Pickups for a fixed bridge Ibanez

[OceanMachine]

Hey dudes,

I recently got a new Ibanez. The RG721FM. It's a basswood body with a maple top and a bolt on maple/walnut neck. Rosewood board.

I'm really liking the CAP-VM pups that are in the Ibanez. They're abit backed off in terms of output compared to other pickups I've used like the Duncan Distortion and JB. I find I'm getting alot more clarity and a generally much more musical tone out of them but they do lack abit of 'cut'. The low end can be abit woofy.

I detune and I play metal and the Distortion is great at cutting through the mix, although now I'm starting to see its quite harsh.

I don't know if anyone has any experience with these paticular Ibanez pups but basically I'm looking a replacement set of humbuckers fairly similar to them but with maybe a touch more output but certianly a more defined low end.

I play mostly in B, and the objective here is to have a bridge pickup with clear defined mid range with alot of clarity and a tight low end without it sounding harsh. I do alot of lead work on the neck and I want an expressive bucker with that kind of sweet 'chirpy' quality when I dig in with the pick.

Looking on the site and at few reviews I like the sound of the Juggernauts and the Black Hawks. Heard good things about a Nailbomb and Cold Sweat combo.

If you guys had any advice I'd be much obliged.

[JimmyMoorby]

Juggernauts 100%.

Great for bolt ons.  Designed with basswood in mind.  Great for drop tunings.  Very tight bass with lots and lots of low mids, mids, hi mids and treble and never harsh.  The neck is ideal for shred if you like that prog metal shred type sound....the Juggs are the best set i've owned for all that instrumental shred type stuff.  Also the Jugg bridge has the best cleans of ALL the BKP bridges i've tried.

Worth e-mailing BKP for advice but I think they'd tell you the same.

Only 'problem' is they're not that high output........less than a JB and Distortion but they're SO much clearer and better in EVERY other way.

The black hawk is the most compressed pickup i've owned but also extremely clear.  The black hawk neck is very dark though...in my opinion for solos whilst it sounds awesome it's just not cutting enough in a live/band situation unless you have a bright guitar.....to be fair I had it in a les paul custom.  It's very jazzy.....liked the one pots been rolled up.

[OceanMachine]

Wow, thanks man, quite a comprehensive response!

Is that done? Can I just email the guys and ask they're advice?

['Ash' J. Williams]

I have two RG721, a rosewood top and a maple top.

You will not find an exact replacement for the CAP VM (Ceramic, low perceived output) in the BKP range but a lot of BKP will fit very well in those RGs.
They do work really well with AlNiCo (have Nailbombs AV in rosewood top and HD/Emerald in maple top).
I also have several pairs of Juggs in other similar guitars, it's really good but they will feel quite more powerful than the CAP VM.
Seeing as you tune in B (standard or drop ?) you should maybe try the Coldsweat in the bridge for that almost guaranteed clarity.
What you describe for the neck is pretty much exactly the VHII neck though : full and dynamic with an almost single coil-ly attack (my favorite with the Emerald neck).

Good luck!

[Chris Rowberry]

Is that done? Can I just email the guys and ask they're advice?

You can call us on 01326 341313 or email us on sales@bareknucklepickups.co.uk and we can go into detail and make sure you get the right pickup for the job! Judging by what I've read from you so far you would definitely be looking at the Ceramic Nailbomb or Juggernaut.

If you contact us directly though we can narrow it down for you 

[OceanMachine]

What you describe for the neck is pretty much exactly the VHII neck though : full and dynamic with an almost single coil-ly attack (my favorite with the Emerald neck).

Good luck!

Looked into that VHII, that seems to be the neck pickup for me, sounds beautiful!

Will get in contact with the BKP team hone in on the perfect bridge to match it.

Many thanks guys!

[darthphineas]

The VHII comes to mind first. I have a bridge model in a basswood guitar and I'd imagine it'd reach the goals you are describing. I have the VHII neck in a different type of guitar,,and based on my neck pickup experience, I'd have to say the same could apply.

Another option could be a Nailbomn set with the ceramic bridge.

The Aftermath comes to mind, but I have yet to install my set and the suggestion is based on what I've seen others say about it and how I've seen different BKPs mate up with the published specs.

[darkandrew]

I remember reading in an interview with Misha that the Juggernaut neck was based on VHii neck, so following on from what you've said, the Juggernaut set might be a good place to start.

['Ash' J. Williams]

I remember reading in an interview with Misha that the Juggernaut neck was based on VHii neck, so following on from what you've said, the Juggernaut set might be a good place to start.

I've read that too.
In my experience, it's fatter, more fluid and has less of that single coil attack than the VHII neck though (may very well vary in other guitars, i have juggs in a mahogany-walnut top and a swamp ash/ebony top).

[Kiichi]

He pretty much said that even here on the forum. In his mind the VHII neck was just about perfect. He used the AM bridge for a long time. Then the Blackhawk. Then he wanted to have the best of both worlds. And a VHII neck made to match the output, hotness, and tone. So yeah.

If you look up the Juggernaut announcement thread youŽll find that in more words I am sure.

[Toe-Knee]

I used to have the RG721RW.

I really struggled with pickups on it and after trying virtually all of my go to options I ended up having to go completely custom.

Good luck finding your sound it seems the RG721s are really picky as to what goes in them.

[darkandrew]

The trouble with this thread is that it's giving me GAS for a set of Jugs to replace the RY/VHii combination currently in my Fender Showmaster (not that there's anything wrong with the current RY/VHii combo, I just fancy giving the Jugs a go).