RG 550: Which Bridge Pickup?

Buzzin_Cousin

Buzzin_Cousin

New member
I've got the following pickups available for the bridge spot of this guitar:

SD Screaming Demon (bridge)
SD Pearly Gates (bridge)
SD JB
DiMarzio Super Distortion
SD Hot Rails

Which would you drop in?
 
Re: RG 550: Which Bridge Pickup?

What kind of music would you play? I'd drop the JB in there simply because I love the lead tone.
 
Re: RG 550: Which Bridge Pickup?

Ok I've been surprised. For some reason I thought the JB would get the most hits.

Curious as to why the Super D wins. Is it the basswood body of the RG550, or ? Super D is one of my faves of all time, was impressed with the cleans, I didn't think they would be as good, but of course the gain is the main thing with this pickup.

THis guitar may only have the one bridge pickup, if that would affect anyone's decision.
 
Re: RG 550: Which Bridge Pickup?

I love a Demon in an RG. It's not quite as hot as the others but I love how articulate it is, even with the gain turned up a bit more.
 
Re: RG 550: Which Bridge Pickup?

Because it's the safest bet (the JB is a polarizing pickup no matter the wood it's in; some people will hate it, and some will like it while some like it in some woods and others hate it in all woods), and you play hard rock. If you're looking for the 70s heavy rock, I'm certain the Super Distortion can get you there. Personally, I'd choose the JB, but that's me.

The Pearly Gates... I wonder how that would sound now...
 
Re: RG 550: Which Bridge Pickup?

Did you look at the pickup that was already in there? I have an early 90s 550 in puke yellow, and the hot pink humbuckers it came with ARE Dimarzio Distortions.. Check the bottom of em, mine are all labeled..

Sent from my GT-P3110 using Tapatalk
 
Re: RG 550: Which Bridge Pickup?

Monotremata said:
Did you look at the pickup that was already in there? I have an early 90s 550 in puke yellow, and the hot pink humbuckers it came with ARE Dimarzio Distortions.. Check the bottom of em, mine are all labeled..

Sent from my GT-P3110 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Truth be told I don't have the guitar yet, but I will be getting one and want to do any research before hand so I can grab the solder gun if need be and get the show on the road..

It may be that the guitar comes with something usable. If not, I have the above pickups available for use. But yeah, pretty much those Ibby pups will be outta there ASAP.
 
Re: RG 550: Which Bridge Pickup?

Buzzin_Cousin said:
Truth be told I don't have the guitar yet, but I will be getting one and want to do any research before hand so I can grab the solder gun if need be and get the show on the road..

It may be that the guitar comes with something usable. If not, I have the above pickups available for use. But yeah, pretty much those Ibby pups will be outta there ASAP.
Click to expand...

When you get it, pull the pickguard and check the bottom of the humbuckers. I know later ones came with Ibanez pickups, but whatever year mine is was loaded with Dimarzios already. I was kinda shocked actually cause every other Ibanez I've seen had their own brand in it..

Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk
 
Re: RG 550: Which Bridge Pickup?

Monotremata said:
When you get it, pull the pickguard and check the bottom of the humbuckers. I know later ones came with Ibanez pickups, but whatever year mine is was loaded with Dimarzios already. I was kinda shocked actually cause every other Ibanez I've seen had their own brand in it..

Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Ok will do. In the meantime I'm also considering another pickup,

super distortion 2. Or maybe the 3.

Thoughts?
 
Re: RG 550: Which Bridge Pickup?

I believe so. A buddy of mine has a factory 80's pickup from an Ibanez roadstar. It just says "dimarzio" we have been eefdering to it as the Dimarzio WTF because no one, wen Steve Bulcher of Dimarzio can tell us for sure what model it is.
 
Re: RG 550: Which Bridge Pickup?

Depending on YOUR definition of hard rock (and amp, etc….)

HArd to argue with a SuperDistortion.

JB would be my #2 choice

Hot rails are not hum bucker size….
 
Re: RG 550: Which Bridge Pickup?

Monotremata said:
Did you look at the pickup that was already in there? I have an early 90s 550 in puke yellow, and the hot pink humbuckers it came with ARE Dimarzio Distortions.. Check the bottom of em, mine are all labeled..

Sent from my GT-P3110 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

No way a yellow RG550 came with hot pink humbuckers stock just didnt happen. Somewhere along the line those puppies got swapped.

RG550's came stock with Ibanez V1's and V2's which were made in house by Ibanez and are generally regarded as "meh" sounding.

RG750's 760's and 770's came with IBZ USA F2 and F4 pickups. THESE pickups were designed by Ibanez and manufactured by Dimarzio. They are not Dimarzio super distortions or any other from the DMZ line.

My 2 main gigging guitars for a lot of years were a pair of identical RG750's I actually swapped from the F2's to Dmz Super D's... not the same pickup at all and in reality a TON better in those guitars.
 
Re: RG 550: Which Bridge Pickup?

Aceman said:
Depending on YOUR definition of hard rock (and amp, etc….)

HArd to argue with a SuperDistortion.

JB would be my #2 choice

Hot rails are not hum bucker size….
Click to expand...

Not HB size but they are HB's. I could make a custom pick guard for it.

But ...what about the sound of the hot rails in a 550?!
 
Re: RG 550: Which Bridge Pickup?

Edgecrusher said:
No way a yellow RG550 came with hot pink humbuckers stock just didnt happen. Somewhere along the line those puppies got swapped.

RG550's came stock with Ibanez V1's and V2's which were made in house by Ibanez and are generally regarded as "meh" sounding.

RG750's 760's and 770's came with IBZ USA F2 and F4 pickups. THESE pickups were designed by Ibanez and manufactured by Dimarzio. They are not Dimarzio super distortions or any other from the DMZ line.

My 2 main gigging guitars for a lot of years were a pair of identical RG750's I actually swapped from the F2's to Dmz Super D's... not the same pickup at all and in reality a TON better in those guitars.
Click to expand...

Thanks for clarifying and for your opinion in the super d.
 
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