Pickups/guitars for vocal 80s/90s lead

[alex1fly]

Wondering folks' favorite pickup/guitar combinations for those chewy distorted vocal 80s/90s style leads - Satriani, Vai, Petrucci. You know, those leads that sound a bit vocal-ish... sure the wah pedal helps, but it seems like those guys get some vocal-esque sounds just by changing up their picking hand articulation.

 

[Mincer]

My fav are the Alnico II Pro and Custom Custom, especially if it is a 1-guitar band.

 

[GuitarStv]

I'm not a huge Dimarzio fan, but the Tone Zone is a bridge pickup with a very vocal and singing quality to it under gain.

 

[dave74]

Some of that quality comes from just ever-so-slightly palm-dampening the strings at the bridge while the notes are being picked, and then of course you can pull the palm off completely while the note is ringing. This takes all the junk away and leaves only the vocal "toneful" part of the spectrum.

I think many of us do this without thinking, but when I see and hear a newbie play this is one thing they often lack.

 

[Masta' C]

PAF Pro, Fred, Tone Zone, Evolution, Norton, Transition...JB

 

[Aceman]

Hahaha - 3 epic DiMarzio artists. Hmmm....wonder what they might use? LOL

 

[ErikH]

Back in the day, it was all about the PAF Pro. That’s before the tone zone and all their signature pickups. In the 80’s, they all used the PAF Pro.

 

[Teleplayer]

Even Dimarzio artists would have played a Duncan SH-4 in the 80's. Satriani's guitar with pearly gates was famous too.

 

[Demanic]

80's 90's Lead, I think Megadeth.
JB

 

[Aceman]

A PAF Pro has that cocked-Wah / vowel thing built right in. HAd one for quite a while in a Yamaha Strat I should not have sold….

 

[alex1fly]

Well I have a few of these pickups listed and finally got around to giving some of these a go. Norton went in the PRS SE Floyd for a couple days - wow, this is rock. Very powerful, lots of harmonic content in there. Breaks up nicely, almost like the frequency spread intensifies as I dig in. Got hints of the vocal thing with lots of distortion. Swapped that out for a JB this morning... late to the party but dang, this thing really sings! Vocal vibes in spades.

Which neck pickups do a good vocal-esque distorted solo thing as well? I haven't tried many, but here's what comes to mind based on years of gear forum perusing:
Alnico II Pro
Sentient
Full Shred
Fred
PAF Pro
Air Norton

The closest I've ever gotten in the neck position is with a Dimarzio Bluesbucker, of all things. Great articulation, warm but still cuts.

Does the Jazz neck do this?? Or a JB in the neck?

 

[LLL]

Wondering folks' favorite pickup/guitar combinations for those chewy distorted vocal 80s/90s style leads - Satriani, Vai, Petrucci. You know, those leads that sound a bit vocal-ish... sure the wah pedal helps, but it seems like those guys get some vocal-esque sounds just by changing up their picking hand articulation.

It will be tough to beat the JB and its perfect midrange and drive for leads.

 

[jeremy]

thats my first thought too, the jb is a great 80s soloing pup

 

[Masta' C]

Which neck pickups do a good vocal-esque distorted solo thing as well?...

The PAF Pro mentioned above actually makes a pretty killer neck pickup.

The Air Norton is a bit too "meh" for me, but Petrucci always makes it sound great.

If you don't mind a similarly thick neck tone to the Air Norton and want something a little more expressive, a Fred in the neck can be absolutely killer when paired with a hotter bridge pickup like the JB!

 

[Ascension]

Best I have played was the Gravity Storm bridge. Was so different from anything else I had I pulled it but would like to set up another guitar for one.

 

[Aceman]

thats my first thought too, the jb is a great 80s soloing pup

No doubt the JB is 80's soloing incarnate, but I really don't feel it has near the same aww/vowel/wah kind of voice as a PAF Pro

 

[jeremy]

nah, id agree with that. the paf pro has that signature dimarzio mid range thing that made it iconic

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Add the Crunch Lab & Liquifire combo to your list to check out. Dial in the right amp tone, and they're both uber-chewy. That vocal quality is totally there, but without the obnoxious, overbearing filter effect like when you leave a wah in one position. Both pickups are voiced for killer rhythm and lead tones, great for switching back and forth frequently.

 

[Demanic]

I had a JB in my Jackson DXMG and swapped it with a Crunchlab. Thinking of swapping it back.

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