Printable Version of Topic

Click here to view this topic in its original format

GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Suggestions

Posted by: Sergei Polusmiak Mar 23 2009, 09:45 PM

hi i got a new guitar. Im thinking about changing the pickups. the previous ones on my old guitar were emg 81/85s. Are there any suggestions for pickups other than these for playing metal, I also want a great sound when using the neck pickup as i am planning to sweep a lot. Thanks guys

Posted by: Lian Gerbino Mar 23 2009, 10:01 PM

well, I know some SD are cool, but I dont taste any model by myself...
also look at this I found.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O09Ii6npJ7c

and a comparation between EMG 81/85 and Seymour Duncan Blackouts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSDac4In9ho&feature=related

Posted by: 29a Mar 23 2009, 11:16 PM

I've got duncan designed hb-105's, which are basically blackouts made in asia, in a Schecter. I don't like them all that much. And I actually do consider exchanging them. But it was a relatively cheap guitar so I probably won't do it.

Anyway why do you want to change the pickups? What's in there right now and what's wrong with them? Also what guitar are you using (out of what wood etc.).

Other metal pickups:
SD Dimebucker
SD Invader

Posted by: Farmer Joe Mar 24 2009, 12:05 AM

Yea, thinking about if you really need a pickup change is important. I mean if you know what tone you're going for, then you got a good reason. I went chaning my pickups without knowing what tone I really wanted and without even knowing how to eally play guitar I just had G.A.S I guess. I'm just learning how to play now and I don't know if i'm satisfied with my tone, but i'm stuck with what I have for now while I actually learn to play my instrument

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Mar 24 2009, 02:08 AM

What guitar and what pickups do you have currently?

Posted by: Sircraigery Mar 24 2009, 02:09 AM

My guitar has SD TB-10 (? I think.. haha) Anyways, it's called a "SD - Full Shred." Check my vid, and see if it's what your looking for. The EMG are a bit too sharp sounding for me.

Posted by: ZakkWylde Mar 24 2009, 09:06 AM

Yeah we first need your guitar, current pickups, your amp and an example of the tone you want...then we can help you properly!

Posted by: Ivan Mihaljevic Mar 24 2009, 07:26 PM

I have found that I usually like stock pickups on good guitars!
If it's a good quality instrument, chances are the pickups were carefully chosen to complement the wood on that guitar.
If you can't find anything that you don't like about current pickups, maybe you shouldn't change them.

There's an application on DiMarzio's site that helps you choose pickups depending on the position, body wood, music style... You can check it out for some recommendations - http://www.dimarzio.com/site/#/pickuppicker/

Posted by: Sergei Polusmiak Mar 24 2009, 09:33 PM

yes my guitar is here http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Jackson-RR1-Randy-Rhoads-Electric-Guitar?sku=511450

although mine is the japanese version. a video of the tone a want is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnhdJVh9iIY

I would appreciate if you could get back to me soon as i need to change them soon. Im not sure what pickups i have but i think its the same as the guitar a linked you too

Posted by: Ivan Mihaljevic Mar 24 2009, 09:58 PM

That's an expensive guitar, I don't believe they saved money on the pickups.

What is exactly wrong with the pickups that are currently in the guitar?
What do you want to get with new pickups - more output, more sustain, warmer sound, brighter sound, richer harmonics?

Posted by: TreyDeschamp Mar 24 2009, 10:05 PM

QUOTE (Sergei Polusmiak @ Mar 24 2009, 03:33 PM)

Nice guitar I love those! First off EMG 81/85's from what I hear are amazing though I have never tried them myself but then again Blackouts are really good! Like Ivan said usually if it's an expensive guitar guitar companies(especially ones like jackson) dont hold back on good pickups. Hope that helped a little bit.

Posted by: ZakkWylde Mar 24 2009, 10:19 PM

If you have a jackson RR then you propably have a Seymour Duncan SH-4 bridge which isn't exactly a metal pickup, more an allrounder that does metal very well too (Megadeth, Arch Enemy, Lamb Of God use them for example) and a sh1 or sh2 neck which are allrounders...

The SH-4 does all sorts of metal very good, Wintersun tone is not a problem for this pickup! You might want to change your amp if you can't get that tone out of your guitar (Wintersun use Mesa Boogie Amps)

If you still want to change your pickups: Active Emg 81/85 is a metal classic for ryhtm and lead, passive Dimarzio Steve Vai Evoulution set is great for rythm and shred (both emg and Evolutions were used by Wintersun)

Posted by: 29a Mar 24 2009, 11:05 PM

Hm I don't have an alder guitar. I've got a SH-4 in my mahagoni/maple Schecter C-1 classic and don't like them that much for metal rhythms, lead sound is nice though. But you should definitely able to get a similar sound to that wintersun vid with that guitar/pickup. I agree with Zack If you still want to change: EMG 81/85. They are pretty much a safe bet for metal. But some people say they sound sterile and kill the natural tone of the guitar.

I do have a DiMarzio Evolution in my Ibanez S470. Great pickup with a very clear sound. You can read my review of it here: http://29a.ch/2008/12/25/dimarzio-evolution-pickups-in-ibanez-s470

Cheers,
Jonas

Posted by: Sergei Polusmiak Mar 30 2009, 02:22 AM

Ok, i have settled. i got two seymour duncan blackouts

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Mar 30 2009, 02:41 AM

Did you bought them? COngrats in that case! Can we hear some samples?

Posted by: Sergei Polusmiak Mar 30 2009, 07:41 PM

As soon as i get the chance i will record something. i have to do a collab today

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Mar 31 2009, 06:46 PM

I am also curious about the Blackouts, many people seem to like them.