Pickups For metal

[robertmendeziii]

Hey all, I love metal and use emg's but they don't have character. Any one know of any good pickups for metal. Other than the pearly Gates. Maybe the Gibson 500T. My friend has a Duncan JB in his guitar and I don't like it. After playing an emg the Jb just sounds so soft. I'm looking for a Passive pickup as hot as an emg but with with character also. any suggestions.

[darkbluemurder]

The Pearly Gates is definitely no metal pickup - not enough output, not enough punch and bass.

Even though many love the Duncan JB I never liked it for the same reasons as you said - too soft for metal but too bloaty for anything else.

I would check out the L-500XL by Wilde Pickups (Bill Lawrence), Bare Knuckle (Warpig, Painkiller, Miracle Man or another out of the contemporary line), DiMarzio Activator or one of their other high output humbuckers, the Duncan Distortion, Invader or Live Wires (if you want to stay active). There are many more.

The only pickup of those that I played myself is the L-500XL. Even though it is high output it has a lot of highs and clarity. As to "character" - that is a very personal thing.

Actually I believe the amp is more important for a heavy sound. What do you use?

Cheers Stephan

[surfnorthwest]

Bare Knuckle Warpig

+1

[stump]

The Gibson 500T or Dirty Fingers have high output and can do metal. You can find the 500T for cheap money all day long. The Duncan Invader is good too. A friend of mine went from EMG's to SD Blackouts Actives and seems to like them better. He says that they're "not so flat sounding."

[robertmendeziii]

Thanks for the replies guys. I think I will try the bare knuckle contemporary line. I played a gibson guitar at the music store a few days ago with the new EVH III, and damn, the tone was amazing. just don't know if the pickup was a 500T or the one right under it. Well thanks for the replies everyone.

[yngwie308]

The newer Seymour Duncan Blackouts are surprisingly good, as are the revised EMG-X series, check out Mark Day's (samhill) clips over on HRI to hear the SD Blackouts, he loves them...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3OMyhYN8RM&fmt=22" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V8gNcSy ... re=channel" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ElWp7Mq ... re=channel" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcwpTBqr ... re=channel" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t11dyhUu ... re=channel" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJSuT_dE ... re=channel" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=samhillband#g/u" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
yngwie308

[TONGA]

Dose dimarzio still make the X2-N well I think that was the name of it,, I have one in a 80’s washburn, seems to have a lot of output but not sterile sounding

[HTH]

BKP Warpigs (get the ceramic magnet version) or the BKP Painkiller.

What type of metal are you playing?

[T.L.]

The Duncan Distortion SH-6 has always worked great for Metal. They also have a new SH-15 model that has AlNiCo-8 magnets that's supposed to be good for Metal. I haven't heard that one yet though. I also agree with the Bill Lawrence L500XL recommendation...

[robertmendeziii]

The sound i'm looking for is first off very crunchy, which the emg's do very well. But also very full, which the emg's are not. And clear which the emg's are ok but not the best. I have tried the invader and did not like it. But basically an emg 81 with more bottom. I might try the emg 85 which should have more bottom says emg. Not looking for that dimebag metal sound with piercing highs, but more like the band Unearth. nice fat and crunchy. But thanks for all the replies. although those knuckle ones seem to be calling me. maybe get the painkiller.

[Guitar Adjuster]

The sound i'm looking for is first off very crunchy, which the emg's do very well. But also very full, which the emg's are not. And clear which the emg's are ok but not the best. I have tried the invader and did not like it. But basically an emg 81 with more bottom. I might try the emg 85 which should have more bottom says emg. Not looking for that dimebag metal sound with piercing highs, but more like the band Unearth. nice fat and crunchy. But thanks for all the replies. although those knuckle ones seem to be calling me. maybe get the painkiller.

What you describe is a Motor City Solution

http://motorcitypickups.com/products/solution.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[N3m0 7h3 Fi5h]

IMHO ..
If you could manage to find Old US made, Jackson J-50BC Pickups + JE-1000,
then you're there ..

Any hi gain preamp combined with "KT88"-type power amps
will deliver you metal tone + deep grind ...
.

[HTH]

basically an emg 81 with more bottom.

Bare Knuckle Painkiller or Ceramic Warpig - I've used lots of their pickups, they are excellent.

My signature has a link to some clips of me playing with their Abraxas pickup - not metal, but you should hear the tonal qualities shine through.

[Tone Slinger]

I think there is a whole lot to consider when choosing a pu.

It's funny, back in the '70's, hard rock/early metal dude's were using very low gain preamp type circuit amps (1959 or 2204 Marshall circuit heads mainly), The tendency was to put hi output pick ups (ala Dimarzio Super Distortion) to hit the front end real hard, along with a MXR distortion +. Priest, Maiden and Rhoads were using these set ups to 'deliver the Goods'.

I think that nowaday's, amplifier preamp circuits deliver WAY more gain than back then, as well as more eq option's. So imo, a hi output passive pu might not be the best choice, as articulation may be lost a bit.

I would try pu's that have either a alnico 5 or alnico 8 magnet. Certain ceramic magnet pu's could be considered as well, since you mentioned that the JB was 'soft' sounding. Mid frequincies can have that effect sometimes. I'd get a slightly 'scooped' eq type pu.


With my limited experience with these 'boutique' pu companies being mentioned earlier, I alway's go back to my exp. with Seymour Duncan pu's (they cover most all magnet, wire combinations/options anyway's)

I love the Duncan Distortion. The Custom is also a good choice.

[yngwie308]

Bare Knuckles Rebel Yells..
yngwie308