Replacing Pickups in Se Tremonti Custom

[Leonidas88]

Hey guys,

Im looking to replace the stock pups in my SE Tremonti Custom (with the tremolo). I play heavier rock and metal like Alter Bridge, but also like the the tone of guitar players like bonamassa, derek trucks and eric johnson. So im looking something in the bridge position for the heavy stuff and riffing. And for the neck that juicy thick bluesy lead tone with enough output to keep up with the bridge.

My amp: Marshall AFD100

Any advice is welcome

thanks in advance! and Happy new year!

[Slartibartfarst42]

MMmmmmmm, tricky. That's a big range of tones you're after. For the neck, I think I'd be inclined to try either the Holydiver, Crawler or Abraxas. The Holydiver is the most obviously Rock/Metal of the three but is also surprisingly versatile. Still not obviously Bluesy though. The Crawler could be a great option. I have a Crawler is a PRS SE CU24 that doesn't sound that different to the Tremonti acoustically to me. It's not particularly 'tight' but it is a very articulate pickup that will give your Tremonti a very 'Les Paul' tone. It's thick, rich and sweet sounding, does a great Blues Rock tone and will also run into early Metal territory. The Abraxas is similar but a step back from the Crawler.

For the neck I'd investigate the VHII and Black Dog if you want humbuckers but to be honest, if it was me, I think I'd be looking at using a Mississippi Queen for this application.

[BigK]

To nail that Tremonti tone I would be going for either a Ceramic Nailbomb or Cold sweat they are the closest to Tremonti's signature bridge pickup that you get in his USA signatures, although the cold sweat might be a little too bright for your amp.

[Slartibartfarst42]

The trouble is that they're a long way from the more Blues based tones he was after.

[BigK]

He wants the bridge for the heavy riffing so that's why I recommended the C-bomb and cold sweat. The neck pick-ups I didn't comment on as I don't really play that sort of stuff.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that he could go with a more vintage vibe lower output neck pickup for the blues and still have the harder ceramic bridge pickup for the Alter Bridge/Tremonti stuff - which is what his original request/thoughts were.

I suppose its how close he wants to get. The US Tremonti neck pickup isn't actually that hot the output between the neck and bridge are quite different but they work together really nicely. Its a more open slightly brighter and looser CS Neck but with less output actually works quite nicely for bluesy stuff.

[Slartibartfarst42]

My apologies, I missed that bit. I'm still heavily hungover from last night I'm afraid! In that case, try either the Cold Sweat, Nailbomb or Juggernaut in the bridge. I'd still look at a MQ for the neck.

[Telerocker]

I think you can stretch to those styles with Rebel Yells.

[BigK]

My apologies, I missed that bit. I'm still heavily hungover from last night I'm afraid! In that case, try either the Cold Sweat, Nailbomb or Juggernaut in the bridge. I'd still look at a MQ for the neck.

No worries dude I know the feeling :-)

An MQ sounds like a good shout for the neck, I really liked the one I tried. the black dog might fit the bill too. I haven't really played any other neck pup's in that sort of output range

But I would definitely go ceramic in the bridge to get the bite.

[Leonidas88]

He wants the bridge for the heavy riffing so that's why I recommended the C-bomb and cold sweat. The neck pick-ups I didn't comment on as I don't really play that sort of stuff.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that he could go with a more vintage vibe lower output neck pickup for the blues and still have the harder ceramic bridge pickup for the Alter Bridge/Tremonti stuff - which is what his original request/thoughts were.

I suppose its how close he wants to get. The US Tremonti neck pickup isn't actually that hot the output between the neck and bridge are quite different but they work together really nicely. Its a more open slightly brighter and looser CS Neck but with less output actually works quite nicely for bluesy stuff.

Exactly what I tried to explain. So you think the cold sweat will be too bright? also thats the reason I avoided those tremonti pickups (output wise) since my amp isnt a mesa with unlimited gain.

So its like this

Neck: Black Dog or MQ
Bridge: C Bomb or maybe the A bomb ?

[Slartibartfarst42]

For Tremonti tones it's usual to go with ceramic but the Tremonti guitar isn't overly bassy (the one I tried wasn't) so it would probably work fine with the A-Bomb as that is incredibly tight and aggressive for an alnico pickup; more so than most ceramics I've tried. If you want a touch more versatility, try the A-Bomb instead of the C-Bomb.

[Telerocker]

It won't be easy to pull of Bonamassa and Eric Johnson from the Nailbomb, though it cleans up good. If the heavy rock/metal/alter bridge is the most important for you, it could be the right pickup.

[Dave Sloven]

The Cold Sweat bridge will be smoother than either Nailbomb, but still provide a lot of output and good clean tones.  I have one in my Gibson SG Standard and I haven't found it to be too bright, probably less bright than the A-Bomb was in the same guitar.  If it's a darker wood then it should be fine.

[Slartibartfarst42]

It won't be easy to pull of Bonamassa and Eric Johnson from the Nailbomb, though it cleans up good. If the heavy rock/metal/alter bridge is the most important for you, it could be the right pickup.

I said the same thing in my original post, hence I was thinking of things like the Holydiver, Crawler and Abraxas but apparently he seems to want the bridge pickup to be more balls out Metal while the neck is Blues. It seems like a VERY odd way of doing it to me as such different styles suggest the need for two guitars but it's his money. I ended up suggesting an A-Bomb with a MQ as the most viable combination but I can't honestly say that's what I'd do myself.

[Dave Sloven]

I totally agree on the two guitars thing.

What I found with such a 'versatile' combination in my SG was that while I was playing stuff strictly on the bridge it was fine, but when I wanted to incorporate the neck pickup into my playing it was always off, simply because you rarely play a whole song on the neck pickup (whereas you often can on the bridge).

[Telerocker]

It won't be easy to pull of Bonamassa and Eric Johnson from the Nailbomb, though it cleans up good. If the heavy rock/metal/alter bridge is the most important for you, it could be the right pickup.

I said the same thing in my original post, hence I was thinking of things like the Holydiver, Crawler and Abraxas but apparently he seems to want the bridge pickup to be more balls out Metal while the neck is Blues. It seems like a VERY odd way of doing it to me as such different styles suggest the need for two guitars but it's his money. I ended up suggesting an A-Bomb with a MQ as the most viable combination but I can't honestly say that's what I'd do myself.

Agreed! Maybe a better option is a Black Dog with a Mule-neck and use a booster. The Marshall has quite some gain, and the BD can handle metalstyles with authority.