gonna experiment with the TZ's in the SG but I'm not planning to keep one on the neck. One of them was supposed to go to the bridge of my RG ages ago but I've been too lazy to install it. Hell, if it works on the SG I might just leave it there.

It'd be cool if the SG had enough space to fit push/pull pots. I guess I'll have to leave the miniswitches wrapped in foam inside the cavity while trying series and parallel with the TZ.

Thanks for the advice. I'll be experimenting a lot with this guitar when I get around to fix the bridge.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

Warpig + SG = win for teh doomz. I usually stay on the neck pickup for it though.

Other than that I really, really, really liked the JB2 in a B tuned mahogany baritone into a Mig60 for doom, but an SG would probably not be the best spot for that pickup.

Saying that makes me think the TZ might just surprise you and be awesome though.

Best advice I can give (other than get a Warpig) is don't forget to use your tone knobs, a SuperD should have been pretty good, if it's too edgy, roll the tone back a smidge. Problem solved.

 

[PonyKiller]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

Warpig + SG = win for teh doomz. I usually stay on the neck pickup for it though.

Other than that I really, really, really liked the JB2 in a B tuned mahogany baritone into a Mig60 for doom, but an SG would probably not be the best spot for that pickup.

Saying that makes me think the TZ might just surprise you and be awesome though.

Best advice I can give (other than get a Warpig) is don't forget to use your tone knobs, a SuperD should have been pretty good, if it's too edgy, roll the tone back a smidge. Problem solved.

A BK Warpig would be awesome but they are way too expensive. $350 a set! D@mn, I paid less than that for the whole guitar.

The SuperDistortion has been great, but it's been there for almost ten years now. I want to try something different.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[xjbear]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

Just go for the guitar tone from Down NOLA and you'll be ripe to cover it all

 

[atrumluminarium]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

You should try the BareKnuckle BlackHawks. They are quite high-output and give a decent amount of treble to keep things tight (be sure to buy the ceramic magnets for the bridge)

I have to warn you though, they are a tad costly. But they have very positive reviews

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

Hey,

New member here. Just started to play the guitar again after a 5 year hiatus so I'm really out of the loop on the whole pickup thing.

I'm looking for a set of pups to play stoner/doom metal (Sleep, Kyuss, Electric Wizard, Cathedral, Orange Goblin, etc...).
The tone on these genres is really distortion heavy and bassy BUT not muddy. The distortion mainly comes from a tube amp on the verge of meltdown and a fuzz or a big muff pedal on top.

The pups will be for a Gibson 78 SG std. I currently have a Dimarzio Super Distortion in the bridge and the stock t-top on the neck. Tuning is standard but sometimes go down a step or two.
The SuperDist worked OK but gets somewhat muddy on high volumes and even worse when I add the big muff and I feel that chords sound,,, err, too defined? Don't know how to explain this... I'd like to get "dirtier" sounding chords, if that makes any sense. I think the ceramic magnet might be the culprit.
The t-top sounds massive but it's really old and beaten up. The cover is missing and the strings won't align correctly. I have to jam things in the cavity to get an even sound, otherwise the high e string is inaudible. Don't know which magnet it has but it isn't ceramic. I've read that only the t-tops with two screw coils have ceramics. This one has a slug coil.

So, what do you guys say? I'm thinking maybe I need lower output pickups.
Alnico V or II or stay with ceramic for the bridge?

My experience with Seymour Duncan Pickups is really limited. Back in the day, when the original 70's Super Distortion failed, I tried a JB Model and really hated it. Kinda the opposite of what I wanted. That was my fault. I just walked into the store and asked for "the best SD pickup they had". I was soo young and stupid,,, hahaha. Anyway, I had to sell it and bought a new Super Dist as I knew it kinda worked.

Any help is really appreciated.

Hi there . . . and welcome to the Duncan Forums.

I play 100% the same as you (...among some other genres aswell)

You did not mention what amp(s) you have. That also plays a massive part in your over all feel/vibe/inter-action between what you do on the strings and what end up hearing/experiencing.

Just look at the guitar players in th ebands that we love.
99% of them used low out put "vintage" pick ups.

