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General Category => Jam Room => Topic started by: franksnbeans on February 09, 2012, 12:40:17 AM

Title: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: franksnbeans on February 09, 2012, 12:40:17 AM
for my guitar.   It came with duncan design brand pickups that aren't doing the job.

What I am looking for are some humbucker pickups to give a good tone for crushing doom and black metal guitar without all the mud.



(EDITED FOR POLITENESS.  ;D ;D ;D)
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: VOLVO))) on February 09, 2012, 12:49:19 AM
Well, since you said please, I'll offer GFS pickups of almost any type. Mid-output pickups are usually the best, they maintain clarity and are perfect for doom.


May I suggest Humbucker sized P90s?
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: franksnbeans on February 09, 2012, 01:05:46 AM
Pretty please, with sugar on it.

mid-output.  A lot of people use those p90's.  How do they sound for black metal?
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: neighbor664 on February 09, 2012, 01:09:15 AM
F&B, I know your bro has a guitar with some of those Mean 90's. Maybe he'd let you give 'em a spin.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: mutantcolors on February 09, 2012, 01:17:16 AM
Those are the exact pick ups I would recommend. I have no idea what ridiculous gobs of distortion people are after when they tell me that 90s don't get enough distortion, because I can get way more than plenty.

everything on my bandcamp was done with a mean 90 loaded mockingbird except for the solo in Death Perception. I'll let you decide, but I fucking love 'em and I have for years.

http://psychedelicsexorgan.bandcamp.com/
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: VOLVO))) on February 09, 2012, 01:20:43 AM
The Mean 90's will give you more of a jangle if you EQ bright, but they certainly mix for black metal... I did this with a tele, hahaha.

Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: mutantcolors on February 09, 2012, 01:25:34 AM
clarity of a single (if you want it) with all the power of a bucker. They'll fuzz up real quick if that's what you're after
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: franksnbeans on February 09, 2012, 01:39:50 AM
Okay, cool..but I looked up the p90 pickups and there's a dimarzio, a gibson one, a seymour duncan one, etc...

Which one would you suggest?
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: mutantcolors on February 09, 2012, 01:50:24 AM
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Mean-90-True-Alnico-P90-Pickup-in-Humbucker-Case-Our-FATTEST-Bridge-Pickup_p_480.html

Do not let that price fool you. In fact, revel in it.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: franksnbeans on February 09, 2012, 01:53:09 AM
Yeah, they're all hella economically priced.  How do they do that?
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: mutantcolors on February 09, 2012, 02:11:45 AM
Says right there. No dealers, just direct. Those are the pick ups I use. No more buckers for me.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: yesca on February 09, 2012, 03:37:32 AM
maybe a Lace Drop & Gain. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI3A7b0V6Ew

scott wino approved
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: liquidsmoke on February 09, 2012, 05:26:00 AM
Quote from: mutantcolors on February 09, 2012, 01:50:24 AM
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Mean-90-True-Alnico-P90-Pickup-in-Humbucker-Case-Our-FATTEST-Bridge-Pickup_p_480.html

Do not let that price fool you. In fact, revel in it.

Damn! I like those prices. http://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-Guitar-Pickups_c_7.html
Will keep these guys in mind.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: liquidsmoke on February 09, 2012, 05:34:59 AM
Quote from: yesca on February 09, 2012, 03:37:32 AM
maybe a Lace Drop & Gain. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI3A7b0V6Ew

scott wino approved

Great tone there. I'm really glad I bought an SM57, looking forward to using it.

Some folks in this thread said that these pups have an almost active type sound and stay clear sounding-
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?2541312-Lace-drop-n-gain

Guitar tone is such a massive thing. From your pick style to strings on down through and to the speakers there are so many ways to tweak things. It's kind of maddening actually.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: franksnbeans on February 09, 2012, 01:22:35 PM
The lace & drop sound good, but I can't tell if it's wino or his guitar that makes it sound so good.  It says they're especially made for drop D tuning.  I usually play in C.  It might make it too bassy?
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: mutantcolors on February 09, 2012, 03:38:05 PM
Ever thought you were thinking way too hard?

