in need of new pickups

[Orpheo]

Hi guys,

I'm in need of a new set of pickups. there are several things I always encounter, which I want to be solved.

I want a bunch of output. JB-style is just enough, I prefer more.

Mid and, midhighs and highs are my prefered eq-preset. I want and need a tight bass, lots of mids and highs. the JB has, for that matters, too much highs, well, its too icepicky, too piercing. it doesn't growl enough, so to say.

I also want it to have a huge, broad sound. the Prails have that character, but are too 'warm' too bassy.

I absolutely need supertightness and a very pure, direct, 'clean' string separation.

What kind, what brand of pickups would you recommend? I play a les paul, and my styles are very diverse. Jazz, blues, funk, rock, metal...

also, I want it to have many different, usefull sounds. coiltap, parallel, series.. all should be usefull, and completely different from the other. preferable with 2 very different coils, so that I have 2 coils which are very different in tone. prail-ish style...

any ideas?

I'll list what I've tried, and what I didn't like about it.

dimarzio bluesbucker (not enough output, not tight enough, not enough grit, not versatile enough, splitted or parallel)

dimarzio air norton: EQ-wise, they're ok. but not enough output. tight enough though. not broad enough (very flat sounding, no depth)

rio grande tx/bbq set: too vintage. broad enough sounding, but not tight enough. string separation for heavy metal? just isn't there!!

Seymour duncan JB: too piercing. tightness is ok. not enough output.

seymour duncan distortion: tightness is ok. but not diverse enough with the split/parallel sounds.

seymour duncan prails: versatile, tightness is ok, but it doesnt have as much highs as I would love to hear, and more 'clear' sounding (string separation) would be nice. more output: yes please!

motherbucker: great output, bit too warm, but ok, split/parallel etc is very good. tightness might be better though! string separation is ok. I really dig the rail design here; it eliminates the problem of volumedrop wilst bending.

burstbucker and iommi pickup by gibson: too nasal sounding. the BB's are too harsh, too nasal, like a wahwah pedal at half (the paf pro has the same problem!). the iommi has too much bass.

dimarzio x2n: too mushy. plain and simple.
dimarzio superD: too mushy, too much lows and lowermids.
dimarzio super2: nice with regards to the EQ, tightness is ok. but too flat sounding, not the depth, complexity I like.

bareknuckle nailbomb: not hot enough, pinches aren't as I want them to be (just wouldn't deliver the goods), too flabby with high gain and palmmutes.

bareknuckle mule: nice EQ, broad sounding is ok. but coiltap/parallel is just rubbish, output it too low.

dimarzio d activator neck (in bridge position): string separation: ok. but not broad enough, not complex enough. coiltap/parallel not diverse enough. tightness is ok.

EMG's: just suck in every aspect.

duncan custom: good EQ, not hot enough, its tight enough though. string separation is cool, but I notice somtimes a small drop in volume with bending.

I think I've covered all the pickups I've had or have right now.

 

[m4rk0]

Have you checked out the sound samples of the RG Muy Grande, or the Punch/Crunchbox?

another good option may be Jon Moore (tonefordays.com) - he makes them to your specifications, for a reasonable price. I am very happy with my J Moore P90s!

 

[GoDrex]

Like I said elsewhere.... the Alternative 8 or something else with an Alnico8 mag in it  - for the bridge. For neck... you're on your own there. :laughing7:

 

[jackthehack]

RG Big Bottom set - Tallboy HB in neck, MuyGrande HB in bridge

 

[Orpheo]

RG Big Bottom set - Tallboy HB in neck, MuyGrande HB in bridge

I tried them on a guitar of a friend of mine, for about 5 minutes, but that was a direct, firm: no. not tight, not clear, not versatile enough. it forces its own sound too much upon me, and thus prohibiting me of creating my own shit...

@GoDrex: just getting as much info as possible  :laughing7:

 

[neuftone]

For as many times as you say "not enough output" in your pickup reviews, methinks you should investigate a preamp, dude!  :icon_biggrin:

My recommendation would be give Bill and Becky Lawrence a call.  You might like some variation of his L-500.  They certainly are not overly expensive, and throw in a Q-filter and you might have a very diverse range of tones from one pickup.

 

[nathan a]

Yeah really, boost pedal? Preamp? Perhaps you want to keep your signal chain clean and uninfluenced, but there has to be something out there that'll you like the sound of. I can't believe NONE of those pickups were good enough!

 

[GoDrex]

Orpheo is the pickiest guy I've ever seen, and he always asks for advice and then just does what he wants anyway hahaha :laughing7:

 

[Orpheo]

Orpheo is the pickiest guy I've ever seen, and he always asks for advice and then just does what he wants anyway hahaha :laughing7:

not always but most of the time, yeah.

@neuftone: its not just 'output', its more the broadness, complexity and openness of the tone. I tried almost every bill lawrence pickup around, and those things aren't for me. to flatsounding, is for me the general feel with those.

