Pickups for EBMM Petrucci

[Braciola]

I'm thinking of changing the pickups in my Petrucci.
I'm not to thrilled with the bridge pup. I have read that is is similar to the DiMarzio Steve special.
Having a scooped midrange might work well for Mr. Petrucci, but it's not cutting it for me.
Have any of you tried different pups in this guitar?
Have you found anything you liked?
I'm looking for something with at leat as much gain, if not a bit more, thats thicker in the mids for high gain soloing.
Here are some bridge pups I have narrowed it down to, and my concerns for use in this guitar :

DiMarzio - The Breed
concerns- Too dark?

DiMarzio - Norton
concerns - not hot enough?

DiMarzio - Super Distortion
concerns - Too hot?

Duncan - Custom Custom
concerns - not hot enough?

Duncan - Custom
concerns - too shrill?

Duncan - JB
concerns - too shrill?

Any thoughts?

 

[deadringer]

Not to add further choices but in a basswood guitar (the JPM is) a lot of players also like the PAF Pro and Tone Zone from DiMarzio. Both have a bit more mid. From what I've heard (I've haven't tried them myself), the Evolution from DiMarzio is a great choice for what you're talking about. It has plenty of mids and is a touch hotter than the Steve's Special.

 

[PurpleSport]

I second the motion on the Evo, vs. the Tone Zone in a basswood body - I have an Ibanez JEM that's had both in it. The Evo's got more edge by far, and sounds more balanced to my ear than the Tone Zone, which leaned mid/bass heavy and lacked definition. Some say the Evo is shrill, but I disagree as it really woke up that JEM, which I thought was a lost cause (it still sounds softer, darker, and fatter than many of the other guitars in my collection). Oh, it also balances very good with the PAF Pro in the neck position, and makes a wonderfully wiry split coil sound with the JEM single coil middle pickup - the TZ did NOT do that.

The JB's got a good balance too, which is why it's in so many guitars nowadays and one of SD's biggest sellers. I also don't understand why folks say it's "shrill" either - I put one in my PRS Custom years ago and a bud of mine played it at a gig and proclaimed it "fat, fat, fat!" with a big smile on his face...

Super Distortion: Yup, I have one of those too. Actually a pretty bright pickup for all the output it has. I actually never found it to be too hot, personally; I'd heard all kindsa bad things about SD's but I found 'em very usable. Sorta reminded me of the Evo in many ways, actually.

Custom: Had one in my Japanese Les Paul when it was stolen years ago, and thought it sounded great in the bridge. My brother had one in a basswood Ibanez Roadster, and it sounded excellent there too. Definitely had highs, but also was not shrill, at least not in those two softwood bodied guitars.

Custom Custom: Don't recall playing one, but I get the impression these are middy, lower output jobs better suited in the neck than bridge.

Norton: never tried one, but I understand it's a very good all around pickup from those who've used it.

Breed: According to DiMarzio, it's similar to the Tone Zone in a lot of ways. I played it in the black JEM it comes stock in and thought it was a better pickup myself. One day I may get one and pop it in one of my semi-retired guitars just for laughs and see if I'd dig it.

 

[OrangeChannel]

Custom Custom is a bridge job, just a bit darker. I had a Godin w/ one in it. That thing cooked.

 

[Braciola]

Well, I just spoke with a tech at DiMarzio.
He feels that the the best pickup for me in that guitar would be the Super Distortion.
We went over all of the potential high gain pups. He felt that the Breed would have too much mids and too dark, but the Tone Zone might be a bit better.
He felt the Evolution would have way too much zing on the top end, and the Norton would be too weak for me.
I'm also going to rule out the SD Custom Custom. It's a great sounding pup, but it's not going to be hot enough for me.
So now my choices are:

DiMarzio Super Distortion
SD JB
SD Custom

This is a tough choice, what would you go with?

 

[Lew]

DiMarzio Super Distortion
SD JB
SD Custom

This is a tough choice, what would you go with?

Tv Jones
But dont mind me

 

[deadringer]

Well, I just spoke with a tech at DiMarzio.
He feels that the the best pickup for me in that guitar would be the Super Distortion.
We went over all of the potential high gain pups. He felt that the Breed would have too much mids and too dark, but the Tone Zone might be a bit better.
He felt the Evolution would have way too much zing on the top end, and the Norton would be too weak for me.
I'm also going to rule out the SD Custom Custom. It's a great sounding pup, but it's not going to be hot enough for me.
So now my choices are:

DiMarzio Super Distortion
SD JB
SD Custom

This is a tough choice, what would you go with?

Of those three, I've had the best luck with the JB.

 

[Warg Master]

I would have said Evo too, but you eliminated it already

 

[CudBucket]

I think the pups that have been suggested here are all good. I just can't imagine wanting any of them over the stock pups in the EBMMJP. They're half the reason I got the guitar in the first place.

Let us know what you pick.

 

[PurpleSport]

Hmmm....tough choice, all are good! Having had and liked all three, some more observations:

- All have really good harmonics, so that shouldn't be an issue.

- Output among all is on the high side, SD has the most. All are pretty close to each other, though, so I wouldn't worry too much about that at this point either.

- Custom's specs are a lot like the JB (basically, they're both hopped up PAFs), but it has a ceramic magnet so it's got a brighter tone. JB will sound warmer than the other two since it's alnico.

- SD also has a ceramic magnet, and is brighter than the JB. It's been a while so I'm going from memory, but I think the SD may sound a little less bright than the Custom (it probably has more pickup winds and output, thus giving it some more midrange).

So basically, it comes down to whether you want something more:

- "vintage" flavored (JB or Custom)
- more modern (SD)
- brighter/edgier/more presence (Custom or SD)
- warmer/middy-er/fatter (JB)

Some folks like the warmth and top end cut of basswood, but I like mine with more presence, so with something like the JP my first choice would probably be the Custom. Some folks like their pickups more rockin' than versatile, which is where a nod to the SD would go. Some can't make up their minds, and the JB works perfectly fine for them (it's a good all around choice).

Let us know what you choose, for sure!

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Check out the Rio Grande BBQ. It sounds killer in my Axis!!!