Help with a hotter pickup for my ESP Kamikaze?

  • Thread starter Thread starter GJgo
  • Start date Start date
MetalHeadMike":28uko63d said:
sytharnia1560":28uko63d said:
Personally I would look at a Dimarzio super 3...heavy as hell and has so many different tones when you gradually roll back the volume
Click to expand...

I've always wanted to try this pup.
Click to expand...

I managed to get one cheap and was totally blown away by it. Yes it is very "dimarzio" in character ... think super D but hotter/heavier/scooped. But it all works for some reason haha...I was totally surprised when I roll the volume knob back by 50% and heard a great hard rock tone screaming out of it. It was clear/punchy/full, then turn the knob up and it rips your face off :lol: :LOL:
 
I had the super D3 in a Jackson custom phil Collen guitar.
It is a killer PU. :yes:
Just for myself and owning a Kamikaze... the x2n is perfect.
Kami being solid maple. So dense. So heavy. X2n In other guitars I own was to bright
But the make up of the Kamikaze just mellows it and it’s a BEAST in this guitar.
(Least thru my rig) :D
Ymmv :yes:
 
I love the Duncan Distortion, one of my all-time favorite pickups, and has worked well in plenty of Charvels, Jacksons, etc. that I've had them in. But the Kamikaze was the one guitar I hated it in, way too bright and shrill (and I normally like things on the bright side).

I would listen to the Mailman, I haven't tried the X2N in a Kamikaze but I can see that working better being more balanced.
 
Nazgul. Amazing for heavier stuff without the hair of a distortion and tighter low end.
 
dpeterson":148adyuf said:
I have jb's in my G&L Cantrell's and they are maple body as well, sound great in those guitars.
Click to expand...
I have a G&L Cantrell- all maple body, and the JB does indeed sound awesome. as for other considerations...

Call up the Duncan Custom Shop and order The Original El Diablo", its a cross between a Demon and a Custom

The Dean DMT Baker Act is also a great choice.
 
GJgo":3ppdvzwf said:
Hey guys,

So I have an ESP Kamikaze that I love. Best bolt-on guitar I've ever played. Problem is I'm a metal guy, and after playing the guitar for a while with my band I really don't feel like the Screamin' Demon is hot enough for me. For "less than metal" it can be really awesome in that guitar, but then I don't play it as much. I'm not the kind of player that lives with a boost pedal on. I like the tonality of the Demon in this guitar, lots of highs & lows, it's just not angry enough.
Click to expand...

I used to own a Screamin' Demon & couldn't ever fall in love with it from a tonal aspect. I also own two ESP Kamikaze's: one with Duncan Distortions & the other with a JB Alnico II magnet swap, which I'd think is much more similar to a Seymour Duncan Custom Custom. The JB Alnico II is by far my favorite Seymour Duncan pickup in any guitar, followed by the El Diablo, which is going for more of a Dan Donegan 'Disturbed' tone. I'm not a fan of Duncan Distortions through any modern amp and sounds neutered IMO, but YMMV!

I'd say other passive pups I recommend trying from Seymour Duncan are Invaders, El Diablo, standard JB, Full Shred, Custom, Custom 5, Custom Custom. The best thing I could've done for myself during my tonal journey was buying a cheap soldering iron, learning off YouTube how to solder, and swapping out a series of pickups & until I found one or a few I could work with long-term.

dpeterson":3ppdvzwf said:
Call up the Duncan Custom Shop and order The Original El Diablo", its a cross between a Demon and a Custom
Click to expand...

Really? I love the El Diablo (actually looking for a newish custom Jackson to throw it in) yet sounds like a hot AF Custom Custom IMO. A much different flavor than what Ceramic pickups provide.
 
I had one of the original USA Kamikaze models and it had a Duncan Distortion in it.

That's what I would recommend.
 
Awesome feedback, thanks guys. Thanks to Racerxrated I have a vintage Distortion to try out- I'll load it up & do an audio comparison, see where it goes from there.

Next question. My Pup mounting screws are topped out, and the pup is still 3.5mm from the strings. Seems a bit far for me. I've got my JB guitar at 2mm & 81 guitar at 2.5mm What do people use to raise the pickup height? Might be obvious when I take it apart but I haven't yet.
 
I run EMG's closer than passive, you are where I am at for EMG or maybe just a tiny bit closer.

I run Duncan's and dimarzios generally around 2.5mm to 3.5mm pending on the pickup. I usually experiment where it works best but the distances I stated are about average.
 
keennay":2ifnlria said:
GJgo":2ifnlria said:
Hey guys,

So I have an ESP Kamikaze that I love. Best bolt-on guitar I've ever played. Problem is I'm a metal guy, and after playing the guitar for a while with my band I really don't feel like the Screamin' Demon is hot enough for me. For "less than metal" it can be really awesome in that guitar, but then I don't play it as much. I'm not the kind of player that lives with a boost pedal on. I like the tonality of the Demon in this guitar, lots of highs & lows, it's just not angry enough.
Click to expand...

