What would be the closest sounding p/u

Mick Mars played a custom wound pickup? Who knew?!?!?! Or cared.

What album are you trying to cop tones for?
 
Aceman Hello there. To be honest I’m not trying to copy Micks tone. I’m looking for a pickup that can do his style and sound similar to him with having to spend hundreds of dollars on one p/u. If I were to pick a album though it would be Dr Feelgood
 
Does anyone know what p/u would be close to Mick Mars's custom p/u made by J.M. Rolph???

The Rolph is a 16K, Alnico-based design, so likely very close to the JB.

Mick is also a huge fan of the old Gibson T-Tops and he used Super Distortions in some of his guitars early on. We know he relied on multiple guitars for his studio work and there's a good chance his pieced-together Strat he bought in '87 appears on that record, as well.

Sound-wise...Dr. Feelgood is 75% amp, 24% studio magic (including layering many guitars), and 1% pickups, LOL!

Grab a JB, Distortion or Super D and crank your modded Marshall :)
 
Someone on the Kramer forum who has one posted that it sounds a lot like a Super Distortion.
His had a double row of hex screws like the Super D.
I saw a sold listing for one on Reverb that showed filisters & slugs though.
 
Thanks guys. I have a JB and like it but the low end is to loose for my liking. I also have the distortion set but lows in it the are way to tight. Looks like I’ll be trying a dmz super distortion.
 
In Duncan, for that tone, I was gonna say Invader.

Masta'c - all good choices. But different albums...

Too Fast/Shout = Distortion
Theatre/Girls = JB
Feelgood = SD

To me, that would clearly my choices for Mick-tone. Not that I think I couldn't get any of the "sounds" with a random Korean pickup and the right amp.

But the Pop Evil...that is not any kind of classic Mick Mars sound. That is late nineties/early 2k's all over the place. Any multi-effects from 2005 on probably has half a dozen press for that tone. Pickup/schmickup.
 
But the Pop Evil...that is not any kind of classic Mick Mars sound. That is late nineties/early 2k's all over the place. Any multi-effects from 2005 on probably has half a dozen press for that tone. Pickup/schmickup.

Agreed on the pop Evil clip not being Mars normal tone. However their stuff is pretty anemic on the guitar tones so this is 100% Mars in that clip. Does show he is capable of a solid tone as the clip RIPS!.
 
Put alnico mags in the Distortion set and ur gold. It'll give it a natural response instead of the dead quick attack from the ceramic.
 
Put alnico mags in the Distortion set and ur gold. It'll give it a natural response instead of the dead quick attack from the ceramic.
Why is "softer and looser" considered "more natural"? Why isn't "tight fast and hard" not considered "more natural"?

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You have a point, but I don't like it. Feels and sounds sterile to me. I also don't like true single coils because they're too immediate for me.
 
Why is "softer and looser" considered "more natural"? Why isn't "tight fast and hard" not considered "more natural"?

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I always say it is because we had acoustic guitars, before we had electric guitars. So many people consider acoustic guitar tone dynamics as "natural".
 
Before I was a metalhead I was a cook. If I was pounding filets tender, or mashing potatoes, dull and blunt was fine. Chopping veggies or slicing meat, I want immediate.
I prefer the same with my other instruments.

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I understand. My all time favorite SD pickup is the Custom. To me, it does not sound "tight, fast, hard, sterile, etc." But there is a range of people, and to some in that range, it does. I will just consider myself fortunate that Seymour gives me options which I like.
 
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