Replacing a DiMarzio transition: suggestions welcome.

[Aliascent]

So I've got a Jackson DK2M with a transition in the bridge. I like that pick up a lot, it's chunky, sings, very touch sensitive and cleans beautifully.
However, that Jackson is my standard tuning thrash metal machine, and I can't get the kind of response I'm after. Fast galloping rythms are a nightmare to get out of this pickup, and so is any kind of fast riffage.

So it has to go. The problem is that when I'm not playing thrash, this guitar does more prog stuff (Symphony X inspired), ballads (it's my only guitar in standard). So I'm also looking for versatility.
My go-to metal pickup is the sh6 but I've already got too many of them installed. Same for the JB. I don't trust the nazgul in an alder body, maple fretboard, floyded guitar, and I don't really gel with the black winter.

So where do I go next ?

The guitar: alder, Floyd, maple neck and board.

What I want: aggression (but not overwhelmingly aggressive), versatility, good tracking / response for fast riffage, cleans up well,chunk, no ice pick.

Main amp: rectifier

What I'm considering so far: custom 8 (haven't tried it yet but from what I've read, it could work, and I've had good experiences with the basic custom in the past).

What I want to avoid: actives.

I really welcome any suggestions, and thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Replacing a DiMarzio transition: suggestions welcome.

Custom 8 didn’t work for me personally, it was clangy and stiff. Others here like it though.

For thrash/prog that isn’t jb or distortion, how about the tone zone or maybe illuminator?

 

[Zheddar]

Re: Replacing a DiMarzio transition: suggestions welcome.

I would try a Pegasus. It feels like high output, but has the definition of medium to medium low output when under high gain. Under medium gain it feels like an overwound PAF, and then clean it's pretty crystal. I used the sh-6 then ended up using the JB more, but I really love the Pegasus, Perpetual Burn, and Pearly Gates Plus. When I want more definition and versatility then what a JB already gives, I usually pick up my Pegasus loaded guitar.
I would say that aggression (but not overwhelmingly aggressive), versatility, good tracking / response for fast riffage, cleans up well,chunk, no ice pick pretty much describes the Pegasus to a T.

 

[Guitarmusic]

Re: Replacing a DiMarzio transition: suggestions welcome.

So I've got a Jackson DK2M with a transition in the bridge. I like that pick up a lot, it's chunky, sings, very touch sensitive and cleans beautifully.

However, that Jackson is my standard tuning thrash metal machine, and I can't get the kind of response I'm after. Fast galloping rythms are a nightmare to get out of this pickup, and so is any kind of fast riffage.

So it has to go. The problem is that when I'm not playing thrash, this guitar does more prog stuff (Symphony X inspired), ballads (it's my only guitar in standard). So I'm also looking for versatility.

My go-to metal pickup is the sh6 but I've already got too many of them installed. Same for the JB. I don't trust the nazgul in an alder body, maple fretboard, floyded guitar, and I don't really gel with the black winter.

So where do I go next ?

The guitar: alder, Floyd, maple neck and board.

What I want: aggression (but not overwhelmingly aggressive), versatility, good tracking / response for fast riffage, cleans up well,chunk, no ice pick.

Main amp: rectifier

What I'm considering so far: custom 8 (haven't tried it yet but from what I've read, it could work, and I've had good experiences with the basic custom in the past).

What I want to avoid: actives.

I really welcome any suggestions, and thanks in advance for your help.

A couple of Dimarzio recommendations would be the D activator or the D activator X, the Drop Sonic(it was specifically designed for low tunings) or the Titan Bridge, the string separation and definition on the Titan was impressive in all the clips I have heard.

the Sonic Ecstatsy pickup, it was designed for a floyd rose guitar.

-The Steve special is also great for low tunings and clarity with dynamics, it kind of sounds like a hi-fi version of a guitar but that feeling goes away quickly and it becomes very fun to play. In your alder bodied guitar the frequency response would be even across the spectrum and KILLER

Hope this helps in some way

 

[Aliascent]

Re: Replacing a DiMarzio transition: suggestions welcome.

Thanks for all the suggestions, spent the week reading pickups reviews and checking clips.

Custom 8 didn’t work for me personally, it was clangy and stiff. Others here like it though.

For thrash/prog that isn’t jb or distortion, how about the tone zone or maybe illuminator?

While I had bad memories of the TZ, checking clips made me change my mind. So I found a used one for ~$40, installed it... and was disappointed again. It's tight and aggressive but it feels like it is "out of control" if that makes sense, and simply didn't work in that specific guitar. Resold it asap. The Illuminator on the other hand feels closer to what I want, i'll try to get my hands on one.

I would try a Pegasus. It feels like high output, but has the definition of medium to medium low output when under high gain. Under medium gain it feels like an overwound PAF, and then clean it's pretty crystal. I used the sh-6 then ended up using the JB more, but I really love the Pegasus, Perpetual Burn, and Pearly Gates Plus. When I want more definition and versatility then what a JB already gives, I usually pick up my Pegasus loaded guitar.
I would say that aggression (but not overwhelmingly aggressive), versatility, good tracking / response for fast riffage, cleans up well,chunk, no ice pick pretty much describes the Pegasus to a T.

Now the pegasus sounds really close to what I want, and so far this is the pickup that convinced me the most.

