vultures
Well-known member
Be aware that while the neck DCR may be half that of the bridge, output levels are more balanced than it would seem.Thanks for the review. I like how the neck pickup is wound to about half the resistance on the Holy Diver set. I’ve always had to lower the neck pickup too much on closer matched DC resistance sets. I’d like the neck pickup to be closer to the strings so that it is not “moofy”.
I've always felt the Holy Diver bridge was an optimized take on the JB. What a JB would want to be, if it could.If you don't get along with a JB in the bridge, I would look at another BKP. The holy diver is based on a JB, I had one in a seven string, and it reminded me of a JB. However, the holy diver neck pickup is good!
Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. No other pickup set matches volumes without cranking the neck pickup down too far for it to sound its best.Be aware that while the neck DCR may be half that of the bridge, output levels are more balanced than it would seem…
I’ve had a TZ and a JB in the same guitar and this just isn’t true. Unfortunately the only way to compare pickups is to put them into a guitar you are familiar with and play them. Judging guitar pickups by internet clips is like judging paint color by feel.I’ve listened to Tone Zone vs JB comparisons. The Tone Zone has way too much high end. Very shrill
Well, the Tone Zone in my Ibanez is annoyingly too shrill and so is the Air Norton in the neck. I have to adjust my amps for this one guitar. The others get along with the same settings.I’ve had a TZ and a JB in the same guitar and this just isn’t true. Unfortunately the only way to compare pickups is to put them into a guitar you are familiar with and play them. Judging guitar pickups by internet clips is like judging paint color by feel.
That’s what I’m saying—IMO you can’t. Like I mentioned, I’ve had both of those pickups in the same guitar back to back and I found the TZ to be a much darker pickup vs the JB. And apologies I didn’t mean to doubt you—it was wrong for me to say what you heard ‘wasn’t true’. I meant for me. It sucks, I know—I’ve prob bought, installed, removed and sold at least 2 dozen Duncan and DiMarzio pickups alone. They react differently from one guitar/amp/rig/hands/ear to another. Now you can kind of get a ballpark by output but it’s a really broad range there as well. And forget it once you start getting into magnets.I understand you can’t judge a pickup by a demo on YouTube but you can weigh the differences. Like saying the JB is less shrill and has more mids.
Yeah, that’s why I’m considering just going with Lollar dBs. All my other guitars have Lollars and I’m pleased with them. They just don’t do the metal thing.That’s what I’m saying—IMO you can’t. Like I mentioned, I’ve had both of those pickups in the same guitar back to back and I found the TZ to be a much darker pickup vs the JB. And apologies I didn’t mean to doubt you—it was wrong for me to say what you heard ‘wasn’t true’. I meant for me. It sucks, I know—I’ve prob bought, installed, removed and sold at least 2 dozen Duncan and DiMarzio pickups alone. They react differently from one guitar/amp/rig/hands/ear to another. Now you can kind of get a ballpark by output but it’s a really broad range there as well. And forget it once you start getting into magnets.
Pickups are fun to experiment with but the rabbit hole is crazy deep—thats why once I find something my ears and hands like I tend to stick with it now. Good luck brutha—warm up that soldering iron!
For what guitar?Yeah, that’s why I’m considering just going with Lollar dBs.
Ibanez RG655.For what guitar?
Pray tell.… I couldn't lower it down far enough in the neck position...I can go further into that problem if you want. …
Amen. Kinda why I started w/DiMarzios, then Duncan. The Duncan board is a pretty good resource—a lot of those guys have swapped out dozens of pickups in the same guitar which is really the best way to isolate what you are hearing.I sure don’t want to spend $190+ on a trial pickup
I don't know if it would work for metal or not because I don't play that kind of stuff but I didn't have enough range of adjustment in the LP neck to use the neck DB successfully. The result was it had more attack than a person could stomach. I could take your breath away using a metal fingerpick. It was too much. Very 3-D when set that close. Every detail and flaw in your playing exposed. But that attack...I couldn't dial it out because not enough range of height adjustment. It was like jabbing you in the ear with an icepick.Ibanez RG655.
Pray tell.
I bet you could.I could take your breath away using a metal fingerpick.
Thanks for the info. I like a little extra top end in the neck pickup but it sounds like it is too much. Maybe I’ll grab a dB bridge and try it.I don't know if it would work for metal or not because I don't play that kind of stuff but I didn't have enough range of adjustment in the LP neck to use the neck DB successfully. The result was it had more attack than a person could stomach. I could take your breath away using a metal fingerpick. It was too much. Very 3-D when set that close. Every detail and flaw in your playing exposed. But that attack...I couldn't dial it out because not enough range of height adjustment. It was like jabbing you in the ear with an icepick.
So thinking I had probably blown $220 on this experiment I threw it in the bridge, replacing the JB that was in there. I have more range of height adjustment back there and can lower it down more and it is absolutely killer. I can do everything from honky PAF tones to raise it a little closer and take advantage of higher output with a bit less compression and more clarity than the JB. I've only begun to explore that pickup, there are a lot of tones there. The 4-way conductor might be worthwhile depending on what you do. I just bought the standard model.