@nathana; no, its not just 'gain' I want, or need. its the broadness, openness of the sound, the tone. output is not a good way to describe it,I guess, but it feels like a much hotter pickup if its so wide and broad, like, lets say, the prails or the duncan custom or the motherbucker.

 

[GoDrex]

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/custom-shop/humbuckers/crazy_8/

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/alternative_8_s/

 

[Orpheo]

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/custom-shop/humbuckers/crazy_8/

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/alternative_8_s/

too bad I have no experience with that pickup... besides, it doesnt have to be seymour duncan perse. I've emaild the guys of wizard pickups in the UK. maybe they can fetch something custom to me. as I see it, there aint something 'regular' for me out there...

 

[GoDrex]

Well SD is the only company I know of right now putting A8 magnets in their production pickups - that's why I put those links up. From what you describe you need something with that kind of magnet. And the Crazy 8 is a custom shop pickup. They can make you a custom pickup too, to your specs - whatever the hell they may be hahaha  :laughing7:

 

[JohninSC]

I dont know if you have anything against ceramic, but I love my d-sonic. Its tight, growly, and has plenty of output. Not mushy, but not icepick in the ear high either

 

[Superlizard]

I want a bunch of output. JB-style is just enough, I prefer more.

^ does not equal:

I absolutely need supertightness and a very pure, direct, 'clean' string separation.

It's unpossible.

"pure, direct, clean string separation" with distortion is only achieved with a low output pickup while allowing the amp/stompbox to do the work.

Or in simpler terms, boost the signal at the stompbox/amp level, not the pickup level.

 

[neuftone]

I'm sure you'll find lots of pickup winders willing to sell you their wares promising ultimate super high gain output with crystal clear clarity and definition, but there are some general rules about overwound pickups.  I wonder if the problem doesn't lay in other areas of your rig, than the pickup itself, particularly if none of the diverse myriad of pickups listed worked for you.  Talking about wanting super high output and clarity and string definition all in the same pickups reminds me of software development customers who want a program done immediately with tons of features, no bugs, and for next to nothing in cash.  You can maximize speed to deliver, feature set, reliability, or cost efficiency, but certainly not all at the same time.  Likewise, I am skeptical that you are going to find many pickups that are both high gain and delivering more clarity than all the other pickups you mentioned.

Listing the rest of your rig in detail (including stompboxes, amps, etc) might shed more light.

 

[Orpheo]

I'm sure you'll find lots of pickup winders willing to sell you their wares promising ultimate super high gain output with crystal clear clarity and definition, but there are some general rules about overwound pickups.  I wonder if the problem doesn't lay in other areas of your rig, than the pickup itself, particularly if none of the diverse myriad of pickups listed worked for you.  Talking about wanting super high output and clarity and string definition all in the same pickups reminds me of software development customers who want a program done immediately with tons of features, no bugs, and for next to nothing in cash.  You can maximize speed to deliver, feature set, reliability, or cost efficiency, but certainly not all at the same time.  Likewise, I am skeptical that you are going to find many pickups that are both high gain and delivering more clarity than all the other pickups you mentioned.

Listing the rest of your rig in detail (including stompboxes, amps, etc) might shed more light.

well, about stompboxes: I don't use them. my amp delivers all the gain I need: I have an Engl special edition... not the most shabby amp, I believe?

in my opinion, a pickup with 43 gauge wire, wound up to  16k should not be mushy at all. the wire is so thick that it wont bleed out all the highs or other frequencies. and because of that, it can be wound a bit hotter than with a 42 gauge.

 

[Orpheo]

I want a bunch of output. JB-style is just enough, I prefer more.

^ does not equal:

I absolutely need supertightness and a very pure, direct, 'clean' string separation.

It's unpossible.

"pure, direct, clean string separation" with distortion is only achieved with a low output pickup while allowing the amp/stompbox to do the work.

Or in simpler terms, boost the signal at the stompbox/amp level, not the pickup level.

funny. the PAF's I use are not overwound, they're low output, and its those pickups that lack clarity and tightness...

strange.

 

[Alfang]

Heres a news flash for you and your Thick 43 guage wire, it is thinner than the thin 42 guage wire.

And wound to 16 not mushy? I don't believe it.

Seems everyone has given suggestions, and good ones at that, yet you already know what you want, so go buy it, and let us know how it sounds

 

[Orpheo]

Heres a news flash for you and your Thick 43 guage wire, it is thinner than the thin 42 guage wire.

And wound to 16 not mushy? I don't believe it.

Seems everyone has given suggestions, and good ones at that, yet you already know what you want, so go buy it, and let us know how it sounds

yeah, sorry, I make that mistake all the time  :icon_scratch:

the dimebucker is wound to 16k: not mushy.
a JB is wound to 16k, and you wanna tell me that this one is mushy?!
a duncan distortion; same thing.

 

[neuftone]

On the plus side, its the "Holy Grail Syndrome" like this that keeps aftermarket guitar part suppliers in business, and I for one appreciate the immense diversity of pickups available on the market nowadays.  If its going to take Orpheo (and others) buying 5 dozen pickups in his quest, at least it will stimulate the guitar pickup economy!  :rock-on: