New prestige RGA121!

TheMusicBucket · #1 01-08-2008, 10:05 PM

I usually keep my forum adventures exclusive of eachother, but I'm looking for as much feedback as possible on this. So here it is:

I scored myself an RGA121 with a natural finish from guitar center the other day for 450 bucks. I had been playing this guitar on and off for like 2-3 years but just couldn't justify spending 900 on it because of the plain, but subtlety elegant appearance. But saw it on clearance for 450 and boom, they had a deal lol.

The stock pickups are surprisingly not muddy-sounding to me. But I just don't like their over-all tonal character. Kind of...think cardboard in audible form. And I was wondering if yall had any recommendations as to what pickups would go well with this guitar. I think it has a mahogany body with a maple top, and I know wood isn't the end-all of factors when it comes to guitar tone, but I've never had a mahogany guitar before so...

The tone I'm looking for needs to be thick, but clear. I play heavy but I don't really go for a super saturated-distorted tone, so I like to be able to hear the notes in a chord and not have it sound like mush. As I mentioned before the stock pickups give me that, but I just don't really like the dynamics/feel/overall sound of them. I've played dimarzios before in my 7 string(Evo 7 and PAF-7) and really liked them, but there are so many choices and from the descriptions there seems to be a lot of pickups that deliver what I'm describing, just wanted to get some opinions.

Thanks in advance!!!

PS: Sorry for the 4269087542th "which pickup thread lol!"

TheDarkOne · #2 01-08-2008, 10:47 PM

nice guitar. EMG 81/60 combo or tone zone in bridge with paf pro in neck.

TheMusicBucket · #3 01-08-2008, 11:40 PM

I've seen a lot of people go with the TZ PAF Pro combo, and I've also read some reviews on harmony central about people who got great results with the TZ bridge and Air Norton neck combo.

My only concern about the Air Norton would be that it would be -too- mellow given the already warm sounding nature of the mahogany body, any thoughts?

GAZ · #4 01-09-2008, 03:24 AM

Try putting fresh strings on it and raising the pups slightly, it makes a big difference !!

Andelusion · #5 01-09-2008, 07:24 AM

Breed neck

I have one in my RGA121 and it's great.

Lovely and thick, very smooth, good for cleans in parallel/split.

Put some 10s on it too

TheMusicBucket · #6 01-09-2008, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andelusion

Breed neck

I have one in my RGA121 and it's great.

Lovely and thick, very smooth, good for cleans in parallel/split.

Put some 10s on it too

Yeah, 10s are a must for me lol. I played on 11s for so long, 9s just feel so thin @_@.

After some more research. I've narrowed it down to either the TZ or Steve's Special for the bridge. And a breed or Air Norton for the neck. Any additional input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again!

Andelusion · #7 01-09-2008, 01:46 PM

Hmm well I've not had much experience with the airnorton, my bandmate has one in his JCustom though, off the top of my head I'd say that the breed is smoother with a more rounded sound, it purrs more and resembles slightly crunchy peanut butter, whereas the airnoton has a bit more bite.

They're both pretty smooth sounding though!

jemjem · #8 01-09-2008, 07:41 PM

I have a RGA321 and I put a SD Distortion in the bridge and it sounds killer! I have been a Dimarzio guy forever so this was my first SD pickup and I love it. I get an awesome early Van Halen type of tone out of it with my Mesa Roadster. I haven't decided on the neck pup yet. I agree with someone above that mentioned the breed...I've got those in my DBK and the neck pickup is very fat and round sounding...I really like it, but it's not as clear as say an Evolution neck pup it seems. I have been leaning towards putting a SD 59 in the neck though just cuz it seems to be a popular SD pup for the neck position, but I'm torn between that and the breed.

Johnny Two Tone · #9 01-09-2008, 07:59 PM

You absolutely HAVE to get a Breed for the neck. I had a Breed in my RGA121's neck and it was the best neck tone I've ever heard from any guitar. I had an X2N in the bridge and it was sweet balls too! But like you said you aren't really looking for the over the top distortion tone.

Twebbz · #10 01-10-2008, 01:27 PM

Refer to the "RGA F-spaced or not" thread here.

F-Spaced Breeds are the ticket.

screamndemon69 · #11 01-10-2008, 01:44 PM

Congrats and that was a amazing price IMHO.

I went for the JB/Jazz (non F-spaced

) in mine and never gave it a second thought thereafter.

TheMusicBucket · #12 01-10-2008, 04:34 PM

Wow the bridge pickup with the white and black really looks awesome, I just might have to do that too

.

Thanks for all the quick replies and advice! Once I get the pickups I'll post back with my results and if I'm not feeling too lazy, some soundclips as well.

screamndemon69 · #13 01-11-2008, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathias_

Wow the bridge pickup with the white and black really looks awesome, I just might have to do that too

.

Thanks for all the quick replies and advice! Once I get the pickups I'll post back with my results and if I'm not feeling too lazy, some soundclips as well.

Thanks bro. I thought the creme/blk combo for the bridge would break things up a little and I love how it ended up looking. Both pups being black and the plain natural top just looked kinda...... well, plain to me.

Amonb · #14 01-29-2008, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by screamndemon69

Thanks bro. I thought the creme/blk combo for the bridge would break things up a little and I love how it ended up looking. Both pups being black and the plain natural top just looked kinda...... well, plain to me.

Yeah, definately makes a difference to the usual black...

and a 121 for $450?

Damn thats awesome.... I would kill for one at that price on **** that isn't crap...