Herbert (passive) pickup recommendations

[xmartx]

I'm thinking about replacing the EMG85/81 combination in my ESP M-II with some passives, what pickups would you recommend? As I play mostly heavy riffing with the ESP the main focus lies on the bridge pickup the neck is mostly used for cleans.
The ESP has an alder body, rosewood fretboard and is rather on the bright side of things so I don't want a pickup with too many highs. Also I can't shell out the money for something like BKP/Anderson/.. so I'd prefer to get a "standard" pickup like Duncans, DiMarzios, etc.
From what I read the Duncan Distortion might be worth a try but I'm looking forward to get some more recommendations..

 

[Peter Diezel]

I have a SH6 set. Split the neck for the clean.

I also can recommend SH4 and SH1 with nickel covers.

 

[xmartx]

Hi Peter,
thanks for the recommendations. I might be able to try a similar guitar with a SH-4 so I might first do this. What do you have in your Schecter? It sounded pretty good through my Herbert

Martin

 

[MARK2C]

Häussel anyone ? Tozz, Tozz B XL or HB-VIN + ?

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Motor City Solution.

 

[Mailman1971]

I pulled the EMG's out my Jackson. Sold them and with that money purchased a Aldrich pickup and it sounds EXCELLENT thru the Herbert!

 

[MARK2C]

He's in Nürnberg.

http://www.rockinger.com/index.php?cat=WG09&lang=DEU

 

[xmartx]

Thanks for all the recommendations but most of those are too expensive for me. I might look closer into the Häussel stuff even though they're a bit over my budget too.

 

[gibson08]

Actually, I was thinking of pulling my 81/85 out of my LP and going with maybe a ColdSweat or a Nailbomb,,just a more consistent tone,,tone really varies with battery power. Just Sayin.

 

[the_music]

i'd recommend the haessels too. got them since a year and they're worth every penny...think about it.

 

[Ventura]

Actually, I was thinking of pulling my 81/85 out of my LP and going with maybe a ColdSweat or a Nailbomb,,just a more consistent tone,,tone really varies with battery power. Just Sayin.

Or Miracle Man....

V.

 

[MARK2C]

I have always enjoyed the lowest output pickups with the VH4 and Herbert. Usually a PAF
type around 8K. They make the amps work much harder. With EMG's I have to dial down the signal
through the effects loops on the VH4. Oddly enough, I have an 87' Ibanez with stock pickups that the
Herbert makes sound like gold. Go figure !!!

 

[bronz79]

Actually, I was thinking of pulling my 81/85 out of my LP and going with maybe a ColdSweat or a Nailbomb,,just a more consistent tone,,tone really varies with battery power. Just Sayin.

Or Miracle Man....

V.

-ColdSweat neck (AlnicoV) is a mid-hot pu, balanced EQ great cleans and liquid leads.
-MiracleMan bridge (ceramic) hot but not over the top hot,sharp,tight bottom end,massive lowmids,smoot himids,a bit piercing highs.

Ventura, you liked your painkiller in bridge?in which guitar?

 

[Ventura]

Actually, I was thinking of pulling my 81/85 out of my LP and going with maybe a ColdSweat or a Nailbomb,,just a more consistent tone,,tone really varies with battery power. Just Sayin.

Or Miracle Man....

V.

-ColdSweat neck (AlnicoV) is a mid-hot pu, balanced EQ great cleans and liquid leads.
-MiracleMan bridge (ceramic) hot but not over the top hot,sharp,tight bottom end,massive lowmids,smoot himids,a bit piercing highs.

Ventura, you liked your painkiller in bridge?in which guitar?

Got a calibrated set in my ESP NT-II which is a maple top and neck guitar, mahogany wings (neck thru), ebony FB. They're pretty awesome. This guitar is tuned a full step down with drop C, it's my chugga chugga guitar, EB Beefy Slinkys. The pups sound real good with this lower pitch set up, the mids compensate for what could be flub. Bass is big but tight, and the gain feel is razor sharp and full. Also coil tap splits in both the neck and bridge, the neck is weak sounding, needs a big volume boost to get it to parity, but the bridge in SC mode is golden.

Hope that helps.

V.

 

[bronz79]

Actually, I was thinking of pulling my 81/85 out of my LP and going with maybe a ColdSweat or a Nailbomb,,just a more consistent tone,,tone really varies with battery power. Just Sayin.

Or Miracle Man....

V.

-ColdSweat neck (AlnicoV) is a mid-hot pu, balanced EQ great cleans and liquid leads.
-MiracleMan bridge (ceramic) hot but not over the top hot,sharp,tight bottom end,massive lowmids,smoot himids,a bit piercing highs.

