Which humbuckers for Ibanez S521?

[WhiteofHeart]

Hi all,

Im looking to upgrade my Ibanez S521 (thin mahogany body, bolt on maple neck, rosewood board) from the standard INF1 & INF2 pickups, I find they sound a little dull / thin, especially on the drive channel. I use my guitar for everything, clean (40%), bluesy crunch (10%), rock(30%) and some metal(20%), so something which is a little allround would be best. I'm mostly a bedroom player practicing the usual songs or playing lead along backing tracks, so cutting through the mix live is not as important to me as it might be to others.

I will have both humbuckers splittable individually and was thinking of also installing a treble bleed mod (the INF's get really dark when rolling back the volume even 10%). Was thinking either JB (TB-4) or Duncan Custom (TB-5) in the bridge and Jazz or Pearly Gates in the neck, what are your thoughts??

Thanks!

 

[Mincer]

Welcome to the forum!

I think you are on the right track here. I'd go with a Custom in the bridge, and either a Jazz or 4-conductor 59 for the neck. The 59 has more bass frequencies, the Jazz more treble, so pick what you need in the neck. You will have a versatile combo that can do everything from blues to metal, really.

 

[Masta' C]

Custom/Jazz combo is great and super versatile, as Mincer suggested

 

[JamesPaul]

Another vote for the Custom/Jazz. This is my favorite, and as already noted above, most versatile combo in my Les Pauls.

 

[ICTGoober]

While you are at it, have a set of new pots installed and a Switchcraft jack. It's not that much more money, and will yield a big improvement in performance and sound.

 

[WhiteofHeart]

I think thats clear! Custom and Jazz it is!

While you are at it, have a set of new pots installed and a Switchcraft jack. It's not that much more money, and will yield a big improvement in performance and sound.

Yes this was the plan, I'm having all the electronics replaced by high quality stuff and also having a graphtech nut installed. Thanks for confirming!

 

[AdrianSD]

Yet another vote for Custom and Jazz, although my favourite right now in the bridge position is the Custom 8 Sounds great in mahogany, I lower mine a bit more than the norm and then raise the screws 1-2 turns. If it's still dark sounding after your pickup and electronics changes and you're not using the tone pot, just bypass it.

 

[WhiteofHeart]

I went Duncan Custom SH-5 in the bridge and Jazz SH-2n in the neck, sounds phenomenal!! Very full sound overall! Nice bass in the bridge and trebles in the neck. I went with 2 mini-togles for coil-splitting, resulting in 8 possible configurations! Especially the center position splitting only 1 humbucker and leaving the other full is an unexpected pleasant surprise and also very usable!

I have to get used to actually having a usable tone pot aswell. Previously I was pretty much full tone all the time except on full volume, with the treble bleed on the volume I can really use the tone pot to shape my sound!

Overall a massive improvement, I didnt expect the difference to be this large!

Thanks guys!

 

[Mincer]

Glad you got a great set. I can't imagine not using a tone knob now- I use it all the time- there are lots of sounds to be had in there!

 

[donaldr]

Can't imagine either not using a tone pot and a volume pot, and a pickup switch! Really part of the many sounds you can get out of one amp sound. Add a boost/overdrive pedal and there you go

 

[donaldr]

WhiteofHeart I've been looking the the S521 for many years. I really like natural finish and the HH/ hardtail bridge config instead of the usual HSH/Vibrato locking bridge. The pickup switching is very nice also for an HH. Not a lot on the used market here...
I don't know how a PATB-3 would sound on this one.

 

[WhiteofHeart]

I really like the feel of the guitar. To be honest the fit/finish is great for such a low cost guitar (350 euro), no sharp frets etc. I think the only real downside is the pickups. I think even just installing the SD's and keeping the 5-way as is is a massive improvement. Because the pickups were so bad all the sounds were kinda similar, only the 2nd position (both humbuckers split) sounded a little different. Im happy with the way its wired now, the only thing I lost is the neck in parallel (standard position 4), but I got 4 different very distinct tone options back!

I have the standard 5 way switch still in there because the superswitch wouldnt fit, right now its wired like a 3-way with positions 1-2 and 4-5 being the same, might be able to wire those positions up for parallel somehow in the future, but I dont think I'm missing out on much by having it the way it is now.

 

[Iron1]

I swapped an INF out of an RG a long time ago for a Distortion and it sounded like I pulled the guitar out of a pile of blankets. I didn't really realize how thin/weak those INFs were til I swapped 'em.

Amazing what a better set of pickups will do.

And, you can't go wrong with a Custom. I considered putting one in my 540SLTD before I went with the Trident II.

 

[ehdwuld]

my first guitar mod was swapping out the Stock Ibanez pickups in a RG2EX1
changed them to the JB/Jazz set with Triple shot rings

it is still one of my favorite guitars
I carry it out on the road with me now

it is here in the hotel right now

the JB/Jazz swap is one of my most popular mods
as I have added them to almost every guitar I own