"warm" pickups for ibanez sz520

[brick]

hello, this is my first post here, but hope non off topic

i have an ibanez sz520 with "duncan/ibanez" pups since few days and think about replacing them. the reason is that these pickups seem to be too "aggressive" to me (sorry, can't find a proper word of what i heard ).

i compared their sound to the sound of stock epiphone pups lately and saw that on the tube amp (jcm900), both positions: neck and bridge, an overdriven sound from epiphone was much more full, "fat" and warmer than from my ibanez (there was no significiant difference when compared on solid state amp -fender stage).

since i play mostly blues and classic rock (sometimes hard rock like iron maiden ) i wasn't satisfied with that "distortioned" sound. i've read some threads here and now i'm thinking about '59/JB or Jazz/JB. but what if these pups are very similar in sound to my "duncan/ibanez" (saw some posts claming that in sz series pups are based on JB and '59 - is it true)?
maybe i should take into account also PAF PRO and Air Norton Dimarzio?

can you give me suggestions about truly "warm" pups for sz520

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: "warm" pickups for ibanez sz520

The Duncan/Ibanez pickups are nothing special.

The Jazz and JB would make your guitar sound like a totally professional instrument.

If you're looking for a warmer tone you might like the Alnico 2 Pro neck or Pearly Gates neck and a Custom Custom.

More mids from those pickups and a plucky, pronounced midrange.

lew

 

[Jeff5]

Re: "warm" pickups for ibanez sz520

I'd say a JB/Jazz or a JB/59 would do everything you want to do. The custom series (custom, CC, and C5), would work as well as a A2 Pro Neck or PG neck. Sorry just a lot of choices! The JB/Jazz or 59 are a great starting point for most folks.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: "warm" pickups for ibanez sz520

One more thing:

Welcome to the Forum! :laugh2:

 

[brick]

Re: "warm" pickups for ibanez sz520

One more thing:

Welcome to the Forum! :laugh2:

thanks for "such a sized welcome" :burnout: and for other replies

probably will start with jb/jazz set and hope this is what i'm looking for.

i've always been great fan of fender strat like sounds so, this is my first H-H guitar and I have a little exeprience of which humbuckers to chose to sound "fatty"

I have one more question - does the "N" in description "SH2N" mean "neck"? I'm asking becuse I read that some people use also "SH2b" in the neck position - is there any difference between these two pups?

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: "warm" pickups for ibanez sz520

I wld go with Lew too . If you want a warmer tone go with the alnicoII and CC.

 

[tone4days]

Re: "warm" pickups for ibanez sz520

when i wanted to warm up my ibanez S body guitar, i used a C5b and 59n ... make sure you get a trem-spaced bridge pickup if you need it ... and consider getting a 4 wire 59n if you want to get splits ... i got exactly what i hoped for ... good luck

t4d

 

[theodie]

Re: "warm" pickups for ibanez sz520

The N does mean it is in fact a neck position pickup. The B means it is bridge.

 

[TheGZeus]

Re: "warm" pickups for ibanez sz520

The Duncan/Ibanez pickups are nothing special.

The Jazz and JB would make your guitar sound like a totally professional instrument.


lew

I think they sound great.

The neck pickup is basically a Jazz, but ith a bit of 59 thrown in.

 

[brick]

Re: "warm" pickups for ibanez sz520

thanks for all replies

so - for sure I'll put JB. just listened to the audio samples on main SD website, and this is the sound I like (but who knows how it will sound in real)

still thinking about neck position - regarding all opinions here I think that first I try '59 and then (if needed) SH2 or APH Pro.

 

[frankencat]

Re: "warm" pickups for ibanez sz520

I've got an SZ with a 59n/PGb combo in it. If I had to do it again I would go with a A2Pn/CC (or C5) bridge.

 

[pac112]

Re: "warm" pickups for ibanez sz520

welcome !!

+1 to what Lew said.

The JB / 59 is a great combo. IMHO because they provide a great mix of sounds. JB for the aggressiveness and more on the high output side. 59 for the PAF sounds, if you dig the sounds from the epi you heard, you're gonna love the 59.