If you had to choose between these 4 pickups

[ttosh]

Which one and why? I know there are a lot of others out there that are more modern and better by some standards. I am curious to get feedback on these 4. Looking for 80s Rock Metal tones that will coil split well and clean up with the volume knob and give thick creamy rich lead tones!!!

 

[steve_k]

Hard to go wrong with the SD JB for vintage vibe and all around noodling.

Steve

 

[Strat+Marshall]

What is the guitar? What is the amp? All of these pickups can go from good to terrible depending on the rig.

 

[Digital Jams]

Yeah, need to know the guitar on this one.

Case in point, I have a solid maple superstrat that you would think the JB would be the last pup to put in there but it works due to the guitar's tone.

 

[fek]

Thick creamy leads would be the Tone Zone. I am not a fan of it for anything else though. I would pick any of your other choices for all around playing.

 

[glpg80]

Thick creamy leads would be the Tone Zone. I am not a fan of it for anything else though. I would pick any of your other choices for all around playing.

really?

ive got a tonezone now in my ibanez, and in the bridge position its anything but "thick and creamy"

if anything its more linear focused rhythms and solo's that are well defined, and a sharp character/instant linear attack tone to solo's.

nothing creamy and thick IMHO.

it sounds great to my ears, but nothing thick or creamy comes to mind.

the guitar is not a bright guitar either, very dark/rosewood fretboard.

thick and creamy is an air norton in the neck of this guitar... just oozes cream from the fretboard

IMHO creamy wouldnt be any of those choices, but the super distortion would be closer than the tonezone.

 

[Qweklain]

Thick creamy leads would be the Tone Zone. I am not a fan of it for anything else though. I would pick any of your other choices for all around playing.

really?

ive got a tonezone now in my ibanez, and in the bridge position its anything but "thick and creamy"

if anything its more linear focused rhythms and solo's that are well defined, and a sharp character/instant linear attack tone to solo's.

nothing creamy and thick IMHO.

it sounds great to my ears, but nothing thick or creamy comes to mind.

the guitar is not a bright guitar either, very dark/rosewood fretboard.

thick and creamy is an air norton in the neck of this guitar... just oozes cream from the fretboard

IMHO creamy wouldnt be any of those choices, but the super distortion would be closer than the tonezone.

I agree, thick and creamy is a horrible description of the Tone Zone. Your description is much better glpg80. The Tone Zone IMO is an awesome pickup for most basswood Ibby's.

 

[nbarts]

The JB is great for metal riffs. Sounds weak split coil though & not the greatest pickup for leads IMO.

I know you didn't ask for it, but BKP ceramic nailbomb is amazing for leads & kicks ass coil tapped. Can do 80s metal, but not the best for the job.

 

[RockNRun]

I've only owned and played extensively with the first three choices, but of those, I LOVE the Super Dist. I know its similar to the Tone Zone, which I also like, but it just does a little sumthin' better, especially in Alder gutiars (IMO).

I have three 'main' guitars (for now, #4 is comin' REAL soon), two of them have TZ's in the bridge and my basswood bodied Prestige has a Super Distortion. Today or tomorrow when I pick up my new Charvel So Cal (YEAH!!!), the FIRST thing I'm doing is swapping its TZ and Evo pups with the SD and PAF Pro from my Ibanez - should improve BOTH guitars in one move, lol!

The JB, I dunno, I never liked the only one I had, can't remember the guitar/wood it resided in, but it was awesome on single notes, lines, leads, etc, but not so good on chords, at least not compared to my other guitars/pups. I remember kinda thinking of that guitar as my 'leads only' axe for tracking. I'm giving the JB another chance though real soon as I recently bought a US Legacy Strat (Alder), gonna slap a JB in its bridge and leave the 250k pot in there, I've read thats a great setup...fingers crossed.

 

[fek]

I don't know. The TZ is dark and bassy in my SoCal. If I want to get an 80's percussive rhythm tone then I need to click on the MXR 10 band and cut the lows and boost the high mids to get there. Same thing if I want a Megadeth type of tone too. Leads are nice a creamy for me though.

 

[Mudder]

The Super Distortion has always been my go to pickup, but recently I gave the Custom 5 a try and it's really really good too.

 

[RockStarNick]

The JB is great for metal riffs. Sounds weak split coil though & not the greatest pickup for leads IMO.

I know you didn't ask for it, but BKP ceramic nailbomb is amazing for leads & kicks ass coil tapped. Can do 80s metal, but not the best for the job.

It's funny, there's a lot of people who would say the exact opposite about the JB, that is splits well and is only good for soloing. But everyone's tastes and ears are different.

 

[mrp5150]

JB

 

[5150-DAWG]

For me i wouldnt buy any of these but the only passive pup i could even stand before i got my motorcity was the JB. People have said its ice picky but in my mahogany guitars it worked pretty good. Jerry Cantrell was a JB guy and he had some killer tones.

 

[ttosh]

Charvel Guitar, Alder Body. I am leaning towards the Super Distortion right now. Great replies and thanks for the recommendation nbarts!!

 

[guitarslinger]

I've owned/played all of those.

The JB is my overall favorite with the Custom Custom in a close 2nd place.

(actually, depending on the music, they could both work)

I used to be a Dimarzio Fanboy too.

 

[Digital Jams]

Charvel Guitar, Alder Body. I am leaning towards the Super Distortion right now. Great replies and thanks for the recommendation nbarts!!

SD Distortion.

 

[Rufus Leaking]

Rio Grande BBQ

 

[ttosh]

All great choices, I am now leaning towards the JB since I have it in the other two Charvels though I really wanted to change it up.

Tone like this is what I am after.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlrkUmMk3U4

 

[SFW]

For 80s rock and metal, it's hard to beat a JB. I think it splits very well. If you get a wild hair, swap the Alnico 5 magnet out with an Alnico 2 magnet for even greater flexability. You also get instant DiMartini tone through a good Marshall.

Don't forget the Duncan Distortion for some good 80s tones as well.