Time for a change...

G

GuitarDreamer131

New member
Hey guys,

I've had an Dimarzio Air Norton, Dimarzio Blue Velvet, and a Duncan Custom 5 in my alder bodied Ibanez Blazer guitar for the last 4 years or so...I've come to the conclusion that I LOVE the Custom 5 and don't want to touch it. But the other 2 leave something to be desired...

Air Norton-I play in an amateur jazz group and it has really great jazzy cleans. I'll give it that. It's also great for that John Petrucci, articulate smooth lead sound. However, I really mainly use my neck pickup for cleans and there is just too much damn midrange and bass for my tastes. I want more clarity and nicer, more open and big sounding cleans. Right now, it just sounds like there is a blanket over my amp, when playing with that pickup, if that makes sense to anyone. I play a variety of stuff, from Eric Johnson/Joe Satriani/Greg Howe to Robben Ford/Larry Carlton, etc.

Blue Velvet-I made a mistake with this pickup when I accidently bought the bridge position version instead of the neck version to put in the middle spot of my guitar. I thought it might be ok, but it's much like the Air Norton, too fat, too midrangey, sounds clogged in the middle. When combined with the Custom 5, it just kind of takes it over. So I almost never use it.

All in all, both of the Dimarzios sound very compressed sounding to me. I don't know if that's all Dimarzios or if it's just those two or just me, lol! The Custom 5 sounds much more "organic" and sensitive.

So to recap:

Neck: I want something more clear, more open, as I use my neck pup mainly for cleans. I don't want something too bright, but kind of in the middle, more balanced. If I could do bluesy articulate solos on it, that would be great as well.

Middle: A true single coil sound, anything that would work well with a Custom 5 and the corresponding Neck pickup that you recommend. Nothing that has too much mids, as I get plenty from my amp already.

Thanks for all your help in advance,

Mike
 
Re: Time for a change...

If you want a cleaner neck pickup, the SD Jazz is supposed to be really clean and articulate. If you want more the the PAF thing, the '59, Seth and PG would work well for what you want. For the single coil, you'll probably want something with less output, GFS makes some great pickups, and as far as SD pickups go, The SSL-1 is the classic strat pickup, it would probably work well for the middle position. Basically, anything designated as a vintage style pickup would work well for the middle.
 
Re: Time for a change...

For a clean, clear, and articulae neck pup tone I'd recommend the jazz. Don't let the name fool you though. The jazz takes gain VERY well and stays clear.

For the middle it all just depends on personal preference. I personally like Alnico 2 magnets so I use the APS-1. It has a smoother high end, rounded low end and it is also very distortion/overdirve friendly.

Luke
 
Re: Time for a change...

Thanks for the replies guys! I really appreciate it! The jazz was the one I was thinking of as my best bet, but I figured I'd ask other people's opinions.

What would going with a PG, a 59 or a Seth give me over the jazz? Pro's and con's? What things would it do better/worse, etc.?

Is the Seth Lover available without a cover? (Might be a stupid question but I've always seen it with one, that's why I ask)

Mike
 
Re: Time for a change...

GuitarDreamer131 said:
Thanks for the replies guys! I really appreciate it! The jazz was the one I was thinking of as my best bet, but I figured I'd ask other people's opinions.

What would going with a PG, a 59 or a Seth give me over the jazz? Pro's and con's? What things would it do better/worse, etc.?

Is the Seth Lover available without a cover? (Might be a stupid question but I've always seen it with one, that's why I ask)

Mike
Click to expand...

Here's my PAF breakdown maybe it will help you? Also here is my JB breakdown. If you need a breakdown on the Ants tell me.

