SD Hot Rodded Humbucker set or Dimarzio D Activators ?

[TamasonicYouth]

I'm currently playing a Washburn X50 Pro FE with the typical EMG 81/85 set up, and I'm looking to try a new set of pickups as I find the EMGs to be a bit of a one trick pony, and I also find they lack character.

The music I'm currently playing could loosely be described as progressive metal. On the metal end, I play a lot of Killswitch/Black Dahlia style riffs and while the EMGs do this well, it is only one part of what I play. Clean jazz interludes, noisy mathcore sections, and even simple strummy chordal sections are all included, and it's here that I find the EMGs dont cut it. Two of the most versatile pickup sets I can find (by description) are the Seymour Duncan Hot Rodded Humbuckers, and the DiMarzio D Activators.

In my research so far I've found that the SDs appear to be excellent all rounders, but some people feel they may not be "metal" enough for what I'm doing. Between The Buried And Me are a favourite band of mine, a large influence on what I do, and I have found that they play D Activators. While I am not naive enough to think that simply switching my pickups will make my Washburn and Peavey sound like their PRS and Mesa, the fact that these are the pickups of choice for an artist playing similar material to what I am, tells me that these may very well be a good investment.

If anyone out their has had any relative experience, good or bad, I'd love to hear your thoughts and any advice you may have! Thanks

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: SD Hot Rodded Humbucker set or Dimarzio D Activators ?

If you have the quick connect EMGS I would try the Duncan actives before moving back to passives in that guitar. For the brutals you should try the EMTY 3 set, I used to get great tones out of the AHB1's, I could do all the metal and rock tones I needed......

 

[metalmachine]

Re: SD Hot Rodded Humbucker set or Dimarzio D Activators ?

try a distortion and 59 or jazz

 

[chassless]

Re: SD Hot Rodded Humbucker set or Dimarzio D Activators ?

i have your guitar except with the stock SD's 59 and Custom Custom. though the latter is just a little bit loose to my taste, they deliver pretty well what i want, which is close to what you want too.

 

[Mosher Zone]

Re: SD Hot Rodded Humbucker set or Dimarzio D Activators ?

As far as the JB not being metal enough I've had the JB in my BC Rich strat for years & have played death/thrash metal with it. I have tried other things occasionally but always come back to it. I also have the Distortion in a couple of other guitars & it is my fave out of the two.

 

[SteveAlysis]

Re: SD Hot Rodded Humbucker set or Dimarzio D Activators ?

I think it depends on the tone you want specifically. The duncans won't get you that tight killswitch chunk, but I know TBDM used duncans on Nocturnal. Im assuming you're a Dillinger fan, and I know they use both Duncans and Emgs. I personally like the Jb/Jazz for a mix of jazz fusion/death metal, it worrks for me, but I don't use much gain at all.