What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

[EddieW]

Hello,

I'm new to the SD Community. I have a 1985 Gibson Explorer XPL with dirtyfingers pickups. I love the sound of the dirtyfingers, but I have to replace my lead pickup so that I can get a push/pull knob, which will allow me to go from playing lead at max volume on the bridge pickup, to clean low volume acoustic type riff on the neck pickup with the flip of my pickup selector, like with a normal Explorer. I can't do that with my guitar's stock setup on this XPL because it only has one volume and one tone knob. I am always playing my standard Explorer with dirtyfingers that has the 2 volume knobs, because the XPL only has the one volume knob...but I want to play the lighter XPL more during long gigs, which is why I want the push/pull volume knob and why I need an SD pickup.

I have been torn between the SH-5 Custom and the SH-6 Distortion, but I don't know which will sound closest to my dirtyfingers. I play a lot of melodic riffs with hammer-ons and harmonics. I hear that the Slash pickups will be way too muddy with an Explorer. I have already ordered the black and white SH-5 for the bridge, but I hope I won't be disappointed. I can return them if I need to.

I already like my one 1980's Explorer over this XPL...and they both have dirtyfingers. This XPL just sounds like it is holding back a little when the two guitars are compared in the same recording session track to track, but the difference is subtle. I've had the circuitry checked out, but nothing is wrong...so maybe I would like a hotter pickup for this Explorer so this guitar can compete with my other dirtyfingers Explorer. I want a crisp sound for striking leads, maybe something special that I don't already have. I am not dead-set on the pickups I've mentioned. They are just what I am assuming may sound good in a Gibson Explorer. What are the best SD pickups for a Gibson Explorer? I'm looking for/like the Randy Rhoads & Scorpions sound.

I would sure appreciate any help or suggestions that you all could give me. I am not sure what wood this XPL Explorer is; can't find any specs, but the fretboard is ebony.

Thanks,

EddieW

P.S. I read somewhere in the SD forum that the SH-8 Invader would be way too muddy in an Explorer, which is why I didn't mention it.

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

An Invader will be the closest IMO...I don't think the Invader with a One meg pot would be too muddy at all my friend...."muddy" has more to do with how you EQ your amp IMO...

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

You might consider the Black Winter, It kind of sits between the Invader and the Distortion, maybe the PATB2 also, but I think a used Invader with the one meg pot will do what you want...

 

[EddieW]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

Thanks for the recommendations, LatsMcGee. I'm looking for/like the Randy Rhoads & Scorpions sound. Do you still think the Invader or Black Winter would be good, in that respect, or just the Distortion for the old school hard rock?

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

Distortion is great, it's a great pickup, I just think it has more in common with the 500T than the Dirty Fingers... and I always feel the versatility of a pup has more to do with your rig and EQ than anything...

 

[EddieW]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

Distortion is great, it's a great pickup, I just think it has more in common with the 500T than the Dirty Fingers... and I always feel the versatility of a pup has more to do with your rig and EQ than anything...

Do you think the SH-5 Custom will be too weak? That is the one I bought from Guitar Center, but it hasn't been installed and I can still return it.

 

[Demanic]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

Maybe this will help.

 

[Demanic]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

Maybe the Dimebucker is what you're looking for?

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

The original Dirty Fingers is its own animal and I don't know how close the recent Dirty Fingers pickups sound? Of the SD lineup I think the Invader sounds the closest. The Dimarzio Distortion and Kent Armstrong Ultra Distortion are also pretty close to a Dirty Fingers. The Mighty Might Motherbucker doesn't really sound like a Dirty Fingers, but it scores high marks for value and relentlessness.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

80's dirty fingers to me didn't seem to have much character or add color to your tone too much. Mine seemed to be on the bright side, with not too much honk or grunt. The SH-6 Distortion has a lot of character it Grunts, honks and screams, I call it chewy- very different from a DF. My opinion: I like the Distortion better. so if you are looking for something that sounds like the DF, stay away from the Distortion.

 

[speed2dirt]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

A couple things:

1. How often do you use your tone knob? You could convert it to 2 Volumes with the 3-way. That way you retain what you like about the DFs, but can clean up the neck pickup when needed.
2. Is the other Explorer you're comparing this to more traditional with a TOM bridge? That little something different could be the Kahler bridge. They add mass and a lot of brass, which is affecting your tone. I'd try replacing the brass rollers with steel rollers, which should make it bite more and cut through the mix better.
3. That's a dope guitar! Love the paint job.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

Thanks for the recommendations, LatsMcGee. I'm looking for/like the Randy Rhoads & Scorpions sound. Do you still think the Invader or Black Winter would be good, in that respect, or just the Distortion for the old school hard rock?

Randy played T tops and JB/Jazz

the 80's scorpions stuff is all dirty fingers and Duncan Customs

 

[Aceman]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

OK - let's get some reality in here;

Dirtyfingers is a very unique pup. If that is what you want, go get a Gibson Dirtyfingers. They still make them. Ignore the engineer/tone geeks that say "they are different than the vintage ones". Fine - they are different. But they are as close as you will get period.

