need some pickup recommendations

[turmoil]

so over the weekend i installed a Seymour Duncan JB and Hot Rails into my Caparison Horus. Prior to the install it had an EMG 81 and SA combo. i actually dig EMGs because i tend to play heavier metal/death metal and some rock stuff.

i've had a few days to play it through my Powerball and other amps and i've come to the conclusion that i like the JB a lot, but i feel that the low end needed for really tight metal riffing (ala In Flames, At the Gates, etc) just isn't really there and it's kind of a bummer because i like everything else about it.
The Hot rails are ok. i don't spend a whole lot of time on the neck pickup as it is but i would say i like it a lot less than the EMG SA i had in there before. Just a big bowl of 'meh' right here.

So with all that in mind, and the fact that i want to keep my Horus for straight up metal what pickup combos could you recommend for me to try out?

I'm thinking about a Bareknuckle Painkiller but what would compliment that in the neck (as a single coil)? I was also thinking about trying Seymour Duncan Blackouts since i've yet to try/hear those.

any suggestions are welcomed

 

[mrp5150]

If you like the JB, definitely check out the SH-5 Custom. It's kind of similar to the JB, but is a bit more aggressive and has a tighter low end.

 

[chunktone]

Duncan Custom 5.

 

[turmoil]

sweet! i'll definitely try to get my hands on that SH-5 custom.

i also kind of wanted to stay in the passive pickup domain for a while so i don't have to change all the wiring out again so this would work nicely

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

you should be able to call Duncan and they'll trade straight up for a deferent pickup.


i did it with them before and they sent out the new one, and did the honor system on me sending them the one i didn't like.

 

[blackba]

I would try an Anderson H3 or H2+. The H3 is the hotter of the two.

The Duncan Custom is a good choice too, it has a ceramic magnet so it should be a little more agressive and tighter than your JB.

Not sure what to tell you on the neck. I have a hot rails in the bridge of my strat that I like, but I wouldn't think of trying it in the neck. Rio Grande has a railgunner, you might give that a try.

 

[turmoil]

I would try an Anderson H3 or H2+. The H3 is the hotter of the two.

The Duncan Custom is a good choice too, it has a ceramic magnet so it should be a little more agressive and tighter than your JB.

Not sure what to tell you on the neck. I have a hot rails in the bridge of my strat that I like, but I wouldn't think of trying it in the neck. Rio Grande has a railgunner, you might give that a try.

I've never heard any Anderson pickups before i'll have to look into those now too!

you should be able to call Duncan and they'll trade straight up for a deferent pickup.


i did it with them before and they sent out the new one, and did the honor system on me sending them the one i didn't like.

man that is pretty cool but i bought this pickup used so i bet that doesn't apply to me

 

[rupe]

My two recommendations for the bridge have already been mentioned. The Anderson H2+ is my favorite pickup...it will do what you want from a tight low end standpoint. It is pretty hot yet still very dynamic.

The Duncan Custom has a tighter low end than the JB and might suit you better as well, but I would still give the Anderson a try first.

For the neck (which is more of a mid-neck position on the Horus), you will do better with a true single coil or stacked bucker over a hotrails style pickup (which tend to sound a bit dull and undefined to me in that position). An Anderson SD2 or SA2 (more mids) will work nicely, as will a Dimarzio SDS1 or various Duncans with a "hot vintage" voicing.

My Rand guitars have a similar electronics layout to the Horus so I've experimented a lot with what works in the "neck" position.

 

[killertone]

I'm thinking about a Bareknuckle Painkiller but what would compliment that in the neck (as a single coil)? I was also thinking about trying Seymour Duncan Blackouts since i've yet to try/hear those.

any suggestions are welcomed

I would not get a Painkiller. It is tight but very honky sounding. I would grab a Nailbomb. It is like the ultimate JB, IMO. Super tight bottom end and greater clarity. Highly recommended.

 

[ejecta]

Duncan Custom 5.

