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Author Topic: Worst pickup you've tried  (Read 25873 times)

Mr. Air

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Worst pickup you've tried
« on: December 01, 2009, 10:05:54 AM »
I thought it could be fun with a thread about your worst pickup experience soundwise. What's the worst sounding pickup you've ever come across?

From my very limited pickup experience the worst sounding pickups I've encountered was the ones in my old Ibanez RG320 (think they're called Ibanez Power Sound or something like that). I sold the guitar a year ago and before that it had been sitting in my parents attic for about 10 years. I had totally forgotten about it. The pickups were just so dull and lifeless and all in all it was a horrific guitar.
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Philly Q

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Re: Worst pickup you've tried
« Reply #1 on: December 01, 2009, 10:13:44 AM »
DiMarzio Tone Zone!

To be fair, I tried it in a couple of mahogany set-neck guitars (an SG and a Gordon-Smith GS2).  In those it has far too much bass - it sounds boomy clean and muddy distorted.  I think it would be OK in something with a bolt-on neck and a trem.

(A couple of others I didn't like:  EMG60 - too bright as a neck pickup, Duncan Jazz - too weedy sounding)
« Last Edit: December 01, 2009, 10:15:55 AM by Philly Q »
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Jonny

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Re: Worst pickup you've tried
« Reply #2 on: December 01, 2009, 10:16:34 AM »
Quote from: Philly Q on December 01, 2009, 10:13:44 AM
DiMarzio Tone Zone!

To be fair, I tried it in a couple of mahogany set-neck guitars (an SG and a Gordon-Smith GS2).  In those it has far too much bass - it sounds boomy clean and muddy distorted.  I think it would be OK in something with a bolt-on neck and a trem.
They're in Ibanez J.Customs :o

But I guees J.Customs are neck through, and have a tremolo, and a maple top. So not like it at all, lol..
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Philly Q

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Re: Worst pickup you've tried
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2009, 11:06:34 AM »
Quote from: Jonny on December 01, 2009, 10:16:34 AM
Quote from: Philly Q on December 01, 2009, 10:13:44 AM
DiMarzio Tone Zone!

To be fair, I tried it in a couple of mahogany set-neck guitars (an SG and a Gordon-Smith GS2).  In those it has far too much bass - it sounds boomy clean and muddy distorted.  I think it would be OK in something with a bolt-on neck and a trem.
They're in Ibanez J.Customs :o

But I guees J.Customs are neck through, and have a tremolo, and a maple top. So not like it at all, lol..

Are the J Customs mahogany?  I'm guessing the through-necks are mostly maple.... the neck material and the trem are going to affect the acoustic tone a lot more than the body wood, in that case (I believe).
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Antag

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Re: Worst pickup you've tried
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2009, 11:52:23 AM »
If we discount stock pickups installed in off-the-shelf guitars, then the worst after-market pickup I've tried was the Duncan Custom bridge humbucker.  Perhaps my Gibson V was ill-suited to it, but it was utterly VILE - thin, weak & muddy all at once.

I hated that pickup with a passion & as a result hardly played the guitar for years.  It now has a Miracle Man & gets played a lot more :)

EDIT to add: A true measure of "worst" is if the pickup's malign influence stretched beyond the lousy sound it gave out.  In the case of the Duncan Custom it did - I held off buying a BKP Cold Sweat bridge for a few years because people on this forum (you know who you are, hang yyour heads in shame!) said it was "like" the Duncan Custom :)
« Last Edit: December 01, 2009, 12:20:35 PM by Antag »
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Ratrod

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Re: Worst pickup you've tried
« Reply #5 on: December 01, 2009, 12:37:27 PM »
The stock pickups in somebody's old, cheapo Vintage Les Paul copy.

Lifeless and dull.
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lulusg

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Re: Worst pickup you've tried
« Reply #6 on: December 01, 2009, 12:42:17 PM »
It's the JB! Horrible.  Spend a fortune trying to make it work( pots, etc.) Stopped playing guitar a" Whole Year" in frustration! Until one day read and article about this hand made pickups in England by an unknown gentleman!! Right next to lot of reviews of well known brands. Mmmm( I thought that somebody here is trying to beat the system! Mmm!!!!).
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Brow

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Re: Worst pickup you've tried
« Reply #7 on: December 01, 2009, 12:45:23 PM »
Barring poo stock pickups the joint worst pickups I've ever used are the Duncan 59 and the Duncan Custom 5.

Both are horribly scooped sounding and very dull. Just awful sounding pickups imo!
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Twinfan

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Re: Worst pickup you've tried
« Reply #8 on: December 01, 2009, 12:52:51 PM »

(Keeps gob shut in this thread for fear of offending)
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Will

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Re: Worst pickup you've tried
« Reply #9 on: December 01, 2009, 12:55:33 PM »
Quote from: Twinfan on December 01, 2009, 12:52:51 PM

(Keeps gob shut in this thread for fear of offending)

Were they really that bad? I certainly didn't like the Painkiller*, but it wasn't the worst.

*Just not my style, doesn't suit what I play
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AndyR

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Re: Worst pickup you've tried
« Reply #10 on: December 01, 2009, 12:57:09 PM »
Quote from: Twinfan on December 01, 2009, 12:52:51 PM

(Keeps gob shut in this thread for fear of offending)

^ That's not "keeping gob shut" ! :lol:

Not posting at all is... :wink:

Now everyone's gonna wheedle you until you spill... :lol:
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Twinfan

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Re: Worst pickup you've tried
« Reply #11 on: December 01, 2009, 01:10:38 PM »
:lol:

Mine was obviously a BKP, and it wasn't a particularly great guitar either (although it was a USA Gibson).  I'm not going to highlight it specifically on Tim's forum, as it's inappropriate.

I stand by opion on pickups - it's all about matching the pickup to the guitar and the amp/cab/speakers you're using.  I clearly had a bad combination, and the guitar couldn't be saved.
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gwEm

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Re: Worst pickup you've tried
« Reply #12 on: December 01, 2009, 01:17:06 PM »
EMG Selects in my Red Spirit by Steinberger GP. Sterile and lifeless.. low noise though  :lol:
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Elliot

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Re: Worst pickup you've tried
« Reply #13 on: December 01, 2009, 01:19:16 PM »
Dimarzio HS3s - just sounded horrible in every guitar I put them in. 
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Will

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Re: Worst pickup you've tried
« Reply #14 on: December 01, 2009, 01:22:11 PM »
Quote from: gwEm on December 01, 2009, 01:17:06 PM
EMG Selects in my Red Spirit by Steinberger GP. Sterile and lifeless.. low noise though  :lol:

I am thinking that the EMG HZs have got to be my worst pickup, same reasons as above.
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