Pickup Advice

[Rex Rocker]

Fishman Fluence Classics!

 

[anomaly]

My opinions on what pickups I like best are solely based on what my ears told me in extensive comparisons of lots of different ones in many different guitars, not whether it’s an industry standard or if other famous guys used them (I could care less about that), just what my ears tell me in person (not recordings), and I’m confident if others did the same with the pickups I’ve had they would no longer use any Dimarzio or Duncan’s. There are some decent sounding pickups they have (I’ve tried them all), but especially with Tone Specific, the only current made pickups I use, their high output set wiped the floor with all the pickups I compared them to in the same guitars (in multiple different guitars). The difference in clarity and tonal complexity/nuance is huge. I agree that if you have a great sounding guitar, you can definitely have them still sound great with Duncan’s or Dimarzio’s, but since we’re big tone hounds here that want the best, there are simply options that sound noticeably better. For what it’s worth I’ve had almost all the pickups in the Bareknuckle, motor city, Wagner, Arcane, Wolfetone, Duncan and Dimarzio lineup, Lundgren M6, Klein’s, Virgil Arlo, Dry Z, Ian Anderson, WB, Suhr, Fralin, Lollar, Throbak, Budz and others I’m probably forgetting. The point is I’ve done my homework and based on it I recommend Jim Wagner Iron Man for price and short wait time, but if one’s budget is higher and willing to wait, this upcoming Tone Specific Highoutput set will be a step up. Just my 2 cents

I've tried Barenuckle pickups in a couple of my guitars and meh... didn't care for them at all to be honest. I'll stick with Duncans,, and even EMG 57/66 sets in some of my guitars. To each his own.

 

[Ventura]

This is for a PRS SE.

Trying to upgrade a backup guitar and give it more of a different flavor. My main axe is a korina jazzmaster with a p90 in the neck, firebird in the middle, and Wilde L90 in the bridge. Definitely it's own thing, Gibson flavor with a Fender scale and shape. With those pickups, it covers a good deal of general rock tones, but isn't super hot.

I'd like to replace the neck and bridge HB's in the other guitar, turning it into more of a rock machine while retaining clarity and versatility.

Neck: Ideal pickup has nice cleans (deep, 'bell' tones), splits well, and has a fluid lead tone when driven. Probably in the PAF camp.

potential contenders: Suhr SSV or Thornbucker, Dunable Grizzly, Air Northon, 36th Anni., some Wolfetone or WCR options, Anderson H1

Bridge: Decent clean up. Less concerned about split tones here. Punchy, percussive, chunky on palm muted rhythms, nice searing lead when called for. I guess more in the JB range while retaining some nice PAF characteristics.

potential contenders: Suhr DSH(reg or +), Suhr SSH(reg or +), Suhr Aldrich, Dunable Slugwolf, BKP Rebel Yell, Nailbomb, Cold Sweat, DiMarzio Fortitude, WCR Icebucker, Perpetual Burn, Anderson H3

I'm sure there are even more options to consider than what I've listed and I'm not necessarily leaning one way or another yet. Just trying to get a feel for what might suit me. When I play heavier stuff, it's mostly anywhere from AIC to Tool to APC to Killswitch Engage to other 00's-era post hardcore/metalcore, or things like Russian Circles and Cult of Luna.

Thanks

DiMarzio SuperDistortion Bridge (don't let the name fool ya...it's incredibly versatile)
SD '59 Neck

And hundreds of dollars saved.
2 cents, given.

Yes, I'm a fanboi of BKP and have converted a few Lesters to "all" RebelYells. They're fkn amazing pickups. But if this is your backup axe?? I think a DiMarzio SD and a SeymourDuncan 59 would kick all kinds of ass in the bridge/neck locations.

 

[braintheory]

I've tried Barenuckle pickups in a couple of my guitars and meh... didn't care for them at all to be honest. I'll stick with Duncans,, and even EMG 57/66 sets in some of my guitars. To each his own.

I also don’t like Bare Knuckles at all. Too sterile. I’d take Duncan’s over them. The BKP’s were honestly the least impressive of the “boutique” pickups I’ve tried. Don’t let them ruin or represent other boutique pickups for you. Almost all the other ones sound much better and more organic and have better feel than Bare Knuckles. The Jim Wagner’s are really great and appeal to guys like myself who also liked Duncan’s a lot before getting deeper into this rabbit hole. Worth trying imo

I also have one guitar with Fishman Fluence KSE’s when I want a more modern, tight sound, but I don’t play it that often

 

[braintheory]

Seymour Duncan's and Dimarzio's (especially SD's) are industry standards, i wouldn't rule them out at all. I bet most of your favorite tones were done with Seymour Duncans. You don't need to go the boutique route to get great tone out of your guitar... SD has something for everyone.

Also about my favorite recorded guitar tones, I don’t actually have many that do much for me (In terms of just tone itself, not the playing or music) and I don’t put too much weight in that stuff, but Schaffer of Iced Earth I think has really great tone and he uses Jim Wagner Icebuckers, but I’m sure it’s really his Larry amp that I’m responding to

 

[RedPlated]

The pickup that I really like lately is the Duncan Alternative 8. The EQ is damn near perfect. Tight bass, nice mids, smooth treble. Zero harshness or weird frequency. It looks like a full-blown metal pickup on paper but it's not. They are awesome. I have one in my Charvel San Dimas and one in a Les Paul. Great in both.

 

[Smash]

I have always been a fan of the custom/59 hybrid. But I have one of the wagonner ironman pickups thanks to brain theory's praise. As soon as i change strings again, i am going to put it in the jackson. I am very excited.

 

[CoolGuitarGear]

I'm looking for a good humbucker for my Parker Dragonfly (plays fantastic, but sound like ass for hard rock or metal... meant for clean or slightly dirty). I presume the information in this thread applies. I had a Solar and I really liked those pickups... very 'flat', but super for metal rhythm (OK for lead, but sounded better for those dry hi-gain tones). FYI... need it to coil tap.

 

[RedPlated]

Custom 59 hybrid is also a very good pickup. I tried it with an A2 and it's really great.