Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

[Revelation777]

Background Story
When I finally got my new guitar (Schecter Damien Elite w/EMGs), I never changed the stock EMGs like I had planned. The EMGs are great for metal which is about all I have played on this guitar until now. After about 8+ months I'm aware of all the little dislikes I have for them with other styles and even metal.

What I DON'T like about the EMG 81/85 set

• The EMGs introduce a harshness into my sound that I don't like. I have enough trouble with harshness since I use a modeler.
• I pick pretty hard and they don't have the headroom I need on clean presets.
• I don't liker their tone on low gain presets and clean presets. Part of that is due to the harshness which I mentioned before, but they're still lacking besides that.
• I hate buying batteries, remembering to unplug the cable, and suffering tone loss towards the end of a battery's lifespan. I play like 4hrs.+ a day. :laughing:

What I need in a replacement set

• Nothing over $100 per pickup.
• No active pickups. Not interested in the 18V mod either.
• A bridge pickup that does well with a Peavey 5150 kinda sound for metal, yet is...
• Versatile enough to use in lower gain styles which I sometimes use in my church's youth band.
  A metalcore sound doesn't work very well when playing "Amazing Grace", or at least not in my church. :nono:
• A neck pickup that does smooth soloing and good non-farty cleans. lol

My guitar's specs
Body: Mahogany with a maple top
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Bridge: Fixed Tune-O-Matic (I think it's called that)

Some tone examples
Listen to They Were One by Living Sacrifice
Listen to Crush Resistance by Haste the Day

 

[Sodom616]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

i have a schecter c-1 standard with the same specs, and i use a pair of DD's and they are just awesome for metal! they clean up great as well. But, if you want a little more versatility probably go with the JB/Jazz, which can literally do everything. (DD destroys it for high-gain stuff though)

 

[Revelation777]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

i have a schecter c-1 standard with the same specs, and i use a pair of DD's and they are just awesome for metal! they clean up great as well. But, if you want a little more versatility probably go with the JB/Jazz, which can literally do everything. (DD destroys it for high-gain stuff though)

I know the JB has a weird mid-spike though. I probably don't need a set as versatile as the JB/Jazz-59 typical combo since I can tweak the tone a lot given I'm using a modeler.

The Duncan Distortion has been pretty hardcore in every YouTube vid I've seen that was of decent quality. I just wish I could compare it with some of the other pickups I've been thinking about such the the DiMarzio Crunch Lab and DiMarzio D Activator-X.

Thanks for the input
They're definitely on my list.

 

[Sodom616]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

Dimarzio Crunch Lab is much more modern sounding, i heard it's like a "better" full shred. DD is straight up old school:headbang:

 

[Maz]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

Try out the DD, it's a great pickup. If you put the height a little lower you can lose some of its harshness. I tried one out at GC in an Ibby and found that the pickup can have a really nice, bright tone on a clean channel, and still keep that heavy, tight sound on the dirty channel. You may also want to give a Full Shred a try, I ran your guitar through the Tone Wizard on the website and the FS was given. Higher output pickups with a lot of treble usually sound pretty good in Mahogany, it balances nicely.

For the neck the Tone Wizard gave the Pearly Gates and '59, you'll get those clean tones you want for your Church music. Can't say much about neck pickups though, I use my bridge pickup 90% of the time. Try using the Tone Wizard on the website and see what you get. If you look on the page for each pickup there is a small part that says what kind of guitars/wood the pickup should go in, which can offer some good guidance.

 

[dominus]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

TB-5 Duncan Custom in the bridge, 59 in the neck.

Perfect combination for Mahogany and a 5150.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

I just wish I could compare it with some of the other pickups I've been thinking about such the the DiMarzio Crunch Lab and DiMarzio D Activator-X.

Gonna just pop in here and say I'd be wary about a D Activator-X in mahogany. Don't get me wrong, it's my favorite DMZ neck bucker but it gets a little muddy in the lower register in mahog. Though, the maple cap in yours may remedy that. Either way, good luck with your search.

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

Custom bridge and jazz bridge in the neck.....

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

The DD is much more versitile than you might think. Like mentioned above, it actually can clean up pretty well, and it's killer for anything metal when turned back up. It's tight and clear, yet thick and meaty. I dont think the Custom has as good of a clean, but I didnt give it a whole lot of chance with cleans. It can easily do heavy and classic tones. It has a little less mids, more bass and just a bit looser and less aggressive than the DD, but is plenty aggessive in it's own right. With the maple cap, both the Custom and DD MIGHT end up being a touch on the bright side, so chose your replacement pots wisely. If you go with 500k and they are a bit too bright, some 300k pots will probably do you right.

One of the Jazz models should fit the bill in the neck. It's clear and definitely not farty. Haha.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

A few other specs about his guitar to consider:
Scale: 25-1/2"
Frets: 24 extra-jumbo

For the bridge I completely agree with the Custom suggestion. I have a schecter c1+ and have gone through many pickups in the bridge, including DD, and ended up liking the Custom series the best. For the neck, I highly recommend (if you go with a duncan) using a bridge pickup. 24 fret guitars sound very bright and thin in the neck, a jazz would not be recommended. I like the 59b. Dimarzios tend to go easy on the treble, I recommend Paf Pro or Air Norton.

