Need advice on pickup choice
Moderators: VelvetGeorge, BUG
- Sral68
- Senior Member
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:05 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 7
- Location: Nesodden, Norway
- Contact:
Need advice on pickup choice
Hi!
Im thinking about changing the humbucker in my lonestar strat. At the moment I have a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates. My amp is a Metro 12000. My Speakers are a Marshall cab with Greenback from the early 70s. The Pearly Gates seems to bright with the Metro. I'm looking for more mids.
I built the Metro to get into VH territory, but the sound dosent have to be completly similiar.
In addition to the Lonestars Strat, I have a Japan strat with DiMarzio Evolutions and a 80 Charvel with a JB. The Charvel is on lone to a buddy so I havent tried with the Metro yet.
I,ve been thinking about getting the Smith EBS-2 (brown sound), a Seymour Duncan 59, or just another another JB.
Im thinking about changing the humbucker in my lonestar strat. At the moment I have a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates. My amp is a Metro 12000. My Speakers are a Marshall cab with Greenback from the early 70s. The Pearly Gates seems to bright with the Metro. I'm looking for more mids.
I built the Metro to get into VH territory, but the sound dosent have to be completly similiar.
In addition to the Lonestars Strat, I have a Japan strat with DiMarzio Evolutions and a 80 Charvel with a JB. The Charvel is on lone to a buddy so I havent tried with the Metro yet.
I,ve been thinking about getting the Smith EBS-2 (brown sound), a Seymour Duncan 59, or just another another JB.
http://www.myspace.com/suspenders1
MetroAmp 12.000 SL Clone
MetroAmp 12.000 SL Clone
- fillmore nyc
- Senior Member
- Posts: 3193
- Joined: Wed May 09, 2007 8:59 am
- Just the numbers in order: 7
Re: Need advice on pickup choice
Hey, Sral. Check out some of the pickups from WCR. Really nice stuff, and Jim from WCR is a member of this forum as well.
Cant go wrong by any means.
http://www.wcrguitar.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cant go wrong by any means.
http://www.wcrguitar.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


- Structo
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1219
- Joined: Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:07 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 7
- Location: Salem, Oregon
Re: Need advice on pickup choice
I have a couple Lonestar Partscasters.
I used the Dimarzio Areas in one for middle and neck and a Tone Zone HB in the bridge.
The other has Fender Hot noiseless and a Air Zone in the bridge.
Both sound great.
I have the PAF Pro in another guitar and it sounds great as well.
Dimarzios are an excellent pickup that won't break the bank.
Kind of funny but I think the Fender noiseless have better strat tone than the Dimarzio Areas that everybody is loving.
I used the Dimarzio Areas in one for middle and neck and a Tone Zone HB in the bridge.
The other has Fender Hot noiseless and a Air Zone in the bridge.
Both sound great.
I have the PAF Pro in another guitar and it sounds great as well.
Dimarzios are an excellent pickup that won't break the bank.

