What pickup to try next?

[Rex_Rocker]

I was looking for recommendations on what to try next as far as pickups go, as I have another guitar on the way!

You guys know I like my high-output Ceramic screamers. I love the Gibson 500T and the Duncan Nazgul, Black Winter, and Distortion. I want something along those lines.

I was thinking either something from BKP or other small builders. Maybe even the PRS Tremonti Treble or the Duncan Alternative 8. Don't know.

I basically want something bright, at least as hot as the Nazgul, and tight with an emphatic aggressive attack and a tight controlled low-end.

So... what should I be looking at?

 

[Mincer]

I'd say live with the stock pickups for at least a little bit so you know what direction the guitar needs to go (if any).

 

[Seashore]

What's the guitar?

 

[Securb]

I'd say live with the stock pickups for at least a little bit so you know what direction the guitar needs to go (if any).

I have been in the same boat buying a guitar knowing full well I would have to change the pickups. When I bought my B.C. Rich I knew there was no way I would gel with the BC Rich stock active pickups. But seeing it was 50% off it was worth it working the price of pickups into the price of the guitar.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

What's the guitar?

If all goes well, it's an Ibanez SZ320.

The one with the stock IBZ pickups, tho. Not the Duncan Designed. I wouldn't swap those out.

I've had those before. They're nothing to write home about.

 

[beaubrummels]

Lace Alumitones
Fishman Fluence

and start going more booteek / odd pickups

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Lace Alumitones
Fishman Fluence

and start going more booteek / odd pickups

Laces seem interesting. Will look into them.

Already tried a bunch of the Fluence stuff. Love them!

 

[Seashore]

If all goes well, it's an Ibanez SZ320.

The one with the stock IBZ pickups, tho. Not the Duncan Designed. I wouldn't swap those out.

I've had those before. They're nothing to write home about.

Do you have any idea of how naturally bright or dark this one is? I love some BKPs but I don't like most of them in bright guitars. It also depends how your amp takes to them. You've said you don't like to change settings in between guitars so I have no idea where you'll land with these.

Ceramic Warpig, ceramic Nailbomb, and Cold Sweat are all very good. Lots of crunch. Cold Sweat will be the brightest and most scooped of them. It's also the lowest resistance but it has plenty of output. Played this one live the most of the bunch and it rules. Nailbomb is muscly with more mids. Warpig is the thickest, still capable of being crunchy, but you might want a 1M pot for high end in a dark guitar. With a normal 500K v/t setup it sounds more doomy.

I love the Rebel Yell, A5, it looks like a mid-high output rock hot rod on paper but I absolutely love it for chunky/squealy/fast stuff in my Explorer. Another one to consider high value pots for depending on the guitar. Great harmonic content, handles low tunings well. Maybe my favorite pickup.

Also have a look at Elysian. I like their Trident II in my baritone. It's powerful, bright, and very clear. Hellfire is their high output ceramic, I haven't tried it but clips sound great and I would buy one if I had a spot for it.

 

[misterwhizzy]

PATB-2. Just different enough from the Distortion to be what you’re looking for, and I have a feeling you’ve never tried a parallel-axis pickup. You’ll fall in love.

 

[Masta' C]

PATB-2. Just different enough from the Distortion to be what you’re looking for, and I have a feeling you’ve never tried a parallel-axis pickup. You’ll fall in love.

Agreed! I think that's a great suggestion!

 

[AdrianSD]

JB with Alnico 8 and hex screws on the low E, A and D.

 

[Chistopher]

Alumitone Deathbucker bridge Hammerclaw neck

 

[jeremy]

PATB-2. Just different enough from the Distortion to be what you’re looking for, and I have a feeling you’ve never tried a parallel-axis pickup. You’ll fall in love.

i think thats a great choice

 

[RanchManSandy]

Strong recommendation for the Righteous Sound 1018.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

PATB-2. Just different enough from the Distortion to be what you’re looking for, and I have a feeling you’ve never tried a parallel-axis pickup. You’ll fall in love.

I'm curious about that one. The DCR is really high. Is it dark kinda like a Super 3? How hot is it too?

Do you have any idea of how naturally bright or dark this one is? I love some BKPs but I don't like most of them in bright guitars. It also depends how your amp takes to them. You've said you don't like to change settings in between guitars so I have no idea where you'll land with these.

Ceramic Warpig, ceramic Nailbomb, and Cold Sweat are all very good. Lots of crunch. Cold Sweat will be the brightest and most scooped of them. It's also the lowest resistance but it has plenty of output. Played this one live the most of the bunch and it rules. Nailbomb is muscly with more mids. Warpig is the thickest, still capable of being crunchy, but you might want a 1M pot for high end in a dark guitar. With a normal 500K v/t setup it sounds more doomy.

I love the Rebel Yell, A5, it looks like a mid-high output rock hot rod on paper but I absolutely love it for chunky/squealy/fast stuff in my Explorer. Another one to consider high value pots for depending on the guitar. Great harmonic content, handles low tunings well. Maybe my favorite pickup.

Also have a look at Elysian. I like their Trident II in my baritone. It's powerful, bright, and very clear. Hellfire is their high output ceramic, I haven't tried it but clips sound great and I would buy one if I had a spot for it.

If it is like the first one I had years ago, it's probably balanced-ish bright-ish. Even if the guitar is bright, I prefer bright pickups to dark/bassy pickups, TBH. I was looking at the Painkiller and the Aftermath from BKP. Any experience with those?

The Trident also seems interesting! Thank you!​

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Alumitone Deathbucker bridge Hammerclaw neck

What's the Deathbucker like?

JB with Alnico 8 and hex screws on the low E, A and D.

I'd prefer something stock. I like the JB as is, but the JB in itself has kind of a softer attack which is not what I'm after lately. I've dropped hex screws on a JB before too, but it didn't radically transform it IME. Not sure I'd want a JB right now, but thanks for the suggestion!​

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Strong recommendation for the Righteous Sound 1018.

Looks interesting! I wished they'd give a more in depth description or some specs or something. No idea what it would be like the way they describe it, honestly.

 

[RanchManSandy]

Looks interesting! I wished they'd give a more in depth description or some specs or something. No idea what it would be like the way they describe it, honestly.

Yeha he's cagey about the details online, but if you reach out to Josh he's a super chill bro and can answer anything. The 1018 I had was super tight, amazing for drop C#, and crisp but not ice picky at all. Balanced really well EQ wise, no scoop or bump. Thinking about it now it's sort of a hotter, tighter Pegasus.

 

[El Dunco]

The Lundgren M6 should be something if the M7 is anything to go by. It’s the Meshuggah pickup for a reason.

 

[misterwhizzy]

I'm curious about that one. The DCR is really high. Is it dark kinda like a Super 3? How hot is it too?

I found it to be a lot like a Distortion, but the Distortion always seemed to be screaming at me. The PATB gave a bit more roar without quite the cutting top end and about the same output, but it was still tight and precise. Oh, and it has dynamics too. No experience with the Super 3.