 

[Monsta-Tone]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

I used to have a set of DD's in a Jackson Soloist Archtop (maple & mahogany guitar). I played in a cover band at the time. We played everything from Tool to the Allman Brothers. Plus....I used a 2 channel Dual Rectifier at the time. I was able to nail almost any tone I wanted. It was a little harsh at times for some of the tones.

Now, I have a PRS CE-24 (maple & mahogany) with maple neck and fretboard. I use a Tone Zone in the bridge (screws toward the neck) and an Air Norton in the neck position.
Extremely versatile and has some intense harmonics and sustain! Great combination for this mixture of woods!

 

[Revelation777]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

Well considering the suggestions made to me so far, other pickup threads, and clips from ToneFinder.com. The Seymour Duncan pickup that I like most is the SH-5 Custom. In the clips I listened to it sounded much more modern and was not quacky/zingy like the SH-6 Distortion is and not as old school 80's metalish. I'd rather boost a pickup with the TS-9 or 808 in modeler than be forced to live with crappy cleans or have to constantly adjust the volume knob.

Duncan Distortion vs. Duncan Custom = Duncan Custom wins

All that said I'm not sure the Duncan Custom is exactly for me given it's scooped EQ curve.
I think I was really wanting something preferably mid-centric or possibly flat to allow me to shape it.

I would also like to specify that I like ceramic pickups for the bridge.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

That's too bad that you like ceramics in the bridge because the Custom with an A8 mag is exactly what you are after. Extremely versatile yet not harsh in the highs nor locked into metal tones.

For the neck, the suggestion to use a bridge pup is right on. I would suggest a '59b (esp with a UOA5 mag) or a Screamin Demon. Great cleans with articulation, rich tonal spectrum, nice creamy smooth leads (esp with the Demon).

 

[Despair]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

If what you like is the ceramic beef and punch, but not the rasp or ceramic presence, you may LOVE A8, particularly in the Custom.

You could start with a TB-5 (Schecter uses Fender/Floyd spaced bridges, right? Can measure string spacing to be sure.). First try it stock. If mids aren't where you want or it's too bright, try the A8.

The "Custom 8" as the forum has dubbed it is an amazing all around pickup. People like it for blues, hard rock, even industrial metal (can get an amazing hybrid modern/vintage that never was tone with a high gain thrash setup. Punch like a ceramic, warm like an alnico, open feel yet tight bass). Carves out an interesting niche between a PAF, a hot alnico and a medium wound ceramic. Cleans are generally felt to be better than the ceramic Custom (which most hold ahead of the Distortion, but that varies some with guitar, amp & guitarist), though PAF purists will generally go for something lower output and less punchy.

Depending on how thick a tone you like from a series humbucker, a P-Rails might interest you. Series mode is in the same ballpark as a Tone Zone. It's parallel mode's a pretty decent mimic of a PAF, and it has a true P-90 mode and a rail single split option. Great fun with a Triple Shot pickup ring for access to all the modes.

Hm, listening to your tone samples, they're pretty varied. Orange one has a crazy lower mid growl. 2nd is a lot thinner, tighter chunk with more space for the bass player.

If you want the growl from the pickup, something like a PATB-2 Parallel Axis Distortion would get you there. But you might need an EQ pedal to cut bass/low-mids for tighter tones. And it's so high output, it'd be really tough to get decent cleans out of the bridge, and most of the lower gain samples I've heard it's been rather stiff and too punchy on. If you don't mind neck for clean/low gain, it's an amazing high gainer.

For a flexible set, I'd do something like a TB-5 Custom and an SH-12 Screamin' Demon in the neck, or maybe an SH-59b or SHPG-1b.

 

[jmoore5000]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

I have the original blackouts in my Gibson Les Paul, they put EMGs to shame.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

I think you've been given some great advice here and the only thing I'll add is that the Custom (ceramic) doesn't have scooped mids at all. It's balanced across the whole EQ spectrum just like the tone chart says. (7/6/9)

I will also add in that the Custom 8 is fanstasic. If you want versitility, I'd be hard pressed to recommend something else. You can go from full out modern metal to blues and classic rock very easily with amp settings and volume control. It handles everything very well.

 

[Revelation777]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

Okay, Custom it is.
Should I get the Jazz neck or Jazz bridge?

EDIT: Jazz neck or Jazz bridge for the neck pickup

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

The Jazz (bridge) will be a bit beefier in the neck which is what you want with a Custom (or C8) in the bridge.

Still, I have to say that the Demon in the neck is a great pup for what you are looking for and would go very well with the C or C8 in the bridge.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Versatile "metal" pickup(s) for mahogany/maple cap Schecter?

24 frets? Yes please try the Screamin Demon in the neck. If you want a Jazz, get the Jazz neck.