Pickup choise for tuning to Drop G?

MF_Kitten · #1 12-12-2006, 11:43 PM

i´m completely stuck on this...
i might be getting an Ibanez RG7321, and i´m gunna tune it down to Drop G, in other words tune it to A flat (à la KoRn) and then drop the low A string a step down (just so you know what i´m talking about)

i want a DiMarzio humbucker for the bridge position that can keep it´s tightness when playing the deepest strings, i have almost a phobia for muddy sound...
AND i´m not a big fan of scooped sound, i like nice fat midtones
(say, KoRn´s ´´Take a Look in the Mirror´´ album.)

any suggestions?
i´m going to play heavy stuff, as if that wasn´t obvious enough... somewhere along the lines of Fear Factory, Meshuggah, KoRn... you know the kind...
i´m not a soloist, so steve vai-style pickups won´t be nessescary :P

i´m extremely thankfull for any help, you might be the cure for massive headaches! :P

btw, i´m tired, so spelling and everything is horrible, i know :/... and i know i spelled it ´´choise´´:P

technomancer · #2 12-12-2006, 11:57 PM

Well, I personally favor the D-Sonic 7. The PAF7 is also good for that kind of stuff. Late Korn was a PAF7 in a mahogany bodied guitar.

C.Thep · #3 12-13-2006, 01:07 AM

i think if you are tuning that low, no matter what kind of pickups you get, it will sould like cr@p.

Demiurge · #4 12-13-2006, 01:10 AM

I have Blazes in my Schecter 7 (25.5" scale) in drop G and it sounds pretty good. YMMV

Aris_T · #5 12-13-2006, 03:27 AM

You could also get a Lundgren. Meshuggah use them. They're very clear sounding and since you're tuning so low you'll probably need a less muddy pickup. They're quite expensive though (around 195 euros).
Check the 7 string model here:
http://www.lundgren.se/index.asp?folid=22&micid=88

The D-Sonic 7 sounds quite good for such a low tuning too and it's less expensive.

RSVampire · #6 12-13-2006, 04:16 AM

something that low and I'd go with actives. EMG's would be a good choice. Before everyone condemns me for suggesting active pickups let me say this. EMG's might sound sterile to some (if you use two 9 volt batteries wired to 18 volts they acually get A LOT better dynamics) they have a HUGE frequency spectrum compared to passive pickups so drop G tuning will definitely sound a lot tighter on an active pickup than a passive.

Roland · #7 12-13-2006, 10:35 AM

To be correct, Korn tunes to A. A-flat with a dropped bottom string would become drop F#.
As far as pickups go, you've got quite a few choices, apparently. I'll put in a good word for the Blaze Custom - just for checking, I tuned my RG7321 down to sub-octave E, strung with a 68 on the bottom, with suprisingly good results on string-tension, and the sound as well. Definitely playable, and the sound was beefy and defined as well, since the Blaze Custom has loads of midrange.

**jaxadam** · #8 12-13-2006, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSVampire

something that low and I'd go with actives. EMG's would be a good choice. Before everyone condemns me for suggesting active pickups let me say this. EMG's might sound sterile to some (if you use two 9 volt batteries wired to 18 volts they acually get A LOT better dynamics) they have a HUGE frequency spectrum compared to passive pickups so drop G tuning will definitely sound a lot tighter on an active pickup than a passive.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

I always thought EMG's sounded good, but they sound great with two batteries.

I would check out an 81-7, or Lundgren M7.

MF_Kitten · #9 12-13-2006, 12:06 PM

Well, i don´t want the Lundgrens, they´re both too expencive, and not my taste (too scooped), and i´m sorry, but i simply don´t like EMG´s... i´ve tried many, but they´re not my thing... i like passive pickups...

so yeah... i´m not shure about the tuning thing, but it´ll either be drop G or drop F then... anyways, it´s not too different...

well, i´m narrowing down the whole range that i´m looking at right now, so...

anyone have suggestions for which 7-string dimarzio´s i SHOULDN´T get? :P like one´s that´ll just be pure mud?

and to the guy that said it would sound crap, well, that´s a matter of opinion now, aint it?

NaHuELoidE · #10 12-13-2006, 12:16 PM

remember to use heavy strings! over .60 for the low G...

NeglectedField · #11 12-13-2006, 12:29 PM

I would say D-Sonic and some sufficiently heavy strings. Perhaps you might want to look at Schecter 7-string models which are usually an inch longer to cater for any loss of tension. Ideal for whatever tuning you want.

Roland · #12 12-13-2006, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaHuELoidE

remember to use heavy strings! over .60 for the low G...

An .068 works just fine - you could try going up to .070 if you want even more tension. Assuming you've got a Korean RG7321, .070 is the maximum upper limit gauge you can use without modifying the guitar. A friend of mine who's got an Indonesian RG7321 says that an .068 will not fit without at least drilling the tuner.

Aris_T · #13 12-13-2006, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MF_Kitten

i like passive pickups...

Get the D-Sonic then! And heavier gauge strings! Enjoy!!!!

timi_h · #14 12-13-2006, 04:32 PM

might be worth hunting out a baritone 7 string to get a good G out of it.

MF_Kitten · #15 12-13-2006, 09:31 PM

hmm... sounds nice, sounds nice... i already had the D-sonic in mind too, so looks like we have a winner

also, i´m going for a .65 or .68 or even a .70 for the G-string (hah!)

i love Ibanez, and i want a fixed bridge... so the 7321 is great for me, with the lovely Wizard neck that i love...

and i don´t like lower-end schecters, and i can´t afford the higher end, so...

New question though, how would the Tone Zone 7 perform as a neck pickup? it´s either that one or the Air Norton 7 for the neck pickup...