I've recently got a second hand McCarty that came with Dimarzio Virtual PAF's. They're really not doing it for me. I play is a cover band that does mainly 90's and 2000's rock. Anyone have a good recommendation for pickups with a little more power to them than the Dimarzios currently in there?
Pickup question
- Thread starter Undertone
- Start date
gush
Where is that speedo pic
5909s all the way baby! Drag 1s are a little hotter but you will have to find them used. I love both.
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Bowtiefanatc
Confirmed Bird Snob
They are amazing pickups. I have them in one of my CU24's. Look for them on the used market and you should be able to get them for a little less
Hedonismbot
I apologize for nothing!
Well, can you give me more descriptions about what you are looking for tone-wise? I am big Seymour fan, so I've played and own a bunch of their humbuckers. Are you looking for high output, PAF tone, modern tone? What amp are you playing through?
First I play through a Mesa F50 and I do covers. I do everything from Earth Wind and Fire to REM and then to Metallica. I like a pickup that will be balanced and let the tone of the guitar ring through. I was looking at the SD Pearly Gates or the Whole Lotta Humbucker. I don't like the high gain "squashed" pickups.
Thanks!
MistaSnowman
Play it LOUD!!!
In the neck, I suggest this...
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/vintage-output/59_model_sh1_an/
...and in the bridge, I suggest this...
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/medium-output/sh5_duncan_cust/
Good luck in your tone quest!!!
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/vintage-output/59_model_sh1_an/
...and in the bridge, I suggest this...
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/medium-output/sh5_duncan_cust/
Good luck in your tone quest!!!
SH-5... I don't know why but, ceramic magnets scare me. 59 in the neck might be my next stop if i can't score a 59/09 or a 58/08 discounted.
gush
Where is that speedo pic
Good suggestion, but I'd consider the complete '59 set (not just for neck). Inexpensive and easy to find, and with the A5 magnets they have plenty of punch while still maintaining a vintage vibe. Your bridge recommendation does sound promising as well, but I'm just not familiar with it.
gush
Where is that speedo pic
Hedonismbot
I apologize for nothing!
Sorry for the delay on this... I assume by "squashed" you are referring to the sound of compression that a lot of high-output pickups have. Understood. The Whole Lotta Humbuckers are PHENOMENAL as they cover a lot of ground. They have a way of sounding like they are hotter than they are when you really push them, but still have an open, complex sound that can be backed-off on for more vintage-rock sounds. You can do metal if need be, and if your pick attack is less-aggressive and you roll the volume back, you can get most gain-levels you are looking for without any "squashed" sound. I have a Custom 22 on order that will come with the 57/08s. My plan if I don't care for them is to go with a Whole Lotta Humbucker set.
The Pearly Gates has a looser sound. To my ears, it's a little less open. People say they have a growl, but I call it a "raspy-ness." Not a bad thing. But they cannot do metal. The more, bluesy, raspy, looser low-end will not crunch very well from my experience. You can do most other sounds. But I don't think they are as versatile as a set of 59s or WLHs. Pickups w/Alnico II mags in general have a soft bass sound, so getting the "crunch" can be tough. If you're going 90's, I'd steer more towards the WLH set as you have more versatility. BTW, the Pearly Gates neck humbucker is a great "sweet but ballsy" neck pickup.
I know someone recommended the SH-5 Custom too. To be honest, despite the ceramic magnet giving you a little uncertainty, it's a good choice. It's more of a medium output pickup to my ears. It's not vrey compressed, but again, I would say there are better choices given your criteria. Another option to consider is the SH-16 Custom/59 hybrid. It's a Custom coil and a 59 coil put together with an Alnico 5 magnet. I have one in a Gibson LP with a 59 in the neck. Sounds great in that LP, and the Custom/59 hybrid sounds like a PAF with a little kick. Plus, the mismatched coils provide a sort-of "three-dimensional" sound, if you will, that creates great tone (keep in mind that most PAFs in the day didn't have today's quality control and had mismatched coils as well).
My suggestions are as follows (Bridge - Neck):
59 - 59
Custom/59 Hybrid - 59
Whole Lotta HB - Whole Lotta HB
Whole Lotta HB - Alnico II Pro
That last suggestion is a favorite of mine as the Alnico II Pro neck humbucker gives you that "Slash-Sound" as it is what he used on Appetite For Destruction. Hope this has been helpful.
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