Evo or Breed pups in a basswood RG?

Big Red · #1 03-21-2006, 02:07 PM

Hi Folks,

I have an Ibanez RG 320FM, and am looking to get much better pickups. Based on the research I have done, I conclude that the "safest" bet is to put a PAF Pro in the neck and a Super Distortion in the bridge.

I have read in a couple of areas that the Evo's and Breed's are not suited to basswood guitars. That comment for the Evo's I can understand, since Vai's Jem is made out of Alder. That comment for the Breed's, however seem to be a little contradictory since the Dimarizo website pick-up selector suggests it, and that Vai's Bad Horsie guitar is basswood and has Breeds in it.

I want my RG to positively sing (not just fart), since I will be buying a Dean Z 79 Reissue (Explorer shape) soon, which will serve as the polar opposite in terms of tone.

Any advice? Has anyone used Evo's in a basswood RG?

carlos grijalva · #2 03-21-2006, 02:43 PM

PAF Pro.

marlb5150 · #3 03-21-2006, 03:00 PM

you posted this on the HC forums too right?

The Super distortion and PAF pro make an excellent combo. I use it on one of my RG's. I'm thinkin of wiring the super distortion parallel to get a more open sound coz super distortions sound a bit flat and doesn't cut through that well in my experience. PAF pro has excellent clean sound, exactly like in 'just take my heart' by mr. big. with high gain, paf pro on the neck position is loud, cuts through well, and has lotta balls or 'oomph' to it.

The breed sounds excellent on basswood. the EVo can also good on basswood.

red5 · #4 03-21-2006, 03:13 PM

Breeds are found only in basswood Jems, not alder ones. That should say something right there

bob mclaughlin · #5 03-21-2006, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red5

Breeds are found only in basswood Jems, not alder ones. That should say something right there

Yup, The DNA, DBK, BRM and now in my Jem 10th...........

Big Red · #6 03-21-2006, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red5

Breeds are found only in basswood Jems, not alder ones. That should say something right there

Yes, that is what I figured (as per my original post). But I was thinking about an "unconventional" pairing (Evo's and basswood) in order to obtain my own unique tone. I am not adverse to having some madness in my methods. Maybe I'll by 2 more RG's, and have a different pick-up set-up in each.

I get the impression that the Breeds are better for a more "sophisticated" tone than the SD/PAF combination in the basswood. Is that assumption correct?

And yes marlb5150, I do get around.

Michał · #7 03-22-2006, 11:36 AM

I got Evo Bridge in my Basswood RG370. Combination is very good for soloing, and good for riffing. Highs are great, there is a little too much of mids, and a little to low of bass, but i repair it all with the amp eq. I play mostly things like Slayer and Metallica and it works well for that. On the position 4, mixed with single coil, you get great clean sound.

ET Guitars · #8 03-22-2006, 05:18 PM

Keep in mind an Evo2 for bridge. Its more balanced than the original Evo, so it ends up somewhere between the Evo and Breed. I have it in a basswood RG with Evo in neck and Blue Velvet single. Its my favorite combination by far.

red5 · #9 03-22-2006, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Red

I get the impression that the Breeds are better for a more "sophisticated" tone than the SD/PAF combination in the basswood. Is that assumption correct?

Depends on what you call sophisticated... I think I have a good idea of what you mean (shred, prog, lead tones) and I'd mostly agree with you if you were talking about Evolutions. Breeds are pretty much good for anything but you might want something a little bit harsher.

mi2tom · #10 03-23-2006, 03:15 AM

Get the Breeds ... it sounded cool in a basswood

Shredcows · #11 03-23-2006, 03:45 AM

Breeds can be considered as the humbucking bench mark... its really good, but nothing unique about them as compared to the scream/harmonic reponse of Evos or the ridiculous bass/mids of a Tonezone.... Great cleans too!

Bezial · #12 03-23-2006, 04:17 AM

i have a breed neck in my rg 2550 and its totally awsome, i would say try a breed and a tonezone combination (thats what i have) and you wont be far wrong , thats just my 2 cents

t1r12003 · #13 03-23-2006, 12:21 PM

I have an Evo bridge and Breed neck in my basswood RG550 with a maple neck. The Breed neck is so super smooth sounding IMO.

I've also got a PAF Pro I'm going to install in another basswood RG to compare the differences, but that project isn't done yet.

tTz · #14 03-23-2006, 12:28 PM

Stupid question...

Isn't Flo made out of basswood, since it was once a floral JEM? And doesn't Flo have Evos installed?

:edit:

Yeah, vai.com says Flo has Evos, and Jemsite says it's made of basswood. Can't be that bad a combination then, surely?

Hobophobic · #15 03-23-2006, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tTz

Yeah, vai.com says Flo has Evos, and Jemsite says it's made of basswood. Can't be that bad a combination then, surely?

Yeah, it's definitely not a bad combination. I have Evos and an HS-2 in my basswood RG1570L. As I said, it's not a bad combination... but after playing with it for a while I'm not sure it's the right combination for me. I'm not actually unhappy with it but I find myself frequently tweaking around trying to get things sounding more warm and less brittle. I like the Evo neck a lot and I rarely use the HS-2 but I've been debating the Evo2 or maybe even a Fred for the bridge. Knowing me, I'll be too lazy and leave the Evo in their but it is something I've been thinking about lately.