What pickup do I need?

[Mincer]

Re: What pickup do I need?

I would say lots of people post on many guitar forums with the same question (bought a guitar they haven't tried, already concerned with upgrades). It is really common. I think that means that the aftermarket accessory companies are pretty good at marketing. However, I have to say, there are many pics of guitars I see, and I am like 'Oh, that would be so cool! If I had that I would do THIS and THIS to it.' However, I never actually buy the guitar and do any of that.
Remember, let's educate without demeaning and hurting someone (in any thread just like this one). It is hard to remember, but many of us were like that, too.

 

[KNUCKLHEAD]

Re: What pickup do I need?

I'll echo the very good advice to live with the guitar for a few weeks and get used to its sound & feel through your own equipment. Then you'll know whether you're happy with it as is, or what direction you want to take it in. Until you've played it- your way- for long enough to know it as an individual, any decision you make stands a very small chance of being the best one. Besides, the stock pickups could be perfect. No sense in jumping down the rabbit hole before ever playing the instrument.

Browsing the web it's easy to get sucked into the GASpects of guitar modding- there are hundreds of choices and one can read up on all of them. It can be tempting to feel like you could make reasonable decisions in advance, based on what you want. But generalizations about design & wood aren't enough. Every guitar's a dynamic system; small factors add up and they can have a major effect on the nature of an instrument. That's why each one is so different. Much of an axe's character & tone comes from subtle variations in the pieces of lumber, the ways they interact with each other, with the hardware & pickups, and of course how it all responds to a particular player's touch. And his amps. And the style of music.

IMO the only way to really know a guitar well is to play it. Through a familiar amp. At length. And at volume. After that you stand to make better choices.

I would say lots of people post on many guitar forums with the same question (bought a guitar they haven't tried, already concerned with upgrades). It is really common. I think that means that the aftermarket accessory companies are pretty good at marketing. However, I have to say, there are many pics of guitars I see, and I am like 'Oh, that would be so cool! If I had that I would do THIS and THIS to it.' However, I never actually buy the guitar and do any of that.
Remember, let's educate without demeaning and hurting someone (in any thread just like this one). It is hard to remember, but many of us were like that, too.

Indeed

 

[dave74]

Re: What pickup do I need?

Custom, JB, Distortion or Full Shred,,,,,,,,,depends on all the other stuff that probably isn't even ready to be talked about yet lol.
(jb or full shred most likely.)

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: What pickup do I need?

I'd definitely play it before swapping pups, but the Alpha Omega set may be in your wheelhouse.

 

[KNUCKLHEAD]

Re: What pickup do I need?

The snappiness of a Les Paul is attributable to the maple cap.

guess that's why the snappiness of a Tele comes from good dense Ash ( or Strat or whatever



.

Dave ~ Let go of JB , Please : )

 

[de_dUKe]

Re: What pickup do I need?

Just tell the guy what pickup the other guy is maybe playing in the video and if, or what you think would work in his guitar, based on your experiences.. jeez.. :dot:

I personally haven't got a clue but it wasn't so long ago I was posting for the first time for help and getting a similarly condescending response..

You guys can be a real tough crowd.. :stooges:

 

[Mincer]

Re: What pickup do I need?

Also, could you ask Youtube Guy what his signal chain is?

 

[gregory]

Re: What pickup do I need?

guess that's why the snappiness of a Tele comes from good dense Ash ( or Strat or whatever

Discounting everything else that makes those guitars not maple-capped mahogany, or dense mahogany without a maple cap? Sure. Seems sensible to me.

 

[KNUCKLHEAD]

Re: What pickup do I need?

Discounting everything else that makes those guitars not maple-capped mahogany, or dense mahogany without a maple cap? Sure. Seems sensible to me.

That's the thing ~ most of the Mahogany used isn't that Dense .

 

[gregory]

Re: What pickup do I need?

I wish that were the case with my Norlin.

 

[KNUCKLHEAD]

Re: What pickup do I need?

Oak and mahogany are similar in that respect , some can be very heavy weight but the have an open + Porous type of cellular makeup ( lots os Filler +/or Sealer at times

 

[CountFeedback]

Re: What pickup do I need?

Recently I got a nice deal from an online dealer on an S2 Mera. I'm liking it a lot but being a Seymour Duncan fan I was rolling over schemes of what pickups to put into it from the first picture I saw of the guitar online. I'm using some self control and taking my time and playing it for a little while to hear what I feel the guitar needs. The stock S2 pick-ups aren't junk but I think Duncans will give a little more flavor.

The S2 Standard 24 have a different pick-up to the Mira, the 24 comes with a more "Modern Rock" based pick-up that may give the sound you want.
From what I heard on that posted clip my first impression of what SD pickups to get are Custom or Custom 5 in the bridge, maybe a JB.
In the neck a Jazz or an Alnico II pro.

 

[KNUCKLHEAD]

Re: What pickup do I need?

I've been Liking Alnico 5 ~ Bridge / A 4 ~ Neck, for a while now ( I dont use any A 2 anymore - altough I had a Strat middle (think I still have it ) that was Nice for that Pos. , which I would Definitely use again if needed

 

[stupendous silly]

Re: What pickup do I need?

Congrats on the new guitar. I researched S2's quite a bit before I recently got a Les Paul. Mind you, it might not be so warm as you suppose, so yeah, just wait and see I would suggest.