Need advice on new pickup

Stevepage

I took my Jackson along to rehearsal tonight and was a little bit let down with the tone. Too much top end and just sounded a bit shrill compared to the Washburn with an EMG81 in the bridge. 

It's a Bill Lawrence L500XL in the bridge of the Jackson, what pick up would you recommend that had high output but had a much fatter tone? 

olafgarten

I've heard good things about an Oil City Nightfighter Custom in a Jackson. My friend tends to like very Thick, Full tones as well. 

timmysoft

What kind of stuff are you playing? I think the best passive high output hum bucker i've ever used is the Dimarzio Crunch Lab, its very immediate in the attack but with some insane depth and clarity. If i was playing modern metal, it would be my first choice.

Stevepage

Think of the band Epica but with a more aggressive tone. Big open chords and chunky/aggressive palm mutes. 

Moloch

You can't really go wrong with a Duncan JB or Custom 5.

guitarfishbay

Have you tried Duncan Blackouts? Like EMG 81 bridge but fatter and a bit more output.

I have a set of the standard Blackouts I'd sell if anyone is interested. 

professorben

Dimarzio ToneZone. 

Its made to put lowend into Floyd equipped Alder/Basswood guitars. 

professorben

guitarfishbay said:

Have you tried Duncan Blackouts? Like EMG 81 bridge but fatter and a bit more output.

I have a set of the standard Blackouts I'd sell if anyone is interested. 

I might be. 

How much? 

guitarfishbay

professorben said:

guitarfishbay said:

Have you tried Duncan Blackouts? Like EMG 81 bridge but fatter and a bit more output.

I have a set of the standard Blackouts I'd sell if anyone is interested. 

I might be. 

How much? 

@professorben ;

£85 posted, pickups only. 

Stevepage

Been giving some serious thought into the Tone Zone. Looks like it may be exactly what I'm looking for. 

As for actives, I'd rather not go that route for this one. I have EMGs in two other guitars so I'd like a bit more variety #firstworldproblems 

Funkfingers

Stevepage said:

Jackson + Bill Lawrence L500XL compared to the Washburn with an EMG81 in the bridge.

Were both guitars compared through the same amplifier with its controls set the same?

webrthomson

Another vote for the SD blackouts - I've been using the AHB1 for years having moved from EMG81's.

The Bill Lawrence L500XL is a pretty trebly pickup compared to the EMG 81 – if you are finding it a bit shrill try flipping it 180 degrees – apparently it’s what Dimebag did with his

Worth looking at the Fishman Fluence modern pickups – they are getting a lot of love from the metal guys at the moment – I’ve got a set but I’ve not dropped them in a guitar yet.

Stevepage

Funkfingers said:

Stevepage said:

Jackson + Bill Lawrence L500XL compared to the Washburn with an EMG81 in the bridge.

Were both guitars compared through the same amplifier with its controls set the same?



Yeah exactly. I then tried changing settings and it still wasn't right

Alegree

Tonezone gets my vote. Or Airzone if you want to go REALLY fat.
Have a listen to any of The Offspring for a good demo of what a Tonezone can do.

wackojacko

Alegree said:

Tonezone gets my vote. Or Airzone if you want to go REALLY fat.
Have a listen to any of The Offspring for a good demo of what a Tonezone can do.

Ah that's a blast from the past. Grew up on the early offspring stuff. I read yesterday that Dexter Holland has just completed a PhD in molecular biology. 

professorben

Yep it's a sledgehammer of a pickup, without going active and the associated things with that. 

Nothing against it mind, just a bit sterile to me. 

Funkfingers

Stevepage said:
Yeah exactly. I then tried changing settings and it still wasn't right

Does either of the guitars have a Floyd Rose type double locking vibrato bridge? If so, from what material is its sustain block made?

Alegree

professorben said:

Yep it's a sledgehammer of a pickup, without going active and the associated things with that. 

Nothing against it mind, just a bit sterile to me. 

Sterile? I feel the different wire gauges does exactly the opposite.

Stevepage

Funkfingers said:

Stevepage said:
Yeah exactly. I then tried changing settings and it still wasn't right

Does either of the guitars have a Floyd Rose type double locking vibrato bridge? If so, from what material is its sustain block made?

Both have Floyd Roses. The Washburn has a big brass block where as the Jackson has the stock steel block. I'm not trying to get them to sound the same, it's just the Jackson sounded way too 'toppy'. 

Funkfingers

Changing the sustain block should be cheaper than a pickup.

professorben

Alegree said:

professorben said:

Yep it's a sledgehammer of a pickup, without going active and the associated things with that. 

Nothing against it mind, just a bit sterile to me. 

Sterile? I feel the different wire gauges does exactly the opposite.

I meant the actives.