Chuck_Norris
New member
I've been playing guitar for quite some time now and I had the chance to try out some pickups over the past few years. I've also tried many guitars, some amps and hundreds of amp settings. I've always been looking for the perfect bridge metal pickup to suit my needs but only recently I managed to define the chracteristics I need for my style so here they are:
Output:
I like high output because it pushes my amp's tubes harder giving me a more "evil" sound which I like for heavy riffing.
Compression:
I found that I like some compression for fast and tight riffing where I can't hit every note hard. Dynamics ain't what I need to play metal. Seriously.
Tightness:
Tight pickups are great for my playing style but they don't have to be uber-tight like the Full Shred.
Rhythm tone:
Tight, aggressive, heavy, fat, warm, pushing, evil, in yo face!
No mid-scooped diarrhoea.
Lead tone:
PAF into a high-gain amp. Warm, musical, powerful, singing (with some decent screams in the bridge position). No piercing treble! No weak-sounding sh*t that gets lost in the mix.
Magnets:
I prefer the power of ceramic mags for rhythms but the warmth of alnico 2 for leads.
EQ:
Bass is really important. I need that fat, chest-hitting "oomph" while I'm chugging.
Low mids are also very important to me since they make the palm-muted stuff even thicker and fuller.
High mids are very important too for tight rhythm work, nice leads and cutting through the mix in general.
Treble needs to be there but not too much of it. I don't like piercing highs (think of the Full Shred).
By the way, my main axe is an Ibanez S5470 tuned to D standard. (Very thin) Mahogany body, Maple/Walnut 5pc bolt-on neck, Rosewood fretboard, ZR 2 trem.
So here's my question:
Is there any pickup out there that could suit my needs?
I'm looking forward to an interesting discussion!
Output:
I like high output because it pushes my amp's tubes harder giving me a more "evil" sound which I like for heavy riffing.
Compression:
I found that I like some compression for fast and tight riffing where I can't hit every note hard. Dynamics ain't what I need to play metal. Seriously.
Tightness:
Tight pickups are great for my playing style but they don't have to be uber-tight like the Full Shred.
Rhythm tone:
Tight, aggressive, heavy, fat, warm, pushing, evil, in yo face!
No mid-scooped diarrhoea.
Lead tone:
PAF into a high-gain amp. Warm, musical, powerful, singing (with some decent screams in the bridge position). No piercing treble! No weak-sounding sh*t that gets lost in the mix.
Magnets:
I prefer the power of ceramic mags for rhythms but the warmth of alnico 2 for leads.
EQ:
Bass is really important. I need that fat, chest-hitting "oomph" while I'm chugging.
Low mids are also very important to me since they make the palm-muted stuff even thicker and fuller.
High mids are very important too for tight rhythm work, nice leads and cutting through the mix in general.
Treble needs to be there but not too much of it. I don't like piercing highs (think of the Full Shred).
By the way, my main axe is an Ibanez S5470 tuned to D standard. (Very thin) Mahogany body, Maple/Walnut 5pc bolt-on neck, Rosewood fretboard, ZR 2 trem.
So here's my question:
Is there any pickup out there that could suit my needs?
I'm looking forward to an interesting discussion!
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