Pickups for CS Jackson

[Brown tone]

I've ordered a kelly from jackson custom shop and i'd like some advice for the pickups. Since the guitar is already a bit on the costly side it does not really matter if the pickups are a bit more expensive.The guitar is neck-though korina(neck/body) and it has tone pros tune a matic bridge. The fingerboard is ebony.

The rythm tone(neck pickup) that i'm after is tight but chunky and i use mostly standard tuning. The lead tone(bridge pickup) should be thick but clear enough for fast licks and tremolo picking. I don't like overflowing bass response, but more highly emphasized lower mid range(less mud, more bricks :D). Tone is always hard to describe, since everyone hears it differently but this'll give the basic idea of what i'm after.

[Brown tone]

I'm not looking for a jack-of-all-trades type of pickup arrangement, but something to make a wall of sound that'll be remembered even after a gig. Great rythm tone is far more important than the lead tone, even from the bridge position!

[TwilightOdyssey]

My honest recommendation is wait until you get the guitar in-hand, see what you like/don't like about the tone through your rig, and then narrow your request to "I'm looking for something that will do X"

Hope you find that helpful.

[Brown tone]

My honest recommendation is wait until you get the guitar in-hand, see what you like/don't like about the tone through your rig, and then narrow your request to "I'm looking for something that will do X"

Hope you find that helpful.

No, i actually don't. Custom ordered guitars are made according to customers specifications, and therefore i get to choose the pickups before the guitar is ready(though this won't be until late summer or fall).

[Ted]

Any examples of bands, specific players tones will help people advise you here.

[Brown tone]

megadeth angry again, though this is played on Eb. Very dry and raw sound, almost perfect.

metallica Master Of Puppets album, they used some duncans back in the days

[Transcend]

megadeth angry again, though this is played on Eb. Very dry and raw sound, almost perfect.

metallica Master Of Puppets album, they used some duncans back in the days

mustaine used a JB

and metallica used the emgs

i can get a great master of puppets tone with my miracle man bridge

[Brown tone]

If i remember correctly mustaine used duncan distortion before jb and this was 'till the youthanasia album and angry was recorded for last action hero which was done in 1993. Metallica was converted into actives in 87' during the ...justice recording and tour. Hetfields 84 gibson explorer had pickups changed to emg 81/60 set and he got his eet fuk guitar.

But, who cares! I basically want pickups that can deliver thick tone that does not get "flabby", meaning that does not have too much bass soaking the overall sound. I prefer neck pickup for rythm tones.

[Transcend]

If i remember correctly mustaine used duncan distortion before jb and this was 'till the youthanasia album and angry was recorded for last action hero which was done in 1993. Metallica was converted into actives in 87' during the ...justice recording and tour. Hetfields 84 gibson explorer had pickups changed to emg 81/60 set and he got his eet fuk guitar.

But, who cares! I basically want pickups that can deliver thick tone that does not get "flabby", meaning that does not have too much bass soaking the overall sound. I prefer neck pickup for rythm tones.

nope it was emgs ive got the so what book.

Lists all the gear
they started using emg at the end of the trl tour

You may be correct about mustaine.

[Brown tone]

one possibility would be emg 60 on the neck and duncan blackout bridge. Other would be invaders both ways, but i'd like to have additional ideas since i'm not in a hurry.

The reasons for "new" pickups:
Actives have a bit sterile sound, they are good but they could be better. The JB has too "loose" sound, but otherwise its perfect. Problem with jb is that it is unsuitable for neck and it does not go well with invader which is great neck pickup, just too bassy! These are the problems with pickups that i'm familiar with. The korina has a sound between mahogany and alder. The wood is lightweigh and as such has great harmonic balance and makes the guitar sing. I do not want to loose the distinctive feel of the korina by using actives(though amp pushed into 100%THD makes guitar wood completely indiffirent).

BTW the hetfields jackson, that broke during MOP tour, had jackson pickup on the neck and duncan on the bridge. The 84 gibson had it's pickups changed from gibsons to duncans and later(87') to emg's. His first esp custom "eet fuk" had dual 81's just as the black esp that came during the Black tour. Hammett had his custom jackson built with 81 set and he changed the gibson pickups, that were on his vee, to emgs during the lightning(no, the subject is still of no importance, but the fact that i *need* to be right is).

