Author Topic: Jackson SL3 Pickups (Read 2685 times)

andrew_k · « **on:** May 19, 2008, 10:02:56 PM »

Hi,
I just signed up. Looks like a great community here.

I'm currently contemplating getting a Jackson Soloist SL3. If I do, and it's looking likely, I'll replace the pickups. In the neck and middle I would like something that gets me as close to vintage strat as is possible with a guitar of this type (yeah, I know, maple through neck, Floyd Rose trem, 24 frets - it's not looking good!). In the bridge I would love something complex, rich and warm with tons of sustain, ideal for legato style lead playing. It also needs to have a nice clean tone and not be too out of balance with the neck and middle pickups. A big concern I have is how to get some sort of fatness and warmth out of the Jackson. Years ago I had an Ibanez that also had a maple through neck with a Floyd Rose trem and the unplugged tone of this instrument was quite thin. The SL3 isn't in stock where I live yet so haven't had a chance to check out its acoustic tone.

I've been in touch with Tim who has been super helpful. However any further advice would be hugely appreciated. I love the lead tone of players like Allen Holdsworth and Shawn Lane. That is, more organic, uncompressed, complex, rich kind of tones rather than trebly, cutting, aggressive ones (or am I just getting old??)

ilÿti · « **Reply #1 on:** May 19, 2008, 10:17:34 PM »

Its a great community indeed. Welcome here.

I can't help you with the single coils, but Shawn Lane's tone is Mules/Stormy Mondays all over, not single coils. Holdsworth seems to use processors most of the time and his tone is very un-guitarlike so I don't think there would be a specific BKP to do that kind of thing.
Leaving players aside, your description of your ideal bridge humbucker leads me to a Holy Diver. It might be far from Lane's choice, but it certainly is all those things you described. Very warm and smooth, but maybe a little too compressed for your taste. Crawler is another option, but it's voiced with a lot of mids that you might find too "biting". However, it's certainly very smooth and fat aswell.

Roobubba · « **Reply #2 on:** May 19, 2008, 10:17:59 PM »

Thought I'd say "Hi", although I'm unable to offer any advice for you (and certainly none that would be even one iota as useful as what Tim suggested to you!).

But "Hi" nonetheless!

Roo

andrew_k · « **Reply #3 on:** May 19, 2008, 10:20:46 PM »

Quote from: ilyti

Leaving players aside, your description of your ideal bridge humbucker leads me to a Holy Diver. It might be far from Lane's choice, but it certainly is all those things you described. Very warm and smooth, but maybe a little too compressed for your taste. Crawler is another option, but it's voiced with a lot of mids that you might find too "biting". However, it's certainly very smooth and fat aswell.

Thanks for your reply. The Holy Diver was one of the pickups I was considering. I'm hoping the output of this isn't too high so that it would balance reasonably well with the single coils(?).

andrew_k · « **Reply #4 on:** May 19, 2008, 10:21:24 PM »

Quote from: Roobubba

Thought I'd say "Hi", although I'm unable to offer any advice for you (and certainly none that would be even one iota as useful as what Tim suggested to you!).

But "Hi" nonetheless!

Roo

Hey, thanks for the welcome, much appreciated!

ilÿti · « **Reply #5 on:** May 19, 2008, 10:27:25 PM »

Quote from: andrew_k

Thanks for your reply. The Holy Diver was one of the pickups I was considering. I'm hoping the output of this isn't too high so that it would balance reasonably well with the single coils(?).

I don't think that would be a problem. Have you checked BKP's list of recommended HSS sets? The HD is said to pair well with the Irish Tour set. This set will (I assume) get you a very fat strat sound, great for those smooth Holdsworth/Lane legato licks. That's what I'd get if I was in your position and I'm a big fan of both players. Talk it over with Tim anyway of course.

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/Z-HSS.html

andrew_k · « **Reply #6 on:** May 19, 2008, 11:02:07 PM »

Quote from: ilyti

I don't think that would be a problem. Have you checked BKP's list of recommended HSS sets? The HD is said to pair well with the Irish Tour set. This set will (I assume) get you a very fat strat sound, great for those smooth Holdsworth/Lane legato licks. That's what I'd get if I was in your position and I'm a big fan of both players. Talk it over with Tim anyway of course.

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/Z-HSS.html

Thanks again for your reply, I really appreciate this. I'll check out the HD HSS set. I was originally contemplating Kinman pickups for the single coil slots but after listening to the sound samples on the Kinman site I'm not so sure. The Irish Tours could be just the ticket!

Holdsworth and Lane are amazing. Stunning facility yet still expressive and musical.