Author Topic: Looking to upgrade my Ibanez Universe' pickups (Read 5784 times)

CyanideChris@Gmail.Com · « **on:** January 11, 2008, 07:02:15 PM »

Hey guys, I'm looking to upgrade the pickups on my Ibanez Universe.

Just looking for advice/suggestions etc !

UV Prestige neck

5pc. maple/ wenge neck material

Basswood body

24 large frets

Bound rosewood finger board

Edge Pro 7 bridge

I will be playing stuff like Nevermore, Shatter Messiah, Outworld, To-Mera, Dream Theater, lots of death metal.
Also stuff like Vai and other instrumental type music.

I was thinking about a Ceramic Warpig for the bridge and a Cold Sweat for the neck, I'm also looking for a single coil which I have no idea about to be honest :P

So yeah, what are you guys inputs? Are there any known soundclips of a Universe with BKPs?

Cheers :D

MDV · « **Reply #1 on:** January 11, 2008, 07:13:34 PM »

Good choices.

A miracle man bridge would also work really well.

I wouldnt change the cold sweat though.

ilÿti · « **Reply #2 on:** January 11, 2008, 07:45:45 PM »

Yeah, MM+CS is likely gonna fit it very well. Going for an MM-set would be if you're going for a less paf-like and more modern (like the stock pickups, and the bands mentioned) but everyone loves CS for shred. I did hear a great 80s guitar hero rock clip with the MM set and it seems to do Petrucci/Vai tones very well.

CyanideChris@Gmail.Com · « **Reply #3 on:** January 11, 2008, 08:11:32 PM »

Thanks guys.

Well it is rather hard deciding on what pickups to get when I have very little idea of their sounds.

So I'll put it this way, would there be any disadvantages choosing a specific set of pickups over an other set?

e.g. CWP + Coldsweat
vs
Miracle Man + Coldsweat

- What advantages and disadvantages do they both have playing them next to eachother?

Thanks :)

MDV · « **Reply #4 on:** January 11, 2008, 09:14:27 PM »

CWP and MM back to back, in my experience:

The CPig has a fuller, more grinding mid range, its quite a bit hotter and bigger sounding. It arguably has more low end, but I dont think theres that much in it, its probably just that its driving the amp that much harder.

MM: Sweeter high end adn quite a bit more of it, less compressed, more scooped mids and smoother sound, but with a fat low midrange.

To sum up the vibes as I see them, the C-Pig is clinically precise brutality, the MM is more refined and articulate but more than capable of brutal.

You seem to like a lot of smooth, scooped sounds, so I'd go for the MM.

Edit: it has to be noted that both are insanely tight.

CyanideChris@Gmail.Com · « **Reply #5 on:** January 11, 2008, 10:25:38 PM »

Thanks for all the info :D you've been a great help.

But yeah I'm going to have to think about this..

Oh yeah and I'm looking for the most 'brutal' palm mutes ever haha : P

I play through an ENGL Savage Special Edition + Mesa Rectifier cab as an extra note.

MDV · « **Reply #6 on:** January 11, 2008, 10:30:32 PM »

Brutal PMs = C-Pig.

The most brutal PMs I have yet to find (after trying SO many metal pickups!!!)

The finest combination of devastating and clear and musical in the industry.

And youre welcome!

CyanideChris@Gmail.Com · « **Reply #7 on:** January 12, 2008, 08:49:38 PM »

Sounds good :D

Except - I just went to order them, and on the order form there is no option to choose between alnico and ceramic magnets on the 7 string Warpigs, what do I doooooo :O?

*stuck*

I sent an email through the contact form but yeah I'll just type that out here too.

MDV · « **Reply #8 on:** January 12, 2008, 09:09:49 PM »

I always ring up, but I believe you can ask for it in some special requests or comments or something section.

MDV · « **Reply #9 on:** January 12, 2008, 10:59:01 PM »

Oh, yeah, what are you after from the single?

CyanideChris@Gmail.Com · « **Reply #10 on:** January 13, 2008, 12:44:23 AM »

Ahh cool.

Well I'm not sure, probably a nice bright chimey clean sound, for use with a bit of chorus and the like.

I'm not sure if they do 7 string singles though? I was just going to leave that out but if I can get one then I definitely would..

MDV · « **Reply #11 on:** January 13, 2008, 12:54:05 AM »

Now you mention it I dont know if Tim does them either.

JamesHealey · « **Reply #12 on:** January 16, 2008, 09:55:31 AM »

If you have one of the newer UV777BK's go for it and upgrade the pickups.. I'd suggest Miracle Man bridge and neck.

If you have and older one like say a UV7PWH, keep the originals at hand as those guitars are going up and up in value.

JamesHealey · « **Reply #13 on:** January 16, 2008, 09:57:37 AM »

oh yea and just to mention my dream guitar ever since I was about 14 was the UV77MC

kmanick · « **Reply #14 on:** January 17, 2008, 01:36:42 AM »

Great thread as i just got a 7620 and it''s specs are very similar to the Universe (woods wise)
I replaced the B-2 in the bridge with an Evolution 7 and I'm not really thrilled with it.
I've got a Nailbomb in the bridge of my Carvin 7 and it stomps all over the Evo. (but that's an all Mahogany guitar) the 7620 is basswood and I'm thinking a Miracle Man might just do the trick?
For reference I'm playing a lot of the same stuff here, Nevermore, Dream theater, Arch Enemy and Instrumental shred ( but my Carvin 7 handles that already). I'm playing thru a JSX into a Legacy top (V30's).
so MM the way to go?