Need a bridge pu recommendations for GMW w/ Ebony board...

  • Thread starter Thread starter bobbtoz
  • Start date Start date
bobbtoz

bobbtoz

Active member
I've got a great playing GMW w/ an ebony fret board alder body. The guitar is dominant in the high end, obviously attributed to the ebony board. Currently their is a super distortion in the bridge. I play through a marshall Cali mod so I can get all the saturation I need from the amp. I'm looking for a pu w/ great dynamics and open tone. The super distortion is a bit to compressed in this guitar, also would like to tame a bit of the high end, but that's not my main concern.

I want to stay w/ the traditional look the of the san dimas charvel so looking for a double cream pu (I know this limits my options, but what do you guys recommend). I've tried a bare knuckles VHII in a different guitar, so would like to try something a bit different- more open sounding.

Thanks
Bob T.
 
Actually my number one pu I've been considering. I have it in one of my other GMW's and it works great. It's not as open as I'd like, but still does everything else really well.
 
it's always my go to when i want a warmer fatter sound from a floyded charvel style guitar. i have it in alder/maple/floyd and basswood with maple cap/maple/floyd and it works well in both.

the PAF Pro could also work for you if you don't need crazy output and want a bit more clarity.

just stay away from ceramic magnet pickups and go with something in the A5 magnet family or if you want to go even darker an A2 magnet. for Charvel style guitars though i always find A5 magnet pickups (in general, not in all cases) work best to be fatter than ceramic but not as woofy as a typical A2 can be.
 
i would not recommend a tonezone for an open type of tone - where you want the compression from the amplifier - the tonezone although dark in character has a very linear compressed character that will not ever go away and is high output to my ears. i ran tonezones for a little over 2 years and eventually i just started wanted something different - its not an end all be all pickup.

one thing i would recommend is a PEAVEY wolfgang pickup, not the new fender ones. more clear than a tonezone but with the same dimarzio attitude, clean up great, and medium output. they only come in zebra creme though - not sure how much that matters.

another option is to do an alnico 5 magnet swap on that super distortion. it tames the high end and makes it more dynamic - some people say its a close character to wolfgang pickups but i havent tried it back to back to tell a difference so i dont know. but judging by what you chose and what you are looking for this could be an option.

as far as open clear type of tones maybe try the dimarzio d-activators - they have a very distinct open character about them especially the neck pickup which can be used as a bridge pickup. i run a PAF pro in the neck of my ibanez and i would recommend trying the d-activator for a more aggressive tone, or a PAF pro for a more linear type of tone (but less-open-ness)
 
glpg80":1l5ndzda said:
another option is to do an alnico 5 magnet swap on that super distortion. it tames the high end and makes it more dynamic - some people say its a close character to wolfgang pickups but i havent tried it back to back to tell a difference so i dont know. but judging by what you chose and what you are looking for this could be an option.
Click to expand...

How do you conduct the magnet swap and where would I purchase an alnico 5 magnet?

Thanks
Bob T.
 
You absolutely should check out the Motor City Black Iron, or WCR Godwood. Big tone, nice drive and great bottom, but still very open and articulate.
 
bobbtoz":qc4o6yjv said:
glpg80":qc4o6yjv said:
another option is to do an alnico 5 magnet swap on that super distortion. it tames the high end and makes it more dynamic - some people say its a close character to wolfgang pickups but i havent tried it back to back to tell a difference so i dont know. but judging by what you chose and what you are looking for this could be an option.
Click to expand...

How do you conduct the magnet swap and where would I purchase an alnico 5 magnet?

Thanks
Bob T.
Click to expand...

Hey Bob, they are all over Ebay. choose a seller with a good reputation and go for it.

heres are a few good tutorials.

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/pickups ... -pics.html

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/barmagswap.htm

things with magnet swaps is to be careful about polarity - N stays N, and S stays S. as long as the new magnet is installed the same way as the other one you're fine.

IMHO i like to pull the magnets out without sticking anything into the pickup - thats a bad idea.

seymour duncan has alot of stuff on their site about magnet swaps, and google is your friend. its not hard or complicated at all to do. and some people go all out with blow dryers and such - you can choose to do this or not - i prefer to use a dryer to melt the wax just a tiny bit once the new magnet is in. its not hard or complicated - just use common sense and you're good to go.
 
glpg80":1lbaukth said:
bobbtoz":1lbaukth said:
glpg80":1lbaukth said:
another option is to do an alnico 5 magnet swap on that super distortion. it tames the high end and makes it more dynamic - some people say its a close character to wolfgang pickups but i havent tried it back to back to tell a difference so i dont know. but judging by what you chose and what you are looking for this could be an option.
Click to expand...

How do you conduct the magnet swap and where would I purchase an alnico 5 magnet?

Thanks
Bob T.
Click to expand...

Hey Bob, they are all over Ebay. choose a seller with a good reputation and go for it.

heres are a few good tutorials.

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/pickups ... -pics.html

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/barmagswap.htm

things with magnet swaps is to be careful about polarity - N stays N, and S stays S. as long as the new magnet is installed the same way as the other one you're fine.

IMHO i like to pull the magnets out without sticking anything into the pickup - thats a bad idea.

seymour duncan has alot of stuff on their site about magnet swaps, and google is your friend. its not hard or complicated at all to do. and some people go all out with blow dryers and such - you can choose to do this or not - i prefer to use a dryer to melt the wax just a tiny bit once the new magnet is in. its not hard or complicated - just use common sense and you're good to go.
Click to expand...

glpg80- Thanks for the info.

I swapped out the magnet in the dimarzio super distortion for a alnico 5. Works as you described. Tames the high end and is definetly more open. Doesn't clean up very well, but the dynamics are great and imo has an improved musical quality.

As far as the procedure to attempt this was a real pain in the ass. This is a simple mod w/ only a few steps, but trying to get the magnet out was a struggle. I had a pu w/ the alnico 5 magnet so I started w/ that before attempting the swap in my main guitar. Gently push the magnet out LOL! I couldn't get the fucking thing out w/ a jack hammer!!! I would highly recommend that at the point you're ready to attempt to push the magnet grab a blow dryer and heat the pick up. This will help melt the wax and might aid in freeing up the magnet a bit. If that doesn't work be prepared to swear your ass off while you look around the house to McGyver the magnet out.

Bob T.
 
IU wouldn't necessarily assume that ebony fretboard means higher end.. but if you have the guitar and know this for sure then maybe going the Dimarzio route is the answer but i have an alder custom strat with ebony fretboard and i found my air zone too round and not edgy enough for me. Tone zone is prob voiced similarly but with more distortion. For now I have settled on a JB but my Lawrence L-500 Nuno pickup might make it's way back in soon enough. He played alder N4's among his paduak one's and i wouldn't say his tone was every anything other than chunky.
 
Duncan Custom works well in bright guitars and is not compressed at all.
 
A Suhr DSH would work well for what you're looking for. It's hot(13k) but not overly hot and cleans up with the volume knob pretty well. If you want more output then try the DSH+(17k....JB hot). They have a smoother top end than the Aldrich or SSH family of pickups.
 
If by Duncan custom you mean the SH-5 then absolutely (they have what, 3 or 4 diff pickups with "custom" in it?) . I have a alder body with Koa top strat with a maple fretboard that i found really snappy and bright. SH-5 cured that. One of my fav. axes now.. awesome pickup with awesome harmonics and doesn't compress. Love to try a custom custom too though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top