What pickup for bright sounding guitar?

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mbman

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Hey guys,

Just got an old BCR Mockingbird that is neck thru. Wings and neck are mahogany and the fretboard is rosewood. The bridge is Kahler with brass rollers (don't know what the cam is). The guitar only has one pickup and one volume knob. I'm running it through a Diezel VH4S into a 212 Genz Benz G Flex or 412 FL Diezel cab.

The original DiMarzio Super Distortion was very shrill so I installed an Anderson H3 that I had laying around. Sounded a little bit better but the overall tone is still very bright. I'm looking for a good chunky sound, the Duncan JB is my go to pickup but I'm wondering what some other options you guys might suggest. I play mostly hard/classic rock: Sabbath, Zep, UFO etc...

Martin
 
I'd look at pickups with Alnico 2 magnets if it's really that bright, but that is rather odd for a Mahogany guitar...also keep in mind that the Genz Benz cabs are super bright if they have the stock speakers in them.

At any rate, if you go the A2 route, and since you love the JB, the Duncan RTM (DeMartini signature pup) is virtually a JB with an Alnico 2 magnet (or you could just buy an A2 and swap it out yourself). I'd also highly recommend the MCP Black Iron.

~Eric
 
Duncan Distortion is less bright, less shrill than a Dimarzio SD, if you want the same high output. I put a SD in my Soloist and I will be removing it today because it sounds shrill and bright compared to my usual Duncans. Duncan JB is my least favorite pickup, it's like having a Tube Screamer on whenever you play!

Pickups are so subjective though, try a few, but also try the guitar in another cab, or via headphones. Maybe the speakers are adding to the problem?
 
I had a stupidly bright Les Paul. I tried a bunch of pickups but settled on a Duncan Custom Custom. It was perfect for that particular guitar.
 
mbman":wn7d8xxq said:
Hey guys,

Just got an old BCR Mockingbird that is neck thru. Wings and neck are mahogany and the fretboard is rosewood. The bridge is Kahler with brass rollers (don't know what the cam is). The guitar only has one pickup and one volume knob. I'm running it through a Diezel VH4S into a 212 Genz Benz G Flex or 412 FL Diezel cab.

The original DiMarzio Super Distortion was very shrill so I installed an Anderson H3 that I had laying around. Sounded a little bit better but the overall tone is still very bright. I'm looking for a good chunky sound, the Duncan JB is my go to pickup but I'm wondering what some other options you guys might suggest. I play mostly hard/classic rock: Sabbath, Zep, UFO etc...

Martin
Click to expand...

Duncan Custom Custom. I might try switching the pot to 250k first though.
 
Audiowonderland":391po78u said:
mbman":391po78u said:
Hey guys,

Just got an old BCR Mockingbird that is neck thru. Wings and neck are mahogany and the fretboard is rosewood. The bridge is Kahler with brass rollers (don't know what the cam is). The guitar only has one pickup and one volume knob. I'm running it through a Diezel VH4S into a 212 Genz Benz G Flex or 412 FL Diezel cab.

The original DiMarzio Super Distortion was very shrill so I installed an Anderson H3 that I had laying around. Sounded a little bit better but the overall tone is still very bright. I'm looking for a good chunky sound, the Duncan JB is my go to pickup but I'm wondering what some other options you guys might suggest. I play mostly hard/classic rock: Sabbath, Zep, UFO etc...

Martin
Click to expand...

Duncan Custom Custom.
Click to expand...

I'm using this with a strat bolt-on that has a solid maple quilt body with birds-eye neck. Perfect. Lots of punch and harmonics.
 
Hmmm......I find the Dimarzio SD much darker than the Duncan Distortion. I also think the BKP Nailbomb is very bright (I have one in my V).

My recommendations would be the Duncan Custom Custom, Dimarzio Air Zone or Breed, or Suhr DSH+.
 
+1 on the custom custom. Perfect for a bright guitar with a FLoyd or in this case a Kahler.
 
Thank you everybody for your suggestions. I think I'm gonna go with the SD Custom Custom, it is on my list as is the Alternative 8. Maybe later when funds allow I'll try a Nailbomb with and Alnico mag.

Thanks again for your input.

Martin
 
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