OK, recommend me a pickup

  • Thread starter Thread starter anomaly
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anomaly

anomaly

Well-known member
I've got a cheap Ibanez LP copy with a duncan JB in it right now. It really does sound good, but I think it could possibly sound better. I'm looking for clarity in the top end, maybe a slight hi end roll off to add definition? That's what I like about the JB, it's really clear in the treble frequencies. I don't want too much sizzle and I want a bit of an upper mid bump for cut. I'm used to EMG 81's and find they get a bit hazy in the top end which is my only complain of them. It's weird cause the JB is brighter than the 81 but the 81 seems to have more presence frequencies which add that haziness. My initial thoughts are:

Dimarzio Super Distortion
Duncan Distortion
Duncan Custom
 
anomaly said:
I've got a cheap Ibanez LP copy with a duncan JB in it right now. It really does sound good, but I think it could possibly sound better. I'm looking for clarity in the top end, maybe a slight hi end roll off to add definition? That's what I like about the JB, it's really clear in the treble frequencies. I don't want too much sizzle and I want a bit of an upper mid bump for cut. I'm used to EMG 81's and find they get a bit hazy in the top end which is my only complain of them. It's weird cause the JB is brighter than the 81 but the 81 seems to have more presence frequencies which add that haziness. My initial thoughts are:

Dimarzio Super Distortion
Duncan Distortion
Duncan Custom
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Try 85 then

Of those you listed I am not familiar with any, so can’t help, sorry.
 
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Clarity: Seymour Duncan '59 (neck) & Custom 5 (bridge)

Power: DiMarzio D Activator.

Something different: Lace Alumitone
 
I was leaning towards the Custom. What's the difference between the Custom and the Custom 5?
 
BeZo said:
I keep going back to the JB/59. It just works in mahogany.
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You know, I'm kinda thinking I'm just gonna be swapping pickups out endlessly if I do this and maybe I should just leave the JB in the guitar?? It does seem to work well in this guitar. It has some of the qualities I like about the 81, but a little fatter and more dynamic, which I like.
 
What are the sonic differences between an alnico magnet and a ceramic magnet?
 
anomaly said:
What are the sonic differences between an alnico magnet and a ceramic magnet?
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How the 2 translate can depend a lot on the particular pickup, but in general Alnico has more richness and warmth to the tone, while ceramic is typically more tight, crisp, more sizzle and bite in the highs. I like both equally, just depends on the particular pickup it’s used in

This is also vs Alnico V’s for what it’s worth. Alnico 8’s sound huge and more powerful IME, but I hate the tone itself (hollow, weird eq voicing). Alnico 2, 3, 4’s tend to sound softer than 5’s, but can sound sweeter, richer and nice mids to them. Neodymium imo just has bad tone lol
 
Keep in mind that this is for a guitar tuned to Eb, and I drop the E down to C# sometimes.
 
(9:05 PM) You know, I'm kinda thinking I'm just gonna be swapping pickups out endlessly if I do this and maybe I should just leave the JB in the guitar?? It does seem to work well in this guitar. It has some of the qualities I like about the 81, but a little fatter and more dynamic, which I like.
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anomaly said:
(9:08PM) The Duncan Custom is what I'm leaning towards... but I might just leave the JB now?? IDK?? I don't care about the neck pickup, i'm leaving it stock.
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LOL
 
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