It Pains Me To Do This (PUP Swap)

[Raz]

I tried to avoid posting this here, it just doesn't feel right, so please, to the EBMM family, forgive me for what I am about to do...ok now that, that is out of the way, I can go ahead and ask...

Of course it pains me to ask, but it's a case of either or. First let me explain.

I love the playability of my JP7. The other day I played it back to back with the Axis, cause I was seriously considering selling the JP7, but man I was reminded of just how extremely efficient the JP7 is. The reason why I was considering selling it was, the tone. I have been struggling with the JP7's tone for years. i am not much of a metal player, more blues/fusion. After getting my hands on the Axis and hearing the brightness of her tone, I was convinced that the JP7 had to go to make room for another Axis...but I miss the extended range the low B has to offer, so I decided the only thing I could do was a pup swap.

So here is my question, what are your suggestions for swapping the JP custom wound DiMarzio's for a brighter, bluesier toned set of pick ups. I hear the PAF 7's are nice...

Again, my apologies, I hate bastardizing EBMM guitars, just feels, I don't know, wrong!

 

[Sticky1973]

It's not wrong, it's right for you!

I went the other way, desiring a change in my Axis.

One of the guys on here had DiMarzio 36th Anniversary PAF's in his JP6, I am sure.

EDIT: D'oh, no 7 string option. Apologies.

 

[Raz]

What do you mean no 7 string options?

As the popularity of 7-string guitars has grown, so has the demand for a clean-sounding, lower-output pickup that performs like the classic humbuckers of the late 50s. Far from being a modification to a 6-string design, the PAF® 7 is specifically designed for 7-string guitars, and incorporates some of the same technology employed in the Virtual Vintage® pickup series to produce a sound that’s both clean and open on the low notes and warm and rounded on the highs. The PAF® 7 comes with 4-conductor cable.
Recommended For: All positions
Tech Talk: It's a well-known fact that humbuckers from the 1950s employed Alnico 2, 3 or 5. We found that by using a ceramic magnet in the PAF 7™ we could achieve the same low magnet-pull as Alnico 2 or 3, with the power of Alnico 5. The ceramic magnet keeps the sound of the low strings bright and clean, and Virtual Vintage™ technology inside the coils is responsible for warm high notes and the playing feel of '50s humbuckers.

 

[Sticky1973]

No 7 string option on the 36th Anniversary.

 

[Raz]

No 7 string option on the 36th Anniversary.

Ah me sorry! Actually maybe that's a good thing

 

[RocketRalf]

Now that you're into changing pickups, have you considered putting the liquifire in the bridge position instead? I've always wondered what it would sound like. Maybe pair it with a PAF7 like you suggested?

 

[Raz]

Isn't the Liquifier a "Heavy" pick up?

 

[RocketRalf]

The liquifire is, from my understanding, based on the Air Norton, but with more pronounced mids. In terms of output, it's "medium powered" according to DiMarzio. Here's what they say about putting the Air Norton in the bridge (6 string version):

"...use an Air Norton™ in the bridge position with an Air Classic™ Bridge model in the neck position for a distinctive medium-output blues-rock sound. [...] the sound is medium output with solid lows and biting harmonics."

Now on the AirNorton7:

"In the bridge position, the sound is medium output with solid lows and biting harmonics. It matches up well with the PAF 7™ or Blaze™ neck model in the neck position."

So I imagine the liquifire7 in the bridge would achieve similar results. I wouldn't buy one to try my theory, but if I already had one laying around...