another bridge pickup thread- darkest ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter electrophonic.tonic
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electrophonic.tonic

electrophonic.tonic

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I think I've read every bridge pickup thread over the last 2 years :aww:

I've got an Alder, maple/rosewood custom Strat H/S. Currently have an SD Custom in the bridge, and a Cool Rails in the neck.
Amps- Laney pro tube, Blues JR, Peavey Classic 50.
Speakers- Mesa Celestion 90 2x12 closed

The problem is, I can't balance the two PU's when I turn up the gain. The Custom is WAY bright and seems fairly mid-scooped. I like thick mids (which the Laney's got in spades). However, adjusting any of my amps' EQ's to darken the Custom absolutely kills any sparkle I get from the Rails, and of course, the converse is true if I go the other way. I've had this problem before with other guitars but never this extreme.

For a new purchase, I'm considering-
Whatever You Guys Tell Me :D
or
Rio Grande BBQ, Dimarzio Tone Zone, BKP Aftermath, or maybe one of the Motor City offerings.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Greg
 
Motor City Angel Dust or Garuda for mid to high output stuff and the 2nd Degree Black Belt or Detroiter for lower output. The BKP Holy Diver is another good option. Also the Custom 5 might work too. It is hard to balance a humbucker and a singe coil. I have had similar issues and that is why I go with H/H guitars.
 
Dimarzio Super Distortion.........the warmest, fattest ceramic pup out there IMO.

Or wire a 300k tone on the Custom. You can also experiment with a .047 tone cap. That will smooth the highs and beef up the mids some.
 
Suhr Aldrich is killer in two of my Stratocasters.
Dimarzio Super Distortion is going in another today! I love the Super Distortion in a Strat. :rock:
 
Thanks for the replies.
Yeah the Super was another one I was considering, forgot to add it to the list.
Have any of you ever tried the Steve Vai Gravity Storm? Voicing looks right for what I want.

EyesOfTheSouth":279dyb9n said:
Dimarzio Super Distortion.........the warmest, fattest ceramic pup out there IMO.

Or wire a 300k tone on the Custom. You can also experiment with a .047 tone cap. That will smooth the highs and beef up the mids some.
Click to expand...
Interesting
metalmaniac93":279dyb9n said:
Motor City Angel Dust or Garuda for mid to high output stuff and the 2nd Degree Black Belt or Detroiter for lower output. The BKP Holy Diver is another good option. Also the Custom 5 might work too. It is hard to balance a humbucker and a singe coil. I have had similar issues and that is why I go with H/H guitars.
Click to expand...
Yeah HH would be pretty nice too.
 
The DiMarzio Air Zone will be a little darker than the Tone Zone. It's the thickest pickup I've tried.
 
alnico warpig is pretty thick and round
not over the top by any means and much clearer sounding than the sh-5
 
I'll once again state my love for the Tone Zone in that situation; the Air Zone has very similar specs, less output (will get to try it out soon). If you amp already has lots of mids, the Gravity Storm might be a little too much, I'd also stay away from "specialty" pickups, designed for a distinctive style.
 
The DiMarzio Super 3 has rolled off high's with a ton of mids. Works great in bright guitars.
 
Thick mids? Duncan custom custom, Dimarzio tone zone, MCP black iron or blister bucker.
 
How about the Air Norton? I want to investigate this pickup recently.
 
Filter500":2xun2j1l said:
The DiMarzio Air Zone will be a little darker than the Tone Zone. It's the thickest pickup I've tried.
Click to expand...
Considered this too
ericsabbath":2xun2j1l said:
alnico warpig is pretty thick and round
not over the top by any means and much clearer sounding than the sh-5
Click to expand...
Yeah this one looks way intriguing. The Cool Rails is quite loud (compared to most single-sized neck pickups anyway), so I was thinking something like this would be a good match.
Business":2xun2j1l said:
I'll once again state my love for the Tone Zone in that situation; the Air Zone has very similar specs, less output (will get to try it out soon).
Click to expand...
#1 right now.
Business":2xun2j1l said:
If you amp already has lots of mids, the Gravity Storm might be a little too much, I'd also stay away from "specialty" pickups, designed for a distinctive style.
Click to expand...
I may be in the minority, but I can't stand Vai's tone anyway. :lol: :LOL:
petejt":2xun2j1l said:
A Seymour Duncan Invader is pretty dark, and super gainy.
Click to expand...
Forgot about these. I'll do some listening.
rcm78":2xun2j1l said:
The DiMarzio Super 3 has rolled off high's with a ton of mids. Works great in bright guitars.
Click to expand...
Realistically, I'll probably end up with a Dimarzio, just because I have access to try them first. Thinking the TZ or Super3.
I'll probably hold out on one of the BKP's or MCP's to put in my LP Jr down the road.
Thanks for the help Guys. Exactly what I was looking for. :)
 
Resurrect this.
I kind of went the underdog route and got a Dimarzio Norton. I couldn't be happier. Thick, musical mids and plenty of clarity throughout the spectrum. Compliments the Cool Rails quite nicely. Imagine that....no more EQ futzing during pickup switching!!!!

If anyone cares. :lol: :LOL:
 
darkest ive ever played was an afwayu - wasnt my thing though
 
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