7 string pickups for RG7321

jesusrocker316 · #1 02-10-2009, 02:52 AM

Ok so I bought an RG7321 recently. I got it very cheap used so that I could buy new pickups. I new I needed new ones even before I played it- everyone who's written reviews on the guitar all said the stocks aren't that great. And they were correct. They aren't that great.

There's not a huge selection of 7-string pickups (which is fortunate for me because I hardly know anything about them). But I do know that I want Dimarzio.

Now I usually play over the neck pickup on my other guitars, when using distortion and gain, but using the bridge pickup for cleaner stuff.

I want my neck pickup to have a wall of sound. Not high pierce gain like active EMGs. I like some bass and crunch. And for the bridge I want some that will be able to produce a good clean sound, but if possible, good scream gain (if that makes sense).

Any suggestions? Evo, Blaze, Tonozone, Air Norton, etc ?

**jim777** · #2 02-10-2009, 03:22 PM

I personally like the Blaze set. The Blaze neck is an outstanding pickup especially.

Algiman · #3 02-10-2009, 03:24 PM

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/ZH-nailbomb.html
These are available as a 7 string, and are by far my favourite so far.

jesusrocker316 · #4 02-10-2009, 06:52 PM

Oh and another thing, would I have to do anything to my guitar to fit any kind of Dimarzio pickups?

**jim777** · #5 02-10-2009, 09:32 PM

Nope, DiMarzios will drop right into it without modification to the guitar or the pickups.

jesusrocker316 · #6 02-11-2009, 04:01 PM

A few weeks ago I bought an EMG 707 HZ-B passive 7 String Pickup on e bay because it was like 20$ and thought I found one of those real rare good deals. But then I read some reviews on those pickups (why I didn't read reviews BEFORE I bought them, I have no idea.) But the reviews said they SUCK. Does anyone know about them? Should I even bother trying them out? Or should I turn around and try to sell them back to someone else?

jesusrocker316 · #7 02-11-2009, 04:04 PM

Oh and what's the difference between the current Blazes that you can buy at places like guitar center and musicians-friend, and the older Blaze Custom that you can only buy at used stores and e bay ?

Neoclasiccl · #8 02-11-2009, 05:08 PM

I had the tone zone and air norton 7's in my old 7321 and it sounded great. I do like the blazes on my UV777BK also so if I had to choose between the two sets of pickups I don't think I could.

**jim777** · #9 02-11-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesusrocker316

Oh and what's the difference between the current Blazes that you can buy at places like guitar center and musicians-friend, and the older Blaze Custom that you can only buy at used stores and e bay ?

The Blaze and Blaze Custom are two different pickups, though it looks like the Custom has been dropped with the addition of the X2N 7 and the D Activators. The BCs are bridge humbuckers, and sounds a little meatier than the Blaze. The Blazes come in both neck and bridge models. If you can try a UV, those come stock with Blazes, so you can get an idea of how they'll sound. From DiMarzio's tone guide, the Blaze bridge rates a 6/4.5/7.5 for treble/mids/bass response, whereas the Blaze Custom is rated at 6/7/7 for treble/mids/bass. So, a good bit more mids and tiny bit less bass for the BC at the bridge position.

jesusrocker316 · #10 02-12-2009, 01:52 AM

Jim777: do you currently have a 7 string with a Blaze neck?

Roland · #11 02-13-2009, 04:02 PM

The Blaze Custom has been dropped? What a shame. The difference between the stock bridge pickup of the RG7321 and the BC is huge - the BC brings a ton of midrange into your sound, making it very agressive and snarling. I personally love mine. It's got enough bass not to sound weak, while still sounding clear and the treble isn't piercing either. In short, an agressive, yet remarkably balanced pickup.

jesusrocker316 · #12 02-13-2009, 04:39 PM

to be honest, I'm more interested in the neck pickup than the bridge. If I wasn't in college and had plenty of money to spend, then I would've probably bought a more expensive guitar and buy very nice bridge and neck pickups. But I don't. So my main focus is neck pickup (and custom string gauges)

**jim777** · #13 02-13-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesusrocker316

Jim777: do you currently have a 7 string with a Blaze neck?

No, I use Bartolinis

But I have had a few 7's with Blazes, and they are absolutely one of my all time favorite solidbody guitar pickups. I absolutely love the Blaze neck pickup. It really delivers for all kinds of music.

jesusrocker316 · #14 02-13-2009, 07:54 PM

I'm wanting to really clean up the B string from it's muddiness with the stock pickups. Not a real tight attack kind of sound, but more of a heavy WHAM and/or CRUNCH. I write music, and I want a heavy sound similar to Korn and Brian Welch, but I want to fuse it with a funky(?) kind of tone-perhaps w/ the bridge pickup.
I'm not a soloist; I'm a rhythm guitar player. Altho I might get into soloing one day, it's not my focus right now.