I need to get new pickups the guitar is an ibanez 542r. It has the body style of a satriani guitar with standard fender style tremolo. The neck is bolted on and it says "custom made" on the fretboard which is light in color and appears to be rosewood although I am not sure. I can not find out much about this guitar. It has stock single coil humbuckers and I play 9 gauge strings with it tuned either standard or dropped a half step. I do not have a clue what PU model would sound good on this guitar. I play mainly metal/rock and I have never seen anyone that does with single coil size humbuckers. This is a beautiful guitar with a really nice neck but the tone of the PUs are horrible. Is there a good warm sounding PU? Would a JB jr be a good choice?
Please help I need a new single coil sized humbuck
- Thread starter Matman1
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darthphineas
New member
Re: Please help I need a new single coil sized humbuck
if that's the guitar I think it is, it's basswood. I liked the Radius series a lot and was disappointed when they stopped it to make the Satch model more distintive.
for metal or rock with Duncans, it might be a JB Jr. Hot Rails are high output and tight, but are a little heavier sounding to my ears... you might not get the treble response you want.
have you looked into the DiMarzio single hum pickups? the Tone Zone S might be a cool option. a lot of DMZ fans like the Chopper. the Fast Track 2 is a lot like the HR. and there's the Super Dist S.
if that's the guitar I think it is, it's basswood. I liked the Radius series a lot and was disappointed when they stopped it to make the Satch model more distintive.
for metal or rock with Duncans, it might be a JB Jr. Hot Rails are high output and tight, but are a little heavier sounding to my ears... you might not get the treble response you want.
have you looked into the DiMarzio single hum pickups? the Tone Zone S might be a cool option. a lot of DMZ fans like the Chopper. the Fast Track 2 is a lot like the HR. and there's the Super Dist S.
9unslin9er
New member
Re: Please help I need a new single coil sized humbuck
I love the Everything Axe set (lil 59, duckbucker, jb jr.) in Stratocasters, but more for jazz/fusion. Despite their designation, the Duncan single-coil sized versions of their full-sized counterparts do not sound like each other.
If metal/hard rock are your thing, I strongly suggest you look at DiMarzio's offerings. They have a much wider selection of tones for that format.
A Super Distortion S with any combination of Fast Track 1, Pro Track, Cruiser, or Air Norton S may be right up your alley depending on how you EQ your amp.
They are super tasty in basswood.
I love the Everything Axe set (lil 59, duckbucker, jb jr.) in Stratocasters, but more for jazz/fusion. Despite their designation, the Duncan single-coil sized versions of their full-sized counterparts do not sound like each other.
If metal/hard rock are your thing, I strongly suggest you look at DiMarzio's offerings. They have a much wider selection of tones for that format.
A Super Distortion S with any combination of Fast Track 1, Pro Track, Cruiser, or Air Norton S may be right up your alley depending on how you EQ your amp.
They are super tasty in basswood.
Re: Please help I need a new single coil sized humbuck
That's interesting I had no idea that the R stood for radius. That guitar is the first one that I have ever owned I bought it used. The neck feels really good it's interesting that on the near the 15th fret it says "custom made" I am not sure if it means custom made neck or what. I am not going to try and get a metal or hard rock sound. I was curious about the Yngwie pickups but I am not sure if that is the right guitar to put those in, basically I am wanting to get a nice warm sound, a jazz tone would probably be great. The body of the guitar looks so much like satrianis that I actually believed it was his signature series guitar for awhile. I have never seen him play with single coils though
That's interesting I had no idea that the R stood for radius. That guitar is the first one that I have ever owned I bought it used. The neck feels really good it's interesting that on the near the 15th fret it says "custom made" I am not sure if it means custom made neck or what. I am not going to try and get a metal or hard rock sound. I was curious about the Yngwie pickups but I am not sure if that is the right guitar to put those in, basically I am wanting to get a nice warm sound, a jazz tone would probably be great. The body of the guitar looks so much like satrianis that I actually believed it was his signature series guitar for awhile. I have never seen him play with single coils though
Re: Please help I need a new single coil sized humbuck
I have the same guitar. Many of the Ibanez' of that era (early '90's) have the "Custom Made" inlay. Although, it should be at the 21st fret (for that model), not the 15th. The way it was explained to me is that it was a bit of loss in translation from the Japanese luthiers--it more accurately should translate to 'Quality Made', or made with special care. Not as we think: that 'Custom Made' means it was specifically made for someone. Congrats, they are great guitars. It should have 3, single-sized, twin-rail humbuckers in it...2xSB2's(N/M) & an SB1 at the bridge, unless they were changed. I agree w/the previous posts, DiMarzio has some great options. For brighter than stock, Choppers & Fast Track 1's will have far better treble response. Duncan's Cool Rails are also nice. It is a bound rosewood 'board, maple neck, basswood body, magnum locking tuners, and TZ non-locking trem with a steel block.
