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Dingus
Silver Member
USA
472 Posts |
 Posted - 08/31/2006 : 16:50:46
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Hey again guys,
Just wanted to see if anyone has definitively favorite pickups that they'd put in all of their guitars if they had the cash.
I don't, but I was just seeing if anyone else does. I do like the Seymour Duncan Invader though, but only need one of those.
Consequently I'll probably be getting a Seymour Duncan Invader for the neck of my guitar that I have the Seymour Duncan Jazz in right now, and will be selling my Seymour Duncan Jazz if anyone wants to buy or trade for it. Thanks. |
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stahlhart
Platinum Member
1318 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2006 : 18:43:10
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I would love to be able to find a pair of the humbuckers made by Pyramid Guitars in Detroit, MI. It was a store on Grand River Avenue that built custom instruments alongside selling the usual gear, and they made their own pickups for the custom builds.
Every so often I go looking for them online, but thus far have come up empty. I think that they went out of business in the late '80s sometime.
I think that when I get a Strat down the road I'm going to try out the Lindy Fralin pickups there.
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starr36
Platinum Member
Canada
1172 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2006 : 20:13:11
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OK, help me with this.
I saw a 1959 tobacco burst re-issue gibson lp last weekend.
It was $6,499.95.
why do people change stock pickups on a gibson les paul? |
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jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2006 : 20:36:00
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quote:
Originally posted by starr36
OK, help me with this.
I saw a 1959 tobacco burst re-issue gibson lp last weekend.
It was $6,499.95.
why do people change stock pickups on a gibson les paul?
I think I know the answer: Zakk Wylde and Slash. Let's face it, to me, Slash helped re-popularize the Les Paul in the late 80's cause prior to that, things were very Floyd Rose-Reverse Headstock-Pointy shaped-and/or flourescent colors oriented. And Slash's Les Paul looked a bit different than everyone else's because of the Zebra-striped Seymour Duncans. So Slash was the beginning, but then Zakk Wylde became huge as well, and he uses Les Pauls with EMGs. So I think those 2 players made some people start thinking that whatever the stock pickups were crap in Les Pauls. Zakk Wylde has 3 different Epiphone models, and I think as many different Gibson signature models all with either active or passive EMGs. So the perception gets to be that if he has a signature model with Gibson, but doesn't use Gibson pickups, they must be crap, and I don't think Gibson helps themselves in the long run by offering so many different signature models from one player. So I think those 2 helped with the train of thought, if they didn't entirely start it. But I feel that if the next huge guitar god (to some sort of majority) was playing a LP with a Floyd Rose, people would be buying Les Pauls and changing out the bridges.
So now people may think I am anti-Zakk Wylde after recent posts, no, I like Zakk's playing a lot, I just am sick and tired of people who think that Signature guitars, pedals, etc, are the way to go. While in some instances, signature stuff may indeed sound or be better, you are basically paying for their signature. Before Zakk Wylde got a signature overdrive from MXR-Dunlop, he was using a Boss overdrive. $99 for the MXR, around $49 for the Boss...So where is that extra $50 going to? A little bit, possibly, for some internal tweaks, a little for the custom bullseye paint job on the signature OD, and the rest goes into Zakk's and Dunlop/MXRs pocket....end of rant...
Back on topic, I only know the model of pickups to one guitar I use, and those would be the EMG Hz series on my Schecter Damien. My other main guitar is an old Hohner L-75 with stock pickups. I've never been too picky about pickups though, because I always felt that if the guitar sounded good unplugged, it will be adequate enough when plugged in. I don't know pickups may be the one area I haven't gotten too nerdy over cause I always felt that pickups were just the medium that transfers the actual tone and sounds of the guitar to electric. So if the guitar doesn't sound good unplugged to me, its not going to sound good plugged in. I may be alone in this camp though... |
Edited by - jack on 08/31/2006 20:46:54 |
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starr36
Platinum Member
Canada
1172 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2006 : 04:41:00
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Hey jack, you are right on - if an electric sounds good unplugged, it probably will sound good plugged, you are right - I have a JV strat that just rings out beautifully and it sounds fab plugged in too.
I also think you made a good point about the pickup's job, in that it has to translate the guitars vibrations accurately which is influenced by the wood, humidity, and the strings themselves, so with all that variability, there is lots of playtime for acoustic engineers to do some math and "come up with a better pickup" ...
... but do we really hear it through all our boss pedals and overdriven amps? |
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jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2006 : 05:14:19
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quote:
Originally posted by starr36
... but do we really hear it through all our boss pedals and overdriven amps?
Its hard to say, thats part of the reason why I never got too worried about pickups, because I figured after going the pedals the pickups characteristics may be somewhat altered. Plus I usually rely on pedals for fine tuning my tone anyways, maybe I would not have to do that if I got more into pickups, but its rock n' roll, no rules, just gets the job done. That and to me its easier to buy a pedal, plug and play, instead of changing out pickups.
