31

The Pickup Place / Re: Pickups for Les Paul

« on: April 13, 2016, 03:11:04 PM »

Oddly enough, when I contacted DiMarzio themselves, they also suggested a Norton in the bridge on the grounds that the Super Distortion would be a better option if it were a Strat while the Norton is similar but tailored more to a Les Paul. For the neck they suggested a PAF Master.

32

The Pickup Place / Re: Pickups for Les Paul

« on: April 08, 2016, 04:23:35 PM »

I like the 498T because it has balls and a real growl to it. The tone is a bit hairy and aggression so it's ideal for Rock, Metal and Blues Rock. It's a very articulate pickup. I thought of the Super Distortion partly because I've just always fancied one and partly because the DiMarzio pickup selector kept choosing it for me. My only concerns with it is that I don't usually use ceramics as the tone often lacks richness and depth compared to alnico. I'm also unsure because I don't know what wire is used. I like 43AWG plain enamel wire as that always seems to give it that little bit of hair to the tone I like. I can't see a PAF 36th giving me all that in the bridge. It needs to be something that is in the same ballpark as the 498T.

I don't like the 490R because the bottom end is spongy, the top end lacks the bell-like qualities and fluidity and the whole thing is just lifeless and uninspiring. I was looking at the 36th because it came up on the pickup selector, the PAF Pro because it was a bit hotter to keep up with the bridge and I usually like neck pickups with a real PAF feel and I came up with the PAF Joe because the description of 'tubular' intrigued me and sounded good. Like the bridge, I'm not usually keen on vintage 42AWG wire. If you know your Bare Knuckle pickups I'd be looking for something that is a bit of a mix between the Holydiver neck and Emerald neck. I tend to like brighter neck pickups and the EQ chart suggested the 36th would be too dark, though these things can be misleading.

33

The Pickup Place / Pickups for Les Paul

« on: April 06, 2016, 06:58:00 PM »

I have a 2013 Gibson Les Paul Studio that's fitted with a 498T and 490R. I confess I really like the 498T but I'm nothing like as keen on the 490R so I wondered about changing them both. For the bridge I'm tempted to say I'd like something pretty similar to the 498T but I have no idea what that would be. I'm also very tempted with tha Super Distortion but the EQ on the website suggests it would be a hell of a lot darker than the 498T. Is the SD a rather more modern pickup whereas the 498T always seems like it has a traditional Rock vibe - plenty of tight distortion with a real growl to it.

For the neck I like something with more of a PAF flavour so clearer, fluid, and almost bell like that is great for Bluesy solos but also takes loads of gain without going mushy. For this I was thinking either the PAF 36th Anniversary, PAF Pro or PAF Joe.

Any thoughts?

34

Gear Closet / Amp Alternatives

« on: April 04, 2016, 10:06:41 AM »

I've just been offered a job in The Falklands to start in August and this has started me thinking about my gear. I'll have to give up my band here and I see no obvious likelihood of having a band there but they do have open mic nights and there might be the possibility of the odd show at the school but other than that I'll effectively now become a home player. It strikes me that my current amp, an Orange TH30, is a bit overkill and is also very heavy for transportation as well as posing problems of getting valves in such a remote area. I'd like something that I could still gig with at small venues if needed and gives a great tone, like my beloved Orange, but is also more flexible for home use where I may record a bit and play along to backing tracks. It's been a long time since I looked seriously at anything other than valves so I'm unsure what my possibilities are. In the past I've tried a Digitech RP1000, Line6 SpiderValve and Peavey Vypyr but none have impressed me. They don't sound as good as valves and they don't respond like valves and they don't have the same punch as valves. Sadly I don't have the money to spend on a Kemper or similar. I think it might be most cost effective to get a head to go with my Orange 112 cabinet but I'm open to the idea of getting a combo. I already know that the Yamaha THR100HD is a possibility and I see Marshall have an amp called 'CODE' coming but what other options might I have and what would you suggest as the best option for me?

35

The Pickup Place / Re: Review of the 10 fav pickups I've had and have on my guitars

« on: March 31, 2016, 02:13:04 PM »

Like Darkbluemurder, I can only really comment on those I've either owned or tried:

DiMarzio Super Distortion
Tried it in an Adrian Smith Jackson and liked it a lot but due to the EQ chart on the DiMarzio website, I assumed it worked because it was in alder, which balanced the dark pickup. As my guitars tend to be mahogany (PRS Custom 24 and Gibson Les Paul Studio) I always assumed the SD would be too dark for what I had so I never took the plunge.

JB
I agree with you here 100%. I first tried a JB when it came stock in a Jackson Soloist and I thought it was woefully poor so it was quickly changed. Instead of just leaving it lying around I put it into a Yamaha Pacifica on the grounds that even though it was pretty poor, it had to be better than the stock items. To my surprise they sounded really good. Years later I tried them in a Jackson Pro Dinky and I was completely blown away with how good they were.