When was the last time some doom guy spouted off about getting pick ups specifically for like, drop G or whatever?
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: franksnbeans on February 09, 2012, 04:51:29 PM
Well, I don't wanna spend a bunch of cash on a crappy guitar to continue the crappy sounds.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: The Riffer on February 09, 2012, 05:14:26 PM
Look at Motorcity Pickups. I've tried about every medium output pickup out there, I'll never use anything but his stuff again. If you want something a little hotter look at the Afwayu, hot like a Super D. and cleans up like a PAF.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: franksnbeans on February 13, 2012, 03:49:52 PM
Thanks for the help, but I went against the grain and got me one of these:  http://www.guitarcenter.com/DiMarzio-DP102-X2N-Pickup-302021-i1127585.gc?source=4TEM8XOC
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: Beasleyboy on February 13, 2012, 09:50:31 PM
Check out BKP Warpigs or Pig 90's (P90 version, I have these in my SG and they're absolutely perfect for doom. Absolutely HUGE and clear low end)
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: VOLVO))) on February 13, 2012, 10:17:44 PM
Quote from: franksnbeans on February 13, 2012, 03:49:52 PM
Thanks for the help, but I went against the grain and got me one of these:  http://www.guitarcenter.com/DiMarzio-DP102-X2N-Pickup-302021-i1127585.gc?source=4TEM8XOC

Ask for recommendations.

Does the total opposite of what is recommended.

Rad.

The X2N is super hot. Cool, though. John Petrucci approved.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: franksnbeans on February 14, 2012, 01:50:23 AM
The x2n is in the chuck shuldiner tribut bc rich guitar.  I think it may be right for black metal and stuff. 

That's just for the bridge though.

What should I use for the neck?
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: I,Galactus on February 14, 2012, 08:43:03 AM
Sounds like you need to get one of these 90's urrbody talkin bout.

That way ya got black in the bridge, doom in the neck, blackened doom in the middle.


/compromise
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: clockwork green on February 14, 2012, 09:21:59 AM
You'll never vet the exact perfect pickup on here...too many factors. You may have the same guitar, amp, pedals and tuning as someone else and love their sound but their string brand, pick position or touch may make your setup sound like crap. Just look for the right ballpark and either hope you get lucky or try and build around that sound. I have AlNiCo Warpig's in two Gibson V's with the same strings and action but to me each guitar sounds quite a bit different. Another huge tip that an absurd number of people overlook is pickup height. Super minor adjustments to the entire pickup or pole-pieces can change the sound quite a bit.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: mawso on February 14, 2012, 12:00:28 PM
Quote from: franksnbeans on February 13, 2012, 03:49:52 PM
Thanks for the help, but I went against the grain and got me one of these:  http://www.guitarcenter.com/DiMarzio-DP102-X2N-Pickup-302021-i1127585.gc?source=4TEM8XOC

seems an odd choice, given your initial specs and all

I would have said a BKP nailbomb or painkiller

it's all kinda just spitballin tho, given that we don't know what gat you're puttin it in, or what you're plugging it into
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: VOLVO))) on February 14, 2012, 12:01:51 PM
Nor does it matter, with that pickup.  ;D
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: franksnbeans on February 14, 2012, 05:17:48 PM
I just want it to sound raw and ugly.

I'm putting it into a silvertone paul stanley sovereign pro, 12-52 gauge light jazz strings, and through a sovtek mig 100u, with lots of overdrive and holy grail reverb.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: franksnbeans on February 14, 2012, 05:23:33 PM
the darn guitar is made of agathis.  What does that mean for the pickups?
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: justinhedrick on February 14, 2012, 05:32:01 PM
Quote from: franksnbeans on February 14, 2012, 05:23:33 PM
the darn guitar is made of agathis.  What does that mean for the pickups?

well, very little, honestly.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: RacerX on February 14, 2012, 07:59:52 PM
Quote from: franksnbeans on February 14, 2012, 05:23:33 PM
the darn guitar is made of agathis.  What does that mean for the pickups?

You'll be mounting them on Agathis.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: franksnbeans on February 14, 2012, 08:57:03 PM
thanks for simplifying it.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: franksnbeans on February 22, 2012, 01:52:20 AM
Okay, I got this dimarzio x2n pickup put in my guitar and it totally sucks!  The old pickup wasn't that great, but this one loses all feeling.  I gotta take it out and return it now.  Fuck! 
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: neighbor664 on February 22, 2012, 02:11:13 AM
It sounds crazy, but for $5 get some sprague orange caps from GFS, use your stock pickups, roll off the tone just a bit. Be amazed! I am serious, it will breath new life into your stock pick-ups.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: franksnbeans on February 22, 2012, 04:59:42 AM
What do I do with those?
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: The Riffer on February 22, 2012, 01:36:27 PM
X2N does suck..ah well, now you can verify that.

I'll re-up my advice of the MotorCity Afwayu. You wont be disappointed.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: franksnbeans on February 22, 2012, 01:59:59 PM
Yeah, you all were right.  The x2n is not what I wanted.  It sounds like a bc rich or jackson shit-tone.  They got no feeling.

