Your Opinion on my Choices (lot of research i've done)

Mllerrin

New member
After going through countless reviews (I'm hoping to get things right the 1st time as I cannot install my own pickups and know it will be expensive if I have to take em out and get others), and countless soundbytes i'm 99% this is the sound/setup I'm going for. If you see anything wrong/have advice for something better.

All these guitars are being played through my Mesa Boogie Single Rectifier and an NS-2 Noise Gate through a 4x12 Mesa Cab.

The sound I'm going for for my Bridge is a realy Full Chug (Thump) while still Remaining Clarity under High Distortion (which is what I mostly play). This type of sound usually comes from Dropped tunings (Brad Delford of Linkin Park, the guys from Glassjaw etc.) and I already only occasionally go to Drop D. And I don't want a mud fest on my hands, I still want to be able to cut through the mix.

The neck I'm hoping to just get a nice bright clean tone/lead tone. I can't really explain it I want the lead and clean to just be nice and clear like the sound just leaps from the pickup to the ears.

The first guitar is a Carved Top Basswood Strat with a Standard Hardtail Bridge and 2 Humbuckers. Rock Maple Set Neck and Rosewood Fretboard. The guitar has a 5 way switch, 1 Tone and 1 Volume.

From descriptions I've concluded the Dimarzio DSonic with the Pole Pieces towards the bridge side as the description says is better for Standard tunings if anyone can prove otherwise pls lemme know. I was considering going active with Emg's but they just don't seem right to me (but once again if you can convince me otherwide please do). Plus I really liked the Soundbyte on the Dimarzio site for it.

Also it seems the pickup for neck I would like the SD 59 due to descriptions. I've never heard anything bad about the 59 and I don't really see anything else I'd want in there.

I've pretty much assumed the same setup will work the same through my new guitar (not fully done yet, the amp broke this minimum wagers bank A LOT).

My warmoth custom guitar which is a Rear Routed Mahogany Strat, Hardtail with 2 buckers. For the neck it will be Bloodwood with an Ebony fingerboard. Just for the heck of me loving the idea I am making this an American Mcgee's Alice themed guitar. It will have an Image of Alice with a knife below the bridge and on the back will be a huge picture. Lemme see if I can find these pictures:

This is the back one

http://laurenharman.tripod.com/halloween/images/photos/mcgee.jpg

And this will go below the bridge:

http://pachome1.pacific.net.sg/~noctalis/shop/pc_alice.jpg

I'm hoping to get these pictures on the guitar through a process I heard at Stew Macs that he did at Kinko's where I could make it all a huge decal then clear coat it. I currently have the body but am saving for the neck and the other things I plan on doing like a Silver Decal I saw on project guitar of the name Alice in a cool font.

Anyway enough about that. If you think the pickup choice is all good to go then lemme know. If you think it sucks and should try something else I'll take all I can get before investing into getting the pickups/having them installed. Thanks for taking the time to read all this I really appreciate it. I've been so worried I've been deciding on pickups since like before I got my new amp (the rectifier) which was months ago,

Thanks you all in advance.
 
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Re: Your Opinion on my Choices (lot of research i've done)

you might try a Duncan distortion set. listen to them on this site and see what you think.
 
Re: Your Opinion on my Choices (lot of research i've done)

Sounds like you may want a Full Shred neck. Lots of people here really like it. How about a JB or Distortion bridge? Lots of people dislike this one, but the Invader is my all time favorite non-EMG pickup.
 
Re: Your Opinion on my Choices (lot of research i've done)

JB_From_Hell said:
Sounds like you may want a Full Shred neck. Lots of people here really like it. How about a JB or Distortion bridge? Lots of people dislike this one, but the Invader is my all time favorite non-EMG pickup.

I concur. Invaders ROCK!
 
Re: Your Opinion on my Choices (lot of research i've done)

Great suggestions guys really got me thinking, one thing I did forget to mention is. Basswood has very open sound and I prefer mine more tight so is there a good pickup that can do this. I hear the Invader is very close to the DSonic but havent heard much on it's tightness, just that it has a lot of bass. Also the Dimarzio Breed? I've never really heard about tightness in that pickup either yet it is supposed to be an awesome pickup.
 
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Re: Your Opinion on my Choices (lot of research i've done)

Just a little bump to make sure then I'll let it die
 
Re: Your Opinion on my Choices (lot of research i've done)

The '59 is a good choice for the neck, so is the Jazz if you want something a bit less bassy. I have no experience with the Dimarzio you mentioned, but I think the Distortion would work well in the bridge.

Ryan
 
Re: Your Opinion on my Choices (lot of research i've done)

Mllerrin said:
The sound I'm going for for my Bridge is a realy Full Chug (Thump) while still Remaining Clarity under High Distortion (which is what I mostly play). This type of sound usually comes from Dropped tunings (Brad Delford of Linkin Park, the guys from Glassjaw etc.) and I already only occasionally go to Drop D. And I don't want a mud fest on my hands, I still want to be able to cut through the mix.

The neck I'm hoping to just get a nice bright clean tone/lead tone. I can't really explain it I want the lead and clean to just be nice and clear like the sound just leaps from the pickup to the ears.


.
If you dont want a mud fest, stay as far away from the invader as possible!!! If you are looking for clarity under heavy distortion, here is what I recomend in the bridge, The full shred is with out a doubt my first pick for you. The scremin demon is second. The JB is third. I think the full shred will treat you very good. For the neck position, the full shred will be my first choice for you also. It has a bright tone and great clarity. The jazz is my second choice and possibly the pearly gates or 59 for my third pick.

BTW, in my opinion, the Full shreds have more clarity and tightness than about any other duncan yet are great at high gain.
 
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