Pickups I should like but don't

D

DonP

New member
I am a hard rock / metal head, so I should like the Duncan Distortion, Custom, Gibson 500T, but I just can seem to jive with these.

I love the X2N, Super Distortion, 498T, JB usually.

I get along great with lower output pickups like BB1&2, BB Pros.

I have the Distortion Mayhem set in a Charvel Model 3A (Mega E switch to split the coils), the 496R/500T (push pulls to split the coils) set in a 1996 LP Classic PP, and the Custom in a Jackson SL2H that I replaced the JB. What am I doing wrong? I had the Mayhem set in a Charvel 750XL and wasn't happy with that either. Currently has a set of Full Shreds that are better.

The X2N is in a Charvel SoCal and is far away from the strings but sound awesome like this. I have a JB2 in a Charvel Sand Dimas that sounds awesome, A regular JB in a Charvel MIJ Wildcard #4 that is ok. A regular JB in two other Jacksons SL'2 that sound great. The 498T has been in my two SG Standards (1998 and 2012) both sound the same.
 
You arent doing anything wrong, you just dont connect with those particular pickups. I can not get along with the Custom fam of pickups. I was considering getting rid of a guitar that I tried all the mags in a Custom and just couldnt get along with it, changed the C5 to a Black Winter and now the guitar is a joy to play.
 
I LOVE the Distortion and the 500T. Hate the Custom. Well, not hate, but does nothing for me, really.

I also love the 498T and the JB, just like you. I don't think I'd like the JB2, TBH. As I've not really liked any A2 pickup I've tried other than the Phat Cat.

But I was severely underwhelmed with the X2N. Way darker and bassier than I was expecting. I thought "Chuck Schuldiner, right? Ought to be tight, bright, and grindy, like his tone, right?" It isn't. Like... at all. I haven't tried an Invader in ages, but it wouldn't surprised me if it's as dark as the Invader, honestly.

So that would be mine. The X2N.

Also the Dimebucker. Love Pantera, Dimebag, and his tone. But the Dimebucker is just too scratchy/sizzly for my taste. Complete opposite side of the spectrum compared to the X2N.

Duncan Blackouts too. I love EMG's. I love Fishmans. But Blackouts are kind of their antithesis. Super bloated and kinda fizzy. Like the opposite of tight, for me.

So those are mine.
 
Hsb said:
You arent doing anything wrong, you just dont connect with those particular pickups. I can not get along with the Custom fam of pickups. I was considering getting rid of a guitar that I tried all the mags in a Custom and just couldnt get along with it, changed the C5 to a Black Winter and now the guitar is a joy to play.
Click to expand...
Agreed. At least for what I play, the Black Winter tears the Custom a new asshole, LOL.
 
Some pickups don’t mesh with the user.

I’ve seen rave reviews of Phat Cats. Mine have been in a box for over a decade.
 
Pickups are just coils of wire. Each one has a particular EQ tilt and output. The names are all misleading, so I don't buy that any pickup is better for any particular music until I try it and run it through it's paces to see if it meets my needs. Sometimes the names match up, but not always; because you can make up gain and EQ at the amp also. I just mix/match and try in every position. Some of the best combos I've found were two different neck pickups FWIW.
 
Rex_Rocker said:
I LOVE the Distortion and the 500T. Hate the Custom. Well, not hate, but does nothing for me, really.

I also love the 498T and the JB, just like you. I don't think I'd like the JB2, TBH. As I've not really liked any A2 pickup I've tried other than the Phat Cat.

But I was severely underwhelmed with the X2N. Way darker and bassier than I was expecting. I thought "Chuck Schuldiner, right? Ought to be tight, bright, and grindy, like his tone, right?" It isn't. Like... at all. I haven't tried an Invader in ages, but it wouldn't surprised me if it's as dark as the Invader, honestly.

So that would be mine. The X2N.

Also the Dimebucker. Love Pantera, Dimebag, and his tone. But the Dimebucker is just too scratchy/sizzly for my taste. Complete opposite side of the spectrum compared to the X2N.

Duncan Blackouts too. I love EMG's. I love Fishmans. But Blackouts are kind of their antithesis. Super bloated and kinda fizzy. Like the opposite of tight, for me.

So those are mine.
Click to expand...

I tend to really like A2 pickups. Love the Custom Custom in a bright guitar.

My X2N gets ne the Fast Eddie tone from Motorhead FWIW. Not dark at all. In mine it has a flat response with lots of output across the spectrum. When I got the guitar used on CL, I thought I'd hate the X2N, but I loved it so much I got another, and I put a De-activator X in the neck to match. I thought I'd hate that too, but it sounds great as well. Go figure.

Yeah, didn't like the Dimebag either. Don't like EMG's either, but I've got all EMG81's in the bridge except for one with an EMG89 in the bridge.
 
DonP said:
I tend to really like A2 pickups. Love the Custom Custom in a bright guitar.

My X2N gets ne the Fast Eddie tone from Motorhead FWIW. Not dark at all. In mine it has a flat response with lots of output across the spectrum. When I got the guitar used on CL, I thought I'd hate the X2N, but I loved it so much I got another, and I put a De-activator X in the neck to match. I thought I'd hate that too, but it sounds great as well. Go figure.

Yeah, didn't like the Dimebag either. Don't like EMG's either, but I've got all EMG81's in the bridge except for one with an EMG89 in the bridge.
Click to expand...
Is yours a newer one? The originals had nickel baseplates. I'd imagine they'd be brighter. But these ones have A LOT of metal in the blades jacking up the inductance, a relatively high DCR, and a brass baseplate on top.

