Seven-string pickup advice needed.

Jakke

Jakke

New member
So, I'm, plotting for a new custom, Ran'll be making it:)

It's going to be made in ash (haven't decided on swamp ash or normal ash, but the only real difference is weight, I prefer a heavy guitar, so it leans towards ordinary ash) with a maple fretboard, and probably a maple neck. I'm going to have a Tone-pros bridge with stopbar. It is going to be a baritone (27").

It's a pretty unusual combo of woods, and not for the faint-hearted, but I love the sound so I'm going for it. The problem is that I don't know what Duncans to put in it...

I play more professionally in a blackened death metal group, but I do a lot of progressive metal (think Nevermore), I also dabble in jazz, blues, rock and hard rock.
This is the main features I'm looking for:
-High output .
-Punch.
-Since I apparently am the only person nowadays who use their bridge pickup for leads I also require definition in my bridge. But I also use the neck in leads, so it should be able to handle loads of gain, but both should clean up nicely too.
-Four conductors, but that goes without saying.
-They should be passive.
-Preferably a ceramic bridge.

I'm a seasoned SD-user, but this wood combo really took me off-guard, so cheers for any kind of advice that might lead me to the right combo
 
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Re: Seven-string pickup advice needed.

well I have a set of AHB-1s Blackouts in my Customized Ibanez 7 String and like them quite well. But I was thinking you may want to try the AHB-2 and install a pushpull so you can have full advantage and option of using the Blackouts as normal output PU's and also swithing to the super crazy hotter then the universe was a millesecond after the big bang.
I am going to get a ahb-2 sooner or later for my 6 string
 
Re: Seven-string pickup advice needed.

spudler said:
well I have a set of AHB-1s Blackouts in my Customized Ibanez 7 String and like them quite well. But I was thinking you may want to try the AHB-2 and install a pushpull so you can have full advantage and option of using the Blackouts as normal output PU's and also swithing to the super crazy hotter then the universe was a millesecond after the big bang.
I am going to get a ahb-2 sooner or later for my 6 string
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I prefer passives, and the AHB 2 is only a six-string, right?
 
Re: Seven-string pickup advice needed.

I think i would look into either the 7string custom or the Invader. I'm not a fan of the 6 string Invader but the 7 string version really shines. All of the 7 string pickups ive tried sound close to their 6 string counter parts but still a bit different. From what you've described my first impulse would be the custom.
 
Re: Seven-string pickup advice needed.

I thought Invader 7 was horrible in evertything :D Let's get serious. I've only tried invader in one alder bodied 7 and it was soooo undefined and loose. If you want to go duncan route JB7 or Custom7 should be fine. JB is a lil' better for lead, Custom for rhythm. If you are willing to try Dimarzio's, Evo7 and or Crunch Lab7 would be good IMO. Have you checked BKP? Aftermath and Cold Sweat are killer. I've not tried Evo7 or JB7 but keep hearing good things about them.
 
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Re: Seven-string pickup advice needed.

They make an X2n 7 string right? If not that maybe a JB 7 with an A8 or single ceramic mag to keep the lows a little tighter......
 
Re: Seven-string pickup advice needed.

I could of swore I seen the AHB-2 in a seven string version. I may be wrong though as I was looking at 6 string versions and 7 string at the same time since I have both.
I actually really like my SH-8 Invader in my 6 string but something about the blackouts really grew on me fast.
Of course I will probably change my mind 20 times before I finally deide what I am doing next with the 6 string and teh 7 for that matter. I am thinking about adding a Edge Zero 7 or if I can find one a ZR 7 trem to my 7 string either by moding or replacing body one way or another.
 
Re: Seven-string pickup advice needed.

Ok, thank you everyone for very valid points. I've thought about the Invader or the Custom myself, but am a bit concerned about the leads of the Invader, it seems as though a bassy pickup like that would have weak leads.

I have heard bad things about the JB 7, mostly that the low B is undefined and flubby, plus that the pickup in general feels weak, is there any substance to this?

The Custom should work, but I also hear it is a bit scooped, since none of the tonewoods are very mid-heeavy, would the custom have a problem in that area?

If I do not find anything I like in the Duncan line, I'll probably go DiMarzio, so thanks for advice on pickups to check out:)

I stay away from bareknuckles, I think they are overpriced and overrated for a very subtle tone difference, but thanks anyway!