Those motorcity's are a little pricey though.  Plus, which one would you recommend?  Where can I find some soundbites of those?
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: aowron on February 22, 2012, 02:09:44 PM
Using http://www.guitarfetish.com/Alnico-Fat-Pat-Boutique-Humbucker-Chrome_c_43.html in my SG. They have that lustrous "wide", and "open" sound (not sounding compressed), while still being high output (10k neck, 14k bridge). Basically hot-wound PAF pickup copies.

You should really check out GFS pickups; especially since you won't have to deal with customs, awful shipping rates etc. Even though they are cheap, they don't sound cheap

Edit: by the way, I've heard that agathis basically is "rich man's plywood"; i.e. really dead sounding, though I've also heard that it can sound pretty ok. Anyone got any experience with it? Do all agathis geetars sound dead or are there actually some examples of agathis fiddles which doesn't sound dead?
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: mutantcolors on February 22, 2012, 11:14:30 PM
LOL.

You're welcome for all the good recommendations!
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: VOLVO))) on February 22, 2012, 11:39:17 PM
I'll suggest GFS pickups, again, but this time you'll buy some stock pickups out of an Ibanez on ebay, I think. Good luck to ya!
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: bitter on February 23, 2012, 12:22:37 AM
Just want to throw in my .02 on the gfs suggestions. I have a hagstrom that was really noisy so I swapped the stock pups and wiring with a gfs wiring/pots/caps kits and a set of fat pats. I will say they are an improvement over the hags stock '58 style buckers and reduced the noise.

But there is one downside... they sound a little cold and sterile when compared to the stock paf style pups in both my hag and agile. They're not bad (still very usable), just not really juicy or as lively as the stock agiles. I didn't want any thing higher output but they left me wanting a little more juiciness. Not sure why that is but it could be the hag as it has always felt like a lemon to me. 
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: VOLVO))) on February 23, 2012, 12:25:07 AM
Send that motherfucker to me, I'll make it play like fire. FAT PATS are the cheapest option from GFS, drop the extra ten bucks and get the best you can from 'em. It makes a difference...
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: franksnbeans on February 23, 2012, 12:36:47 AM
I'm buying my brother's 490's that came out of his sg.  They were replaced in his sg with gfs p90's if that makes you all happy?  :)
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: VOLVO))) on February 23, 2012, 01:11:22 AM
Quote from: franksnbeans on February 23, 2012, 12:36:47 AM
I'm buying my brother's 490's that came out of his sg.  They were replaced in his sg with gfs p90's if that makes you all happy?  :)

Well, at least you didn't buy some chinese surplus pickups in bulk from a Nigerian named Mumumbo.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: franksnbeans on February 23, 2012, 01:22:03 AM
well, there is a flea market this weekend...
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: bitter on February 23, 2012, 01:31:46 AM
Quote from: SunnO))) on February 23, 2012, 12:25:07 AM
Send that motherfucker to me, I'll make it play like fire. FAT PATS are the cheapest option from GFS, drop the extra ten bucks and get the best you can from 'em. It makes a difference...

I got it setup so it's playing fine, but it just pales in comparison to that agile I asked you about a while back. Just a better player in every way out of box and was cheaper. I also use it with lighter strings and D standard as apposed to the C stnd heavy strings on the hag, so I wonder if that's the reason? Plus the agile has a thicker cap so it's a lot less dark than the hag.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: VOLVO))) on February 23, 2012, 01:33:55 AM
Nah, strings shouldn't make that big of a difference. Maybe there's something else afoot. I always go for as heavy as I can for the tuning I'm in... 58-11 in Eb. B... 68-14
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: bitter on February 23, 2012, 01:44:37 AM
Yeah I scaled down from skinny top heavy bottoms to those dunlop heavy cores. kinda liking .09's-.10's sets currently.
Title: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: mutantcolors on February 23, 2012, 10:35:06 AM
I use the biggest shit available to me, it just sounds...bigger. Derpish statement but that's how it is.

I like the Ernie Ball Power slinkies, large w/o requiring nut filing. 13-54 off the top of my head with a plain .22 3rd string. And jazz III or big stubby picks. I can't believe I used to use a .68 dunlop. Might as well be paper. The pick makes more difference than anything.
Title: Re: Re: Give me some pickup recommendations, please
Post by: VOLVO))) on February 23, 2012, 10:46:32 AM
Daddario 4 lyfw. Higher tension. Gator grip 2.0s

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