Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Scali on February 05, 2007, 10:24:49 PM
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Hi,
I have an Ibanez RG570CT guitar, with a H-S-H configuration... It's a reasonably standard RG... bolt-on neck, double-locking tremolo etc.
But it has a rather unusual body of alder with a maple top.
I've been using the standard V7-S1-V8 pickups for over 10 years now... I was actually quite happy with their sound, but the neck pickup is damaged, and I'd like to replace the lot while I'm at it.
Even though the RG is very common, as are the V7-S1-V8 pickups, I wasn't able to find a lot of information on them...
So far I've found these tidbits of info, not sure how accurate they are:
- The 'V' stands for Vintage
- The V7 has a ceramic magnet, S1 and V8 are alnico
- The output is medium
- They are based on a DiMarzio design, probably the PAF Pro and Tone Zone (this could be, since my guitar is from 1995, and back then there were US RG models above mine, also alder+maple, with the actual DiMarzio PAF Pro and Tone Zone installed)
Ibanez describes the V7 as "Tight, but bright. Very dynamic for chording and riffing".
The S1 is "Traditional sounding, but high output single-coil with Alnico-5 polepieces for even string output. Designed to work with humbuckers in the split position".
Of the V8 they say "Warm yet articulate lead pickup with enhanced overtones. Good harmonics without excessive brightness".
Anyway, given this info, could anyone suggest a set of pickups that would work well in my guitar, and probably remain close to the current tone and output?
Oh, perhaps also of interest... I use a Marshall 6101 amp, and I usually play hi-gain lead stuff, and back down the volume on the guitar for more vintage/bluesy sounds (the volume pot has a condenser installed which brightens and cleans up the sound when backed down).
But I also want a nice warm clean sound (very clean, so not too much output I suppose), a bit jazzy... and good funky out-of-phase sounds with the middle single-coil.
I also own a Les Paul with Gibson 490R and 498T hot alnico pickups, which I like very much, and is reasonably similar to the RG in terms of tone and output, just a bit darker and beefier.
Here are some actual recordings with my RG570CT and the 6101 amp, where I'm quite happy with the tone I captured:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=436524&songID=4441749
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=436524&songID=4687168
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=436524&songID=4221952
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=436524&songID=4287948
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=436524&songID=4662132
What Bareknuckles would you recommend to suit my style, tone and guitar?
Edit: I just noticed that there are only H-H, H-S-S or S-S-S sets.... Is it possible to buy a set of H-S-H? Because otherwise it looks like I'd have to buy some single-coils that I can't use.