changing my pickups


canuck7
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canuck7
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01/11/2003 4:17 pm
hey guys,
i've been wondering if i should change the pickups on my Ibanez RG421. i was going to change them to Seymour Duncan or EMG pickups. i'm looking for a good all-around pickup that can handle metal. i'm leaning towards EMG because Zakk Wylde uses them and i love his tone.

opinions/suggestions??
Thanks for listening to this small piece of me.
# 1
canuck7
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canuck7
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01/14/2003 2:08 pm
i like Seymour Duncans and DiMarzios are good too, but i think i'm going to go with EMG pickups. of course, i'll try them out before i change the pickups. i'm more into a straightforward/heavy metal sound, so this is probably my best choice after talking to other people.
i'm just wondering which ones i should look at now. any suggestions?
Thanks for listening to this small piece of me.
# 2
canuck7
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canuck7
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01/17/2003 3:37 pm
any suggestions?
i just need some opinions/suggestions about changing the pickups on my guitar.
Thanks for listening to this small piece of me.
# 3
Polera
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Polera
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01/17/2003 7:42 pm
what emg's are u looking at?

WWSD? What would stevie do?
# 4
canuck7
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canuck7
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01/18/2003 1:52 pm
i'm not sure what to get really. i'm probably going to get EMG HZ one but i don't know how general/specific that is being. i know i want two humbuckers so they will probably be the same pickups.
Thanks for listening to this small piece of me.
# 5
janir123
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janir123
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01/18/2003 3:14 pm
Just a notice...

You don't get Zakk Wylde sounds off the Ibanez even if you were using EMG's. I have a DiMarzio Evolution (Steve Vai) set (DP158 & DP159)in my Ibanez RG770 and boy does that SCREAM!!! Good combination in allaround use. They're really versatile though they lack a little on the bass side. In general I like more DiMarzios than SD's. I liked the SD trembucker though when I tried it on Tom Anderson but then again it was a Tom Anderson. What comes to Zakk's sound you would need a mahogany bodied guitar or at least a set-neck (preferably both) to take away the snappy sound that
a bolt-on has. Just my two cents....
Thanks

Jani
# 6
canuck7
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canuck7
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01/18/2003 3:24 pm
well,
i'd like to emulate Zakk Wylde without becoming a clone. i don't really like the Ibanez pickups i got with my RG421 anyway. they can deliver, but there are better and i'm a serious guitar player. i am a lead guitarist but i still do a lot of rhythm and stuff (probably more rhythm than lead right now but things change). so i obviously want an all-around pickup. some pickups are built for soloing and can't do any rhythm if their lives depended on it. and vice versa. i've taken advice and EMGs seem like the best choice for a powerful metal all-around pickup.
like i said, i love Zakk Wylde's sound but i don't want to become some kind of mini-Zakk or something. and i've been advised that EMGs are the best all-around powerful metal pickup there is. do you guys have any suggestions?
Thanks for listening to this small piece of me.
# 7
janir123
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janir123
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01/18/2003 3:35 pm
Well the EMG 81's might be a good choise for that. Maybe a bit typical but anyway... Or, if you want a bit rougher sound maybe the DiMarzio PAF pro could be a good choice.
Usually they know the different models better in the store
and they'd be able to tell you the options when you describe them the sounds you're looking for.
Thanks

Jani
# 8
canuck7
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canuck7
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01/18/2003 3:48 pm
that was helpful. but do you know the EMG website and/or the DiMarzio site too? which one would you use if you had the choice?
Thanks for listening to this small piece of me.
# 9
janir123
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janir123
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01/18/2003 4:29 pm
Clearly DiM 'cause I'm not really into the active stuff simply because I don't want any batteries into my guitar.
When I'm talking about EMG I'm talking about active pickups.
I've never had the need to buy passive pickups other than DiM or SD.

BTW it just crossed my mind that DiM Humbucker from hell (Paul Gilbert) and SD Screamin' Demon (George Lynch) would both be even better options...

DiMarzio: http://www.dimarzio.com
EMG: http://www.emginc.com
Thanks

Jani
# 10
robbo97
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robbo97
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01/19/2003 7:25 am
speaking of pickups, I am looking at getting a new guitar on the cheap, and I read a review on the Ashton 282 model, it says its a great guitar but the pickups are a bit cheap, one of my mates has tried one and they reckon it sounds just like a telecaster(which is what I'm looking for).
you can have a look at it at: http://www.australismusic.com.au/ashton/512812.html



also (as you can probably tell I don't know much bout the insides of guitars), another of my mates has a really old (50's) maton hollow body, and the pickups seemed to have dulled in it, what are the life spans of pickups???.
the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
# 11
janir123
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janir123
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01/19/2003 8:06 pm
I don't actually believe that pickups have a lifespan. My opinion is that they just get better with the age. There must be another reason....

What comes to your personal question... I don't know how much you are ready to pay for pickups but you would definitely want a pair of Lindy Fralins loaded into it. They're expensive but worth every penny. Also Rio's are very good.
Thanks

Jani
# 12
Dr_simon
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Dr_simon
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01/19/2003 11:07 pm
Have you thaught about PRS pickups ?
Im using stock humbuckers (HFS bridge pickup and Vintage Bass neck pickup) in my CE24 and they are fantastic !
My instructors page and www.studiotrax.net for all things recording.
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# 13
Lordathestrings
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Lordathestrings
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01/21/2003 3:24 am
My own preference is to DiMarzio pickups, but I've heard good things about Seymour Duncan as well.

Something to bear in mind is the way the pickups are wired when they are installed. I suggest you stay away from setups that simply short out one of the humbucker coils to get a single-coil sound.

If the coils are connected in parallel, you keep the hum-rejection ability of the pickup while getting a nice, clear, sound. Series connection of the coils will produce the full, chunky, 'humbucker' sound. Stewmac, and others, sell control pots with push-pull switches built into them, so you don't have to make additional holes in your guitar body to install series/parallel coil switches.
Lordathestrings
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# 14
canuck7
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canuck7
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01/21/2003 2:18 pm
i'm going to try a lot of pickups i guess. i'm looking at Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, and EMG right now. i'll make my decision based on my preference after i test them or something.
thanks for your help guys.
Thanks for listening to this small piece of me.
# 15

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