Ok, so I am going to try a passive pickup...which one???

[Mailman1971]

I went from using EMG's for 10+ years.....
buddy brang over his Suhr with the Aldrich in it........
It wasnt heavier.....but had this certain Growl and BITE to it that was killer...

switched over and havent looked back!

 

[Gainfreak]

Id say a Duncan distortion might be what you are looking for but Im not sure how it will be in a LP type guitar. Anyone who I have hipped to these pickups who have used active pickups or EMG's in the past have loved these pickups.

Now with that said, I still say screw everone who says that you use to much gain and blah blah blah... Ive spent the last year gigging for various bands and after to listening to people Ive turned th gain way down, stopped using effects and listend to all the horseshit that people say and ive come to the conclusion that i had more fun with my gained out effected tone and here is the real ass kicker...... I had more compliment on my playing and tone when I used my regular sound.

The bottom line is if you are doing this to try something different then by all means do it because I have!! But if you are doing because you are listening to what most asshats say then I say screw it

Thanks Ralph

I am NOT going to change my "tone" I just want a guitar to have some passives so I can do the comparison in these vids I do. I like my maxed gained delayed tone, and it's staying. I just want to have this LP around so when someone says..."I want to hear it with passives", then I can say here..passives.

Mark

Gotcha!!

With that said, its' great to have a variety of stuff. I just wanted to make sure that you weren't doing this because you were listening to the gain/tone police

 

[Shark Diver]

I have a few you can try. BKs Rebel Yells, and VHIIs. A Motor City something. LOL I don't remember which. Pick up output isn't necessarily directly related to the gain you hear. I think you should try a Cold Sweat in the LP. I bet you love it. Very '80s, but can cop those '70s tones as well.

With your CAA amp you'll hear a big difference with different pups. With the Axe FX not so much. A difference still, but those A/D converters kill.

 

[Greazygeo]

No, I'd actually like to try one of those also. The only thing that scares me off is that people say it sits between the JB and Distortion. I HATE the JB, and the Distortion is marginal, so I am not sure...

The Custom doesnt sound anything like the JB....it's basically a Distortion thats not as high output and a bit less bright. Same tight low end and it cleans up better when turning down.

 

[glpg80]

i literally had the invader in like a day. not even 3 hours. i refuse to even describe it, i hate that pickup

What did you hate about it?

I am VERY gradual with gear, lol. I had a Dactivator in a guitar for like the last 2 years, never did like it much, and finally took it out today

magnet pull for one thing. i used the pickup to hold my wrench when setting up the guitar strings

i was taking the pickup out, and the magnet pull literally sucked the screws to the pickup as i was pulling them out.

its too high output in the wrong frequencies, just overall too controlling of your overall guitar sound. you can forget about dynamics - i literally watched my buddy down in the basement install it in his guitar, and with different woods/neck/etc the tone was almost identical. i remember saying in my head "yeah have fun with that"

i dont consider it a pickup, i consider it a magnetic-like object that makes sound. thats all its good for in my opinion.

 

[lolzgreg]

Duncan Custom!

Yep.

 

[ke2]

So if I wanted to check out another Duncan in my JB loaded 7-string Schecter.....?
Distortion or Custom?

The JB is simply too "lazy/polite/un-edgy" to my ears. It's okay, but I want more

 

[Shask]

No, I'd actually like to try one of those also. The only thing that scares me off is that people say it sits between the JB and Distortion. I HATE the JB, and the Distortion is marginal, so I am not sure...

The Custom doesnt sound anything like the JB....it's basically a Distortion thats not as high output and a bit less bright. Same tight low end and it cleans up better when turning down.

Now see, I don't think the Distortion is that tight on the low end. Not compared to the EMG 707 and 85 I typically use.

I think it is an OK pickup, but I wont use it when tight low end is required...

 

[hawkeye17]

From the ones on your list I'd go with the Suhr Aldrich. If you want to try something different then I'd suggest getting in touch with the owner of Wolfetone pickups and tell him what you're looking for. He'll make it for you and it would probably be a Blisterbucker or a variation on that pickup. Wolfe is a great guy to deal with and he makes fantastic pickups, especially for Les Pauls. From your videos and style it looks like our tastes are pretty similar and I slapped a Wolfetone Fenris in my Les Paul. Killer pickup but it might be a bit less output than you're looking for. With Wolfe you can even pick the magnets you prefer in the pickup and I had him use Alnico 2's in mine. I used to be addicted to high output pickups but the Fenris is about 14.5k ohms and I found it to have more dynamics than the JB's or other high output pickups I've used in the past. You might be surprised with a slightly lower output pickup and getting your distortion more from the amp. When a pickup is overwound for higher output the mids increase but the high and low end can soften. Good luck with your search.