Yep!

 

[turmoil]

My two recommendations for the bridge have already been mentioned. The Anderson H2+ is my favorite pickup...it will do what you want from a tight low end standpoint. It is pretty hot yet still very dynamic.

The Duncan Custom has a tighter low end than the JB and might suit you better as well, but I would still give the Anderson a try first.

For the neck (which is more of a mid-neck position on the Horus), you will do better with a true single coil or stacked bucker over a hotrails style pickup (which tend to sound a bit dull and undefined to me in that position). An Anderson SD2 or SA2 (more mids) will work nicely, as will a Dimarzio SDS1 or various Duncans with a "hot vintage" voicing.

My Rand guitars have a similar electronics layout to the Horus so I've experimented a lot with what works in the "neck" position.

thanks for all that great info! i only put the Hot Rails in because i had one laying around from an old project guitar. it definitely sounds dull and way undefined for me too. I'm thinking about trying a Dimarzio but that Anderson SA2 sounds very nice. I was just concerned that using a regular single coil would have too big of a volume drop when going from a Humbucker to a single.

 

[rupe]

My two recommendations for the bridge have already been mentioned. The Anderson H2+ is my favorite pickup...it will do what you want from a tight low end standpoint. It is pretty hot yet still very dynamic.

The Duncan Custom has a tighter low end than the JB and might suit you better as well, but I would still give the Anderson a try first.

For the neck (which is more of a mid-neck position on the Horus), you will do better with a true single coil or stacked bucker over a hotrails style pickup (which tend to sound a bit dull and undefined to me in that position). An Anderson SD2 or SA2 (more mids) will work nicely, as will a Dimarzio SDS1 or various Duncans with a "hot vintage" voicing.

My Rand guitars have a similar electronics layout to the Horus so I've experimented a lot with what works in the "neck" position.

thanks for all that great info! i only put the Hot Rails in because i had one laying around from an old project guitar. it definitely sounds dull and way undefined for me too. I'm thinking about trying a Dimarzio but that Anderson SA2 sounds very nice. I was just concerned that using a regular single coil would have too big of a volume drop when going from a Humbucker to a single.

That's a good concern to have, which is why I dig the SA2...it's loud and punchy enough to compete with the H2+ yet can still sound glassy and sweet when you want it to. It's a stacked bucker and splits beautifully as well for even more "chime".

 

[turmoil]

nice! i definitely need to check that out. can you buy that pickup directly from somewhere online?

Another pickup in question:

Seymour Duncan Full Shred - the description sounds pretty cool and i definitely tend to do a lot of metal solo work on this guitar, but would the low end be tight enough for the sound i'm looking for?

also, no love for the SD Blackouts around here???

 

[rupe]

You should be able to snag one from any of the Anderson dealers listed on the website, or perhaps try an ebay search.

I have a Full Shred in one of my Rands and I must say that I like it a lot...very tight, focused low end. It sounds much bigger to me than the "eq curve" shown on SD's website would indicate. Definitely worth a try. It's probably about the same output as a JB or Custom (a bit less than the Distortion) but a bit smoother and tighter overall.

A lot will ultimately depend on Horus' makeup...experiment until you find the winner

 

[JTyson]

I would try an Anderson H3 or H2+. The H3 is the hotter of the two.

The Duncan Custom is a good choice too, it has a ceramic magnet so it should be a little more agressive and tighter than your JB.

Not sure what to tell you on the neck. I have a hot rails in the bridge of my strat that I like, but I wouldn't think of trying it in the neck. Rio Grande has a railgunner, you might give that a try.

Just stuck an H3+ in a Modern Eagle, it sounds very good

 

[Vrad]

If you like the JB, definitely check out the SH-5 Custom. It's kind of similar to the JB, but is a bit more aggressive and has a tighter low end.

The Custom is kind of a cross between a JB and a Distortion to my ears. The JB is sweeter. The Custom is more obnoxious.