Gibson 498T
Like you, I'm always amazed that so many people seem to hate this pickup because I love it. I love the way it retains a certain PAF feel, I love the way the upper mids give it just enough bite and aggression, I love the way it always makes me think of THE classic Gibson Rock tone and I love the way it perfectly suits my Les Paul Studio. It's the only stock pickup I've ever known that I have no intention of changing. Like you, however, I can't say the same about the 490R I have in the neck, which I don't find special at all. I'm toying with taking the 490R out and replacing it with a P90 instead, probably a Bare Knuckle Mississippi Queen. Failing that I might try a DiMarzio PAF Pro in the neck.

EMG 85
I just don't get on with active pickups at all. I find them too tight, too sterile and too artificial. To me, playing one of these instead of my usual alnico passive pickups is like playing a digital amp instead of my usual valves.

My own top 10 pickups in no particular order:

1) Gibson 498T - For reasons already explained.
2) Creamery 'Double Six' - Awesome pickup for anything from early Metal to modern Metal. Surprisingly versatile when needed.
3) Creamery Classic '83 - Want to sound like Jake E. Lee? This IS the 80s Metal tone captured to perfection.
4) Bare Knuckle 'Crawler' bridge - From Blues Rock to early Metal, this is the most awesome sounding and versatile pickup I've ever tried.
5) Bare Knuckle 'Emerald' neck - Just incredible!
6) Bare Knuckle 'Holydiver' neck - As above. These two are the best neck humbuckers I've ever tried.
7) DiMarzio PAF Pro - I had this in a Fender Ritchie Sambora Stratocaster and that guitar gave me the biggest range of sounds in one guitar I've ever come across. I really regret selling that one.
DiMarzio Virtual Solo - These last three are new to me but feature here because I don't usually like singles but these are great, especially when wired with a blend knob.
9) DiMarzio Area 61 - Much thicker than I expected and in the neck, gives a great Clapton tone. Really beautiful pickup.
10) DiMarzio Area 58 - I like this in the middle because it's noticeably brighter than either the Virtual Solo or Area 61 so gives a great contrast and twang.

36

Gear Closet / Re: Picking Picks (picks, not pickups)

« on: March 13, 2016, 08:25:56 AM »

I use Dunlop Max Grip Jazz III carbon fibre picks and have done for a while now. The grip is excellent and they take forever to wear out. Actually, I don't think I've ever actually worn one out, I've only replaced them due to loss.

37

Guitar Lounge / Re: PRS Custom 24 GA Limited Run

« on: March 13, 2016, 01:54:15 AM »

I absolutely love PRS guitars and that's a real beauty. I'm a very jealous man right now. What pickups are in it?

38

The Pickup Place / Re: Stratocaster pickup question

« on: March 03, 2016, 04:05:08 PM »

Thanks guys 

These suggestions aren't so far away from my own initial thoughts as I'd been looking at a Virtual Vintage Blues for the bridge and an Area 61 for the neck. I wasn't sure about the middle. I'm still considering which direction to go but when I was looking at a certain British pickup company I was looking at a set inspired by Rory Gallagher.

39

The Pickup Place / Stratocaster pickup question

« on: March 02, 2016, 02:48:54 PM »

I've just acquired a Stratocaster with an SSS configuration and as I'm generally a humbucker guy, I thought I'd ask some advice about pickups. The guitar in question is a Mexican Standard with a maple neck. This guitar won't be used for anything Metal and probably won't even go that far into Rock as I envisage it as more of a Blues guitar. Having said that, I would like something that is pretty versatile so could run from more traditional Blues, through Blues Rock to perhaps Rainbow kind of material at the other extreme, though that end of things is less important because by the time I get to things like 'Man on the Silver Mountain', I will already have changed to a humbucker guitar. I want pickups that keep it sounding like a Strat with those great sounds you get from a Strat in positions 2 & 4. The pickups should be very articulate with a neck tone that is clear, smooth and fluid and a bridge tone that has a bit of bite when needed. As I associate Strats with fairly bright tones I don't want a dark sounding pickup but it shouldn't be brittle or ice-picky either.

I thought I'd start by naming the Stratocaster users that I really like (which may cover a lot of ground) and go from there as that will give an idea of the sort of tones I'm after. My amp is an Orange TH30 and will normally be set up for my humbucker guitars and I'd rather not have to change the settings too much. As a result it should be able to take quite a bit of gain without going mushy as well as have great clean tones. In no particular order:

Jeff Healey
Philip Sayce
Eric Clapton
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Ritchie Blackmore
Dave Gilmour

Noiseless pickups would be great but it's more of a priority to get the right tone. Any suggestions?