 

[chunktone]

I just put a set of Motor City Pickups in. I got the Afwayu set, and really like it! Rio Grange BBQ is very good too. If you are trying to match the output of actives, I'd try a Duncan Invader or Dimarzio X2N. You mentioned Whitesnake, Sykes used a Gibson Dirty fingers. I have one that I would sell. Send me a PM if you want to try it.

 

[Mark Day]

Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it. I have a set of Suhr Aldrich pickups on the way!!

It won't take to long to get them in and post some clips

Thanks again for the suggestions!!

Mark

 

[rupe]

I offer you a risk free opportunity to try the H2+ and you spurn my generosity? I predict a horse head in your bed

 

[axemeaquestion]

Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it. I have a set of Suhr Aldrich pickups on the way!!

It won't take to long to get them in and post some clips

Thanks again for the suggestions!!

Mark

Dang nab it. Now my vote will be meaningless.

 

[Mark Day]

I offer you a risk free opportunity to try the H2+ and you spurn my generosity? I predict a horse head in your bed

Whoops I think I missed that post...let me look.

Ah yes. Great offer but after I get it into Canada..land of ridiculous taxation and back to you...I doubt very much much you'd want to pay $450 usd for a pickup...lol.

It would cost you way too much to export a horse head to Canada, you'd be held up at the border forever trying to get livestock across, somebody would scream mad horse disease or something and then import duties would bankrupt you.



Mark

 

[hawkeye17]

Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it. I have a set of Suhr Aldrich pickups on the way!!

It won't take to long to get them in and post some clips

Thanks again for the suggestions!!

Mark

If that Aldrich is too "flubby" in the low end then try something with a bit lower output...worked for me. I think you'll dig the Aldrich though.

 

[Shark Diver]

I offer you a risk free opportunity to try the H2+ and you spurn my generosity? I predict a horse head in your bed

I did the same. 2 heads are better than 1.

 

[Mark Day]

I offer you a risk free opportunity to try the H2+ and you spurn my generosity? I predict a horse head in your bed

I did the same. 2 heads are better than 1.

You sir and I are going to do some hanging out when I get to Cali to live. Don't write me off yet

Mark

 

[Shark Diver]

I offer you a risk free opportunity to try the H2+ and you spurn my generosity? I predict a horse head in your bed

I did the same. 2 heads are better than 1.

You sir and I are going to do some hanging out when I get to Cali to live. Don't write me off yet

Mark

(And you'll be able to talk John into making my 22 fret Modern. )

 

[skoora]

From the ones on your list I'd go with the Suhr Aldrich. If you want to try something different then I'd suggest getting in touch with the owner of Wolfetone pickups and tell him what you're looking for. He'll make it for you and it would probably be a Blisterbucker or a variation on that pickup. Wolfe is a great guy to deal with and he makes fantastic pickups, especially for Les Pauls. From your videos and style it looks like our tastes are pretty similar and I slapped a Wolfetone Fenris in my Les Paul. Killer pickup but it might be a bit less output than you're looking for. With Wolfe you can even pick the magnets you prefer in the pickup and I had him use Alnico 2's in mine. I used to be addicted to high output pickups but the Fenris is about 14.5k ohms and I found it to have more dynamics than the JB's or other high output pickups I've used in the past. You might be surprised with a slightly lower output pickup and getting your distortion more from the amp. When a pickup is overwound for higher output the mids increase but the high and low end can soften. Good luck with your search.

I love my Marshallheads in my Flying V. Would love to try one of his higher output pu's but I need another guitar to do it. The Timbrewolf or Fenris could be pretty nice.

Mark, I don't see why you should change. I prefer passives and less gain but you should play how you want to play and how you want to sound. I watch your vids knowing what I'm going to get. Maybe if in the vid you say you're playing a classic older tune it doesn't sound right gacked out but again it's how you want to hear it. But I do think it's a good idea to have a few guitars set up very differently from each other for tone, keeps it interesting. I want an EMG guitar just for the variety.

 

[reilly]

I would stay away from the SD distortion

I have had some experience with Rio Grandes and was very impressed with all of them, I have tried the BBQ, Tallboy, Crunchbox and Punchbox liked them all.

I just put a Anderson H3+ in my ESP Eclipse (mahogoney body and neck with a maple top) Sounds really killer, I have a H1 coming for the neck in a day or two. The H3+ sounds pretty killer, I can send you a sound clip if you would like to hear it (just PM me your email). A lot of people said the H3+ would be too dark but I think it sounds great.

I have good recording equipment so I can get you a quality clip.