Replacement for ceramic magnet pickups.

[sepultura]

My Gibson has a couple of ceramic magnet humbuckers (500T and 496R) pickups in it. As with all ceramic pickups, the tone is quite sharp, biting and raunchy. It works great with distortion, but I'm looking for something with better articulation, warmer tone, no spongy bass.

What do you think about the Seymour duncan JB (bridge) - Jazz (neck) combo, or a pair of SD alnico pro-II's in the neck/bridge?

Does anyone use this combo? Anything to share? Thanks.

 

[tubescreamer]

I'm using a JB/Jazz set in my LP, which replaced the Gibson 490R/498T combo.

Their performance is largely dependent on the amp used, but as a general rule, the JB is great for raw edgy distortion, while the Jazz is AWESOME in terms of clarity. I swapped out my pickups despite being happy with the 498T simply because the 490R was too muddy for my tastes - I prefer a more modern clean tone instead of the 'creamy' PAF style tone.

However, the JB lacks low-end to a certain extent, but then again, I am playing through an Epi VJ Combo. Perhaps you could try a Jazz/Custom set? I had fantastic results playing Hard Rock through my previous guitar with a 59/Custom set.

 

[ShredCow]

With an LP... perhaps, you'd like to consider lower output pickups? After all - mahogany has certain compression and a healthy lower midrange + bass - don't really need a fat humbucker tone, right?

How about Alnico 2s? Something more old school?

Check out HighOrder pickups - google it and give Jeff an email. Jeff makes splendid vintage-y humbuckers at the price of a Dimarzio.

 

[gsonique]

i kinda see what you want...

 

[sepultura]

Thanks Shred... was looking at alnico-2's as stated in my post too. Have you used high order pickups? I was leaning towards the SD alnico-2's as they're easier to come by here in Sg.

How about Alnico 2s? Something more old school?

Check out HighOrder pickups - google it and give Jeff an email. Jeff makes splendid vintage-y humbuckers at the price of a Dimarzio.

 

[ShredCow]

Goose has a link to a good pup maker too - from what I've been reading about manilus.

I have a HighOrder humbucker in my guitar right now and Malcolm has installed HighOrder pups into guitars before - he has good words to say about them.

I like my HighOrder - its an Alnico 2, Asymmetrical wind, PAF style... it has a wonderful swirl to the harmonics, quite apparent actually.

I've gone from Dimarzios to these "boutique" pup makers... mainly HAS Sound & HighOrder - and the experience has spoiled me. I wouldn't return to Dimarzios because I find that the 2 I have tried just make pickups that have more "life" in them. Hmmmm, I'll still want a Dimarzio X2N so I can rule the world.

Its not all rosy and awesome possum with the boutique-y makers - the pickups I got from there were noisier than the Dimarzios (not by much though...) and they aren't available easily plus they usually cost a lot more. (other than HighOrder)

However, the trade off is worth it because they just feel & sound vastly different - take the chance, the pup maker (hopefully) has a vast knowledge on pups and they can advise you on the kind of wind that should fit you.

 

[gsonique]

There seem to be a trend of raising the pups too close to the strings.
Please move them away till it sounds good and this may save your $$ and time looking for an alternative pup.

 

[sepultura]

There seem to be a trend of raising the pups too close to the strings.
Please move them away till it sounds good and this may save your $$ and time looking for an alternative pup.

Yeah GS, I understand what you mean... I've seen this too often as well. These pickups on my Gibby were height adjusted for clear articulation and good note separation, as I don't use "death metal" type distortions nor play such heavy stuff.

As for off-brand pickups, shredcow, my best experience has been with Jason Lollar - his P90's on my other Gibby are the sweetest sounding ones I've ever used - beautiful dynamics, clear articulation and note separation, lovely warm sound. If I get a "botique" brand, it will be Lollar.

Anyway the reason I asked about SD's here is that lots of folks around use SD and it's easily available... saves me the trouble / expense of ordering from Lollar.

 

[ShredCow]

Ahhh I see... give it shot with the SD A2s, I'd love to hear your views on it.