Pickups for mahogany body with maple top

[shredhead7]

I have an Ibanez RG2020 that I put a JB/59 set in years ago and while it sounds good, isn't my favorite. I have numerous Alder body guitars that I have Dimarzio Super Distortions that just rip, but I'm not sure how they would sound in a mahogany body. I'm really looking for a slightly hotter pickup, that is along the lines of the SD, but can still roll back for a nice break up. I'm thinking maybe the SD distortion or Custom Custom?

 

[SavageRiffer]

I have an Ibanez RG2020 that I put a JB/59 set in years ago and while it sounds good, isn't my favorite. I have numerous Alder body guitars that I have Dimarzio Super Distortions that just rip, but I'm not sure how they would sound in a mahogany body. I'm really looking for a slightly hotter pickup, that is along the lines of the SD, but can still roll back for a nice break up. I'm thinking maybe the SD distortion or Custom Custom?

It depends. The Super Distortion is great and has been used in many Les Pauls since they came out. Typical PAF types have a bit of a scoop in the midrange, so if you're looking for kind of a traditional thing, then the PAF Master from Dimarzio or PAF 36th would be awesome. The Duncan Custom does well too, but some mahogany bodies have pronounced upper mids, and if yours does, then the Custom might get a little bitey in the high end. The Seymour Ducan Pegasus and Saturday Night Specials would be my choice from Duncan.

However, you need to check out David Allen P-51 Mustangs. They're up there with Bareknuckle, WCR, Motor City, etc... They're outstanding pickups and sound good in any kind of music. I like them better than Duncans. They have a bit more power than classic PAFs, but still embody that sound quite well, and handle heavier distortion with fair clarity. These are the pickups to get for a mahogany body.

 

[paulyc]

I have Jackson J90Cs in a couple of my Les Pauls, they're my favorite pickup for LP type guitars, BUT they are F spaced and don't fit stock Gibson P/U rings, so modifications are needed to install them...

 

[ProgFree]

the SD distortion is a good high output pickup for mahogany/maple

 

[shredhead7]

Thanks guys!

 

[Vin Diezel]

dp223

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I have an Ibanez RG2020 that I put a JB/59 set in years ago and while it sounds good, isn't my favorite. I have numerous Alder body guitars that I have Dimarzio Super Distortions that just rip, but I'm not sure how they would sound in a mahogany body. I'm really looking for a slightly hotter pickup, that is along the lines of the SD, but can still roll back for a nice break up. I'm thinking maybe the SD distortion or Custom Custom?

To play what type of music?

DImarzio Dominions sounded great in my LP and so does the BK Rebel Yell.

 

[stratjacket]

Does the mahogany give the guitar a deep, warm sound? If so, then I would look at pickups with a high treble or high mid eq curve. All the sites (SD, Dimarzio, BKP) give eq curves for their pickups. So the ones that come to mind that may be a good fit, depending on the type of music you play, would be:
SD Black Winter
Dimarzio Evolution
Dimarzio dactivators
BKP Painillers
BKP Cold Sweat
All those have high mid/treble spikes to offset and balance the dark mahogany. Of course just because it's mahogany doesn't necessarily make the guitar dark, but in general. And you already have the guitar so hopefully you already have a feel for that.