Which P/Ups in RG350DX

RG777 · #1 07-10-2007, 06:29 AM

For my Ibanez, I decided im going to get some new pickups. Im thinking an Evo 2(Bridge) a Tone Zone in neck, and im undecided on the middle single coil. I need it to have MASSIVE Pinch Harmonics as well.

Suggestions?

I want a Sound like Randy Rhoads, Kirk Hammet, Dimebag, Zakk Wylde, Steve Vai, EVH.

So Pretty much a Metal, Rock sound. But I want to shred, so thats why im buying an Ibanez. I want to be like Randy Rhoads to Vai: To know everything about music. And I played Piano for 7 years, So I got quite a bit of Classical music experience and I can read music easily(not just tabs)

Randy Rhoads studied Classical music before he played anything. And thats how he was just amazing when he played.

toshiro · #2 07-10-2007, 07:05 AM

I've never liked the sound of fat bridge pickups(like the TZ) in the neck. The neck slot is naturally darker and louder than the bridge.

I would look at the Evo Neck, Air Norton, or Breed Neck.

djohns74 · #3 07-10-2007, 10:59 AM

It's funny to me how many pickup discussions quickly degrade into "I want to be just like <insert famous guitarist here>".

Wanting to sound like your favorite guitarist(s) is fine and all, I mean, who hasn't had that desire at least once? But there's so much more that goes into it than just pickup selection. In fact, I would say that pickup selection is almost the least important single factor in determining your sound. Amps, effects and their various settings are obviously huge in determining tone. Given the same exact rig with the same settings and 5 copies of the same exact guitar, each with different pickups, the sound will be very, very close to identical. Almost no one that doesn't posses a "musical ear" will be able to tell the difference.

Beyond gear though, famous guitarists sound the way they do because of who they are. Throw Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde and EVH each a used Squier and a 10 watt practice amp and turn away to listen and you'll know which one is which, I absolutely guarantee it.

Now, wanting to play at the level of your favorite guitarists is certainly a laudable goal. But, in my opinion, the first step in that process is forgetting about gear altogether, beyond possibly your guitar. You need a guitar that's comfortable for you to play the style that you want to play. Everything else is irrelevant to becoming a better player. Trust me, constant concerns over gear and tone will only distract you from your goal of being an amazing guitarist. Once you have the skills, then you can worry about perfecting your sound.

Sorry for the mini-rant. *Climbs down from soapbox*

RG777 · #4 07-10-2007, 06:02 PM

I never said I want to be like them(Other than RR) I was just listing examples of tones

djohns74 · #5 07-10-2007, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RG777

I never said I want to be like them(Other than RR) I was just listing examples of tones

Way to pick apart the very first sentence in my response and ignore the rest. Why, after all these years, do I continue to expect anything else from people?

Mister CCJ · #6 07-10-2007, 07:45 PM

Each one of those players has a completely different tone; they have their own technique and completely different gear with completely different guitars with completely different pickups. You'd need to have a different guitar for each of them. I'm still trying to figure out my sound; I'm playing an RG with v7/v8 pickups through a Peavey XXX, low end compared to a lot of what people play on here, but it really is about ur playing that makes you sound like whoever you're trying to sound like.

djohns74 · #7 07-10-2007, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister CCJ

Each one of those players has a completely different tone; they have their own technique and completely different gear with completely different guitars with completely different pickups. You'd need to have a different guitar for each of them. I'm still trying to figure out my sound; I'm playing an RG with v7/v8 pickups through a Peavey XXX, low end compared to a lot of what people play on here, but it really is about ur playing that makes you sound like whoever you're trying to sound like.

That's exactly right! Maybe your gear is low-end compared to a lot of people here, but quite frankly, I would also say that it's high-end compared to at least as many other people. And who cares? If it works for you, if it plays right in your hands, it's the right gear for you, regardless of price, regardless of brand name, regardless of what anyone else thinks.

RG777 · #8 07-10-2007, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djohns74

Way to pick apart the very first sentence in my response and ignore the rest. Why, after all these years, do I continue to expect anything else from people?

I agreed with the rest of your post so I Didn't comment about it!

racerevlon · #9 07-12-2007, 02:11 PM

You'll get massive pinch harmonics out of Evolution pickups, but you'll sacrifice some low-end thump. The EVO 2 pickup has a pushed mid curve, but nowhere near as extreme as the Breed pickups, which are mid monsters. You'll be super-unhappy if you put a TZ in the neck (IMHO).

RG777 · #10 07-12-2007, 03:29 PM

What about EMG's

racerevlon · #11 07-13-2007, 03:34 PM

I'd go with Dimarzio D-Activators first. No batteries to deal with and don't have to change to 25K pots...

Salamander In The Sun · #12 07-13-2007, 04:12 PM

Bridge: DiMarzio Super Distortion
Mid: Cruiser, Hot Rails, Cool Rails
Neck: DiMarzio PAF Pro

I think that will get you fairly close to all of those tones. Your fingers and amp should be able to take it from there.

Johnny Two Tone · #13 07-13-2007, 08:50 PM

Get a set of Breeds, dude. Breeds are the best, THE BEST I TELLS YA! I've tried a few PUs and the Breeds are my favorite. Though, I am going to be trying active pickups (EMG 81/60) as soon as my new guitar arrives as it comes with them. But, as far as passive pickups are concerned Breeds are my PUs of choice and I play rock to death metal.

The weird thing about the Breed bridge pickup is that, at least in my Les Paul, it doesn't sound anything like the demo tracks on DiMarzio's site. It's far clearer and doesn't really have much of that smooth tone that is much more prominent in the Breed neck PU. In other words the Breed bridge is awesome for metal which the demo tracks don't really convey.

EDIT: Oh, and why do people keep saying pickups are barely different or that you should be the least concerned with different pickups? That's craziness. I have had four different bridge PUs in one of my guitars (my Les Paul) and I could easily tell the different between all of them. In fact I've taken one pickup, put it in my Les Paul then taken it out and put it in my RGA121 and I could tell there was a small sound difference in that too. Everything changes the sound to some degree. Like, when I took out my crap-tastic SD '59 neck pickup (which I never liked) and replaced it with my Breed neck pickup it was like, "Hot DAMN!". So, I don't want to hear some bogus crap about PUs not doing much of anything.

D.Vial · #14 07-13-2007, 11:49 PM

If you need a FAT soud in the neck, get an Air zone , for the bridge Pup go for an evo bridge or maybe a Seymour duncan Dimebucker

psychoshredder · #15 07-13-2007, 11:59 PM

i'm not really believe tone zone in neck pos would be great, Paul gilbert does that but his bridge pu also a tone zone.
i would prefer to have a lower output for neck pos, if you want to get the EVO2 on the bridge, i think breed neck would be good too.