Sort of new.. (Convert?).. Looking for new P'up

[PeterJCruz]

Hello all. I will confess and have mostly been a DMZ player most of my "life." That being said I DO have a guitar (a Jackson) where I installed a Lynch Screamin' Demon. =) Otherwise, all my axes have DMZ in them... UNTIL NOW...

I have a Carvin V220C currently with stock pickups.. that I want to change out. It's an alder body, maple neck, ebony fingerboard and floyd rose trem. I want to replace the pickups with something "evil." Dark and menacing.. a growling type of tone that says "BALLS!!" That being said, I'm not a death metal or nu-metal player.. But I DO love the chunk and love to use palm muting for rhythyms and leads.. and love to hear that thump come thru...

Anyways, I've been doing my research.. and from most of the players/demos I've seen on YouTube.. most of the players with a tone I "like" are using Duncans.... so here I am. =) I've pretty much narrowed the search down to a Distortion and possibly an Invader. The Black Outs to me don't "WOW" me enough to want to carve up my axe to install them (probably would need some routing front and back).. then I came across the CUSTOM...

So I'm confused.. where does the Custom fit in compared to the Invader and Distortion? I want sack, but clarity and definition for the notes I play.. not mush!! I would like to have harmonics too.. as I use TONS of pinch harmonics in my playing (esp for rhythym).

I'm thinking I'll go with a Full Shred for the neck position... but open to suggestions....

For reference, my other Carvin (my MAIN axe) is a strat bodied Ash, with Floyd, maple neck thru, ebony board.. and I have a DMZ Evo in the bridge and PAF Pro in the neck. That guitar has everything I want. I want this V220 to be the EVIL twin.. and have more "Metal" character and be a darker "brother."

Thanks all for listening...Rock on!!
Peter

PS: I don't play in bands, I mostly write and record at home in my project studio and do stuff on Youtube... I use Guitar Rig 5 sometimes but mostly my Tubemeister 18. =)

 

[CTN]

Re: Sort of new.. (Convert?).. Looking for new P'up

Hello! welcome aboard!

Considering your need for darker tonality, "sack" (that made me laugh), and growlyness, I'd say the Invader should be right up your alley. Its EQing reminds me a lot of the Super Distortion, but with a more modern kinda sound, whereas the Super D tends to have a more classic rock/hard rock tone to it. The Invader has a large sack, for sure. It's also got more definition than you think it might considering it's a thick/dark/warm pickup.

The Distortion also has a good amount of sack, but IMO not as much as the invader. Its midrange is very prominent - it screams. The pickup has really great definition and there are harmonics everywhere. Since both the Invader and Distortion have ceramic magnets, it's unlikely that either of them will suffer from too little low end in any guitar, even thin ones, but that's especially true for the Invader.

The Custom has a pretty even sounding EQ, although the low end's characteristic is that it's a bit thumpy/rounder, instead of tight and surgical like for example the Full Shred bridge. It's voiced similar to a PAF, but is higher output and more modern sounding than a PAF - the Super Distortion is a good comparison to it, but even the Super D has a slightly more modern sound. The Custom has a bit less output than the Distortion which in turn (imo) has slightly less output than the Invader.

 

[Dark Order Lord]

Re: Sort of new.. (Convert?).. Looking for new P'up

Hello all. I will confess and have mostly been a DMZ player most of my "life." That being said I DO have a guitar (a Jackson) where I installed a Lynch Screamin' Demon. =) Otherwise, all my axes have DMZ in them... UNTIL NOW...

I have a Carvin V220C currently with stock pickups.. that I want to change out. It's an alder body, maple neck, ebony fingerboard and floyd rose trem. I want to replace the pickups with something "evil." Dark and menacing.. a growling type of tone that says "BALLS!!" That being said, I'm not a death metal or nu-metal player.. But I DO love the chunk and love to use palm muting for rhythyms and leads.. and love to hear that thump come thru...

Anyways, I've been doing my research.. and from most of the players/demos I've seen on YouTube.. most of the players with a tone I "like" are using Duncans.... so here I am. =) I've pretty much narrowed the search down to a Distortion and possibly an Invader. The Black Outs to me don't "WOW" me enough to want to carve up my axe to install them (probably would need some routing front and back).. then I came across the CUSTOM...

So I'm confused.. where does the Custom fit in compared to the Invader and Distortion? I want sack, but clarity and definition for the notes I play.. not mush!! I would like to have harmonics too.. as I use TONS of pinch harmonics in my playing (esp for rhythym).

I'm thinking I'll go with a Full Shred for the neck position... but open to suggestions....

For reference, my other Carvin (my MAIN axe) is a strat bodied Ash, with Floyd, maple neck thru, ebony board.. and I have a DMZ Evo in the bridge and PAF Pro in the neck. That guitar has everything I want. I want this V220 to be the EVIL twin.. and have more "Metal" character and be a darker "brother."

Thanks all for listening...Rock on!!
Peter

PS: I don't play in bands, I mostly write and record at home in my project studio and do stuff on Youtube... I use Guitar Rig 5 sometimes but mostly my Tubemeister 18. =)

Want a dark growl for this type of guita? Either the Invader or the Parrallel Axis Distortion.

 

[allstarrme]

Sort of new.. (Convert?).. Looking for new P'up

The invader is great and if you swap out the cap head screws for super d type Allen screws it tightens it up a bit.