Ventura, you liked your painkiller in bridge?in which guitar?

Got a calibrated set in my ESP NT-II which is a maple top and neck guitar, mahogany wings (neck thru), ebony FB. They're pretty awesome. This guitar is tuned a full step down with drop C, it's my chugga chugga guitar, EB Beefy Slinkys. The pups sound real good with this lower pitch set up, the mids compensate for what could be flub. Bass is big but tight, and the gain feel is razor sharp and full. Also coil tap splits in both the neck and bridge, the neck is weak sounding, needs a big volume boost to get it to parity, but the bridge in SC mode is golden.

Hope that helps.

V.

For sure it helped!
Next week i'll order the PK bridge.

 

[Peter Diezel]

Hi Peter,
thanks for the recommendations. I might be able to try a similar guitar with a SH-4 so I might first do this. What do you have in your Schecter? It sounded pretty good through my Herbert

Martin

I had the SH6 set in it but the guitar is very sensitive
for feedback. So I replaced the set wit SH1 and SH4.

For low output PU´s I can recommend Haeussel.

 

[Peter Diezel]

I have always enjoyed the lowest output pickups with the VH4 and Herbert. Usually a PAF
type around 8K. They make the amps work much harder. With EMG's I have to dial down the signal
through the effects loops on the VH4. Oddly enough, I have an 87' Ibanez with stock pickups that the
Herbert makes sound like gold. Go figure !!!

That´s right. I found a good quality on Ibanez pickups.

 

[Ventura]

Actually, I was thinking of pulling my 81/85 out of my LP and going with maybe a ColdSweat or a Nailbomb,,just a more consistent tone,,tone really varies with battery power. Just Sayin.

Or Miracle Man....

V.

-ColdSweat neck (AlnicoV) is a mid-hot pu, balanced EQ great cleans and liquid leads.
-MiracleMan bridge (ceramic) hot but not over the top hot,sharp,tight bottom end,massive lowmids,smoot himids,a bit piercing highs.

Ventura, you liked your painkiller in bridge?in which guitar?

Got a calibrated set in my ESP NT-II which is a maple top and neck guitar, mahogany wings (neck thru), ebony FB. They're pretty awesome. This guitar is tuned a full step down with drop C, it's my chugga chugga guitar, EB Beefy Slinkys. The pups sound real good with this lower pitch set up, the mids compensate for what could be flub. Bass is big but tight, and the gain feel is razor sharp and full. Also coil tap splits in both the neck and bridge, the neck is weak sounding, needs a big volume boost to get it to parity, but the bridge in SC mode is golden.

Hope that helps.

V.

For sure it helped!
Next week i'll order the PK bridge.

It'll be madness to your ears They're just searing hot and cut like a razor. I've been playing this exact ax this evening through my VH4S - sounds incredible.

Let me know what you think when you get the PK.

V.

 

[bronz79]

Actually, I was thinking of pulling my 81/85 out of my LP and going with maybe a ColdSweat or a Nailbomb,,just a more consistent tone,,tone really varies with battery power. Just Sayin.

Or Miracle Man....

V.

-ColdSweat neck (AlnicoV) is a mid-hot pu, balanced EQ great cleans and liquid leads.
-MiracleMan bridge (ceramic) hot but not over the top hot,sharp,tight bottom end,massive lowmids,smoot himids,a bit piercing highs.

Ventura, you liked your painkiller in bridge?in which guitar?

Got a calibrated set in my ESP NT-II which is a maple top and neck guitar, mahogany wings (neck thru), ebony FB. They're pretty awesome. This guitar is tuned a full step down with drop C, it's my chugga chugga guitar, EB Beefy Slinkys. The pups sound real good with this lower pitch set up, the mids compensate for what could be flub. Bass is big but tight, and the gain feel is razor sharp and full. Also coil tap splits in both the neck and bridge, the neck is weak sounding, needs a big volume boost to get it to parity, but the bridge in SC mode is golden.

Hope that helps.

V.

For sure it helped!
Next week i'll order the PK bridge.

It'll be madness to your ears They're just searing hot and cut like a razor. I've been playing this exact ax this evening through my VH4S - sounds incredible.

Let me know what you think when you get the PK.

V.

OK!

Let me know what you think when you get the Herbie.

P.s. Strange but tonight i'm far away from OD/distorted sound..the Lexicon PCM96 that a friend of mine lended me magnetize my attention on Strato's clean ,dreamy reverbs....
..but tomorrow..Ch2+,Ch3 midcutted!

 

[RJF]

I really like the Duncan Distortion and JB, the SH6 is badass for metal through the Herbert. I think the leads stand out a little better with the JB.