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Want to replace Illuminators on MusicMan Majesty

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Hugo77:
New to this forum and looking for some input.

I own a MusicMan Majesty guitar (6-string) that came with stock DiMarzio Illuminator pickups.
I really love the guitar, but can't get along with the pups. I find them too thin, sterile and there's something going on in the (high) mids that I really don't like.
After months of research my pickup of choice was narrowed down to 1; a Suhr Doug Aldrich set (2 humbuckers). Unfortunately they wouldn't fit cause they're too high. About 4mms each. And since they are mounted directly onto the body.. Bad luck.

Seymour Duncan's are a no go either, since they use square legs and the routing is for DiMarzio style thin legs (if you know what I mean).
Safest replacement would be a Liquifire/Crunchlab combo, so essentially I would have a JP series guitar. However, even though JP seems to be a very sympathetic guy and is a wonderful gitarist, I don't particularly like his sound for the stuff I usually play.
I'd like a more paf-style sound, but beefy and tight and definitely not hars or overly bright. The guitar sounds wonderful unplugged but somewhat bright and high middy. The Illuminators seem to accent these features, which might be a good thing for some, but not for me.

I also looked at Bare Knuckles, but they might not fit either. Plus their sound is a complete unknown to me.
My DiMarzio options now contain:
- Liquifire/Crunchlab
- Transitions
- Paf Master (but only because of Paul's demo:-) They might be too low output for what I want)

O...I mainly play Rock, but that varies from Mike Stern, via Black Crowes all the way to Mark Tremonti.
Any advise and/or suggestions are welcome.
Thanks!

DarthPhineas:
Are you certain you want to replace one set of JP pickups with another set of JP pickups?

Suhr makes some good stuff. Are you totally sure they are too tall?  Could help to call in to the, and get a confirmation. They have always been super helpful when I've talked to them. Along those lines, there are a few Suhr models that could handle what you are talking about. They admit their website could use a little help, but they are great at nailing selection via the phone.

I believe BKP has an option you can ask for to mount on baseplates with the triangle tab. Email TIm and ask. The general vibe of BKP is open and transparent. The guy playing the Titan was previously playing the BKP Aftermath. They also have several options in the range of voicings you are considering. When you email them, Tim is pretty good at pairing up a pickup with a customer.

darkbluemurder:

--- Quote from: adampone on December 03, 2014, 09:10:07 AM ---I believe BKP has an option you can ask for to mount on baseplates with the triangle tab.
--- End quote ---

That's correct - you will need to put that into the comments box when you order, then they will do it that way.

Cheers Stephan

Hugo77:
Thank you guys. I measured the Suhr's carefully at the local dealership and they're definitely too high and cutting into the guitar itself is no option for me.
And you're right, I dunno if it's helpful to replace one set of JP pu's with the other. Only thing is that the Crunchlab sounds more beefy and darker, which should suit the wood of this guitar better (to my ears).
But I must admit, at present I'm inclined to try Transitions. Steve Lukather has been an example of good tone  to me in the past, plus these pickups go well together with an active boost (which is also on my guitar, since they're both MusicMans).
Bare Knuckles are still in the race, but looking at their dimensions I doubt they will fit either. I also have been researching their pu's for months. For instance I really dig Rick Graham's sound with a pair of Juggernauths. But I don't think they'll be too flexible. Last time my pu's of choice were Crawler's and Holy Divers. But I think the latter is not beefy enough.

Actually already had contact with BK via email, but it didn't get me anything solid. I find it difficult to describe my 'perfect' sound. I know it when I hear and feel it, but to actually choose through demo's and reviews online.
Btw, I live in the Netherlands, so any contact with companies has to be through mail I'm afraid.

Thanks for the input so far!

DarthPhineas:
Through the mail? As in the post?  I mean, you clearly have access to the Internet, so are you referring to email?  Even if it's just email, if they have a website, the company should have a means of contact. And it does come down to how you feel about the interaction. I might be interested in a pickup and some people might claim it's the best thing out there, but I've gotten in touch with them and the exchange just didn't feel right so I didn't do business with them.


Sometimes it can drive you nuts trying to go over all the available information.  And that's why I always do what I can to contact the company. Chances are that a company like BKP (or whoever) will know enough about what pickup will fit in what guitar. If not, they can find out if they want to. Ask them. And if they are wrong, you have the email and can get a return or an exchange based on the paper trail.

Lukather is great player and a guy who has thrown down many memorable riffs. But he is Lukather just like Eddie is Eddie and so on. A Transition isn't going to make me sound like Lukather any more than a Wolfgang is going to make me sound like Eddie. However, the approach of being interested because a player is known for a history of tone is a good approach.

The Holy Diver is beefier than BKP players like to admit. There are models they carry that are much beefier, but the HD isn't a thin or shrill pickup.  When you mention the Juggernaut, it also makes me thing of the Aftermath and that leads me to the DiMarzio Titan. A pal of mine just got a Titan and likes it a lot, finding it more versatile than he expected. I've read similar things about the versatility of the Juggernaut.

I have a EBMM and understand what you are dealing with when it comes to issues with dimensions. If find that very restrictive and not the best move on the part of a guitar company. It's also one of the examples that has led me away from wanting to go with direct mount pickups on a guitar in the future.

Just be patient and keep doing the research and getting in touch with the companies. It will work out.

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