Sh-6 Set in Basswood Guitar

D

Donarskjold

New member
Hi, looking aorund at replacement P/U's. Playing in dropped D half a step down (Db Gb Cb Fb Ab Db, using a Basswood Dean Baby V. I play aggressive chug-chug-chug nu-metal. I've narrowed down my options and have settled on the SH-6's (Duncan Distortion). Can someone with experience tell me if the SH-6's will be too trebly in my Baby V? She's a tiny little thing and VERY light. She is string thru and I'v eput in Wilkinson lockin tuners, to my credit. If you feel the SH-6's are not right for me, please give a recommend (and not Dimarzio, duh!)

BTW, I also own a Schecter C-1 Hellraiser with original Floyd Rose, it is equipped standard with EMG 81/85. I love that kind of tone, but don't want to go active for my Dean. Thanks for the help.

CJL
 
Re: Sh-6 Set in Basswood Guitar

The Distortion is supposedly great for down tuned guitars, which I can see although I've never done it myself.

It may be trebly but if you like the 81/85 combo in your hellraiser I would think that the Distortion in the Baby V would be fine for you.
 
Re: Sh-6 Set in Basswood Guitar

Hey, thanks for your input. I've also heard they are good for down-tuning, especially radically so (C, B.) I'm not that extreme, but as stated on the website itself, several "nu-metal" players use the SH-6 faithfully. I'm sort of experimenting with woods, tunings, strings, and pickups. I'm guessing I'll eventually break down and buy a big fat mahogany beast to try out some SH-6's in.
 
Re: Sh-6 Set in Basswood Guitar

I have a Distortion in all my guitars. They're all mahogany though. I down tune a half step on all and I love how they sound. I think the thing that would make the Distortion desirable for drastic down tuning would be how punchy it stays.

I had a basswood BC Rich V back in the day and had 81s in it. I hated the way that sounded but if you've already got 81s in that Hellraiser and dig it, I can't see not liking the distortion.
 
Re: Sh-6 Set in Basswood Guitar

I use an SH-6 in the bridge of my Dean Z-X, it's basswood. I typically play in drop C. I like it. :)
 
Re: Sh-6 Set in Basswood Guitar

Yeah anyone who has a C-1 Hellraiser knows they're badass. It's mahogany, heavy as hell, and the EMG's scream like banshees. I'm just interested in the SH-6's because i read on Harmony that they are very similar to 81/85's and I need a backup guitar for performances, I just don't want to go with EMGs again. Thanks for your help.
 
Re: Sh-6 Set in Basswood Guitar

The hellraiser doesn't feel very heavy to me, but thats not a bad thing at all! Its just a bit heavier than my ESP horizon series , which is pretty much a hellraiser with a maple neck. I'm not sure if theres a connection between weight and tone, but I really dig a hellraiser run thru a marshall, the EMGs mix really well with their distortion.

Also, the SH-6 is like a compressed JB with more low mids, harmonics and aggressiveness. And like the JB, it works well in basswood.
 
Re: Sh-6 Set in Basswood Guitar

Yes, I've read extensively that the JB used in any position is one-dimensional and trebly. I'm mainly worried that the very light weight of my Baby V will not be able to carry the lows and mids, and a trebly pickup will just be exaggerated. I Play my Hellraiser through a Randall T2. It's incredibly loud but not noisy, and the tone is super-fat.
 
Re: Sh-6 Set in Basswood Guitar

One dimensional? It is the one of the most versatile pickups I have used. I have it in mahogany, in one of the lightest guitars I've handled and palm mutes through my cab shake the walls. However, in overly bright guitars its not the best option due to the high mids.

Remember, that a distortion is essentially a JB with a ceramic magnet. They are very similar pickups. But if you like the EMG sound you'll like the compression the DD has over the JB.
 
Re: Sh-6 Set in Basswood Guitar

Ah, thanks for clearing that up. I'm coming to the conclusion that I'm an idiot for using drop tunings with a basswood guitar. Maybe I'll just use the stupid thing for songs in standard and put the distortions in a nice mahogany Ibanez.

Oh, that brings up another question. If I'm putting two distortions in an Ibanez with a double-locking trem, do I need two trembuckers, or a regular-spaced and one trembucker?
 
Re: Sh-6 Set in Basswood Guitar

I've got the DD TB-6/SH-6N,in an Ibanez rg370dx (basswood body),and I just love this setup.These pups are very versatile,from standard-drop c the DD will not disappoint.The DD (tb-6) is not as dark as the JB and not as bright as EMG'S 81(perfect for me).The sh-6n is a high output neck pup.Leads sound great,split it and get some cool clean sounds.
You just need the tb-6 and sh-6n, the pole to string alignment is perfect.
 
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Re: Sh-6 Set in Basswood Guitar

Whoa... I have no expereience whatsoever in single coils. In truth, I cna't stand the look of H/S/H guitars:eek13: Yeah, I know it's shallow, but it's just personal preference. I would just recommend sticking with Seymour Duncan, for what it's worth. And if you think Wizard II necks are great, you have to experience a Wizard I. They are UNBELIEVABLE. It is nearly a crime that Ibanez discontinued them. Best of luck.
 
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