Lori S (Acid King) use the stock pu's in her beautifull wine red Custom, and so does Watta (Boris) in her black Custom.
Buzz Osborne also use stock Gibbo units in his Custom LP (afaik)
Hell, the guy in Goatsnake used to use P90's in his LP Gold Top. He is now in, Sunn O)))
Not Stoner, nor Doom, but the guitarist in UNSANE use stock single coil pick ups in his Tele/Mesa Rectifier rig.


I have a Duncan A2P set in my Gibbo SG, and BK Flatt 50's in my Tele, and i use BOTH for Stoner, Sludge N Doom.


* http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/vintage-output/aph1_alnico_ii/

* http://www.flickr.com/photos/92030427@N04/8413162102/in/photostream


Now . . . saying that, i am about to experiment this summer (...summer where i am) with higher out put units (not the JB, because just like you, i can not gell with that one) and even try a set of Black Outs. (tried EMG's i the past and they did nuffing for me). It was only after my metal-head cousin got a set of Black Outs that i discovered that actives can sound good too, and not suck the life out of your guitar.


PS : currently, i am using an AB165 50W Bassman head, into a modified early '70s 4X12 Marshall cab (cab not mine)

I am however a few days away from finalizing the details/specs of my custom made 120W Doom (...and Classic Rock) Monster.
It will be based on the 120W MVU Electric Amp form the USA. (...but at a third of the US asking price)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpswO52_khg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGVu26YhdVE - fellow forum memeber's ex amp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu6WCgOB2pg - love it !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYmLhDpDivs - Melvins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqF1nyjCU8M - UNSANE

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

I'm using an Orange thunderverb50 thru a Mesa cab with four V30 spkrs. Sounds really good with the Super Distortion for anything else but when going to stoner/doom territory it gets somewhat muddy. I'm thinking of adding a fuzz face or big muff in front to get that classic stoner sound going but I'm afraid the muddiness will be far worse.

That's why I want a pickup that doesn't drive the amp really hard.

What about the alnico II pro or the other A2 pickups?
If I recall correctly the Seth Lover models are unpotted, so that one is out. I'm guessing the thing will squeal really bad under so much gain. If I'm wrong, feel free to correct me. I don't want to leave any good option out.

BLOODY GREAT AMP you have there PonyKiller.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESIarEUATZs - part 2

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

When you get down to the bare bones of it, Black Sabbath was kind of the world's first Doom metal band.

List to Black Sabbath (the song) and you'll know what I'm talking about.

. . . love this documentary !!!



Eveyone who posted on PonyKiller's thread should watch this . . . if you have not done so all ready !

 

[Frogman]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

One of my side projects is pure stoner metal, so I can offer you some advise from actual experience.

1. A tube amp cranked with the bass over 7 is the most important.

2. Each of the listed bands all get there tone differently, and the tone itself is pretty unique to each.

-Sleep is a Les Paul Standard with stock A5 PAFs through a 100w Laney on Holy Mountain, and through a Green Matamp on Dopesmoker;
if you listen to the guitar only parts in Holy Mountain, you realize his tone is actually pretty middy and trebley;
that Holy Mountain stoner tone lends most of its foundation to Al's Rickenbacker and Ampeg SVT and Green Matamp slave unit.

-Electric Wizard tone can honestly be very closely replicated with a Boss FZ-2 into any decent amp.

-Kyuss was mainly Les Pauls and Mockingbirds (mostly neck pickup) into both Peaveys and Marshalls into Ampeg Bass cabinets.

-Down (though, IMO, not really stoner metal per se), on NOLA, was an SG with an Anderson H3+ and a Gibson P90 into a JCM800 (straight from Kirk's mouth)


So it really depends on which type of tone you are looking for.


In our project, we use a LPC with a JB8 and Mean 90, an SG Jr with a custom 22k P90, and an SG Standard
with an Invader and my RedBear MK60 and a JCM 800 into an Ampeg Bass cab and a homemade 4x12 with WGS
ET65's and Retro 30's in an X pattern.


Like I said, if you have a good tube amp, crank the power amp, bass, and mids, and you're gonna be good to go.
If you want to go the fuzz pedal route, I'd recommend the Zvex Fuzz Factory for the most versatility, or the Boss FZ-2 if you want the Electric Wizard tone.


Hope that helps.

 

[xntrick]

Re: Pickups for Stoner/Doom metal on a SG

I use the Iommi pups in a Xaviere SG, 11-52 tuned to drop C. It sounds good but it is rather dark sounding, is this an issue with the tone caps or do i just need an eq pedal?