Recommendation For Ash Bodied Ibanez

[jeff5371]

Hello everyone.

I have an Ash bodied Ibanez that I really love and am looking to thicken up the tone a bit.  I'll start by saying that I don't hate the stock pick ups at all.  The Tone Zone bridge is actually pretty darn good.  Still, I am looking for a little more body and aggressiveness.  This is the guitar.  https://ibanez.fandom.com/wiki/RG652AHM

The pick up needs to have a cutting and percussive bass for palm mutes, high output, aggressive tone but still retaining a great singing lead quality.  I have had folks recommend me the Warpig, but I'm not sure if the C Pig or A Pig is best. (Considering I want a great lead tone)  I'd love input on that and I'm open to other recommendations as well.  I play mostly metal and hard rock with some classic rock mixed in.   Amps are a JJ100, 5150III 50 watt, and Mark V 35 if that matters.

Thank you!
Jeff

[one]

5153 and Cbombs in a ash body might be too much for classic rock. I have that with mahogany body and still too harsh, though I use baritones, bear in mind.

[Dave Sloven]

If you are planning to play a combination of metal and rock the alnico War Pig should be able to handle both and not be too hot or bright.  It is the ceramic version that might be problematic.

I'm pretty sure Foo Fighters use the alnico War Pig.  It is a darker pickup that works well with brighter guitars.

Another option would be the Juggernaut or the Holy Diver.

[jeff5371]

Yeah I am really torn between the C-Pig and the A-Pig.  It has to do Metal and Hard Rock really really well and have a great lead tone.  All other styles and cleans are secondary to me. 

I have tried the Holy Diver in the past, liked it but I felt the mids were too much.  I also tried the Nailbomb. albiet the alnico version and in a totally different guitar, my CU 24 and did not love it.  My CU 24 currently has an Afwayu, which is an A5 pick up and I love it. 

Maybe the A-Pig is for me.  The Jugg has always intrigued me.  Will it thicken up the guitar a bit and have enough output?

[Dave Sloven]

Both the Juggernaut and alnico War Pig will thicken the sound more than other pickups in the range, besides the Crawler, but I don't think that's what you want.  In terms of output the War Pig has more than the Juggernaut.

The other great bridge pickups in the range for leads would be the alnico Black Hawk (which is much higher output than the resistance readings suggest), Holy Diver, Cold Sweat, and Miracle Man. The Cold Sweat would be too bright for this guitar though, and the Miracle Man most likely too bright as well.

The choice is probably between the Juggernaut, alnico Black Hawk (although I am not sure on this one in terms of brightness), and alnico War Pig.  The neck pickup on any of these sets will be great for leads

[ericsabbath]

Yeah I am really torn between the C-Pig and the A-Pig.  It has to do Metal and Hard Rock really really well and have a great lead tone.  All other styles and cleans are secondary to me. 

I have tried the Holy Diver in the past, liked it but I felt the mids were too much.  I also tried the Nailbomb. albiet the alnico version and in a totally different guitar, my CU 24 and did not love it.  My CU 24 currently has an Afwayu, which is an A5 pick up and I love it. 

Maybe the A-Pig is for me.  The Jugg has always intrigued me.  Will it thicken up the guitar a bit and have enough output?

curious thing is that I replaced an alnico nailbomb with the afwayu when Jerry Cantrell first started using them, but my impression was that sounded like a heavily clean boosted nailbomb, with too much of everything, specially way too much bass (it was a 1973 les paul custom, though, not as pickup friendly as a cu24)

not sure I'd recommend warpigs, though
maybe the ceramic version, which I also had in the same les paul
it made me want to play AiC's Sludge Factory just for the big power chords 

I really liked the true grit I briefly had
it's not as aggressive as the c-pig or nailbombs, but it is quite thick and punchy sounding and has a really good lead tone

[one]

Agree with what was said, I meant Cpig in my post, not Cbomb... anyway, I think both are too brutal for what the OP asked, the Apig might be better as recommended, or else, even better, the juggs, my faves from what I've tried. Much more versatile

[jeff5371]

Awesome, thanks for all the feedback everyone.  I think I am sold on the Warpig, but still going to think a bit abut A-Pig or C-Pig.   Some, including the nice gentleman in chat, have recommended the C Pig for leads as it will cut more. Even though I have leaned more towards Alnico pups lately, some of my favorite are Ceramic such as the PRS Tremonti and Seymour Duncan Custom.  Versatility is nice, but honestly, I don't try to cop classic tones at all and have no problem playing Zepplin with mucho gain and a hot pup =D.  For me, if it can't do metal and high gain well, I shy away from the pick up. 

[jeff5371]

I'm torn now between the Warpig, Jugg and actually Ragnarok.  =D.  While I need to thicken up the guitar, I want tight, aggressive low end with singing but not brittle or shrill highs.  Which one would best fit that bill? 

Thanks again,
Jeff

[blackie]

I don't get why Miracle Man is out of the question...
Since you want hard-rock and classic metal tones the Mirackle Man works great with bright bodies...

I had one in a single hum Kramer Barreta with maple body and it f@ing slayed...
I still regret selling this one with the pickup...

I am looking for a pickups for another maple star this time...
For those Lynch tones Miracle man is your pickup...

[jeff5371]

Nothing is really out of the question =D.  I think this one fell off because of the highs which is something I am trying to avoid, or at least avoid them in a large amount.  I'd love to try one some day though.

I did order a Ragnarok, we'll see how it goes =D.  My biggest hurdle is the shallowness of the route for the pick ups in my Ibanez and the darn direct mount wood screws. 

I bought a Juggernaut from a U.S. supplier and tried to get it into the Ibanez but it didn't fit.  I may route some screw holes in the guitar, but until I do that I tried the Jugg in my PRS CU 24 and am really liking it so far.