Mine is a recent one. It's not muddy, it's just kinda dull/blunt. But I do like bright pickups, and the Black Winter and 500T I had in the same guitar are much brighter and have more sizzle, but neither is bright or airy like a PAF either. Then again, it is a Les Paul. I imagine the X2N would do better in a naturally bright guitar.
 
I should love the Superdistortion and the Custom, but I don't. Hate them with a passion. The Custom5 is one of the best pickups i have ever tried though, and I was floored.

I rarely truly hate a pickup, but with SD it's more often hit than miss,but with Bareknuckle, it's more often total miss than mediocre hit! I like their Mule set, the Stormy Monday, the Rebel Yell, Holydiver, but mostly, they're too hot, too fat, too fuzzy for my taste. SD on the other hand, I like most. JB, Jazz set, Seth Lover, Whole lotta, SNS, Antiquity. To name a few.
 
Just one part of the chain, right? One might like a pickup through a certain amp/cab and not through another. If you have a room full of cabinets or roll IRs you can probably find a way to like any pickup.
 
Rex_Rocker said:
Is yours a newer one? The originals had nickel baseplates. I'd imagine they'd be brighter. But these ones have A LOT of metal in the blades jacking up the inductance, a relatively high DCR, and a brass baseplate on top.

Mine is a recent one. It's not muddy, it's just kinda dull/blunt. But I do like bright pickups, and the Black Winter and 500T I had in the same guitar are much brighter and have more sizzle, but neither is bright or airy like a PAF either. Then again, it is a Les Paul. I imagine the X2N would do better in a naturally bright guitar.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if it's a newer one, but I really think it is because I have it a mile away from the strings. It's a MIJ SoCal, so a non-recessed trem which is high alreay. In my other MIJ San Dimas with the JB2, the pickups are at a normal height and sound fuller/fatter, but that's also a trait of the A2 magnet. Both guitars have big blocks on the Floyd's.
 
orpheo said:
I should love the Superdistortion and the Custom, but I don't. Hate them with a passion. The Custom5 is one of the best pickups i have ever tried though, and I was floored.

I rarely truly hate a pickup, but with SD it's more often hit than miss,but with Bareknuckle, it's more often total miss than mediocre hit! I like their Mule set, the Stormy Monday, the Rebel Yell, Holydiver, but mostly, they're too hot, too fat, too fuzzy for my taste. SD on the other hand, I like most. JB, Jazz set, Seth Lover, Whole lotta, SNS, Antiquity. To name a few.
Click to expand...

I might have a Custom 5 in my Jackson AT Pro, one of my favorite axes. It's a Custom wind, but it came used with no markings. It just sounds better than the Custom I have in an SL2H.

I have RY's in a 2012 Trad LP. They sound god but fat and full like you mention. A Warpig is loaded in an old HM Strat and sounds good. Don't know if it's A5 or ceramic.
 
alex1fly said:
Just one part of the chain, right? One might like a pickup through a certain amp/cab and not through another. If you have a room full of cabinets or roll IRs you can probably find a way to like any pickup.
Click to expand...

This is very true. The ESP Horizon with the Custom Custom in it sounds like gawd in my JCM 2000 DSL100, but just ok elsewhere.

But the Duncan Distortion, well, I have yet to find the right match for it.
 
alex1fly said:
Just one part of the chain, right? One might like a pickup through a certain amp/cab and not through another. If you have a room full of cabinets or roll IRs you can probably find a way to like any pickup.
Click to expand...

The BBW set I just put in my SG sounds great through my JCM200. My singer has been borrowing and playing that guitar through the Carvin X100B, which sounds glorious. Just a notch above.
 
I've found that certain pickups are prone to love or hate based on which dirt pedal and amp you are using even moreso than whatever wood that the guitar is made from.
...now having said that, a lot of guitars sound good with all sorts of pickups and some guitars sound like crap until you finally...finally get the right pickups in it.

I love the Distortion. Also like the 500t, and worship the ahb3s!
I also like the X2N a lot!

Love/Hate the Dimebucker, alt8, invader depending on what guitar they're in.

Also no love for the custom. Or the 490 and 498...just bleh.


You're not doing anything wrong, freqs are freqs. Everyone likes something different.
 
Pearly Gates for one. I normally like a A2 pickup in those Ohm levels but hated the PG sets I have had. Listening to the ZZ Top tones expected a big fat round tone with a little sizzle on top. Got thin harsh and and grating.
The Pegasus is another looked good on paper but find them to be bland and lifeless in any guitar I have tried with them.
of the newer Kiesel high gain pickups with ceramic boosters. REALLY like some of the Alinco mag pickups they have but hate every one of the really hot pickups they make with passion. Just screechy thin and soulless with no dynamics every single one I have tried. That is the Lithium, Thorium, Illusionist and the Emperium necks all are horrible!!
 
80's_Thrash_Metal said:
I've found that certain pickups are prone to love or hate based on which dirt pedal and amp you are using even moreso than whatever wood that the guitar is made from.
...now having said that, a lot of guitars sound good with all sorts of pickups and some guitars sound like crap until you finally...finally get the right pickups in it.

You're not doing anything wrong, freqs are freqs. Everyone likes something different.
Click to expand...

Your spot on here. It's all about the overall combo and everything matters. I have 5 different amp set ups i run depending on what I am doing and where. A combo that sounds great with my PRS Archon and MT 15 rigs may not be so stellar with my Mesa Subway Rocket. That goes for particular guitars with specific pickups as well as effects.
Also what works for one player may not for another. I have my favorite combos and some are uncommon.
Like using the Sentient Alt 8 combo in my all KOA 94 DC 127 through a PRS MT 15 as my church rig. Works very well surprisingly for the modern worship tones I'm looking for.
Would you think that would be the set up I'm running here if you didn't know? Most would think it way to "metal" but in reality it works well.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top