Re: What Pickup Combination for Traditional (British) Heavy Metal ?
Glenn Tipton didn't play a Strat with aftermarket humbuckers?
Strats were available with humbuckers in the early 80s, possibly even the 70s (about the time the '72 Tele Deluxe? Maybe even earlier). While it does appear the Strat Tipton is using in You've Got Another Thing Coming has EMGs, it's also possible he received it that way. I do know his custom/sig model Hamer Phantom GT and the pointy Star thingy he designed had EMGs, but again, if we're talking about a guitarist sitting down with a box of pickups and a soldering gun, I doubt Glenn and KK were those guys. EVH was, for sure, but given the variety of pickups Downing and Tipton have been photographed using live, I'm certain they're what came in the guitar. As to how they may have gotten turned onto a given pickup, it was most likely already in the guitar, they played it, liked it, and wanted one just like it. I'm sure their techs had a list of amp settings for each guitar, of not separate heads and a Bradshaw rig, because of the tonal differences between all the different guitars and pickups they would use in one show.
I disagree with DrNewcenstein on needing Gibson pickups, a lot of Les Paul and SG players prefer Seymour Duncans to modern Gibson pickups for replicating classic Les Paul tones, so I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Seymour Duncan.
Depends on what you're shooting for. Obviously an original Gibson PAF is too expensive to even consider seriously, and the 59 is a solid attempt at recreating that tone, at least according to SD's vision and experience with one, but it's my understanding there were several different types of PAF, with varied DC readings and tonal curves (which is obvious since they merely put 'Patent Applied For" on everything that was awaiting a patent designation, and hardly ever marked anything with a model number).
But if something was known to be recorded with a Dirty Fingers, you want a Dirty Fingers. (and yeah I did compare an original 80s DF to the modern reissue - the 500T is closer to the original DF than the reissue DF is).
Judas Priest's guitarists used stock guitars some, but IIRC also DiMarzio Super Distortion, and Seymour Duncan JBs and Distortions at various times, and I think even Gibson Dirty Fingers.
The DF was stock in several models in the late 70s and early 80s, particularly the V and Explorer, however, AFAIK KK's Gibson V is an original 60s, and don't recall either of them using a 70s/80s Gibson Explorer. Since the OP specifically limited the range to "late 70s/early 80s", and those date ranges are very specific in terms of the bands mentioned, it's doubtful Tipton and Downing were using SD pickups regularly. For the Screaming for Vengeance tour, they were both still using their Strats, the SG, and the V. KK's original Hamer V from Point of Entry gave way to his red/white Gibson more often than not, because it worked better for the entire set. Only when it started getting very worn did he use his 2nd Hamer V (the smaller red one with the studs down the bevels) and Glenn started using his smallish Explorer, but those were more prominent on the Defenders and Turbo tours.
Phil Campbell of Motörhead used a Seymour Duncan Full Shred for a long time, actually.
Interesting. Do you know when that started? Given the drastically different tone on Killed By Death, I'm guessing he switched after Ace of Spades, Jailbait, and Iron Fist were recorded.
Iron Maiden, Super Distortion or JB, depending on era. Though much of their tone is more in the boost and amp, than the pickup.
Super Ds and stock Gibsons up through Piece of Mind for sure, and quite possibly for the recording of Powerslave in '84. I don't know what their Lados had in them, or how frequently they were used on tour.
The JB came about later, on Somewhere in Time when they were first using Jackson-made Strats, since that was the default bridge pickup of Jackson USA at the time.
ready to go into my next Les Paul. Both will remain uncovered. Unfortunately, the Super Dist is cream, and the PG is black. Oh well.