The 59---The 59 is the quintessential A5 PAF (patent applied for) pup. Imagine getting in a time machine and going back to 1959 and swiping a brand new A5 pup from the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo and bringing it forward to today. They have found most homes in many neck slots. It has symetrical coils and lots of quack. It has thumping bass, a scooped mid, and cutting highs. Vintage Single Conductor Wire

The Seth Lover---This pup is as true to the original as can be. This pup is unpotted and comes standard with a gold, or nickel pup cover. It has an A2 magnet and has good quack and fair mids. For this pup imagine going back in time to 1955 and grabbing one of the very first PAF's before they debuted in the LP's. This pup is warm and creamy, but can also get bright with the tone knob on 10. Vintage Single Conductor Wire

The Alnico 2 Pro---The warmest of the Duncan PAF line. It has symetrical coils and is a modern take on the A2 PAFs. It has round bass and smooth treble, it also has lots of mids to make the guitar really sing. It will warm up the coldest or shrillest of guitars. The most well known Alnico 2 Pro user is Slash of Velvet Revolver and GNR. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

Pearly Gates---The PG is the hottest of the Duncan PAF line. It has asymetrical (mismatched) coils and an A2 magnet. The mismatched coils give this particular pup its rude personality. It has a frequency push in the Presence/Cut knob frequency band. This is the "Sizzle" PG owner talk about. It has the most mids of the Ducan PAF line and is also the hottest. Its patron is Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Standard 4 conductor Wire

The Jazz---The jazz is the pup that bridges the gap between Vintage and Modern pups. Its output is at or around the vintage level. Don't let the name fool you this pup is very versatile and smooth. It has an A5 magnet and is very widely used in the neck slot. It is articulate regardless of the tuning as well. This pup negociates cleans or overdrive very well. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

JB---The JB is in a class of its own. There is really no other pup like it. It has fair bass and lots of treble. This particular pup has a large upper mids spike that allow it to cut through the mix like no other. It can be heard on countless recording especially throughout the 80's. Lots of people like to pair it with a Jazz or 59 in the neck. In bright guitars it is usually soldered to a 250k pot just like the original Seymour made 30 years ago.

To answer your last question:

The Seths come with a cover because they are made the way Seth intended. That said the cover is easily removeable, and a good dealer can get you one in the bobbins you want. You CAN order a seth without a cover but it costs the same amount.

Luke
 
Re: Time for a change...

I use a Pearly Gates bridge model in the neck of my 24 fret Carvin and it does very well for sparkly, chimey cleans, thick overdriven leads, and it has gotten me the best old school jazz tone from this guitar out fo everything I've tried in it, including the Jazz model. The Jazz is great for rock, country, and pop, but I feel it falls short at getting a good traditional jazz tone in a solid body.
 
Re: Time for a change...

A Jazz would be the total opposite of the Air Norton. The Air Norton, as you said, has LOTS of mids, and a kinda warm, wooly sound.
The Jazz is very clean, nice and bright, and in the wrong guitar (I tried out a neck-through Jackson USA Rhoads with JB/Jazz combo) the highs can actually be ice pick-y.
If your guitar is real bright, a Seth Lover is clean, but has a nice warm high end.
A Pearly Gates neck sounds nice too. Sort of like a slightly hotter PAF.
 
Re: Time for a change...

Luke Duke,

Thanks so much for all the descriptions. You were very helpful! Thanks to everyone else as well. Now you guys got me thinking...I'm pretty sure I don't want a 59' as I think that will be too "boomy". But you got me thinking about the Pearly Gates now...hmm I don't know. I kinda worry that PG would have too many mids and I'd be in the same boat again although I've been tempted to try it.

I think I'll probably just end up trying the Jazz first because my amp (Carvin Legacy) is naturally very midrangey and also the bass frequencies are emphasized more b/c I play through a 4X12. I also tend to roll off my highs more on the amp b/c I like that nice smooth treble on my leads. So I think the highs of the jazz will work really well, and the mid scoop will help with the midrange and bass frequencies.

I have another question: which pickup, a PG or Jazz has better dynamics, responds better to subtle variations in touch?

Thanks again,

Mike
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