Pickups for explorer

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EnGl

EnGl

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I ordered a explorer , I should get it in about few weeks(3-4) (straight from USA). I checked one in shop(cherry finish) and I was amazed , very easy access to lower frets, holding and playing this axe was just a pure orgasm for my body and ears. But I dislike the stock pickups. 500T was too muddy and piercing to my ears , neck pickup - who cares ? I don't use neck pickup or at least - rarely ...

One of the users recommended me sh-5 , well I tried and not my cup of tea - too bright to my ears , but this pickup was in alder guitar with maple neck so you know, this is a bit misleading.
I also tried other recommended pickup - AHB-3 set in Gibson Flying V Hammett Signature - very weird mids , while the low end was super tight which I like , other things was just ... lifeless ?

Any other options ? I liked EMG 81/85 but they were a bit to dry and sterile to my ears. Few days ago I thought about EMG JH set which should be improved 81/60 version, what do you think ?
I currently play in Drop C so the pickup should have tighter bottom. I don't play any extreme metal etc , just imagine mixed EVH and Zakk style - this is my style.
 
Dean "Lights Out" Schenker sig pup. 17k at the bridge and warmer than the SH-5 with more mids and less presence. My favorite high gain pup in mahogany bodies.
 
EyesOfTheSouth":3lzu6e3n said:
Dean "Lights Out" Schenker sig pup. 17k at the bridge and warmer than the SH-5 with more mids and less presence. My favorite high gain pup in mahogany bodies.
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My amp has a lot of mids , I've got 6534 with EL34. In addition tro this my mahogany axe is equipped with SD DM sig picups which are sh-4 and sh-2 in active version ...
I achieve a lot of mids , too much for my taste - even if I turn down my mids to 3/10 , so pickup with even more mids will make things worse. :thumbsdown:
Mids from my pickups are really nasal ... But I will try this Dean pickup.
 
modulo":1vl78ofx said:
Dimarzio Super Distortion :rock:
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I tried that also , not my cup of tea.

I guess I have found solution.
I know what is the character of the sh-5 , maybe it will be darker in mahogany ? Really brilliant pickup but I heard it in RR5 , so maybe the overbright tone comes also from guitar.
Well , I buy Sh-5 and if something will be wrong , I will return it and buy something else. Unfortunately JH set is very hard to get , and if I decide to get one - I must order it from thomann.

1. Which pots will be best for the sh-5 ? 500k , 250k or maybe stock Gibsons (AFAIK they are 300k)
2. How the JH set compare to regular EMG ?
 
yeti":3q8arfz3 said:
sell it all

start golfing or pike fishing!
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Damn man that was serious question :D

I know you are familiar with sh-5 so you can throw few words of advice
 
500 is a good pickup, chop the tone-capacitor to ground before giving up on it.
 
I had Duncan Distortions in an Explorer I had and I thought they sounded great.
 
My Tokai came with a Gotoh or maybe Maxon, close to a superdistortion type tones. I think a real superdist would rock in it. If I wanted to add some girth I'd go for a Rio Grande BBQ.
 
Since I have tried all the pups mentioned in this thread (other than actives)

Dimarzio Super D - very middy and bassy, a touch loose. Much better suited to alder superstrats IMO

Duncan Custom - huge low end and sizzly highs, not much happening in center mids, very tight

Dean Lights Out - less mids and tighter bass than Super D, more mids, fatter and a "touch" looser than Duncan Custom

Duncan Distortion - screaming high mids, saw tooth mid character, moderately tight low end

Rio BBQ - fatter than all the above......would not recommend in a huge plank of mahogany with no maple cap
 
EnGl":2e6qvwus said:
I ordered a explorer , I should get it in about few weeks(3-4) (straight from USA). I checked one in shop(cherry finish) and I was amazed , very easy access to lower frets, holding and playing this axe was just a pure orgasm for my body and ears. But I dislike the stock pickups. 500T was too muddy and piercing to my ears , neck pickup - who cares ? I don't use neck pickup or at least - rarely ...

One of the users recommended me sh-5 , well I tried and not my cup of tea - too bright to my ears , but this pickup was in alder guitar with maple neck so you know, this is a bit misleading.
I also tried other recommended pickup - AHB-3 set in Gibson Flying V Hammett Signature - very weird mids , while the low end was super tight which I like , other things was just ... lifeless ?

Any other options ? I liked EMG 81/85 but they were a bit to dry and sterile to my ears. Few days ago I thought about EMG JH set which should be improved 81/60 version, what do you think ?
I currently play in Drop C so the pickup should have tighter bottom. I don't play any extreme metal etc , just imagine mixed EVH and Zakk style - this is my style.
Click to expand...


SH-6.
 
EnGl":z0cohxwo said:
yeti":z0cohxwo said:
sell it all

start golfing or pike fishing!
Click to expand...


Damn man that was serious question :D

I know you are familiar with sh-5 so you can throw few words of advice
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I am as well, and have one in my LP Classic Plus. Couldn't be happier. I highly recommend it, but you didn't care for it?
We all hear differently, so take it with a grain of salt. Personally, I've owned 2 Explorers, and personally dug the 500T in it. I also had the 500T in my LP before changing, and find the SH-5 tighter, with nice harmonic detail.
 
I'm pretty happy woth the ahb-1 blackouts in my black dv8-r. They're not what most people think of when you say "active blackouts" - they're hot at full volume, but not like emg's, and they clean up really nice rolling the volume down on the guitar. Pretty damn good for blues/classic rock actually with a nice amp(rolling the volume back) but pretty much give you that "seymour duncan" rock sound at full volume, just with a hair more balls
 
try the sh5 and the ahb3 in the new guitar.

the sh5 with 300k pots should be phenomenal in the explorer, as i find 500k too bright with the sh5, so should the ahb3 with the standard 25k pots.
 
OK , I will give them a try. Thank ya guys.
We will see what pickup will be the best, I can buy pickup and return , so it will be great fun.
 
there's tons of pickups off the beaten path you can find. some of the ibanez INF pickups.....some older bc rich stock pickups, might mites, etc.

all may hold the key to your tonal heart!
 
Thanks ;)
The best way is to try it all. Probably the sh-5 with the 300k pots will be great.
 
EnGl":3r0yd0eq said:
Thanks ;)
The best way is to try it all. Probably the sh-5 with the 300k pots will be great.
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quite possibly, possibly not. maybe your ears like a darker, more subdued tone.

all you can do is try different pups in your axes and find what you like and keep asking questions!

it would help a bit if you posted your "goal" tone..or a ballpark of what you're trying to achieve.

still gary holt from AE1 and 2?
 
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