A Distortion or an Invader - as much as I love Duncan - are NOT going to give you DF vibe period. Let's get over that. And let's not get to hung up on Sykes tone. He is Sykes, you are not. I'm not either!

Randy's MXR abused tones and the Scorps (likely) Rockman in the studio tones? I'm not feeling one pickup for them at all, and if I did, it wouldn't be a DF. I'd likely go for a PAF Pro from DiMarzio and a heck of an effects setup. I do not worry about what pup I use for Randy, and I go Duncan Distortion for Scorps.


Awesome old Gibson though! And yes - DF's are great pickups.

 

[EddieW]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

A couple things:

1. How often do you use your tone knob? You could convert it to 2 Volumes with the 3-way. That way you retain what you like about the DFs, but can clean up the neck pickup when needed.
2. Is the other Explorer you're comparing this to more traditional with a TOM bridge? That little something different could be the Kahler bridge. They add mass and a lot of brass, which is affecting your tone. I'd try replacing the brass rollers with steel rollers, which should make it bite more and cut through the mix better.
3. That's a dope guitar! Love the paint job.

Thanks so much! I like the option of having the tone knob, even though I hardly ever use it. I usually set it at max bright and back it off a little less than 1/4 turn. My other Explorer has a Kahler, also, but it has the full body and is not cut down like the XPL. Maybe the extra size adds some to the umph. It just sounds brighter and more free than the XPL. The XPL sounds slightly weaker and contained, like its holding back and choked off, and both of the guitars have Dirty Fingers. I want a pickup for this XPL guitar that will be something different that I don't already have and that can top the other Explorer in output (I have an Eleven Rack and I have to put the gain almost to 0 or it clips when recording) and makeup for the lack of wood that may be some of its disadvantage in sound.

With that being said, I am not completely sold on Dirty Fingers and I like variety. I listened to the Black Winter and Distortion examples and I liked them (I also like the 500T in my Gibson V). What is concerning me now, after everyone's great comments...which SD pickup one do I get for the wood of my guitar. I am guessing it is mahogany.

 

[JB6464]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

For RR i would go with the SH6 Distortion in the Duncan line of pickups.
For Scorpions , as much as i don't like the JB , i think it would be the right choice for their style .
But if you want the Gibson DF sound , i'm with Ace and say go get that pickup .
No other pickup to me sounds like a DF , it has a special tone all on it's own .

 

[EddieW]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

Thanks so much! I am not stuck on the Dirty Fingers. I like variety (I like my Gibson V's 500T, also). Also, I'm not trying to reproduce the exact sound of Randy or the Scorpions, I just wanted to give everyone an idea of the sounds I like. I want something for this XPL guitar that can top my other guitar, give me some variety, and makeup for the lack of wood mass that I suspect could be part of the reason this guitar sounds slightly weak and choked off in comparison to the other Explorer (with a Kahler that I had installed and the exact same pickups from the same era). I do believe that the XPL is mahogany, just not as much as a regular Explorer.

SD recommends matching pickups to the wood of your guitar and that's kind of thrown me. You see, the options in the Tone Wizard just have options for a "Les Paul or similar" and I don't think a mahogany Explorer is similar to a mahogany/maple Les Paul. I don't even know what SD means by "Hum-sing-hum" and "Hum-sing-sing".

 

[Aceman]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

Just for reference, a 500t is very very similar to a Duncan Distortion.

 

[EddieW]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

The Tone Wizard is recommending a Distortion PATB-2 for mahogany body and ebony neck with locking tremolo:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/suppor...ogany&Fretboard=Ebony&BridgeType=Locking+Trem

Also, the Tone Wizard is recommending a JB for mahogany body and ebony neck, with a standard bridge:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/suppor...=Mahogany&Fretboard=Ebony&BridgeType=Standard

Do those sound like a good match for the construction of my guitar?

 

[JB6464]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

I have custom tele guitars with humbuckers and use the DD and 59N combo.
Body is made of Mahogany with a quilted maple top , neck is a maple neck with an Ebony board.
Sounds awesome to me and if i find the DD a little bright , i just take a notch off the highs on the amp.

 

[Aceman]

Re: What is the SD pickup that sounds closest to dirtyfingers?

[Policebullhorn]PUT DOWN THE TONE WIZARD, AND NO ONE'S EARS WILL GET HURT![/bullhorn]

Work with us man - it's what we get paid to do.

We know the guitar, now tell about your amp and FX, and what you think you need more/less of in terms of bass/mids/treble to get the sounds.

Again - you are NOT gonna get a spot on Randy/Scorps from the same guitar. Dudes used different guitars, FX, Amps etc… VERY different.


(And again - I love Randy, but dang, I can make way better sound than that from my Roland Cube….)