Petrucci BFR Pickups: Crunchlab vs. D-sonic & LiquiFire vs. Custom

[dkannen]

I just recently purchased a JP6 BFR- it is incredibly beautiful. However, it is an older model. I have inquired about the pickups, and the bridge is a D-Sonic and the Neck is a "DiMarzio custom". Should I invest in the Crunch lab and Liquifire, or one or the other? Anyone have any suggestions either way? Thanks so much!

 

[beej]

Congrats! Play the guitar for a while and see how you like it. If you find that something is missing, maybe consider swapping p'ups. But live with it for a while and see if it suits you. No way to know without really giving them a good shot.

 

[dkannen]

Congrats! Play the guitar for a while and see how you like it. If you find that something is missing, maybe consider swapping p'ups. But live with it for a while and see if it suits you. No way to know without really giving them a good shot.

Yes, I will definately do that. The guitar is one of the best I have ever played. It was love at first sight . So far, I'm liking the D-Sonic alot, but the neck "custom" seems like a fine pickup, but i'll need to do more clean playing with it to really tell. I've been entranced by the wonderful piezo. Thanks again!

 

[guitfiddle]

Like beej says, play it. See what you think of it with your rig, your style and your ears. Newer is not always better (lucky for me). They would never have put pickups that weren't great in a JP BFR.

 

[dkannen]

They would never have put pickups that weren't great in a JP BFR.

No doubt about it! Thanks!

 

[balance]

Though JP's latest tones on BC&SL are his best yet IMHO.

 

[TheShreddinHand]

Like beej says, play it. See what you think of it with your rig, your style and your ears. Newer is not always better (lucky for me). They would never have put pickups that weren't great in a JP BFR.

Exactly. I just got a BFR as well with the AN/DS combo and they sound fantastic to me. No reason to switch in my mind. Honestly, when you look at the specs on the Dimarzio website between the newer pickups (CL/LF) and the older ones, there's not much of a difference and the newer ones are a higher output (no thanks, the DS/AN are hot enough!).

-Eric

 

[Guitarguy3120]

All I can say on the matter is that I just switched-out the PAF from the Bridge on my Silhouette for a Super Distortion and it Rocks-The-Hut! So, the ever-standard, PAF-SD connection still works, no matter what guitar it is in!

 

[Chaka5150]

to replace or not to replace pups..

My quandary has been whether or not to replace my DSonic/custom neck to the Crunchlab/liquifire. I'm used to tight mids voiced ala EVH and know better not to compare the two as they are two different animals. But, when i play my axis i love the tightness of the distortion and it just seems 'looser' flabbier for lack of a better word when switching to my JP6 BFR. probably just need to tweak my presets to fit the pups in the BFR but, i wonder if the crunchlab set is best matched for drop/lower tunings? any comments on this? the cleans/piezo on my dsonic/custom norton sound great but am looking for a tighter/hairier distortion for rock n rollin rhythms and wonder if the CL/LF set will deliver.

 

[shredhed]

I read where though they switched pups a couple times, they sound close to the same each time.

I'm not totally in love with my Crunch Lab yet, but I do like it. Besides, I don't want all my guitars to sound alike anyways

 

[theboogieman]

Go with your ears. Use the pickups that sound best to you.

 

[Hendog]

Go with your ears. Use the pickups that sound best to you.

Or just make the stock pickups in these great guitars work.

Not trying to sound smart, I just mean that if you tweak your amp and slightly alter your hands you can adjust for small differences. Unless you have the totally wrong pickups for the job (ie, high output if you need that lower output for that vibe) and assuming they are good you can usually make them work.

 

[StormRider]

The crunchlab/liquifire combo sounds best in the BFRs. If it was a reg. JP I'd probably stick with the D-sonic/Air-norton.
The D-sonic/Norton combo in my first BFR sounded like crap compared to the crunchlab/liquifire.

 

[Chaka5150]

The crunchlab/liquifire combo sounds best in the BFRs. If it was a reg. JP I'd probably stick with the D-sonic/Air-norton.
The D-sonic/Norton combo in my first BFR sounded like crap compared to the crunchlab/liquifire.

mind me asking what style of music you play? that has a lot to do with why some pickups appeal to some and not to others...just trying to create a frame of reference as to why some prefer the CL/LF over the Dsonic/Air-norton. When listening to black clouds and silver linings--petrucci's tunings are quite low and some are with his 7 string or baritone guitar probably...sounds killer to me, but i don't often play anything other than drop D and regular tuning.

 

[Lou]

I prefer the new pups over the D-Sonic.

 

[RocketRalf]

Here's the guitar tunings from BCSL from the JP forum (and my own ears):

A Nightmare to Remember
6-string - C tuning

A Right of Passage
6-string - D tuning

Wither
6-string - Bb tuning (27.5" scale)

The Shattered Fortress
7-string electric - Standard B Tuning
(and possibly electric on parts not requiring low B--just the first harmonized lead)
6-string acoustic - Standard E Tuning

The Best Of Times
6-string - Standard E Tuning

The Count Of Tuscany
6-string - Standard E Tuning

 

[theboogieman]

Or just make the stock pickups in these great guitars work.

Not trying to sound smart, I just mean that if you tweak your amp and slightly alter your hands you can adjust for small differences. Unless you have the totally wrong pickups for the job (ie, high output if you need that lower output for that vibe) and assuming they are good you can usually make them work.

Its just as easy to swap a set of pickups out, rather than adjusting your playing style to fit a set of pickups in a guitar. Just my two cents.

 

[straycat113]

I believe you have been given good advice and just playout on the guitar for a few months before thinking of making any changes.

 

[Dr.Strangenote]

Though JP's latest tones on BC&SL are his best yet IMHO.

Don't wanna start an off-topic discussion, but IMHO I think his best tones came out of FII. I love his tones now, but I think the amp used is what my ears are hearing..

now, back on topic. I love the LF and CL combination the best. I have them now in an RG220A BBQ neck thru prestige. Friggin killer sound out of it. I just got a new/NOS clearance EBMM with the custom neck/D-Sonic bridge (bar still facing the neck) and I am liking it. Tonight I'm thinking of spinning that bar around to face the bridge (but again, don't want to get off-topic here)..

End result, LF/CL best ever for any guitar, not just EBMM. --IMO