Thrash Pickups for Ibanez S421

[Fuzzy86]

It is time to put pickups in another new guitar.

This time it's an Ibanez S421 (HH, mahogany body, maple neck, Gibraltar hardtail). The stock pickups are pretty weak and muddy. When shopping for an amp I played the six string Iron Label S series guitar that had a Dimarzio HSH set up using a Tone Zone Bridge, True Velvet mid, and Air Norton neck. I like this set up but would like opinions on what Seymour Duncans could be used instead of the Dimarzio humbuckers, my guitar doesn't have a middle single coil.

I'm looking to turn this into a thrash guitar. I am considering using a set of Bare Knuckle Painkillers, but am looking for other (less expensive) possibilities.

The painkillers have huge high mids and moderate low, low mids and highs, so I'd be looking for something along those lines, but I don't know the Duncan product line that well.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Gibson 1964]

Re: Thrash Pickups for Ibanez S421

Black Winter would work great. Nazgul 6 would be a good choice as well. I have owned most of the BKP line, (though no painkillers) and my all time favorite humbucker is the black winter.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Thrash Pickups for Ibanez S421

Welcome to forum. The classic choice would be a Duncan distortion set almost impossible to go wrong with one. As for other options you have the Black winter set, the Nazgul and Sentient set, and also the Dimbucker and 59b set which was just released as the Dimebag Darrel signature set and also the Fullshred set.

 

[dominus]

Re: Thrash Pickups for Ibanez S421

TB-5 Duncan Custom in the bridge, SH-2 Jazz in the neck.

 

[Fuzzy86]

Re: Thrash Pickups for Ibanez S421

I'm thinking a Nazgul 6 or Pegasus 6/Sentient 6 set might be the way to go, looking at the "BMT" numbers. These seem to be the closest to the Painkillers in eq. The backup, if I have trouble finding those, is the Black Winter set.

The other suggestions seem to have more scooped eq. My personal preference is towards a mid heavy sound.

Thank you for the input it has been quite helpful.

 

[Gibson 1964]

Re: Thrash Pickups for Ibanez S421

Black winter has balanced to slightly pushed mids. It is assuredly not what I would describe as a scooped pickup. I find the BMT numbers on the site to be fairly useless. The BW is IME slightly more mid heavy than my Nazgul, (which is admittedly a 7 string pickup)

 

[Fuzzy86]

Re: Thrash Pickups for Ibanez S421

Black winter has balanced to slightly pushed mids. It is assuredly not what I would describe as a scooped pickup. I find the BMT numbers on the site to be fairly useless. The BW is IME slightly more mid heavy than my Nazgul, (which is admittedly a 7 string pickup)

Thanks for that. I know the BKP BMT graphs are fairly accurate. I willl get the Black Winter set then. They look better anyway.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Thrash Pickups for Ibanez S421

Try an SH-6n Distortion in the neck and SH-15 Alternative 8 in the bridge.

 

[Archer250]

Re: Thrash Pickups for Ibanez S421

Depends on the sound you're looking for. Masters-era Metallica used Invaders, 90s Megadeth used JB/Jazz, etc.

 

[Mad-Max]

Re: Thrash Pickups for Ibanez S421

Depends on the sound you're looking for. Masters-era Metallica used Invaders, 90s Megadeth used JB/Jazz, etc.

I thought Dave used a JB in the 80's too

 

[Fuzzy86]

Re: Thrash Pickups for Ibanez S421

I'm going more for "Swedish Melodic Death Metal" which as far as I'm concerned is still thrash. Maybe a little Exodus, Death Angel, and Slayer thrown in, but mostly I'm going for that Michael Amott type tone.

 

[dominus]

Re: Thrash Pickups for Ibanez S421

Exodus = TB-5 Duncan Custom.

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: Thrash Pickups for Ibanez S421

Super Distortion!

 

[Dark Order Lord]

Re: Thrash Pickups for Ibanez S421

Seymour Duncan Custom Shop 'Tyrannotitan' pickup is the ultimate Purpose built Thrash Metal Pickup direct to amp sound. Mwa hua hua hua huaaaaaaaaaaaaa........ :rocket:

 

[Fuzzy86]

Re: Thrash Pickups for Ibanez S421

I think for now I will stick with a Black Winter set. From the advice on this thread and the samples I've heard I think this will be a good starting point for my life with Duncans.

I will probably start experimenting with different Duncan setups after a few months though. If you still have anything to add to the thread I would still like to hear suggestions.