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Pick-up recommendations...

jaxadam

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 30, 2005
Messages
445
Location
Jacksonville, FL
Okay, new guitar. Mahogany, quilted maple top, rosewood fingerboard. But I think it needs some hotter pickups.

It's Hum-Hum. I'm thinking Tone Zone, Air Norton.

Maybe Evos. Possibly even some EMG's.

What do you guys think?

I think some hot pickups will really go good with the dark sound of the mahogany.
 
shreder75 said:
duncan JB ;)


No more duncans. Not a big fan of them anymore. Just put a brand new duncan set in my Charvel Model 6, and getting ready to take them out.

Really just interested in Dimarzio recommendations. But I have only heard the Evo's and the PAF pros.
 
jaxadam said:
No more duncans. Not a big fan of them anymore. Just put a brand new duncan set in my Charvel Model 6, and getting ready to take them out.

Really just interested in Dimarzio recommendations. But I have only heard the Evo's and the PAF pros.

BLASPHEMY!

lol
 
jaxadam said:
No more duncans. Not a big fan of them anymore. Just put a brand new duncan set in my Charvel Model 6, and getting ready to take them out.

Really just interested in Dimarzio recommendations. But I have only heard the Evo's and the PAF pros.

What don't you like about Duncans? Most of the guys I've heard prefer them over Dimarzios.
 
FWIW I seem to have the best luck with DiMarzio humbuckers and Duncan Single Coils.

The Dimarzio Virtual Pafs are really nice. The Petrucci Dimarzios are great and hotter than the Virtual Pafs.

The Duncan Surfer II's are great.
 
Duncans are good, but a lot of the guitars I've been playing lately have had dimarzios in them, and they sound great. I played a guitar the other day with a duncan custom custom and 59, and I could really tell a difference. I guess I have just been used to the dimarzios lately.
 
The Dimarzio Virtual Pafs are really nice. The Petrucci Dimarzios are great and hotter than the Virtual Pafs.






I really don't like the Petrucci pickups at all. Too sterile.

I really like the PAF pros a lot. Evos seem a little to bright, but I think they would sound pretty good in a mahogany body.

I'm thinking Tone Zone, Air Norton, or Breeds. I actually hear the Breeds are probably the best overall. Like a better version of the JBs.
 
Hey there. I put the Air Norton into the neck position of my mahagony, rosewood board guitar. That pickup sounds pretty damn good for a neck pickup. I also put the Steve's Special into the bridge. That is the one Petrucci USED to use. That sounds pretty cool too. HOWEVER, since I got my MM Silhuette, I havent been playing the Ibanez much except for yesturday for a few minutes. Sounded really weird compared to the Silo. Anyway, I got Virtual PAFs in the Silo. They sound GREAT, but not exactly what IO'm lookin for. So I decided to put a BREED in the bridge actually. That is supposedly a very good choice since I spoke to a DiMarzio tech. And to combine it I'm gonna put a PAF Pro in the neck. So I think the Breed is a good choice and also the Air Norton. Actually one technician suggested a combo of Air Norton and the Norton. Supposedly very versetile according to him. Actually his more specific words were, "interesting combination." Dont know what that really means. So I think the BREED is gonna sound pretty good, even though I have no idea yet. Good luck with the switch. I shall be doing mine soon.
 
I've had the Tone Zone - Air Norton combo in one of my guitars for 7 years now. It's mahogany with zebra wood top. Maple and ebony neck.

The Air Norton is great. I've never been happy with the Tone Zone though. I think it's too hot, sloppy and lacks any sophistication. I just replaced it with a fat PAF style pickup and am finally happy with the tone I'm getting from the guitar.

It works well with the Norton in the neck too.
 
jaxadam said:
The Dimarzio Virtual Pafs are really nice. The Petrucci Dimarzios are great and hotter than the Virtual Pafs.






I really don't like the Petrucci pickups at all. Too sterile.

I really like the PAF pros a lot. Evos seem a little to bright, but I think they would sound pretty good in a mahogany body.

I'm thinking Tone Zone, Air Norton, or Breeds. I actually hear the Breeds are probably the best overall. Like a better version of the JBs.

Wow man....we're linked psychically...the too sterile thing especially...
 
Wow guys. Thank you a lot for the responses. Very helpful.

So far I think it's gonna be either Breeds, or a "something" in the bridge and an Air Norton in the neck.

I mean, the guitar doesn't even sound that bad at all, that's why I think a new pickup combination will make this thing scream.
 
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