Condemned soul
New member
Jazz Bridge and in the bridge, a Screaming Demon or a 59/Custom.
Suggestions for alternatives to my Explorer’s 496r/500t
- Thread starter Mike CT
- Start date
freefrog
Well-known member
Late in the party but the last weeks, I've tried 4 different bridge PU's in a 2d hand Explorer:
-the hi-gain PU initially mounted, a kind of DiMarzio Super Dist. clone... too nasal, lacking of harmonic richness;
-a pickup that I've built (unpotted and covered A2 P.A.F. style wound with 43 AWG): better but I wanted to keep it for another instrument;
-a vintage covered SH1, that I like but not at home in bridge position of this guitar...
-and... the equivalent of a SH16, that I've assembled with the slugs coil of a Custom + the screws coil of a SH1.
With the last pickup, that's IT. Tight, powerful, harmonically rich. I understand now why Pete Willis had the same kind of bridge unit in a Hamer Explorer for the first Def Lep albums. And this PU works very well with the PG1N that I had mounted previously (which is more adapted to this instrument than the previous covered SH1 albeit still a bit boomy because of the amount of resonant wood; I'd joyfully try the Lace mentioned by Demanic but I've not it at disposal).
Not claiming it's the definitive solution for Explorers but worth to be mentioned, IMO. YMMV.
-the hi-gain PU initially mounted, a kind of DiMarzio Super Dist. clone... too nasal, lacking of harmonic richness;
-a pickup that I've built (unpotted and covered A2 P.A.F. style wound with 43 AWG): better but I wanted to keep it for another instrument;
-a vintage covered SH1, that I like but not at home in bridge position of this guitar...
-and... the equivalent of a SH16, that I've assembled with the slugs coil of a Custom + the screws coil of a SH1.
With the last pickup, that's IT. Tight, powerful, harmonically rich. I understand now why Pete Willis had the same kind of bridge unit in a Hamer Explorer for the first Def Lep albums. And this PU works very well with the PG1N that I had mounted previously (which is more adapted to this instrument than the previous covered SH1 albeit still a bit boomy because of the amount of resonant wood; I'd joyfully try the Lace mentioned by Demanic but I've not it at disposal).
Not claiming it's the definitive solution for Explorers but worth to be mentioned, IMO. YMMV.
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80's_Thrash_Metal
Slightly_Glazed_Believer
I have owned a few explorers, still own 2 which are my favorite guitars easily. They do take a special place and amount of time when it comes to choosing the right pickups.
In my one Goth explorer I have wired in at least 10 different pickups... Maybe even 12.
It has sounded ok with a few of them and not so great with a few:
the Blackout AHB3 pickups are my absolute favorite in both of my current explorers. I could not be happier.
The Duncan designed pickups that look like invaders but sound like distortions were great for me.
I didn't like the invader, the dimebucker, the custom, the custom custom or the livewires in mine.
The alt 8 was pretty good, the regular distortion and the patb were both pretty good.
Emg81/85 was just ok ... And the blackout AHB1 were too dark and flubby for me. . . . That's all I can remember off the top of my head.
I have truckloads of videos and songs uploaded with the Blackout Emty Ahb3 pickups if you have any interest in them, just let me know.
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Ok I just got the explorer back today after the pickup swap to the 59/Custom setup and I absolutely love it. This may be my favorite bridge pickup out my 3 electrics (other two have JB and 498T).
Tonight was the first night that I played a variety of music on the explorer and didn’t automatically reach for another guitar if I was playing anything other than metal. This pickup sounds incredible on everything from classic metal/thrash to modern country.
thanks everyone!
Mike
Tonight was the first night that I played a variety of music on the explorer and didn’t automatically reach for another guitar if I was playing anything other than metal. This pickup sounds incredible on everything from classic metal/thrash to modern country.
thanks everyone!
Mike
In hindsight that’s my bad. I think my mistake with this post was that the first ceramic I ever played was that 500T and it was just so different from what I was use to hearing. All I could hear when playing with the 500T was the intro to Metallica’s Blackened, and everything else just sounded wrong to me.
To me, this Custom sound perfect/spot on/incredible for what I like to play. Now I have 3 different electrics with 3 pickups that are all a little different, but can really play anything. I love it. Maiden, Ghost, Metallica, Priest, and even Jason Aldean and Eric Church…..now they work with this guitar too which I love.
And based on just one night so far, I’m thinking this Explorer is the guitar I want this pickup in the most. Really happy with the 498T in the SG and same with the JB in the Les Paul. Anything heavier I’ll probably grab the explorer first (because it’s an Explorer - ha!) and my gut tells me this will handle that better especially with a lower tuning.
It’s such a weird feeling - I finally don’t have the urge to change/sell/trade anything right now. We’ll see how long that lasts…..
Mike
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misterwhizzy
Well-known member
I think the Custom is a pickup every Seymour Duncan fan should play. I’m a huge fan. Glad you like it.
fretburner
Well-known member
The Duncan Custom is my fave bridge pickup, followed by the 59/Custom Hybrid
But an L-500XL and PGn combo sound awesome as well \m/
Sent from my 2201116PG using Tapatalk
But an L-500XL and PGn combo sound awesome as well \m/
Sent from my 2201116PG using Tapatalk
misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Recommending the Custom convinced me to swap it back into the bridge of my Les Paul. I was tired of making excuses for and adjustments to the 59 bridge. It was a near immediate fix. The thing just roars.
