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Author Topic: Pickups replacement for my Ibanez Jem7v  (Read 3625 times)

mickaelc

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Pickups replacement for my Ibanez Jem7v
« on: June 07, 2016, 02:18:36 PM »
Hi guys new bareknuckle forum member !

i'd like to replace my HSH dimarzio EvO set by some bareknucles pickups but i need help to chose ! :p

ibanez jem :  Alder body
                    5 pc maple walnut neck
                    rosewood fretboard

I play mostly lead, some heavy rythm and little bit of clean stuff !

i love the sound of the di marzio satch track (neck) on the new ibanez JS2410 satriani signature, 

i've heard good sample of black dog, Holy diver and VHII on youtube for the bridge pickup and Emerald seems to sound great on neck position,

what do you think about this combo for satriani/vai kind of lead playing ? and for the single i don't know anything about single coil bareknuckle so... :p

waiting for your advices !! :)

Kiichi

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Re: Pickups replacement for my Ibanez Jem7v
« Reply #1 on: June 07, 2016, 07:28:46 PM »
Hi and welcome mate! =)

Firstly, Iīd put the single coil aside for the moment and just match it to whatever else you choose (though you should have a look at the Irish Tour, Slowhand, and Trilogie, as one of those is likely to arise, but more on that later).

Main problem here is that even just saying "I want to play Vai things" is a huuuuuge range. I mean how many signature pickups does that man have now?
Also, important here, what is your amp like?

Assuming it is at least partially modern in tone I am inclined to suggest the Emerald neck, Holy Diver bridge for now. The HD is one of the classic 80s hotrodded PAF types. Naturally you think Holy Diver type sounds and a lot of mid 80s or so stuff. It however is pretty versatile and also my top recommendation for early Dream Theater and such. Added bonus is that it also does pretty well with leads as it has a very musical tone to it, so a harmonics loaded screaming solo with that should work well.
The EM neck meanwhile is a glorious cross of modern and vintage. Modern wire for definition, attack, and cut, while having vintage sweetness from the AIV magnet. Fluid as heck. Seeing as both these players seem to sway between vintage and modern pickups but put a ton of weight on their fluid and rounded tone this seems like a great option. Pairs extremely well with the HD bridge as well.

One other thing I might suggest if your guitar feels on the bright end of the spectrum is a look at the bridge Crawler.  That, to me, might be the best one to capture the general Story of the Light vibe, especially Gravity Storm.

With either of those combos perhaps the Irish Tour or Slowhand are best options for a single. Irish tour being a classic SC (+) with added mids, bottom, slightly less top end, and some sort of rock dust that makes it come alive under gain in a different way. Back the volume up and it becomes darn vintage again too. the Slowhand sorta does the same thing, but takes it a step further.
BKPs in use: 10th set / RY set / Holy Diver b, Emerald n / Crawler bridge, Slowhand mid MQ neck/ Manhattan n
On the sidelines: Stockholm b / Suppermassive n, Mule n, AM set, IT mid

mickaelc

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Re: Pickups replacement for my Ibanez Jem7v
« Reply #2 on: June 07, 2016, 07:57:36 PM »
hi  thanks mate !! :)

when i say play Vai thing i meant instrumental thing, not only vai tunes ;) btw i hate vai live tone from his stillness in motion DvD but love his story of light studio album one... so yeah love steve vai but don't wanna sound like him ;) i prefer satch tone much better but i'm not satch either ;)

i play mainly 2 amps : a Marshall JVM410H with 1960 standard and a Victory V30 with a 2x12 V30 loaded (killer amp btw...)

what you say about the HD is exactly what i'm after : 80's hardrock/heavy rythm and lead !

about the EM neck : this modern/vintage cross seem to fit my taste really well, as i mentionned before, the satch track dimarzio satriani is one of the best neck pickup i've heard lately, great modern/vintage sound, a lot warmer than the Evo !

i'll take a look at the crawler, and what do you think about the rebell yell on bridge position ? love steve stevens tone back in rebel yell years ;) is the HD more modern sounding ?


oh and for me the ultimate vai tone is the passion and warfare album :)
« Last Edit: June 07, 2016, 08:18:12 PM by mickaelc »

Kiichi

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Re: Pickups replacement for my Ibanez Jem7v
« Reply #3 on: June 07, 2016, 09:21:44 PM »
Now I get you better. I think the HD/EM is probably the ticket then. Especially cause perhaps the main concern for some players, usually more modern focused, is that it is perhaps a bit too warm and fluid. In a superstrat and with these expectations I do not expect that to be an issue at all.

I love the RY, but it is a bit trickier to place. It does amazingly in guitars that tend to lean towards dark. Puts life into everything. Screaming high mids, harmonic overtones, punchy low end, but not the focus of the voicing. Just about any LP would be happy to have it.
Yet, for instrumental work like the ones you look for the HD is probably a better fit (for the guitar too). Bit more that tone in general in most guitars, plus extra warmth. And for leads the RY spits out more that Skid Row solo thing and generally a lot of Ratt (Round and Round is essentially the core voice of it in a way).
My general dream combo for any rock/metal band might be two guitarists where one plays the RY and one the HD. They are like brothers. Different, yet from the same blood.

The Crawler meanwhile could then probably only overtake the HD here if the guitar is on the bright side. Depending on how much they could be equal or the Crawler better. It is a bit more compressed, but it is also more hearty and has a very special roar to it. Did Vai not call the new sig PU something like a chocolate sundae thunderstorm or something? Compared to HD that suits the Crawler too. Thicker, chocolatier, roarier. Darker and creamier, but not dull. Splits better, but canīt go quite as high gain as the HD, which work for modern stuff too, where as the Crawler caps out earlier, but delivers better cleans and blues sounds and even better solo tones.
BKPs in use: 10th set / RY set / Holy Diver b, Emerald n / Crawler bridge, Slowhand mid MQ neck/ Manhattan n
On the sidelines: Stockholm b / Suppermassive n, Mule n, AM set, IT mid

mickaelc

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Re: Pickups replacement for my Ibanez Jem7v
« Reply #4 on: June 08, 2016, 07:30:12 AM »
Thanks for your advices mate, i think i'm gonna go on this set, HD/EM :)
Now i'll look at some single coil to fit with those humbunkers ;)

Dave Sloven

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Re: Pickups replacement for my Ibanez Jem7v
« Reply #5 on: June 08, 2016, 07:52:00 AM »
Usually I think people recommend Irish Tours to go with those humbuckers.
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dani

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Re: Pickups replacement for my Ibanez Jem7v
« Reply #6 on: June 08, 2016, 11:17:39 AM »
you can't go wrong with the hd in the bridge for the stuff you play. i love them for leads too.

mickaelc

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Re: Pickups replacement for my Ibanez Jem7v
« Reply #7 on: June 08, 2016, 11:36:48 AM »
ok i think i have my set now ;) Holidiver/irish tour/Emerald ! :)

i'll probably need to buy new pots and capacitor...