Popular Pickup That You Hate / Hated Pickup That You Love

[Cynical]

Hate: the JB. It manages to somehow be loose in the bottom while having very little bottom. No idea how they pulled off that feat, but it's everything I don't want in a pickup.
Love: Carvin M22SD. Best high output bridge pickup ever. Well balanced with enough bottom to have punch, but still tight; enough top end to have detail, but not shrill; mids are present, but not honky; enough output to push an amp, not enough to turn to noise.

 

[gsammo79]

Hate: the JB. It manages to somehow be loose in the bottom while having very little bottom. No idea how they pulled off that feat, but it's everything I don't want in a pickup.
Love: Carvin M22SD. Best high output bridge pickup ever. Well balanced with enough bottom to have punch, but still tight; enough top end to have detail, but not shrill; mids are present, but not honky; enough output to push an amp, not enough to turn to noise.

This is exactly why I didnt love the JB. Dont hate it, but it's why I replaced it.

 

[chadd]

While not hated pickups, these are rarely discussed or recommended and I've had good experiences with all three:
Screamin Demon, Full Shred Neck, Sentient

 

[AdrianSD]

It's a really stellar magnet. The fact that it isn't used in production or even by most mag swappers is silly. It performs equally as well as the ubiquitous A5 but adds some soft low mids and has the top very slightly rounded. I was able to get A6 in my Fralin minis as a stock option.

Can you describe the difference between A6 and A8 in pickups like Custom and JB? Haven't tried A6 yet, but I've tried A8 in both and I really it a lot: makes the Custom sound a bit more mellow compared with the ceramic and I really like how it changes the EQ of the JB without altering its voice.

 

[Clint 55]

A6 would be a step down in aggression compared to A8. A6 compares the most to A5. It doesn't have the metallic, middy, slightly synthetic aggression that the A8 has. It's basically A5 with soft low mids and very slightly rounded top compared to A5. In the neck it can be bouncy and slightly scoopy like A5 but with a tad more character. In the bridge it softens things up a bit compared to A5, but it doesn't get chewy like the UOs or synthetic and aggressive like A8. I have an A6 in my Ant JB in my Mustang and I like it. Here's a lil tone clip I did a while ago.

https://soundcloud.com/clint-jones-278219447/ant-jb

 

[AdrianSD]

That's the word, synthetic, thanks! I just couldn't name it myself but you nailed it. Thing is, for me the A8 still tops the A5 in the bridge for some reason. In the neck it's A5 ftw, but as bridge pickups it's A2, A8 or ceramic.

 

[Demanic]

I hate terms like "organic" and "synthetic" being used to describe how pickups sound.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

[weepingminotaur]

Popular pickup that I can't vibe with: the Jazz neck. I don't hate it, but I don't love it either and I'll swap it out when I have the cash.

Hated pickup that I love: the Nazgul seems to inspire a lot of polarizing opinions. It might not be hated, but people have strong feelings against it, maybe due to the upper-mid spike. Whatever the case, I fricking love the Naz. Got a unique character and grind all its own under gain. Chugs are effortless, and it cuts through for lead work too. Yeah, it does one thing only, but it does it really, really well.

 

[Clint 55]

I hate terms like "organic" and "synthetic" being used to describe how pickups sound.

There are no other words to accurately describe the quality.

 

[Synapsys]

Then you are missing out. DM has its own character no SD can substitute for.

Tried a bunch, hated them all. Don't feel like I'm missing out much.

 

[Demanic]

There are no other words to accurately describe the quality.

But that's my point. They don't accurately describe anything soundwise to me.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

[zizyphus]

Can you describe the difference between A6 and A8 in pickups like Custom and JB? Haven't tried A6 yet, but I've tried A8 in both and I really it a lot: makes the Custom sound a bit more mellow compared with the ceramic and I really like how it changes the EQ of the JB without altering its voice.

Just think of an A5 that is not mid scooped (and actually has a bit of a low-mid bump), and tighter bass

It has the treble bite of a ceramic or A5, but nevertheless sounds dark overall because of the how thicccc the mids are

 

[v8stang289]

Hate is a strong word, but I don't much care for the JB, and I'm not a fan of the Jazz neck either. I do like both of them with an A2 magnet swap however.

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

I love the Alt-8.... There I said it.

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

There are no other words to accurately describe the quality.

Although I agree, I like the word sterile, or wide open, or tight, or sluggish, sometimes middy, or sludgy, harsh, or brittle.

 

[Clint 55]

Me too. It doesn't bug me to be forced to describe tone abstractly.

 

[Mincer]

I always found most words that describe sound inadequate.

 

[Hank-]

SH14 Custom 5

thats the only one I cant gel with in any of guitars.

 

[RB522]

Hate - Dimebucker. Ive tried it in two different guitars, and its horrible in both. I'm truely sorry I bought that one. Thin, shrill, and icepicky like nothing else.

 

[zizyphus]

I always found most words that describe sound inadequate.

yea... my lady friend came to a guitar shop with me and was completely thrown off by a convo she witnessed between a tech and a picky customer trying to describe what he was going for

"I want a big bottom end that stays tight and aggressive, with muscular, fat mids that don't honk and that leave enough space for airy highs that aren't spiky or ice picky, but breathe enough to give it a truly open, crisp chime, something something mojo mojo"