Which pickups should I use and when?


Hjorvard
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Joined: 08/01/06
Posts: 102
Hjorvard
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Joined: 08/01/06
Posts: 102
11/06/2008 7:56 pm
I am predominantly a metal guitarist. I've got my amp set to 9, 3, 9 which produces a generally thrashy tone that I like. I usually keep the volume at seven, but I was wondering which pickup should I use the most?
# 1
Superhuman
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Superhuman
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Posts: 1,334
11/07/2008 1:08 pm
Not sure if you are looking for new pups or not... but for metal you want humbuckers - rhythms off the bridge and mix the leads up between bridge and neck. Depending on the sound you want, I would suggest with Dimarzio Evolutions or EMG 81/85. I've had a lot of guitars over the years and my consistant favourite are the Evolutions. Try them out on an Ibanez Jem in the local store (make sure its the white one with the vine inlay - other models use different pups). The 81/85 combo is pretty popular too, you should be able to find them easily to test run too.

As far as using the pups goes you get less output from the neck which makes it more suitable for sweep picking, you get a creamier blues tone from that setting too. THe neck generally has the highest output and the clearest tone accross the range - this makes it good for rhythm guitar (less mud) and screamier leads.
# 2
GITRPLAR
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GITRPLAR
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11/07/2008 8:36 pm
I'm in agreement with Brother Dave on the EMG 81/85 set up. I haven't taken the evolutions out for a spin yet, so don't know about those. But if Steve Vai thinks there fine and Brother Dave thinks so too, well that's good enough for me.
# 3
Superhuman
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Superhuman
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11/07/2008 8:53 pm
Hey Dan, great to see you here! Hope to see you around the boards here:-)
# 4
Hjorvard
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Hjorvard
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Posts: 102
11/08/2008 9:16 pm
Thanks man you told me exactly what I needed to know! I appreciate the advice greatly. Haha as a matter of fact for as long as I've been in these forums, you've given me the most advice!
# 5

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