I used to own a Screamin' Demon & couldn't ever fall in love with it from a tonal aspect. I also own two ESP Kamikaze's: one with Duncan Distortions & the other with a JB Alnico II magnet swap, which I'd think is much more similar to a Seymour Duncan Custom Custom. The JB Alnico II is by far my favorite Seymour Duncan pickup in any guitar, followed by the El Diablo, which is going for more of a Dan Donegan 'Disturbed' tone. I'm not a fan of Duncan Distortions through any modern amp and sounds neutered IMO, but YMMV!

I'd say other passive pups I recommend trying from Seymour Duncan are Invaders, El Diablo, standard JB, Full Shred, Custom, Custom 5, Custom Custom. The best thing I could've done for myself during my tonal journey was buying a cheap soldering iron, learning off YouTube how to solder, and swapping out a series of pickups & until I found one or a few I could work with long-term.

dpeterson":2ifnlria said:
Call up the Duncan Custom Shop and order The Original El Diablo", its a cross between a Demon and a Custom
Click to expand...

Really? I love the El Diablo (actually looking for a newish custom Jackson to throw it in) yet sounds like a hot AF Custom Custom IMO. A much different flavor than what Ceramic pickups provide.
Click to expand...

Just be carful not to get confused. Seymour duncan makes 2 very different pickups with similar names. “The Original El Diablo” is like a cross between the demon and the custom. “The El Diablo” is a hot AF rails pickup. They have very similar names but couldn’t be more different.
 
I’ve used Duncan distortions in my kami’s and love them. I also suggest a MCP Detroiter if you want it less hot but still similar bite
 
Hey guys, time for the next round. Thank you everyone who has weighed in so far!

Since the majority of you recommend the Distortion, Racerxrated was nice enough to send me one to try out. I installed it, tried it in 3 different amps to make sure I'm hearing what I want to hear, and that pickup is definitely not what I'm looking for. Thoughts-
- The character is similar to the Demon, it's just a lot hotter.
- Still has the same fast-decay after the attack.
- Has good bottom end like the Demon.
- The articulation is a little muddier than the Demon which isn't awesome.
- Here's the killer- the top end is incredibly harsh & fizzy. It reminds me a lot of the ear fatigue that made me sell all of the Mark IIIs I've owned.

So, it will come out and I'm done with things that sound like either one. Let's talk about what I should try next. There are a lot of recommendations here so it's helpful to dial it in with some descriptors. For all you guys who recommended other things let's regroup. What of your suggestions aren't so harshly bright, have good articulation, tight bottom end and a crushing metal sound? Audio clips are super helpful!
 
X2n!! :rock:
It’s a bright pickup. In lot of OTHER guitars (got it in 4 others) :D
But the mix with the Kami just slays. :rock:
 
I’ve swapped 5 different pickups in mine as well.
Was going to go Bill Lawrence.
But tried the X2n. Sold!!! Instantly.
I play a huge rig. And it delivers. Really articulate. Defined razor sharp.
And crushes for the HEVS :thumbsup:

:yes:
 
The Jim Wagner Iron Man sounds perfect for what you’re describing. I’ve had experience with the ones mentioned here and countless others and as far as passive high output pickups go the Iron Man has been hands down my favorite and smoked everything else I’ve tried for that style. PM if you’re interested and I can send you one to try. I’ve got 3 of em currently

I’ve had em in an all maple guitar too (a Carvin DC) as well as guitars that are all Rosewood, all Paduak, all Koa, Mahogany and even my all magnesium guitar (Ogre). It worked well in all of them imo. I like unusual guitars lol
 
GJgo":32ltd8k6 said:
Hey guys, time for the next round. Thank you everyone who has weighed in so far!

Since the majority of you recommend the Distortion, Racerxrated was nice enough to send me one to try out. I installed it, tried it in 3 different amps to make sure I'm hearing what I want to hear, and that pickup is definitely not what I'm looking for. Thoughts-
- The character is similar to the Demon, it's just a lot hotter.
- Still has the same fast-decay after the attack.
- Has good bottom end like the Demon.
- The articulation is a little muddier than the Demon which isn't awesome.
- Here's the killer- the top end is incredibly harsh & fizzy. It reminds me a lot of the ear fatigue that made me sell all of the Mark IIIs I've owned.

So, it will come out and I'm done with things that sound like either one. Let's talk about what I should try next. There are a lot of recommendations here so it's helpful to dial it in with some descriptors. For all you guys who recommended other things let's regroup. What of your suggestions aren't so harshly bright, have good articulation, tight bottom end and a crushing metal sound? Audio clips are super helpful!
Click to expand...

The Arcane 13 (formerly known as the Mr. Scary) may be what you're looking for. The Lynch video where he plays it sounds terrible. There's another video where 2 guys compare it to the Demon and it sounds much better -- really good. You can buy one directly at the Amp and Bass Exchange website.

It's supposed to be a hotter Demon
 
Mailman- I've listened to a number of X2N vids on YT, and to me they mostly sound a little dark & ever so slightly muddy. BUT we know the Kami is a bright guitar. Do you have a clip in mind that shows how they sound to you?

Braintheory- the Iron Man actually sounds pretty good in clips. I'll PM you.

Fiesta Red- I found that video. The Arcane 13 sounds very similar to the SD. Looks like it has an Alnico 8 magnet. I know it specs a little hotter. Hmm.

Doing some more reading, I'm thinking that ceramic magnets might just not be the right call for such a bright maple / ebony guitar..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top