Kind of funny but I think the Fender noiseless have better strat tone than the Dimarzio Areas that everybody is loving.
Tom
Don't let that smoke out!
Don't let that smoke out!
- Sral68
- Senior Member
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:05 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 7
- Location: Nesodden, Norway
- Contact:
Re: Need advice on pickup choice
Hi!
Thanks for the tips. The WCR Darkburst look like an interresting propostion. I've usually bought Seymour Duncan pickups, the evolutions being an exeption, but I'm willing to try other brands. I like the idea of supporting smaller wendors. I tried the Di Marzio PAF pro years ago, but I didnt like it then. I usually bought hot pickups for a more metal sound. My tastes have changed since then. I'll give it another shot.
Thanks for the tips. The WCR Darkburst look like an interresting propostion. I've usually bought Seymour Duncan pickups, the evolutions being an exeption, but I'm willing to try other brands. I like the idea of supporting smaller wendors. I tried the Di Marzio PAF pro years ago, but I didnt like it then. I usually bought hot pickups for a more metal sound. My tastes have changed since then. I'll give it another shot.
http://www.myspace.com/suspenders1
MetroAmp 12.000 SL Clone
MetroAmp 12.000 SL Clone
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:41 am
- Location: NY
- Contact:
Re: Need advice on pickup choice
how about either, the evh frankenstein pickup, or if semour duncan still makees the '78 evh. or how about a gibson pickup?
www.atomicfury.com
that's my band, Im the sole guitarist. Go ahead listen and tell me what you think.. of the band. or me.
-5150II
-custom (I made) 2x12 cab
-custom (I made) strat guitar
-Wayne strat
that's my band, Im the sole guitarist. Go ahead listen and tell me what you think.. of the band. or me.
-5150II
-custom (I made) 2x12 cab
-custom (I made) strat guitar
-Wayne strat
- Sral68
- Senior Member
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:05 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 7
- Location: Nesodden, Norway
- Contact:
Re: Need advice on pickup choice
I've looked at the 78 but they dont do mailorders to Norway.
http://www.myspace.com/suspenders1
MetroAmp 12.000 SL Clone
MetroAmp 12.000 SL Clone
- flieger67
- Senior Member
- Posts: 224
- Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:37 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 7
- Location: Central OH
Re: Need advice on pickup choice
I've been mulling over pickups, too, and I keep thinking a lot about the Duncan Custom Custom to go with my RJS 6850. That might be another pickup for you to consider.
For what it's worth, I got a Duncan Alnico II Pro in the bridge of an all-mahogany Charvel with a Floyd and I really like it. The A2Pro replaced the stock Ducan Custom 5. The A2 magnet in the A2Pro really sounds great with a plexi circuit, in my opinion. My only wish for the A2Pro is a little more output and I think the A2-equipped Custom Custom might be the ticket.
Good luck with your pickup hunt. There sure are a ton of options these days, aren't there?
For what it's worth, I got a Duncan Alnico II Pro in the bridge of an all-mahogany Charvel with a Floyd and I really like it. The A2Pro replaced the stock Ducan Custom 5. The A2 magnet in the A2Pro really sounds great with a plexi circuit, in my opinion. My only wish for the A2Pro is a little more output and I think the A2-equipped Custom Custom might be the ticket.
Good luck with your pickup hunt. There sure are a ton of options these days, aren't there?
- darkbluemurder
- Senior Member
- Posts: 484
- Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 8:07 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 7
Re: Need advice on pickup choice
If you're looking at WCR the Godwood may be even a better choice for a strat type guitar because it is fatter sounding. The Darkburst is not as fat - good pickup though. I have never bonded with Seymour Duncan pickups but obviously many players like them.Sral68 wrote:Hi!
Thanks for the tips. The WCR Darkburst look like an interresting propostion. I've usually bought Seymour Duncan pickups, the evolutions being an exeption, but I'm willing to try other brands. I like the idea of supporting smaller wendors. I tried the Di Marzio PAF pro years ago, but I didnt like it then. I usually bought hot pickups for a more metal sound. My tastes have changed since then. I'll give it another shot.
Cheers Stephan
- Sral68
- Senior Member
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:05 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 7
- Location: Nesodden, Norway
- Contact:
Re: Need advice on pickup choice
I've placed an order for the EBS pickup from Smiths. He said it would be finished in couple of weeks.
The JB humbucker fra SD sounds ice through the 12.000 but its a little bit to metal for my taste. No problem getting pinched harmonics though.
The JB humbucker fra SD sounds ice through the 12.000 but its a little bit to metal for my taste. No problem getting pinched harmonics though.
http://www.myspace.com/suspenders1
MetroAmp 12.000 SL Clone
MetroAmp 12.000 SL Clone
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 349
- Joined: Sun May 24, 2009 10:46 am
- Just the numbers in order: 7
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 255
- Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 2:52 pm
- Location: St. Augustine, Florida
Re: Need advice on pickup choice
Have you thought of these??
http://www.highorderpickups.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.highorderpickups.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- Sral68
- Senior Member
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:05 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 7
- Location: Nesodden, Norway
- Contact:
Re: Need advice on pickup choice
Thanks for the tips.
I'll see how the pickup from Smith works out first. I'm also starting to like the pearly gates better. My amp (12.000) is now broken in and the highs are a lot smoother. I used in the studio this week and the combo of 12.000 and the pearlygates wasnt that bad.
I'll see how the pickup from Smith works out first. I'm also starting to like the pearly gates better. My amp (12.000) is now broken in and the highs are a lot smoother. I used in the studio this week and the combo of 12.000 and the pearlygates wasnt that bad.
http://www.myspace.com/suspenders1
MetroAmp 12.000 SL Clone
MetroAmp 12.000 SL Clone
- vanhalen5150
- Senior Member
- Posts: 7307
- Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 3:13 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 7
- Location: Halifax, Canada
Re: Need advice on pickup choice
I put a WCR Darkburst into an ash charvel san dimas/bumble bee style. Absolutely killer. Took out the EVH Frankenstrat pickup, or as I call them now, the EVH "Prank-enstrat" pickup.Sral68 wrote:Thanks for the tips.
I'll see how the pickup from Smith works out first. I'm also starting to like the pearly gates better. My amp (12.000) is now broken in and the highs are a lot smoother. I used in the studio this week and the combo of 12.000 and the pearlygates wasnt that bad.
12000 Metro Kit
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2692
- Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2006 4:49 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 13492
- Location: Bakersfield, CA
Re: Need advice on pickup choice
SD's 59 ='s VH territory. End of story. 

Cheers to the ears.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... ID=1214336" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... ID=1214336" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- Star*Guitar
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1572
- Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:48 am
- Just the numbers in order: 7
Re: Need advice on pickup choice
If you look in the EVH forum here, stan did a pickup recording test with all of the choices. He is going to post the Duncan 78 tomorrow. That made my mind up. I have a 59 in one of my guitars and swapped out the EVH wind and I am putting a Motor City 2nd degree in the other.
Still everyone's guitar and ears are different. Give it a listen.
Still everyone's guitar and ears are different. Give it a listen.
Star*Guitar