Ibanez RGT220Z-NTF (Ash)

[Zgicc]

Hi there,

I am currently planning on installing a set of pickups on my Ibanez RGT220Z.

Its basically an ash body with maple neck-thru construction and a rosewood fingerboard.

My other guitar is a basswood RGD2127FX (Ordered a set of Juggernaut 7 for it).

Although I do want a slight overlap on what each can achieve I don't want one guitar to make the other redundant.

I was thinking maybe an Abraxas set or a Holy Diver set to tame the highs and achieve from blues sound to more rock/metal tones?

Thanks,
Z

[Yellowjacket]

Juggerset is awesome, you'll have fun with it.

Why not a crawler set in the other axe?  That will get you blues to rock / metal!

[Zgicc]

Well I drift more into rock/metal territory than blues territory. More of an afterthought than anything else, for that occasional minor pentatonic improv.

[Telerocker]

Holy Diver for sure.

[Yellowjacket]

Ah.  So you're not like me where my guitars are like a woman and her shoes!! 

Holy Divers perhaps.  Or maybe a warpig in the bridge and something colourful in the neck?  Holy Divers sound like an excellent option for sure!! 

[Zgicc]

Ah.  So you're not like me where my guitars are like a woman and her shoes!!

I was referring to my blues playing as an afterthought not the idea of putting new pups in :P I've been on its case since I got it a couple of years ago.

[Yellowjacket]

Ha!  I just meant that I like more contrast between my axes / tones than you do. 

Like how a girl has sneakers, high heels, etc etc...    In your shoes, I would definitely have a Juggerset in one guitar and a Crawler / coil tap in the other.   I actually play bluesy / R&R / pop rock stuff at times.

[Zgicc]

Ha!  I just meant that I like more contrast between my axes / tones than you do. 

Like how a girl has sneakers, high heels, etc etc...    In your shoes, I would definitely have a Juggerset in one guitar and a Crawler / coil tap in the other.   I actually play bluesy / R&R / pop rock stuff at times.

Ahh, always thought women had a lot of redundant shoes /similar shoes :P. But I digress before we get swamped by a feminist lobby ;)

Back to pickups, its a hard decision for sure. After listening to some heavier tones on the Youtubes I'm appreciating the Crawler a bit better, but having only two guitars at the moment I do wish there is a slight overlap just in case something goes funny in one or the other.

[Yellowjacket]

At the end of the day you'll have to pick what is right for your needs.  There's nothing worse than getting something because you like the 'idea' of it but for practical purposes, it does not work.

A great option could be a Holy Diver bridge and a VHII neck.  The VHII pickup is surprisingly two faced:  When you play the guitar with higher gain in a shred / metal style it is really smooth and shreddy sounding but when you back down the gain and start to dig in a la blues, it gets really snarly and bad mannered. 

[Duck2587]

Go for the mules. It does blues and metal really well. They surprised me 

[Telerocker]

Mules are great, but I doubt this is the right guitar for it. Crawlers yes, if you want more PAF-vibe compared to the HD. Crawlers split great and can do (old school) metal.

[Zgicc]

Sorry to revive the thread again. My Juggernauts have been fitted to my RGD and I couldn't be happier for what I plan on using it for. This leaves me to focus on the RGT.

From research I've done the HD is similar to a JB which is great since I like that pickup in my friend's Ash ESP Horizon. This would leave me searching for a neck pickup to complement the bridge HD. The neck has to be decent when split (Ibanez 5-way wiring). On Mahogany the Emerald/HD combo seems quite popular but I think it will be a bit too bright on Ash. I'm trying to avoid ice-pickiness on higher frets. How would the Abraxas/Crawlers complement an HD?

[Yellowjacket]

I'm glad the juggerset is working for you.  Great pickup!!!

I'm tempted to say Holy Diver N or VHII N for the HD bridge.

[Zgicc]

I'm glad the juggerset is working for you.  Great pickup!!!

I'm tempted to say Holy Diver N or VHII N for the HD bridge.

Does the VHII split well? Most videos of people using VHIIs are generally using Les Pauls which is a night/day difference from what my guitar is capable of tonally.

EDIT: Apparently according to the info the VHII splits well so that's one thing answered.

[Kiichi]

Sorry to revive the thread again. My Juggernauts have been fitted to my RGD and I couldn't be happier for what I plan on using it for. This leaves me to focus on the RGT.

From research I've done the HD is similar to a JB which is great since I like that pickup in my friend's Ash ESP Horizon. This would leave me searching for a neck pickup to complement the bridge HD. The neck has to be decent when split (Ibanez 5-way wiring). On Mahogany the Emerald/HD combo seems quite popular but I think it will be a bit too bright on Ash. I'm trying to avoid ice-pickiness on higher frets. How would the Abraxas/Crawlers complement an HD?

I would not be afraid about the EM neck being too bright. It does not share the brightness of the EM bridge and it is already rounder and fuller (to not say darker) than the HD neck. The beauty is that is combines the character of a AIV magnet with the modern cut from the wire. It is neither a bright nor a dark pickup for that reason. Just has the certain warm organic roundess with a clear cut under gain that you would not usually find in a AIV pickup.