Also the alternative 8 is a thick punchy darker pickup. Most of the audio clips don't do it justice, its great for thickening up the sound.

The invader bridge w/ full shred neck is one of my favorite combinations.

The custom isn't super thick or darker sounding but it does have some great low end thump. Probably not what you want for this but a great all around choice, definitely worth checking out if you can snag a used one.

 

[PeterJCruz]

Re: Sort of new.. (Convert?).. Looking for new P'up

Wow.. thanks guys for the info.. Sounds like the Invader it is. I was just afraid it being super hot.. that it would get mushy or lose definition.

allstarme: Where do I get the cap head screws to swap out? That sounds like a good option after I install the Invader in case I want to tighten it up a little bit.

Thanks again guys.. you think the Full Shred neck (or bridge model?) for my neck position opposite the Invader would be a good option? Or would a Lynch bridge work as a neck? (#thinkingoutsidethebox ;-)

The invader is great and if you swap out the cap head screws for super d type Allen screws it tightens it up a bit.

Also the alternative 8 is a thick punchy darker pickup. Most of the audio clips don't do it justice, its great for thickening up the sound.

The invader bridge w/ full shred neck is one of my favorite combinations.

The custom isn't super thick or darker sounding but it does have some great low end thump. Probably not what you want for this but a great all around choice, definitely worth checking out if you can snag a used one.

 

[9unslin9er]

Re: Sort of new.. (Convert?).. Looking for new P'up

Wow.. thanks guys for the info.. Sounds like the Invader it is. I was just afraid it being super hot.. that it would get mushy or lose definition.

Forget changing the damn screws. The Invader is fine as is. It is definitely an "evil" DMZ Evolution. Seriously, I'm so sick of these threads where people keep f*cking with stupid little things on their pickups. If I wanted a Duncan Invader to look like a DiMarzio Super Distortion, I'd just buy a Super D.

Full Shred neck for smooth neck leads SH-10
Invader bridge for chunky rhythm SH-8

Done.

 

[PeterJCruz]

Re: Sort of new.. (Convert?).. Looking for new P'up

Rock on man!! Thanks for keeping it simple!! =)

Forget changing the damn screws. The Invader is fine as is. It is definitely an "evil" DMZ Evolution. Seriously, I'm so sick of these threads where people keep f*cking with stupid little things on their pickups. If I wanted a Duncan Invader to look like a DiMarzio Super Distortion, I'd just buy a Super D.

Full Shred neck for smooth neck leads SH-10
Invader bridge for chunky rhythm SH-8

Done.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Sort of new.. (Convert?).. Looking for new P'up

Either the Full Shred neck or the Demon would be great choices for the neck spot (I absolutely love the Demon as a neck pup).

I agree that either the Invader or the Distortion would be your best choice for the bridge. The Custom is a great pup, but more for hard rock where you want PAF type tones but with more output and greater crunch. Not quite the firebreathing monster that it sounds like you're after. I totally love the Distortion. With all of its power it still retains great clarity and note definition. (I'm personally not that fond of ceramic magnets due to the shrill/brittle sounding highs, but for what I play, with an A2 it is perfect).

 

[PeterJCruz]

Re: Sort of new.. (Convert?).. Looking for new P'up

Ok. I think I have it figured out guys,. Thanks for the help. I'm going with the Invader and the Screamin Demon for the neck.

Does the Invader come with a "trem spacing" version or is it really only a bridge or neck version with no special spacing for trems?

Thanks

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Sort of new.. (Convert?).. Looking for new P'up

From the SD description....

"The wide pole pieces work for both humbucker and Trembucker string spacing".

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: Sort of new.. (Convert?).. Looking for new P'up

^^ Yep, though if you simply must have a trem spaced version, there's the Synyster Gates model. Same as the regular one, just has different cap screw options.

 

[PeterJCruz]

Re: Sort of new.. (Convert?).. Looking for new P'up

No it's OK.. IF my local shop has the Synster Gates model with CHROME caps.. then I might get that one for the look only.. otherwise I'll just get the all black one. Seems like the spacing in a non issue with the Invader due to the size of the cap heads.

Thanks all for your help!!

^^ Yep, though if you simply must have a trem spaced version, there's the Synyster Gates model. Same as the regular one, just has different cap screw options.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Sort of new.. (Convert?).. Looking for new P'up

for what you're looking for, go with the Full Shred neck model for the neck position.

 

[PeterJCruz]

Re: Sort of new.. (Convert?).. Looking for new P'up

Thanks all for the suggestions. As planned I went ahead and got the Invader in the bridge.. and put the Demon in the neck. With all the holidays and early year stuff going on.. I haven't had a TON of time to play and test/tweak.. but the axe is rocking pretty hard. =)

The Invader is very sweet in the bridge.. though I havne't had a chance to try it thru my Dark Terror so far (just on GR5). But the Demon in the neck position.. OMG!!! What a killer setup!! The Demon is suited very well for me there. It has that "vintage" or classic "Mojo" and clarity (i.e. glassy?)... with a slight "pissed off" attitude.. And the harmonics are great there too.

I will post clips once I free up some more time.... I'm so excited about this I'm thinking of possibly getting a Custom Shop pickups made for my other axe to replace the DiMarzios. =)

Rock on!