Pickup combo recommendations for Ibanez RG 421 MOL

[adamwakeling]

Hey everyone, I have just bought https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/13120714014558--ibanez-rg421-mol-mahogany-oil with the intention of doing a mod project for the first time. Looking to swap out both stock pickups for something better.

My main playing styles will be a mix of heavy rock, prog metal and borderline djenty tones, anything from Dream Theatre to Sithu Aye to Periphery. After a nice balance between modern sounding and reasonably tight at higher gains to something nice clarity as I back off the gain a bit and ring out chords.

Any suggests would be really appreciated.

Also I have never swapped out pickups before so if anyone has any additional advice in this process I would most welcome it..!

Many thanks

[one]

I'd go for Miracle man or C-hawks, though I think I prefer the latter

[Dave Sloven]

Those are good recommendations re pickups for your application

I'm not real familiar with Ibanez installs but I have seem some odd stuff regarding wiring, magnet polarity and cavity / feet design so I would check in with BKP on that.

It's always worth taking the strings off and getting some photos of the pickup mounting, pulling the pickups out (they are in their rings so leave them in those so you don't lose adjustment) and getting photos of the legs on those, get photos of inside the control cavity etc and familiarise yourself with the guitar before ordering anything.  But definitely contact BKP to ask about the replacing the pickups.

Black Hawks are all short leg and string spacing is irrelevant because they are blades.

If you get a more conventional design like the Miracle Man you will need 53mm short leg, but check that there is nothing odd with the feet on your legs.  If there is enough room in the cavity around the feet then the square feet of the BKPs should be fine.

I prefer to do a full rewire generally, right down to the selector switch, but be aware that the Ibanez wiring is probably a different colour code if you keep any of it

Schematics are on the BKP site

[ericsabbath]

My main playing styles will be a mix of heavy rock, prog metal and borderline djenty tones, anything from Dream Theatre to Sithu Aye to Periphery. After a nice balance between modern sounding and reasonably tight at higher gains to something nice clarity as I back off the gain a bit and ring out chords.

For classic Dream Theater, the Miracle Man would be my number one choice
Misha from Periphery had a Ibanez RG121 with similar specs back when he was active in this forum and he installed a Ceramic Warpig in it
https://forum.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/index.php?topic=13635.msg175690#msg175690
But he had many guitars with pretty much all the BKP ceramic bridge models (except the Miracle Man, I think)

I'd probably pick the Miracle Man cause it's one of my favorites for modern metal, but a Juggernaut or Brute Force should work, or even a True Grit (alnico 5, versatile, but very modern and punchy sounding)

[adamwakeling]

Thanks all for the comments here. Have some pickups to go and research more of now and listen to samples!

I also emailed BKP and got a response from Ben who had his own suggestions of a set of Silos, or a Ceramic Nailbomb bridge with a Cold Sweat in the neck.

[Chris Rowberry]

Hi Adam,

From your description and the versatility, you will be needing. I would recommend The Juggernaut humbuckers - https://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/pickup/humbucker/juggernaut

The Ceramic flankers will ensure you get the drive you need with a modern edge to the tone. When played cleaner the Alnico will definitely offer more of an organic tone, whilst still keeping a full, rich tone.