I have the same guitar. Many of the Ibanez' of that era (early '90's) have the "Custom Made" inlay. Although, it should be at the 21st fret (for that model), not the 15th. The way it was explained to me is that it was a bit of loss in translation from the Japanese luthiers--it more accurately should translate to 'Quality Made', or made with special care. Not as we think: that 'Custom Made' means it was specifically made for someone. Congrats, they are great guitars. It should have 3, single-sized, twin-rail humbuckers in it...2xSB2's(N/M) & an SB1 at the bridge, unless they were changed. I agree w/the previous posts, DiMarzio has some great options. For brighter than stock, Choppers & Fast Track 1's will have far better treble response. Duncan's Cool Rails are also nice. It is a bound rosewood 'board, maple neck, basswood body, magnum locking tuners, and TZ non-locking trem with a steel block.
Re: Please help I need a new single coil sized humbuck
Yes you are right the custom made is on 21st fret. Thank you so much for the information I really appreciate. I appologize for my ignorance but are the stock PUs Ibanez? Do you like the tone? Which pickup position do you primarily use? Have you replaced the PUs? I was given a dimarzio years ago and installed it, well actually i was learning how to install at that point. It may have the wrong PU in the Bridge. I will have to look at it and do some research into which Dimarzio it is. The guitar has a lot of sentimental value to me I am kinda curious as to how much it sold for new seeing that I purchased it used for under 200
Yes you are right the custom made is on 21st fret. Thank you so much for the information I really appreciate. I appologize for my ignorance but are the stock PUs Ibanez? Do you like the tone? Which pickup position do you primarily use? Have you replaced the PUs? I was given a dimarzio years ago and installed it, well actually i was learning how to install at that point. It may have the wrong PU in the Bridge. I will have to look at it and do some research into which Dimarzio it is. The guitar has a lot of sentimental value to me I am kinda curious as to how much it sold for new seeing that I purchased it used for under 200
Re: Please help I need a new single coil sized humbuck
The list price was around $900 to $1K, I believe and typical in-store price $600-$700. The stock pickups are Ibanez. I am not in agreement with those recommending Hot Rails. The SB1 that should be in the bridge is not vastly different.i.e. 2-rails, symmetrical hot wind at 16+kOhm, ceramic mag...neither are 'bright'. If your p'up models are not in the correct places, I can absolutely see a problem with the sb1 being very muddy anywhere but the bridge. I do not find them to be bad, actually pretty good, for stocks. And, they split in 2/4 positions to give pretty nice bright, open sounds.
The list price was around $900 to $1K, I believe and typical in-store price $600-$700. The stock pickups are Ibanez. I am not in agreement with those recommending Hot Rails. The SB1 that should be in the bridge is not vastly different.i.e. 2-rails, symmetrical hot wind at 16+kOhm, ceramic mag...neither are 'bright'. If your p'up models are not in the correct places, I can absolutely see a problem with the sb1 being very muddy anywhere but the bridge. I do not find them to be bad, actually pretty good, for stocks. And, they split in 2/4 positions to give pretty nice bright, open sounds.