[Davey]

No, i actually don't. Custom ordered guitars are made according to customers specifications, and therefore i get to choose the pickups before the guitar is ready(though this won't be until late summer or fall).

just a quick question.. you ordered this from Jackson .. or some other luthier?

another.. you play rythm on the neck pickup?

and i suggest a MM/VH II set

[MDV]

My honest recommendation is wait until you get the guitar in-hand, see what you like/don't like about the tone through your rig, and then narrow your request to "I'm looking for something that will do X"

Hope you find that helpful.

No, i actually don't. Custom ordered guitars are made according to customers specifications, and therefore i get to choose the pickups before the guitar is ready(though this won't be until late summer or fall).

I'm pretty sure TO knows about custom guitars  

You'll get a better idea what you want with a refference point of the pickups it comes with and the behaviour of the guitar with those pickups. Then you have a real starting point for 'more of this, less of that', rather than guessing by the specs.

That you want a tight rhythm tone from the neck seems odd. The bridge for the tightest sound, surely? Then neck and bridge for leads? (bridge for aggressive, trebly leads. Neck for smoother, richer leads)

[Afghan Dave]

I'd go with Miracle Man bridge / Cold Sweat Neck or a matched pair of Miracle  Men.

These will forever change your estimation of other pickups.

[Brown tone]

just a quick question.. you ordered this from Jackson .. or some other luthier?

yes, from jackson custom shop. I wrote it on my first post,.

another.. you play rythm on the neck pickup?

Yes, when heavily distorted the neck pickup gives neat chug to the sound.

The reasons for "new" pickups:
Actives have a bit sterile sound, they are good but they could be better. The JB has too "loose" sound, but otherwise its perfect. Problem with jb is that it is unsuitable for neck and it does not go well with invader which is great neck pickup, just too bassy! These are the problems with pickups that i'm familiar with. The korina has a sound between mahogany and alder. The wood is lightweigh and as such has great harmonic balance and makes the guitar sing. I do not want to loose the distinctive feel of the korina by using actives.

I might be thinking a bit too complicately, but this is what i can give you.
The rig that i'm using a also custom built(by me!) so it's hard to give any real stepping stones, besides describing the tone with words.

I like the reduced bandwith of hotter pickups and the tightness of ceramic magnets.

[octavio_amzer]

just a quick question.. you ordered this from Jackson .. or some other luthier?

yes, from jackson custom shop. I wrote it on my first post,.

another.. you play rythm on the neck pickup?

Yes, when heavily distorted the neck pickup gives neat chug to the sound.

The reasons for "new" pickups:
Actives have a bit sterile sound, they are good but they could be better. The JB has too "loose" sound, but otherwise its perfect. Problem with jb is that it is unsuitable for neck and it does not go well with invader which is great neck pickup, just too bassy! These are the problems with pickups that i'm familiar with. The korina has a sound between mahogany and alder. The wood is lightweigh and as such has great harmonic balance and makes the guitar sing. I do not want to loose the distinctive feel of the korina by using actives.

I might be thinking a bit too complicately, but this is what i can give you.
The rig that i'm using a also custom built(by me!) so it's hard to give any real stepping stones, besides describing the tone with words.

I like the reduced bandwith of hotter pickups and the tightness of ceramic magnets.

look mr. rude n00b...

chill out and have some respect.

This forum is loaded with very nice helpfull people and veteran players... "TwilightOdyssey" happens to be one of them and so far he has given you the best response.

But if you really need a quick reliable set of pickups that will do thrash metal very well, then I also recommend a "Miracle Men set or Cold Sweat Neck with Miracle Man bridge".

So just relax... be more specific in what tone you want. Some more bands and songs would help.

Also... people here don't mainly use the Neck pickup for riffs or rythm. Most of us use the bridge pickup for rythm and aggresive leads... and neck for smooth leads and cleans.

hope this helps you