Thinking about changing my JP6's pickups

[Tabs]

Hey guys,

I've had my JP6 (Carbon Blue Pearl) for quite a while now and I'm thinking about changing the stock pickups out for something that suits my band's music a little better... the thing is I'm not sure what exactly to get and it sucks because I can't really try a bunch of different ones in the guitar to see how I like them etc...

My band plays catchy type alternative rock with some slight metal and prog influences at times. I have to cover a lot of different sounds, from clean, to heavy distorted rhythm, to lead tones etc... I'm playing through a Diezel VH4 head and V30 cab.

The main issues I'm having with my sound are the following:

1. Cleans - things really don't sound like what I want here. It's like I can't get it to really be clean, there's always some element of dirt to the sound, even with the gain almost all the way down on the amp. It gets really "honky" too if that makes any sense - doesn't sound smooth at all. I know I've heard the VH4's Ch 1 sound absolutely amazing, so it's gotta be the guitar somehow. The only clean sound I like with this guitar is that middle position - the Pull Me Under/Goodnight Kiss type tone. That's a great sound, but it absolutely does not fit for what my band does. I need to have a bridge pickup clean tone.

2. Distortion - I'm happy with how this sounds for the more "metal" sounding things we do, but for the all purpose rhythm tone, I kinda want something closer to that Les Paul type tone, more open and less compressed.

I know I may not be able to actually get all these sounds out of one guitar, but I'd like to try hehe...

Any recommendations? I'd look at EMG's, cause I know they do get good cleans, but they have such a reputation as a "metal" pickup that I'd be worried about what it'd do to my main rhythm sound.

Thanks!
Ryan
www.myspace.com/sketchinginstereo

 

[Sweat]

Well how old is your JP does it have the D Sonic? If not try it out on a newer JP, I think it may be what you are looking for.

 

[petruccirocks02]

Hey guys,

I've had my JP6 (Carbon Blue Pearl) for quite a while now and I'm thinking about changing the stock pickups out for something that suits my band's music a little better... the thing is I'm not sure what exactly to get and it sucks because I can't really try a bunch of different ones in the guitar to see how I like them etc...

My band plays catchy type alternative rock with some slight metal and prog influences at times. I have to cover a lot of different sounds, from clean, to heavy distorted rhythm, to lead tones etc... I'm playing through a Diezel VH4 head and V30 cab.

The main issues I'm having with my sound are the following:

1. Cleans - things really don't sound like what I want here. It's like I can't get it to really be clean, there's always some element of dirt to the sound, even with the gain almost all the way down on the amp. It gets really "honky" too if that makes any sense - doesn't sound smooth at all. I know I've heard the VH4's Ch 1 sound absolutely amazing, so it's gotta be the guitar somehow. The only clean sound I like with this guitar is that middle position - the Pull Me Under/Goodnight Kiss type tone. That's a great sound, but it absolutely does not fit for what my band does. I need to have a bridge pickup clean tone.

2. Distortion - I'm happy with how this sounds for the more "metal" sounding things we do, but for the all purpose rhythm tone, I kinda want something closer to that Les Paul type tone, more open and less compressed.

I know I may not be able to actually get all these sounds out of one guitar, but I'd like to try hehe...

Any recommendations? I'd look at EMG's, cause I know they do get good cleans, but they have such a reputation as a "metal" pickup that I'd be worried about what it'd do to my main rhythm sound.

Thanks!
Ryan
www.myspace.com/sketchinginstereo

If you want a Les Paul type bridge pickup sound, you could always try out a DiMarzio Virtual Hot PAF. If you don't like it, DiMarzio has the 30 day policy where you can send the pickup back and get something else. Can't go wrong with that policy.

-Phil

 

[Warg Master]

EMGs would require removing some wood as the screw posts are square.... that or adding apickupring, either way would require drilling the guitar in someway...not recommended IMO...

 

[greenwizard]

Try rolling the volume back a bit while on the bridge position and then dial the tone pot down a bit. IMO people don't make a good enough use of their tone knob. You might want to take a bit of high-end bite off your EQ too and that should take care of the crunch.

 

[Tabs]

Well how old is your JP does it have the D Sonic? If not try it out on a newer JP, I think it may be what you are looking for.

No I have the originals, (which I believe are a Steve's Special and an Air Norton)...

 

[greenwizard]

^^ They were slightly modified. Those are the pickups that the JP's most closely resemble. If you are almost getting the sound you want, then you might want to go for the small change.

 

[Tabs]

Any of you guys have experience with the Air Zone? Couple people outside this forum suggested that to me tonight...

 

[emkey]

...you could always try out a DiMarzio Virtual Hot PAF. If you don't like it, DiMarzio has the 30 day policy where you can send the pickup back and get something else. Can't go wrong with that policy.
/QUOTE]

Phil is right, why don't you try any of DiMarzio pickup and if you don't like it you may change it...this way you can find the best solution...ah and don't even thing about EMG's

 

[Tabs]

How much changed in the pickups between the Ibanez JP and the EBMM? I pulled out my Ibanez P2, which I haven't played in forever, and was shocked to hear it getting a clean sound just fine with no distorting like I'm getting with the EBMM. Aren't the pickups pretty much the same thing between the two of them - if so would this point to a problem with my guitar's electronics somehow then?

Ryan

 

[Ang3lus]

lower the pickup height by a bit
that should clear things up