Pickups for ambient

[jskpongoui]

:binkybaby:

Hi guys,

I am in the midst of building a jazzmaster that will be used for ambient genres

I am trying to keep the whole thing under 500 (and with everything else I'm up to about 400  :sad1:  :-\

if I could have any reccomendations, and just a general explanation of all the pickups (hum, mini hum, singles, p-90s, dream 180s)

and if you guys could suggest some pickups.

if it helps these are the types of music we will be playing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2itJnJLsMs


:binkybaby:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrBZeWjGjl8


Thank you guys!

 

[Xplorervoodoo]

If you're into ambient, your effects will probably be of more use than pickup brand...  :dontknow:

 

[mayfly]

Yea - I'd have to say that it probably does not matter.

The only thing that I can recommend is that you get a set of pickups that have the least character possible.

EMGs should do the trick  :icon_jokercolor: :headbang:

 

[GoDrex]

for humbuckers I'd get a SD Jazz set - they're vintage output and the cleans are pristine. Or a '59 set for a tad more flavor. Both sets sound nice split too.

if I was going for single coils - I'd get a set of Dimarzio Area pickups - for noise free clean tone with plenty of single coil chime.

or just get jazzmaster type pickups:

http://www.siglermusiconline.com/store/pc/Seymour-Duncan-SJM-1-Vintage-for-Jazzmaster-Pickup-Set-Black-80p2741.htm

 

[Mor Paul]

I would recommend P90s, but they're a bit noisy I guess.
I think EMG's would probably be best for you. With the effects you'll probably be using, quietness is important.

Oh, what's your price sheet? I'm curious how you're at around $400 with just a body and neck. I got a tele body and neck, unfinished, for a bit more than that, I think. I would get it Warmoth-finished now.

 

[dbw]

Dude you don't know what you want at ALL.  As I said on the other thread, you should get a Fender... you can get a used MIM strat for like $300.  Look for one with a humbucker in the bridge if you can... play that for a few years and then you'll know what you want to change about it, and THEN you sell the Fender and build a Warmoth.  :icon_thumright:

 

[GoDrex]

Dude you don't know what you want at ALL.  As I said on the other thread, you should get a Fender... you can get a used MIM strat for like $300.  Look for one with a humbucker in the bridge if you can... play that for a few years and then you'll know what you want to change about it, and THEN you sell the Fender and build a Warmoth.   :icon_thumright:

this is a good idea

 

[Tempest]

Dude you don't know what you want at ALL.  As I said on the other thread, you should get a Fender... you can get a used MIM strat for like $300.  Look for one with a humbucker in the bridge if you can... play that for a few years and then you'll know what you want to change about it, and THEN you sell the Fender and build a Warmoth.   :icon_thumright:

this is a good idea

+1, our friend dbw speaks the truth.

 

[Rouse]

I'm into the the ambient stuff (U2 based anyways) and a Strat is your best bet , your going to want clarity and chime not some sterile EMG's as someone said above. A good amp helps too, but as Xplorervoodoo said, effects play a big part in getting "that sound" (especially a good delay pedal).

Everyone is saying that noise is bad for ambiance, but i disagree, when you make single coils noiseless, you loose chime and clarity and some of the "strat sound" is stripped away. Noise is something that can be dealt with, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Tempest]

I'm into the the ambient stuff (U2 based anyways) and a Strat is your best bet , your going to want clarity and chime not some sterile EMG's as someone said above. A good amp helps too, but as Xplorervoodoo said, effects play a big part in getting "that sound" (especially a good delay pedal).

Everyone is saying that noise is bad for ambiance, but i disagree, when you make single coils noiseless, you loose chime and clarity and some of the "strat sound" is stripped away. Noise is something that can be dealt with, I wouldn't worry about it.

He's not playing U2 rouse.  He needs the sterility of the EMG's to let his effects shine through more.  Overall though he's really not ready for a Warmoth yet.  He didn't know what even "warm" and "bright" were until we told him.  He should go buy a MIM strat like we said, to find out what he likes.  :icon_thumright:

EDIT: btw i know you haven't played any noise canceling single coils personally so I'd stop slamming them until you try a good set.  :icon_thumright:  get EXPERIENCE before providing opinions.

 

[MUYFUE]

...way to help out fellas... :tard:
Sometimes this reminds me of the Dean Guitars forum...tsk tsk tsk.
Unless you were somehow born knowing everything about how to play guitar, please cut some slack.
Remember, someone taught you!

ANYWAY...to the OP, Since the question you asked is very open-ended, it's hard to answer.
I didn't see this question asked...Has the body been routed for certain size pickups already? If so, that will determine your style.

Especially because of the low price you have in mind, I'd check out GFS pickups AKA Guitar Fetish. It's really affordable and sounds decent.
A nice strong single coil may be the best to get the chimey clarity displayed in these clips. as long as you keep it relatively low gain, the noiseless thing may not even be a factor.

