Pickups for Ibanez RG1550

[Ephemeria]

I'm about to make the plunge and buy an Ibanez RG1550. Specs are pretty standard: Basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard, and floating Edge Pro trem. Whilst I'm looking for versatility, I do have an idea of what I want. I'll try to list what I'm looking for for each pickup in it's own section to make this post easier to understand.

Bridge Pickup

I'm interested in  something that can give a good 80's hard rock/metal tone. Think of in the likeness of bands such as Teach, Europe, Ozzy (Jake E. Lee era). I love a nice thick bridge pickup with cut. Not in the metal sense of increased highs; not unlike ceramic pickups; but something that has punch. I don't want to be drowned out by bass, but I want the riffs to have that thickness, especially when playing riffs that involve palm muting the low E, but hit notes on the A and D string which aren't palmuted. Kind of like in metal-core riffs; but not after that "BROOTAL" metalcore sound - if you get me? The band Teach are a good example as mentioned before. Whilst I want that thickness, I'd like the pickup to have clarity when playing riffs up on the D G B string. Think of riffs such as Bark at the Moon by Ozzy, and certain Van Halen such as Panama.  Now we have the rhythm qualities I'm looking for, I'll proceed to the lead sound. The pickup should be equally as good at rhythm as playing solos. That's another reason I like a thick bridge pickup; but not to say I like dark pickups. That's why being able to cut through is important. But not to the point it sounds pointy and harsh. I guess if it sounded like that I wouldn't have the thickness I wanted anyways! But one quality I really love, and is a must, is for it to be harmonically rich. I love when shredding and hitting that bend, it sort of gives off harmonic overtones. especially with sustained notes. The final thing is I like to back off the volume to clean up the sound. Whilst I know I wont get pristine cleans, I mean more in the sense like after a solo the band sort of breakdowns to a lighter style; kind of them moments the singer is introducing the band and the guitarist is playing them lighter background solos and riffs. Panama by Van Halen is again another good example just after the solo. Onto the neck pickup...

Neck Pickup

This is difficult as I'm not entirely sure of what qualifies as a good neck pickup. I do a lot of my soloing on the bridge pickup for that cut. Think when I'm soloing the Loner by Gary Moore. But it's nice to switch to the neck for them fast Vinnie Moore style Neo-classical shredding and sweep licks. I just find every neck pickup I use seems to be too bassy on the lower strings; and the top don't seem to have enough to cut through; but the liquid quality is still there. Whilst shredding is great on the neck, I also like to back off the volume for them Petrucci tones like Wishful Thinking. I also do play clean on the neck pickup, so don't really want a pickup that is too powerful. Something that sounds good for arpeggios; but also when strumming chords doesn't sound like mush and overpowering in the bass. I always find the bass being quite heavy on neck pickups. Onto the middle pickup...

Middle Pickup

I have to admit I have never played a guitar with an HSH config, so I have honestly no idea what to go for with this. I'm more than likely going to use these positions for that Hendrixy quack sound, and more pristine cleans. I'm assuming that's what that pickup is there for? Some hopefully something that will balance with the humbuckers, and open up even more tonal possibilities. I'd like to hear peoples experience with the middle single coil, and what they use it for.

Sorry for droning on, and if you've read everything, then I tip my hat of to you, Sirs :)

[Kiichi]

Alright mate. We can work with this. A superstrat for 80s sounds in the style of Jake E. Lee among others? To me that shouts Holy Diver. Hotrodded humbucker sound, totally 80s, yet prog and versatile. From hard rock to Metropolis era Dream Theater and even beyond this works. Especially in a guitar such as this. Basswood and HD is a lovestory. It has a warmth and organic roar to it that makes people like me, who grew up on 80s rock a lot feel right at home. Yet there is the BKP clarity, openness, and cut. Works great for soloing too due its fullness.

For the neck, as you donīt like too much bass, I would actually say HD neck too. Hotrodded PAF again and brighter than the other great pairing, the Emerald, which is considerably smoother and darker, though still not dark in the sense we are used to.

As for the middle, I am pretty sure you want an Irish Tour. Take a classic SC, add some mids, round off the high end, add some balls, and a certain sprinkle of magic rock dust that makes it bloom under some gain. It can do dirty like nobodies, yet can also be dialed back to true classic sounds.

So, HD set with IT middle seems the most reasonable choice here.

Furthermore, for versatility, I would recommend wiring a, IIRC, 500k resistor parallel to the middle pickup to effectivly make it "see" a 250k pot. Look it up to be sure, but it works great.
Also, I recommend to look at having an auto split 2 and 4. Instead of having the HB plus the SC it is more akin to a strat 2 and 4.
One more would be the previous wiring but set up to use the outer coil by either turning the HBs or wiring em up differently. That makes the 2 and 4 a good bit more tele like, which I personally love a ton.

Alright, that is my current 2 cents, letīs see what the other say. =)

[Slartibartfarst42]

I agree, enough said :)

[Kiichi]

I agree, enough said :)

On that note Slarti wrote perhaps the best review found on this forum. Concerning these PUs. I can fully sign his writings.

Have a look at the sticky I organized. Some good reviews in there. Look for the Slarti seal of quality especially.

PS: Now if we could get BKP to send Slarti all the models to do reviews...everything would be flowers and beer.

[Ephemeria]

I have to admit, the Holy Diver was the model I was looking towards. I've read the reviews of the neck pickup but I didn't think it was for me. I hear it's bright and has PAF qualities. But how fluid is it for Vinnie Moore style shred and sweeping?

The Irish Tour single coil, won't that be a bit too high output when the neck and bridge coils are split with the middle? I was hoping for something that can provide me with superior cleans in that position whether it's the middle on it's own, or split?

[khoirus]

Hi there! You might want want to check my clip of Riff Raff neck https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx_qcsy7-To where i play it quite extensively, or in my other videos, you can check 
Very neat pickup. Touch sensitive, awesome bounce and springiness, with nice bite and attack. Cleans up well, and splits awesome (reminds me of andy timmons's cruiser pickup!). Great for speed picking and sweeps. Very versatile!!

[Ephemeria]

Hi there! You might want want to check my clip of Riff Raff neck https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx_qcsy7-To where i play it quite extensively, or in my other videos, you can check 
Very neat pickup. Touch sensitive, awesome bounce and springiness, with nice bite and attack. Cleans up well, and splits awesome (reminds me of andy timmons's cruiser pickup!). Great for speed picking and sweeps. Very versatile!!

Definitely sounds interesting the Riff Raff. Especially with the Andy Timmons reference. But I just don't think a bright PAF is what I'm after. I don't think it would have the articulation for shredding Vinnie Moore :/

[Kiichi]

Had a quick listen to Vinnie Moore. No expert on that, I will say gladly, but he seems to come from a classic place, but turning it up, and adding his own flavor. What I hear there, with your ideas, is the HD.

It is related to the Emerald neck too, but that is more smooth and modern, combining vintage wire and modern wind and magnet. Actually, the more I think about it the more it does sound kind of like the EM neck.

Thing then is that it might be down to your BKP experience. The EM might be dark compared to the HD neck, yet it still has the BKP character. The EM is a natural extension of the HD bridge in a way. The HD neck draws the bigger contrast.



In the end Iīd say if you are torn there it is down to your other gear, especially the amp.