And yeah, the AHB-2 is only available as a six-string, but hey, who can keep all that in memory? I had to double-check myself!
I like Blackouts, but they are too weak for leads, and has too bad clean capabilities for me to use them in a guitar that I plan to use that much. They are just not versatile enough.
 
Re: Seven-string pickup advice needed.

"I stay away from bareknuckles, I think they are overpriced and overrated for a very subtle tone difference, but thanks anyway"

I felt the same way but curostiy got the better of me and I got a set . The BKPs are really nice PU's and worth a look.especially for the heavy ,low tuned or 7 string stuff . I dont think they are light years ahead of duncans as many say but they are quality PU's that are def worth a look and the asking price.

I dont think they are that expensive anyway. i got a covered, calibrated set delievered to me in australia for the same as what a duncan covered set would cost me here in a shop
 
Re: Seven-string pickup advice needed.

cheameup said:
"I stay away from bareknuckles, I think they are overpriced and overrated for a very subtle tone difference, but thanks anyway"

I felt the same way but curostiy got the better of me and I got a set . The BKPs are really nice PU's and worth a look.especially for the heavy ,low tuned or 7 string stuff . I dont think they are light years ahead of duncans as many say but they are quality PU's that are def worth a look and the asking price.

I dont think they are that expensive anyway. i got a covered, calibrated set delievered to me in australia for the same as what a duncan covered set would cost me here in a shop
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I'm glad you liked them, but I have tried them, and i was not that impressed. They are good, but Duncans and DiMarzios are IMO more likeable.

I'm not ruling out ever using them, but right now they just don't cut it.
Actually, here in Sweden, they are quite a lot more expensive, so I don't see any benefit..


I was thinking maybe chickening out and use my trusty Fullshreds, however I do not know if the treble would be unmanagable in that kind of build...
 
Re: Seven-string pickup advice needed.

Jakke said:
I'm glad you liked them, but I have tried them, and i was not that impressed. They are good, but Duncans and DiMarzios are IMO more likeable.

I'm not ruling out ever using them, but right now they just don't cut it.
Actually, here in Sweden, they are quite a lot more expensive, so I don't see any benefit..


I was thinking maybe chickening out and use my trusty Fullshreds, however I do not know if the treble would be unmanagable in that kind of build...
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cool. each their own. As I said the people who carry on like they are 10 times better than duncans are just buying into the hype in my opinion . but they are a quality PU choice . But I still rate all the duncans I've used and still use highly
 
Re: Seven-string pickup advice needed.

cheameup said:
cool. each their own. As I said the people who carry on like they are 10 times better than duncans are just buying into the hype in my opinion . but they are a quality PU choice . But I still rate all the duncans I've used and still use highly
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They are very high quality, so if one like their signature sound, buy away. They are however wasted on me:)
 
Re: Seven-string pickup advice needed.

I have played and listened to my other Ran seven-string, that has a Full Shred-set. I think those pickups could work in this build as well..
 
Re: Seven-string pickup advice needed.

Jakke said:
I have heard bad things about the JB 7, mostly that the low B is undefined and flubby, plus that the pickup in general feels weak, is there any substance to this?
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Recently installed a JB7 in a Razorback 7 string. Not flubby at all! Has much more punch and clarity for leads, 100% better, than the EMG´s that came stock. I threw them emg´s into the garbage can.

I wanted a Custom but none were to be found where I live so I had to choose betwix Duncan Distortion and JB. DD was a bit better for rithim but JB was way better in lead tone, so I went JB.I wanna replace the mag with an A8 too.

My tuning went to drop A; A-E-A-D-G-B-E. That low A is killer! Down a half tone would be even better.
 
Re: Seven-string pickup advice needed.

Mad Raxz said:
Recently installed a JB7 in a Razorback 7 string. Not flubby at all! Has much more punch and clarity for leads, 100% better, than the EMG´s that came stock. I threw them emg´s into the garbage can.

I wanted a Custom but none were to be found where I live so I had to choose betwix Duncan Distortion and JB. DD was a bit better for rithim but JB was way better in lead tone, so I went JB.I wanna replace the mag with an A8 too.

My tuning went to drop A; A-E-A-D-G-B-E. That low A is killer! Down a half tone would be even better.
Click to expand...

That sounds good... Ok, three pickups on my list then:)
 
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