Pickups for 80's style hard rock/metal?

[Joeri]

Hi, I'm new here. I'm about to get a guitar custom build. It's basically gonna be an all maple guitar (maple body, neck & fretboard), routed for HSS, Original Floyd Rose tremolo.

I'm looking for pickups to play 80's style metal hard rock. Think: Bon Jovi, Dokken, Def Leppard, Van Halen, etc. I'm a big fan of Richie Sambora on the early Bon Jovi albums (up to These Days), so I would like to get a sound similar to his.

I'm thinking of the following pickups:
- Bridge: either a VH II or a Holydiver
- Middle & neck: Irish tours

If someone has an idea on which pickups would be best, please give me some advice.

[steve]

Welcome to the forum!Im a big Sambora fan as well,i have the Fender American Sambora Strat with the floyd rose.I have the BKP's Mule humbucker in the bridge it gives a great Sambora style tone.Richie uses quite low output pickups and matches them with high gain amps and a booster pedal.The Mule is the most versatile pickup i have tried so far and it will do a cool VH tone as well.

Check out my Mule Metal demo in the players room,its got a very fat warm tone.Hope this helps.

[Joeri]

Thanks for the welcome and the reply. Can't check the sound file right now    (at work), but will do when I get home.

[TwilightOdyssey]

In my ESP Kamikaze 4 body, I put in a Miracle Man/Irish Tour combo. That gives me that Under Lock and Key/Back For the Attack tone to the T!

I have a VHII in the bridge of my Strat. The tone is more raw. I wouldn't say it gives the same Lynch vibe as the Miracle Man. For a more old school tone, you could go with the VHII, however; it's a terrific pickup. The VHII is great for getting NWOBHM type tones, too (Think Stained Class era Priest) when you push it.

The Holy Diver has a mid spike that will get you closer to the Tooth and Nail era Dokken, as well as old LA metal style sounds.

I'm sure I will be corrected if I'm wrong, lol.

[Ratrod]

Twilight Odyssey is the '80's metal authority on this forum. As well as BKP's most imporant bench and field tester of '80's style metal pups.

[Joeri]

Thanks for all the replys so far. So for the bridge position I have the following suggestions so far:
- The Mule: Richie Sambora tone
- VH II: NWOBHM tone
- Holy Diver: early LA metal tone
- Miracle Man: Dokken Under Lock And Key/Back For The Attack

Right now I'm thinkin' The Mule would be best for me as I'm mainly going for the Richie Sambora tone. But will it be able to do some other 80's metal, like Dokken, Def Leppard, Van Halen, etc.

And what pickups would you suggest for the middle & neck position.

[edit]Still at work so can't listen to some audio clips right now, will do when I get home[/edit]

[steve]

In my search for a Sambora like tone i have found the Mule is the nearest.He always uses PAFs and the Mule is in PAF territory.Im not disagreeing with the other pickups mentioned,but the high gain pickups dont really have the Sambo vibe going on.

[TwilightOdyssey]

In my search for a Sambora like tone i have found the Mule is the nearest.He always uses PAFs and the Mule is in PAF territory.Im not disagreeing with the other pickups mentioned,but the high gain pickups dont really have the Sambo vibe going on.

I agree 100%. Of course, I'm not going for Sambora, lol
My playing is a bit more ... pinch harmonic laden!

And that's not to say that the Mule *won't* do high gain; it will react differently, is all. You may need to dig in deeper to get the tone totally nailed, however, and in the end of the day, all BKPs are extremely versatile, not just one-trick ponies.

[TwilightOdyssey]

Twilight Odyssey is the '80's metal authority on this forum. As well as BKP's most imporant bench and field tester of '80's style metal pups.

LOL, I don't know about all that!  :oops:

One day I will have a Mule, Emerald, or Blag Dog loaded guitar for my Badlands-inspired stuff!

[Joeri]

Back from work and listened to some audio clips. I must say I kinda like all of the pickups mentioned so far. But I don't think the Miracle Man can give me a good Richie Sambora sound.

I also read that he used a DM PAF Pro in his Fender Signature Strat, so that would lead me to either a Mule or a VH II (same output & magnet). But I also read that on his Kramer Signature (which he used in the 80's) he used to have a SD JB, and that would lead me to a Holy Diver. So I'm still confused on what to get.

And does anyone have some suggestions on the middle & neck pickups??

[HJM]

You know...how about a Crawler, vintage tone but more balls...

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/sound/ZH-crawler/bridge_od.mp3

[Joeri]

It just got harder to pick one :(

Love the Crawler sound clip  8)

[Ratrod]

A Mule with two Irish Tours would be the most versitile setup.

Another option could be a Crawler with Mother's Milks. The Crawler is like a super hot rodded Mule with a little more midrange. This might get the PAF pro with the mid boost on type of sound and it will do the JB thing too.

I think the VHII might be too bright in your maple guitar.

I think we need Tim in here to make the call.

[Steve-Mr Pig 2U]

Twilight Odyssey is the '80's metal authority on this forum. As well as BKP's most imporant bench and field tester of '80's style metal pups.

I dont know about that!

[TwilightOdyssey]

Twilight Odyssey is the '80's metal authority on this forum. As well as BKP's most imporant bench and field tester of '80's style metal pups.

I dont know about that!

Me, either! Tho Mr Pig takes special pleasure in disagreeing with me. ;)