Hope we helped :cool01:

 

[erogenousjones17]

...way to help out fellas... :tard:
Sometimes this reminds me of the Dean Guitars forum...tsk tsk tsk.
Unless you were somehow born knowing everything about how to play guitar, please cut some slack.
Remember, someone taught you!

ANYWAY...to the OP, Since the question you asked is very open-ended, it's hard to answer.
I didn't see this question asked...Has the body been routed for certain size pickups already? If so, that will determine your style.

Especially because of the low price you have in mind, I'd check out GFS pickups AKA Guitar Fetish. It's really affordable and sounds decent.
A nice strong single coil may be the best to get the chimey clarity displayed in these clips. as long as you keep it relatively low gain, the noiseless thing may not even be a factor.

Hope we helped :cool01:

Word.

However, I was thinking that if the TS was worrying about building a low-budget Warmoth that would essentially be a standard Jazzmaster, why not just buy a cheap (read: used and/or Squier) JM? I'm basing this strictly on financial reasoning here, not the level of experience of the TS.

 

[MUYFUE]

Nothing at all wrong with that plan.  ccasion14:
It sounded like they already had the body though...Where did "jskpongoui " go?

 

[GoDrex]

I offered good suggestions for pickups - but I do agree that if the guy doesn't have a lot of experience he might be better off doing something else before going the Warmoth route. I don't see anything wrong with people voicing that opinion.

btw - the OP has another thread asking what woods are good for ambient.

 

[MUYFUE]

Aww, geez. Drex, you coo.

I was directing more at prev posters who are telling each other what someone else should get instead of engaging the guy with the questions. The OP has been overshadowed by petty squabbles. It reminds me of when parents are arguing about a child right in front of him. Not a cool feeling. I'm a little sensitive today.  :sad:

 

[Rouse]

I'm into the the ambient stuff (U2 based anyways) and a Strat is your best bet , your going to want clarity and chime not some sterile EMG's as someone said above. A good amp helps too, but as Xplorervoodoo said, effects play a big part in getting "that sound" (especially a good delay pedal).

Everyone is saying that noise is bad for ambiance, but i disagree, when you make single coils noiseless, you loose chime and clarity and some of the "strat sound" is stripped away. Noise is something that can be dealt with, I wouldn't worry about it.

He's not playing U2 rouse.  He needs the sterility of the EMG's to let his effects shine through more.  Overall though he's really not ready for a Warmoth yet.  He didn't know what even "warm" and "bright" were until we told him.  He should go buy a MIM strat like we said, to find out what he likes.  :icon_thumright:

EDIT: btw i know you haven't played any noise canceling single coils personally so I'd stop slamming them until you try a good set.  :icon_thumright:  get EXPERIENCE before providing opinions.

Guitar Center

 

[tfarny]

Def get a MIM strat off craigslist, or a PRS SE, bring a friend who is able to check out the neck and make sure it's straight with decent fretwork. If it's a strat, spend $80 on the Bill Lawrence keystone set, don't get GFS. Those keystones are the best bargain I've found yet. Spend any remaining money on lessons. Remember, the thing you need at first (and later!) is skills, much more than fancy gear. The girls want you to make them dance and will never ask about what pickups you installed. :icon_tongue:

I don't think beginners should be building a custom guitar until you know what you don't like about the ones you have, and have about $1000 in the budget for your dream guitar. Since you don't know what your own preferences are, you are very unlikely to magically choose all the right stuff the first time out and will possibly be very disappointed when you discover that your buddies Epi SG is actually closer to what you want than is your flash new warmoth jazzmaster.
I have actually managed to build two warmoths for under $400 each but that took a lot of cheap-skatiness, ebay and forum hunting, and home finishing.

 

[GoDrex]

The girls want you to make them dance and will never ask about what pickups you installed. :icon_tongue:

not too many girls dancing to ambient

 

[MUYFUE]

Farny has a point. To gain experience should be the primary goal. That being said, whatever brand you start out with, a good single coil will be best for your style. I say this with the assumption that you, like each of us, will probably take 'em out and replace them with something else later on! Oh, the joy of solder.
By the way, let us know what you pick.  :icon_thumright:

 

[jskpongoui]

Hi guys

:sad:

Sorry that I'm not a guitar expert, maybe I should have looked else where because it seems here you get slammed right away just because you may not know about your gear so much..
I have been playing for a few months and have a lesson once a week... I'm just not that involved in my gear, my main stuff is keyboards :binkybaby:


I have tried some more stuff, and looked around went to samash a few times, and I realize that the JM is not what I want...  :tard:

The reason I wanted to build a guitar is because it seemed fun... I picked warmoth because it was the cheapest JM body I could find.. im not really interested in building the best guitar I can find... I just want to have fun building one  :-\ and I liked the shape of the JM

any way.

I am gonna build a GFS strat and put some single coils in it.


anyone know where I can find relatively inexpensive strat bodies that have 3 single coil cuts in them? (or am I able to put 3 singles in the GFS bodies, even though they are HSH routed)


edit - also now, the final price is  much less so I can shell out more for nicer pickups.

what are the chimiest single coils I can get for sub 200?