Ibby RG550 Halp D:

[SuperKaizer]

Hi Guys,

I've been a lurker here for quite awhile. Now making an account to ask some recommendations!

I have my 1987 Ibanez RG550, Fitted with A- Hawks for both neck and bridge, with a SD Duckbucker in the middle. The edge trem has  it's block replaced with KGC Brass block. This change has brighten up in the upper mids of the guitar, like a carpet off the speaker.

IMO, The A-hawks does the Prog rock/metal stuff quite nicely on this guitar, tight and somewhat djenty feeling which is something unexpectedly pleasant :D. The lead tone on the neck is almost similar to JP's roundish attack tone.

However, I find that this pups are kinda too squashed for me? In a way that I can't get the Usual organic, raw PAF-like rock tones.
On the clean side, there this unusual "honk" thats "smashing" into your face on every attack. When i switch it to the 4th pickup selection ( Neck inner coil + Middle pup), that "honk" Magically disappears.

I do have some pups in mind like Juggs, HD + Emerald Neck, Black Dogs. I'm open to other suggestions if other pups fit my description :D

To sum up, Im looking for a pup thats Tight, organic, raw,uncompressed, not so aggressive for the bridge. The neck to have the roundish attack tone. Hopefully enough to do Prog Rock/Metal, hard/classic rock, fusion and jazz. ( Think Dream Theater & Guthrie) Playing mostly in E standard, perhaps the maybe Downtuning to D Standard and nothing more.

Currently playing through THR10.

Thanks guys :D

[darrenw5094]

If that honk is mid range honk then avoid the Black Dog.

What kind of bands or guitarists tones you want?

[SuperKaizer]

Mainly John Petrucci's 2013 tone and Guthrie Govan's tone.

This "honk" is taken away when i bring down the mids on the 3 band EQ in the Modern setting ( Think Mesa amps)

Other amp settings with all bands at noon, that Honk is present.

I wouldnt want that, I rather have something more controled/balanced, Organic and raw with more depth than A-BH

[Slartibartfarst42]

There does seem to be a bit of a mid-hump on the A-Hawk's EQ so if that's what's producing your 'honk' I think you might want to avoid the Black Dogs, Holydivers, Juggernauts and Painkillers too. I think you might be better looking at C-Bombs. That's tight, organic, raw and uncompressed, though I think it is quite aggressive sounding. The other option might be a Miracle Man which is much smoother in its delivery, is very organic sounding and that smoothness helps to tone down the aggression a bit, though it is more compressed to my ears than the C-Bomb.

For the neck, I think it may depend on which bridge you choose. If you go the Miracle Man route, you might want to try the matching neck pickup. For the C-Bomb, the Cold Sweat might prove to be a good choice. The Emerald may also work too.

[ericsabbath]

VHII set
punchy, tight, organic, raw, uncompressed, round neck tone
probably the most "unhonky" humbucker set I can think of (despite of its Van Halen reference)

[Alex]

I do have some pups in mind like Juggs, HD + Emerald Neck, Black Dogs. I'm open to other suggestions if other pups fit my description :D

Naturally, those pickups would suit the guitar quite well, but with the comments from others in mind, I think Juggernauts (which I don't know) or Holy Diver (which I had for a while) would fit best.

I think the HD will be more classic sounding probably, and should cover all bases.

[SuperKaizer]

Man i feel like killing myself :shock:

This is so hardddddddd.

C-bomb + Emerald and the VH sounds tasty and i cant decide between the two  :?

Pretty much got used to the sounds with the Sinner set on my Alder+maple strat and the Apache on my Ash+maple Strat haha.

Any more opinions before I sent my money away?

[Slartibartfarst42]

I mentioned the C-Bomb because that's the pickup that is often suggested for Pettrucci and Govan tones. For a very hot pickup, it's also surprisingly open sounding, retaining some PAF characteristics but it is certainly an aggressive and tight pickup; much more so than a traditional PAF. 'Raw' describes it pretty well I think. The VHII should be much closer to authentic PAF tones but with added punch.

[SuperKaizer]

I guess this pretty much sums it up!

Thanks guys :D