But as far as hearing it, I think it depends on what you are listening for and looking for I suppose...
Also, Starr36, thanks for highlighting the good points I made in my previous long winded rant. I've just been on a irate soliloquy mode at times lately... |
Edited by - jack on 09/01/2006 05:17:39 |
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StratoSphere
Double Platinum Member
Canada
2232 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2006 : 13:35:53
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| hey there. i have a SD JB in my bridge, and the stock neck pickup in my V. i like my pickups (and amp) to be very balanced and let my arsenal of effects do the dirty work. ive had my fair share of pickups, mostly high output, but i find that these dont mix with FX as well as nice clean ones do. |
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starr36
Platinum Member
Canada
1172 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2006 : 04:17:37
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| No worries, Jack, part of the forum is to be able to discuss issues and the occaisonal rant is a good thing! |
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HAGALAZ
Silver Member
Australia
161 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2006 : 09:10:32
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EMG KFK'S
No real differance to the standard emg81 in bridge and 85 in neck which sound killer except that with the kfk set there is a 20db booster..........the ducks guts for metal. i also have bill laurence XL-500 in bridge of another guitar which are pretty cool, especially for the cheap price they go for. dimarzio super distortion in another that are pretty cool to but they must be in a dark sounding guitar, anything to bright sounds crappy imo.
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diggum12
Silver Member
USA
282 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2006 : 21:51:59
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quote:
So if the guitar doesn't sound good unplugged to me, its not going to sound good plugged in. I may be alone in this camp though...
Yes and no. I love playing Ernie Ball guitars, but I've never liked one when plugged in. I think their pickups suck.
I love the occasional rant too, it's all good! 
I've heard mixed reviews on the Fralins. A friend of mine yanked them as soon as he installed them. But who knows? I'm sure they're still good.
I personally think EMG pickups are one of the worst "innovations" the electric guitar as we know it has encountered. They all sound the same, they all have to have (fresh, hot) batteries. If your other guitars do not have active pickups, you have to change all the settings on your pedals & amps when you switch between guitars. Such a hot signal does not allow for individual tone.
I like Carvin pickups. They're very reliable and have great tone. Very unique. I have them on one of my guitars. Great price too.
My favorite pickups are these specially wound P90s on my Yamaha RGX A2. (I call it the iPOD guitar.) They're incredible.
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stahlhart
Platinum Member
1318 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2006 : 23:08:31
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quote:
Originally posted by diggum12
I've heard mixed reviews on the Fralins. A friend of mine yanked them as soon as he installed them. But who knows? I'm sure they're still good.
Looks like I'd better do some more research on Strat pickups then...
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 09/06/2006 : 10:19:31
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I like Lundgren pick-ups a lot, Swedish manufacturer, they are very close replicas of vintage Fenders. Hand-wound at a good price.
But an unexpected favourite is DiMarzio Twang King neck, this is by far the best neck pickup for Tele I ever heard.
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diggum12
Silver Member
USA
282 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2006 : 01:19:29
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Well Stahlhart, I'm not commenting on the Fralin's from my own ears. I was kind of shocked.
My buddy read all these great reviews and after the install he said they just sounded very dark. I can't recall what he ended up going with, but I'll find out for you.
Also, I commented on unplugged guitars below, and forgot to mention another point. I said Ernie Ball Guitars were great unplugged, but the pickups sucked. I've played a few Godins that really surprised me. They seemed lifeless unplugged, but very good plugged in. (Not using the Piezo's, that is. I hate piezo's!) |
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diggum12
Silver Member
USA
282 Posts |
Posted - 09/24/2006 : 20:31:34
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quote:
I've heard mixed reviews on the Fralins. A friend of mine yanked them as soon as he installed them. But who knows? I'm sure they're still good.
***Correction!!!!*** My bad everyone, my friend LIKES his Fralins. He installed Kinmans to see if they were better, and he yanked THOSE and put the Fralins right back in.
Sorry about the confusion.  |
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Big Boss Man
Gold Member
USA
564 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2006 : 02:18:52
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I have Kinmans in my G&L ASAT Classic which is a Tele style guitar. I think they sound good. The guitar came with those pickups so I cannot offer a comparison against the stock ones. I never really found them to be too dark. Actually I sometimes roll back the tone on the guitar a little bit to make it sound darker. I do that a lot with many single coil pickups.
I have never really been a pickup swapper. I generally try to buy guitars that come with pickups I will like. One of these days though I will probably get a Strat to refit with high output humbuckers. |
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Dingus
Silver Member
USA
472 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2006 : 14:47:43
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On a pickup related topic, I think I might buy some GFS Mean 90's to go into my Squier Jagmaster I just picked up. The Jagmaster has become my new ultimate project guitar, and right now I am in the process of refinishing it. Step 1 at least with removing the paint, and man is it much harder than I could have ever imagined.
Anyway, any thoughts on GFS Pickups? or the Mean 90's or Dream 90's in particular?
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Topic |
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Your favorite pickups and why?
