EBMM SUB1 - pickup recommendations needed

[appar111]

Thinking of upgrading the stock pickups on my SUB1 (H-H, graphite textured w/ black pickguard) and needed some advice on pickup selection.

I think I'll go with Dimarzios, and here are some possible combos:

1. Super Distortion (bridge) + Evolution (neck)
2. Super Distortion (bridge) + PAF Pro (neck)
3. Evolution (bridge + neck)
4. Super Distortion (bridge) + Super 2 (neck)

I play alot of rock & heavy metal, so I think the Super Distortion would fit me great (old Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson, Dio, etc.).

The trick is the neck pickup. I plan on putting an Air Norton in the neck position on my tele for warmer leads w/ good definition, so I want the SUB1 to have a slightly different sound in the neck-- something more crisp sounding, a little brighter, and something good for clean tones.

So which combination would you go with?

EDIT: also, would there be a better bridge position pickup for doing clean, funky riffs that would still sound good with distorion for metal music?

 

[blackspy]

I've got a ToneZone in a bridge pickup. I have a switch for parallel or series, in parallel it gets a very 'funky' clean sound. Series, overdriven it's a great pickup.

 

[Roubster]

The Super Distortion is definatly a good pup, especially for that Iron Maiden, since that's what those guys use anyway. The Air Norton is also an incredible neck pup, but you might wanna go with maybe the Breed in this geetar. I have a pair of Breed bridge and neck in my Silo, and it sounds absolutly amazing. The neck Breed is very clear and defined for fast soloing and very good for clean, and the Breed bridge is kind of a mix of Steve's Special and Super Distortion. The pups are more on the Mid side, but they are not muddy what so ever.

 

[appar111]

Does the Air Norton sound muffled at all? Just looking at it's specs, it looks to be less trebly than the PAF Pro, although I don't know if that necessarily means it sounds muffled... I'm VERY interested in knowing how the Air Norton may perform in the tele.

Ideally, I'd like a white PAF Pro in the neck position on the tele, but there's a 3-4 week wait for it in white, whereas the Air Norton (in white) is in stock and ready to ship... might be a good pairing with a tele bridge pickup too (a Chopper T, anyway). So should I wait a month for the PAF Pro, or jump on the Air Norton for $59 shipped?

Back to the SUB1-- does anyone know what pickups come stock in them? Since it's made in the USA, I'm assuming it comes w/ some sort of dimarzios. I just got off the phone w/ Steve at Dimarzio and he assumed that all the made in USA EBMM guitars ship w/ Dimarzios installed, but he never talked to a customer that had a SUB1, so he couldn't say for sure...

 

[lock-ny]

does it have to be a dimarzio, r u not into duncan pups?

 

[appar111]

It doesn't have to be Dimarzio, but the prices of Duncan pups is about $30 more per pickup than Dimarzio, so that's a large factor ($59 shipped per pickup for a Dimarzio is tough to beat!)

 

[RAL]

Re: Sub1...I replaced the neck Pup with a Dimarzio Air Norton. The stock Pups sound decent (especialy the bridge unit) The stock neck would probably be fine for some as it's destinct and not muddy. It just didn't have that complex harmonic thing going on (which I like) that many Dimarzios have. Overall the stock bridge and Air Norton sound great together. You have to screw around with hight adjustment to get a good balance. Believe it or not the Norton doesn't have a whole lot of bottom in this guitar as I've found in other instruments. Sounds great though.

 

[appar111]

that's actually a good thing that the Air Norton doesn't have a whole lot of bass-- although it's specs would lead one to think otherwise.

I'm hoping the Air Norton won't sound too bassy in the neck position on the tele...

 

[RAL]

I would think the Norton would sound very good in the neck possition of a tele.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

i am fixing to stick a EMG 60 in the neck and 81 in the bridge of my Sub1. EMG seems to have something for every job, and i love the tone they produce, clean or distorted. very bell-like. but, they do run a little high, and you might have to have routing for a battery cavity

 

[appar111]

I think the 85 is a better choice than the 81. A friend of mine has an 81 in his steinberger (an '86 newburgh) and with the active tone controls, it's absolutely piercing! He has another steinberger w/ an 85 and it sounds fatter to me. The 60 would be perfect in the neck though-- or maybe an 89 w/ a coil tap?

I think I'll stick to Dimarzio's offerings, but thanks for the recommendation on the EMG's!

 

[Sub1 Zero]

its no problem man. the 85 is fatter, but because it is made to be. most people use the 81 as a lead pickup due to its emphasis on high end. i will say that for clean, the 81 sounds very harsh to my ears, however the 85 and 60 sound wonderful clean. i would say try to hear and play guitars with every type of pickup you are considering, and then make your decision based on that, because only your ears truly know how you want to sound. good luck man! tell us what you decide on

 

[Jonny Dubai]

Check out bare knuckle pups....just a step ahead IMO. Not cheep but you get what you pay for.

Jonny