A couple of Dimarzio recommendations would be the D activator or the D activator X, the Drop Sonic(it was specifically designed for low tunings) or the Titan Bridge, the string separation and definition on the Titan was impressive in all the clips I have heard.

the Sonic Ecstatsy pickup, it was designed for a floyd rose guitar.

-The Steve special is also great for low tunings and clarity with dynamics, it kind of sounds like a hi-fi version of a guitar but that feeling goes away quickly and it becomes very fun to play. In your alder bodied guitar the frequency response would be even across the spectrum and KILLER

Hope this helps in some way

I already knew the D-Activator (came stock in a few Ibanez guitars I got my hands on a few years ago) and never really loved them. They're good pickups and will do almost everything, but they always sound so bland to me. So I can cross them out.

The Steve's special on the other hand got my interest. It sounds Hi-fi as you said, but in a good way, and very full with singing qualities under gain. Good suggestion


So, here's the top 4 so far:
1) Pegasus
2) Alternative 8
2) Steve's special
3) Illuminator

The alternative 8 is a bit of a surprise, but after reading all the reviews I can and checking all the clips, I really like it. It sounds and feels like a sort of "best of" of all SD pickups, and has good cleans from what I've heard.

I also wonder which one will work best with the JB I have in the neck (like a darker, thicker, stiffer SH2. I love it)

Anyway, I'll just proceed with those pickups in that order, and see what happens. Possibly try to get some clips recorded too.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, really helped me out.

 

[JHN]

Re: Replacing a DiMarzio transition: suggestions welcome.

Patb-2

Sent from my GT-I8190 using Tapatalk

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Replacing a DiMarzio transition: suggestions welcome.

Sorry the TZ didn’t work for you

 

[Aliascent]

Re: Replacing a DiMarzio transition: suggestions welcome.

It was worth a try though.

But to be honest this Jackson is very,very weird.

Acoustically it's dark and punchy, lots of low and mid mids, robust bass and present highs. And extra brightness for some reason, almost like a bright mahogany.

My other dinky is more even across the board , and my Kelly is brighter, more focused on all mids and highs.

So yeah that DK2M is just an oddity, even when compared to other DK2Ms I've tried.

 

[PierceOkken]

Re: Replacing a DiMarzio transition: suggestions welcome.

The only dimarzio I really use is the super 3. The super three is a great pickup and it worked miracles in my alder body superstrat. It is a jack of all trades and would have no problem doing thrash stuff.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Replacing a DiMarzio transition: suggestions welcome.

My first suggestion is the PATB-1. Believe me, it's got enough umph for your needs. I think the PATB-2 will be a bit too hot for your cleans, but the -1 will do that nicely. The -2 is too close to the Distortion I think. The PATB series is the ultimate sleeper series in the SD lineup, and they don't get the credit they deserve. They work so well with Floyd bridges - as they were designed to do. I only have one Floyd guitar, and I struggled for 10 years to find the right pickup for it. PATB-1. Perfect. Literally perfect.

My 2nd recommendation would be the regular Custom. It will crunch hard and stay tight, but cleans up really nicely and does the PAF on steroids thing to a T. In that regard, it's even better than the PATB-1.

Give one a try and you won't be sorry.

Oh, and my guitar that the PATB-1 worked so well in? Alder body, Floyd, maple neck and board. Lovely.

 

[Guitarmusic]

Re: Replacing a DiMarzio transition: suggestions welcome.

It was worth a try though.

But to be honest this Jackson is very,very weird.

Acoustically it's dark and punchy, lots of low and mid mids, robust bass and present highs. And extra brightness for some reason, almost like a bright mahogany.

My other dinky is more even across the board , and my Kelly is brighter, more focused on all mids and highs.

So yeah that DK2M is just an oddity, even when compared to other DK2Ms I've tried.

Do you think the Transition Pickup will match with a PAF 36th anniversary? or will the volume difference be too much if you're playing rock music? Are you willing to sell the Transition pickup at all?

 

[Aliascent]

Re: Replacing a DiMarzio transition: suggestions welcome.

My first suggestion is the PATB-1. Believe me, it's got enough umph for your needs. I think the PATB-2 will be a bit too hot for your cleans, but the -1 will do that nicely. The -2 is too close to the Distortion I think. The PATB series is the ultimate sleeper series in the SD lineup, and they don't get the credit they deserve. They work so well with Floyd bridges - as they were designed to do. I only have one Floyd guitar, and I struggled for 10 years to find the right pickup for it. PATB-1. Perfect. Literally perfect.

My 2nd recommendation would be the regular Custom. It will crunch hard and stay tight, but cleans up really nicely and does the PAF on steroids thing to a T. In that regard, it's even better than the PATB-1.

Give one a try and you won't be sorry.

Oh, and my guitar that the PATB-1 worked so well in? Alder body, Floyd, maple neck and board. Lovely.

I'd really love to try a Patb, but they're so rare that I only know one place that carries them in my country. I guess I could just get one from the bay or reverb though. Definitely interested.
Added the sh5 to my list, because I need one for some magnet wizardry anyway

Do you think the Transition Pickup will match with a PAF 36th anniversary? or will the volume difference be too much if you're playing rock music? Are you willing to sell the Transition pickup at all?

I have little experience with dmz pickups outside of the liquifire/Crunchlab, super distortion, tone zone and dactivator, so I can't help you on that. The transition isn't that powerful anyway, so I think it could work with a lot of pups. I wouldn't mind selling you the pickup, but unless you're in Europe it will not be a good deal for you, I'm afraid :/