What to pick, what to pick

[Timius]

I have a 1989 USA Strat that I am going to put new pickups into. I am probably going to turn it into a H X H set up or an H X S.

I'm looking at the following bridge pickups:

SD Full Shred: Really like the demo sound

Dimarzio: D Activator

Dimarzio: PaF Pro (Paul Gilberts tone with these is killer)

I really dig bands like Megadeth, Testament, GNR, Motley Crue. I want a really tight rhythm tone and an 80's shredder type lead tone.

Is there anyother pickups I should check out?

What are the toughts of the pickups above.

Strat has Alder Body, Maple Neck, and Rosewood Fretboard.

Thanks!

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: What to pick, what to pick

if you like GNR and motley, i would look into the PAF pro (dimarzio), the Distortion (SD) or the JB (SD)......or maybe even the AlnicoIIpro (SD) those are the pickups that slash uses in all his les pauls.

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: What to pick, what to pick

Out of your choices, I'd go with the Full Shred. It has low enough output to not sound too crazy for GN'R or Crue stuff, but high enuff output for (JB era) Megadeth and Testament. It will obviously shred, duh. It will give you tonal control if you use heavy amounts of distortion, and the rosewood should help mitigate some of the harsher higher end frequecies - some may find undesirable.

I own dual D Activator's, and for all intents and purposes, these really seem to want to be heavily distorted at all times. It's a tad too clean under light gain. You can use it under light gain fine, but there are better pickups IMO that excell in that area tonally.

 

[Timius]

Re: What to pick, what to pick

Out of your choices, I'd go with the Full Shred. It has low enough output to not sound too crazy for GN'R or Crue stuff, but high enuff output for (JB era) Megadeth and Testament. It will obviously shred, duh. It will give you tonal control if you use heavy amounts of distortion, and the rosewood should help mitigate some of the harsher higher end frequecies - some may find undesirable.

I own dual D Activator's, and for all intents and purposes, these really seem to want to be heavily distorted at all times. It's a tad too clean under light gain. You can use it under light gain fine, but there are better pickups IMO that excell in that area tonally.

What pickups do you think are better tonally?

 

[jasona84]

Re: What to pick, what to pick

JB all around for anything 80's metal related. The full shred was garbage to me. Well, not garbage, but too low and undefined.

 

[supernosher]

Re: What to pick, what to pick

If those are the sounds you are going after, you definately don't want the Distortion.