Another Basswood P/U Dilemma

[fdesalvo]

Hi, all.

This is the end result of days' worth of spare time pouring over "Ibanez RG" Metal recommendations - more clutter ha!  Here are the specs of my guitar:

2014 Ibanez RG652FX
Basswood body
Maple/Rosewoodneck
Fixed bridge
HxH/5-way

Some of you have listened to the type of instrumental rock/metal I compose. Most of it's been tracked with the amazing Abraxas bridge pickup. Along the way, it's seldom felt like a compromise, but now that I have a dedicated guitar for clean - midgain tones, I need to equip this one for the heavies.  Some points to ponder:

Here's what I'm NOT composing: Downtuned/Djenty stuff.  Drop D at most.

I don't know how to classify my style - atmospheric/power metal mainly; uber tight palm muting takes a backseat to crushing chord work.  Still use PM, but it's not the foundation of my work.  I rely on chord changes and melody to deliver the level of darkness or mood the project needs. 

I need to be able to create heavy, crushing textures, but still deliver burning lead tones when called for.  I need the pickup to not lend itself towards a dull sound.  I prefer the bridge pickup for lead work, but would consider using the neck for some accents.  I'd like the neck to deliver clear and cutting tones if possible.  I'm being realistic in that I use multiple guitar tracks to create textures, so I'm not expecting one to do it all.  I just need one to excel at the style. 

Thanks for entertaining my rambling.  I'm open to your suggestions. 

[Dave Sloven]

This seems like an obvious application for the Holy Diver set, or possibly the Miracle Man.

[fdesalvo]

This seems like an obvious application for the Holy Diver set, or possibly the Miracle Man.

Had the MM bridge in a mahogany bolt-on with 1-piece maple neck.  Was outstanding, but pretty lean on the mids in that application.  Thinking that may be the case here, but am unsure.  Thanks for weighing in regardless.

[Dave Sloven]

Yeah, I don't find it lacking mids in my SG, but that's a very middy guitar.  The Holy Diver is the more obvious choice

[darrenw5094]

Unless you want something ultra modern, then the Holy Diver would probably be fine.

[fdesalvo]

I might look at something more modern. Gave the HD a whirl in another guitar and it didn’t blow my hair back. TY

[darkandrew]

I'm in a similar situation with a similar guitar and musical style. Currently I've got a Cold Sweat set in there which gives it a good "rock" tone with a fast attack which is great but not really what I want for that guitar. Previously I've had a Rebel Yell set and a VH2 set in there, with the RYs being the best for that guitar and style. I've also got a set of Holy Divers which I'm thinking of putting in there next just to see how they work.

[fdesalvo]

I'm in a similar situation with a similar guitar and musical style. Currently I've got a Cold Sweat set in there which gives it a good "rock" tone with a fast attack which is great but not really what I want for that guitar. Previously I've had a Rebel Yell set and a VH2 set in there, with the RYs being the best for that guitar and style. I've also got a set of Holy Divers which I'm thinking of putting in there next just to see how they work.

I keep seeing the RY's come up - interest is high.  TY for your perspective.

[darkandrew]

I'm in a similar situation with a similar guitar and musical style. Currently I've got a Cold Sweat set in there which gives it a good "rock" tone with a fast attack which is great but not really what I want for that guitar. Previously I've had a Rebel Yell set and a VH2 set in there, with the RYs being the best for that guitar and style. I've also got a set of Holy Divers which I'm thinking of putting in there next just to see how they work.

I keep seeing the RY's come up - interest is high.  TY for your perspective.

The RYs worked very well - the guitar's natural peak came just below the RY's peak complementing it really well. The only reason I swapped it out for the Cold Sweat was because the CS has a faster, more percussive attack but having said that, as great as the CS is it's just a little too traditional and too "rock" really for that guitar, which is why I'm lining up the HDs to go in there. I'll let you know how the HDs work but if they don't do it for me, the RYs will probably be going back in there.

[fdesalvo]

OK - resolved.  All of the RY posts have led me to the Juggs, which sound GREAT in standard tuning. Thanks to @Yellowjacket for evangelizing the set.  I think these will inspire my next ideas. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tq3a2K5J6s

Thanks, gang.  I'll start tracking with these as soon as I get my recording desk and gear unpacked from the move.  Have some really big news to share soon, by the way. Working with someone whose work I really respect. 

Cheers

Edit - darkandrew, just caught your response.  Thank you.

[darkandrew]

which is why I'm lining up the HDs to go in there. I'll let you know how the HDs work

Well I did it, the HDs are in the Showmaster and I'm not sure what to think. I suppose they do what they are supposed to do (early 80s metal) really well but I'm not sure that's really what I want. The recording that I think best sums up their tone is "Walk in the shadows" by Queensryche:

https://youtu.be/tfvJY1rQH6k

Very compressed and very metal! I'll leave them in there overnight and play them again in the morning with a fresh pair of ears before deciding whether to take them out and replace them with the much tamer Rebel Yells.

[fdesalvo]

which is why I'm lining up the HDs to go in there. I'll let you know how the HDs work

Well I did it, the HDs are in the Showmaster and I'm not sure what to think. I suppose they do what they are supposed to do (early 80s metal) really well but I'm not sure that's really what I want. The recording that I think best sums up their tone is "Walk in the shadows" by Queensryche:

https://youtu.be/tfvJY1rQH6k

Very compressed and very metal! I'll leave them in there overnight and play them again in the morning with a fresh pair of ears before deciding whether to take them out and replace them with the much tamer Rebel Yells.

That's good tone!  What amp/sftware are you using?  I've run classic humbuckers into more modern amps and have received a touch more modern tone, but with with greater dynamics.  If you wake up with a mullet or teased hair in the morning, let it be a sign the HD stays.

[darkandrew]

That's good tone!  What amp/sftware are you using?  I've run classic humbuckers into more modern amps and have received a touch more modern tone, but with with greater dynamical.  If you wake up with a mullet or teased hair in the morning, let it be a sign the HD stays.

Nope, no mullet today! As for my setup, these days I keep it simple - I've got a Boss GT-100 going through a Roland JC-40 which pretty much does everything I want.

[darkandrew]

And it's back to the Cold Sweats today - they may not have the exact tone that I'm after for this guitar but they are the only pickups that I have in my box that have a fast enough attack to not turn to mush in this guitar!

[Dave Sloven]

If you are finding that the Cold Sweat is almost there I am wondering if you have given serious consideration to the VHII?