Tight and bright pickup with articulation and dynamic to Thrashy tones

[CarlosG]

Hi!
High gain pickup sound too compressed for me.
Some time ago I switched to overwound PAF pickups.
They has great dynamic and articulation.
But I noiticed when I played fast riffs, low end is to slow/spungy.
Tried the SH-6 a few times, even got one.
Has great tone. Low end is big but tight, and it sounds great with pam mutting.
But for me it's too compressed. I need more dynamic.
Has anyone tried maybe half air or air mod with Distortion?
Which pickups are worth checking?

I had JB, but I don't like it. Loose/spongy low end, hasn't dynamics (advertised as super versatile)
I had Custom Custom, has great tone for rock, but for metal is too loose bass.
I had Screamin demon, has very tight low end, but sounds thinny

I read that Paf Pro is great for Metal tones, and Duncan 59 to. What do you think?

 

[LLL]

SH-5 Custom.

 

[CarlosG]

SH-5 Custom.

Thanks!
I thought about it for a long time, it is hardly available on the secondary market in Poland.
Heard the samples and it sounds really tight, although it has less bass than the Distortion, right?

 

[nexion218]

I'd consider the Pegasus. For only bright and articulate I'd go Nazgûl, but if you need dynamics too, I'd go Pegasus.

The EMG57 was a pleasant surprise too. I usually avoid EMGs, but this is a keeper. A whole lot cooler than an 81, but has the tightness and compression you expect from actives. As per PR, its an "active PAF".

 

[Synapsys]

Tb-10 / SH-10 Full Shred.

 

[JOLLY]

Jazz Model Bridge.

 

[beaubrummels]

Which pickups are worth checking?
. . .
I had Custom Custom, has great tone for rock, but for metal is too loose bass.

Earlier suggestions are all good. Ceramics (SH-5 Custom, Distortion, etc.) all should have tighter bass.

I'll make one other suggestion based on the above comment about the Custom Custom, possibly a Custom 5 would work for you (which is different from the SH-5 Custom which is ceramic)
A Custom 5 is an A5 version of the Custom, which still has the hot PAF DNA, but isn't quite as bright/brittle on the top end as a ceramic Custom. It has controlled or even scooped mids (depending on the guitar/amp). IME it sounds like a loud Jazz bridge, which is a good thing. (Don't always go by the names, go by the sound.).

 

[Aceman]

I think, depending on the amp, a Full Shred, A Jazz, or maybe even a Demon might work.

If you don't like the Distortion (which has less and way more tighter bass than the Custom) the Custom, and certainly not the Custom Custom will work for you.

What amp are you using?

 

[Mincer]

A 59 with a 59/Custom in the bridge will be dynamic, have low end, and won't sound spongy. If you need more output, you can always add a boost pedal.

 

[LLL]

Thanks!
I thought about it for a long time, it is hardly available on the secondary market in Poland.
Heard the samples and it sounds really tight, although it has less bass than the Distortion, right?

It has more bass than the Distortion, but still tight.

 

[bigcupholder]

If the only complaint about the Duncan Distortion is the "compression", then turn down the gain on your amp. You'll get less compression that way. I'm not convinced a passive pickup actually compresses at all despite how much that's discussed - how would that even be possible? Higher output pickups give more compression by driving the amp harder but the compression is in the amp itself. Turn down the gain.

You definitely don't want an active pickup if you don't like extra compression. The 57 that someone else suggested still sounds like an active pickup and not at all like a PAF in my experience.

"Tight" just means less bass. That's it. Don't get the Custom if you want something as tight as the Distortion. The Custom has more bass.

Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk

 

[Mincer]

The pickup itself doesn't compress, but it hits the preamp harder which compresses it there. It is pretty easy to test and hear/feel it.

 

[weepingminotaur]

I'm not going to pretend I know more about compression than any of the knowledgeable people on this thread. However, if you want a great all-around pickup that does thrash and rock equally, that has tight bass and prominent mids, that splits really well, I would recommend the Black Winter bridge. It will do everything you want and more.

 

[chadd]

The only way to lose the compression is to go with a lower output pickup. If the only issue with the Demon was that it was thin, an A8 or Ceramic magnet would go a long way towards fixing that for you. In terms of stock pickups, a Custom is probably the best bet.

 

[bigcupholder]

The pickup itself doesn't compress, but it hits the preamp harder which compresses it there. It is pretty easy to test and hear/feel it.

The only way to lose the compression is to go with a lower output pickup. If the only issue with the Demon was that it was thin, an A8 or Ceramic magnet would go a long way towards fixing that for you. In terms of stock pickups, a Custom is probably the best bet.

You can lose the compression by turning down the gain. Then you're not hitting the pre-amp any harder than a lower output pickup with the gain turned up.

Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk

 

[Clint 55]

Definitely try A5 or ceramic in the CC - converts it to the Custom 5 or Custom. If you like the Distortion, a less compressed version is available - the neck model. The other suggestions sound good too, although I wouldn't go vintage output if the Demon is too thin for you.

 

[misterwhizzy]

If you haven’t swapped magnets before, it’s much less scary than it sounds.

 

[Mincer]

You can lose the compression by turning down the gain. Then you're not hitting the pre-amp any harder than a lower output pickup with the gain turned up.

Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk

But it doesn't really work that way. If a hot signal is already coming in, it won't have much room to go down.

 

[nexion218]

The 57 that someone else suggested still sounds like an active pickup and not at all like a PAF in my experience.

Definitely agree! That's why I said "as per PR", though I could've been more clear that I do not agree with that claim. However, it still fits the bill of tight, articulate, bright and thrashy with medium output. that's why Imentioned it