RGT2020 pickup recommendations

[Thrust]

I'm not liking the current pickups in my Ibanez RGT-2020 (mahogany neck-thru). I have a Dimarzio Tone Zone and Air Norton and it is just WAY too muddy. I'd like to try another pickup combination--I had a RGT3120 which is a very similiar guitar and I LOVED the PAF Pro in the neck so I'll probably go with one of those in the neck.

What about the bridge? I'm thinking a Dimarzio Breed? I like what I've read about the X2N but my amps are pretty high gain. I play through an Engl Fireball and a (boosted) Stiletto deuce.

Can anyone make some recommendations on a good bridge pickup for my rgt2020? I play a lot of 80's stuff and old metallica, maiden, ozzy, etc. I'm not trying to cop their tones (in fact I like some of the newer death metal tones) but that is what I tend to play.

[eelblack2]

Mahogany plus neckthru sounds like it would be way to dark for TZ. Maybe try Breed like you said or Evo for more top end bite.

[zerocool]

Hey Brad! Still have the RGT3120. Kick ass guitar! Love the sound of it. Thanks again man for the great deal!

[GAZ]

I can't imagine how either pickup can sound 'muddy' ? Ok they're more bottom end and less top end than most, but not muddy !!!! You may need to cut the bass and mids and boost the treble and presence a bit if that's the sound you want. If you still get a muddy sound as opposed to a 'fat' or 'warm' sound then look elsewhere in your rig for the problem ! Check the pups polepieces aren't too far from the strings too, that will lose some top end. Changed the strings lately etc etc ???

[JuanCaca]

BREED neck in bridge position for bassy not muddy sound
norton bridge they say "our most versatile bridge pick up"...

[David McCarroll]

Definitely NOT X2N!

Sounds more like a need for lower output pickups with a bit less girth and some more top end? Breeds definitely have a bit less lower mids than the TZ, but really I don't think you'd notice a huge difference (we did an A/B comparison on Saturday - output pretty similar, but Breed not as "dark" as the TZ) - try the PAF Pro in both positions?

[MetalZone]

If you're looking for balance and clarity perhaps a D Sonic in the bridge?
and since it's a mahogany body you might wanna consider the Steve Special as well, mahogony balances well with this pup.
D Sonic might suit you better if you want it slightly warmer.

[horstausmforst]

I have no experience with breeds, but in your situation, I'd try a fred first.

How did the stock IBZ/Dimarzios behave in that guitar?

[screamndemon69]

i have a FRED in a mahogany Ibanez and i'm planning to change it out - not my cup of tea at all.
if you can get your hands on a Dimarzio Double Whammy that would be my choice. i put one in my mahogany custom (bolt-on neck) jem and it is perfect for older and newer rock. they have been discontinued but there are still some shops that have NOS avaiable and i heard a rumor of Dimarzio putting them back out.
the PAF in the neck is one of my top choices. i use it whenever possible.
so far the Tone Zone has been my least favorite pup next to the Fred. (most) everyone swears by them here and i just haven't gotten excited about it in anything i've tried it in.
i'm kinda partial to the Seymour JB/'59 or JB/Jazz combo as well. i put the JB/Jazz combo in my RGA121ntf and it is perfect for my taste. i tried the TZ/AN combo in it and it just couldn't hold a candle to the JB/Jazz combo for me.
let us know how it goes and what you decide.

[horstausmforst]

Yeah, I'm a fan of the 59/JB and Jazz/JB combos too - I use both of them; the latter one in a mahogany RG and it's awesome.
I have to admit I only used the fred in basswood so far, but it seemed to me that he needed a medium output pu, and after having read descriptions of the JS6's sound, I figured it would be quite right for the tones he was after.

[Thrust]

Ah, forgot about this thread!! I ended up putting a PAF Pro back in the neck (my fav. neck pup) and an EVO in the bridge. The EVO is.....ehmm.....awesome for everything but chugga chugga rythm. It doesn't have that "fat" sound I'm used to.....but so far I think I'll keep it for a bit. Suprisingly, the Dimarzio/IBZ pickups that came stock were pretty damn good. . .

Mike, glad you still have the RGT3120....it is a sweet guitar!!

[screamndemon69]

glad you got it sorted out. the PAF is always a good choice for the neck but i'd try something else in the bridge. i would still say a JB is a good choice as the mahogany is warm but the maple balances it out.

[Thrust]

Well, I'm still not *completely* satisfied with the EVO in the bridge. I don't find it shrill, like many, but it's just missing a bit of bottom end (just a touch). I put the TZ/AN into my RG421 and they sound absolutely incredible!! I would love to find a bridge pup that sounded just like the TZ when it's in basswood. I may try to find a jb and try in the bridge of the 2020 or I wonder how the x2n would sound?

[Big Red]

I play a lot of Maiden and pre-Hysteria Leppard. I outfitted my meager RG320FM with a Super Distortion (which seems to get too little love on this forum) in the bridge, and a Paf-Pro in the neck. It makes all of my neighbours wet their pants. Those two pick-ups make for a great combination, and the Super Distortion will cover most bases.

BTW..Dave Murray used Super Distortions in his famous black and white strat that he used from 1980 to 1988, and Adrian Smith used Super Distortions on his Jacksons from 1986 to 1988.