Replacing pickups on Ibanez RG 55O

Economista · #1 03-21-2002, 10:15 AM

Hello folks:

I want to replace the stock pickups on my Ibanez RG 550 Desert Yellow Japanese Reissue. *I mostly play 80's metal and shred music (ala Vai, Satriani, MacAlpine, Moore). *Which pickups would be best for my guitar, dimarzios or duncans? *I will be playing this guitar through a Peavey Triple X amp. *Thanks.

**jono** · #2 03-21-2002, 11:06 AM

There's a near identical thread going on in the 6 string section (which admittedly should maybe be here too

) The general consensus is that either will do great as long as you find the ones that are great for you

Personally I think that anything along the lines of the DiMarzio PAF Pro, Fred, or Evolution makes for a great pickup in the RG550

Guitarlos2 · #3 03-21-2002, 12:39 PM

The majority of people on this site will probably recommend Dimarzio for an Ibanez guitar. *I have a Duncan Custom (SH-5) in my Fender and it sounds great. *I dont know how it would sound in a RG, but hey, i bet it wouldnt be bad. *What kinda sound are you looking for? *Metal, blues, classic, creamy lead tone etc.......?

Economista · #4 03-21-2002, 01:45 PM

I'm looking for an 80's metal sound a la George Lynch, Paul Gilbert. *

JESTER700 · #5 03-21-2002, 04:48 PM

I know that Ibanez comes with DiMarzio and Jacksons have Duncans, but that doesn't mean the brands match better soundwise. *I guess I'm weird - I play Ibanez with Duncans. *JB in the bridge, lil '59 in the neck.

For a Lynch sound, I doubt you could beat a Duncan Screamin' Demon - it's Lynch's pickup...

Guitarlos2 · #6 03-21-2002, 09:46 PM

Thats true, the Screamin Demon may be your pick if you like Lynch tone. *You should also check into the Duncan Custom. *Good full, thick, powerful tone thats in your face :thumbsup:

Im not all too familiar with Dimarzios, but I have used a lot of Duncans before and I like some of them a lot. *Some may think im crazy, but I use EMG 85's in my Ibanez too *

jclogston · #7 03-22-2002, 11:55 AM

Hi - I am having same problem too - i've decided to go with the super 3 (bridge) and the air norton (neck) for my rg 550. *Hopefully they sound good together........i'll keep you posted.

jeff

rgr · #8 03-22-2002, 12:01 PM

I used a Super 3 back in the late 80s, it was a very powerful sounding pup but, if I remember correctly, I noticed a lack of harmonics in it. *It has a huge midrange hump and rolls off the lows and highs. *I would recommend the Norton for the sound you are looking for. *I has the mids and highs of a TZ but rolls off some of the bass to keep the sound tight.

$0.02,
Roger

jclogston · #9 03-22-2002, 12:15 PM

Oh no, not again, more and more choices..... *LOL
Thanks RGR for the comments.....haven't looked into the norton, had a tone zone in my 570 but felt it really didn't do anything spectacular for me. *Other choices for the bridge were the duncan custom and a bl L-500XL. *Is it okay to mix and match pu; i.e. seymour and dimarzio?

thanks

jeff

JESTER700 · #10 03-22-2002, 12:26 PM

Yup, works fine. *They use the same polarity scheme (Schaller *doesn't*, or didn't in 1983, in case anyone was looking at one of those)

The wire colors vary a little - find out more at www.guitarelectronics.com

Darin W · #11 03-22-2002, 11:55 PM

Evolutions

littlegreenman · #12 03-23-2002, 12:04 AM

I second the Evolutions

ozzeh · #13 04-30-2011, 11:40 AM

EMGs bro. My EMG 81 in my 2610 prestige has the MOST killer metal tone I've come across. And I have a JB in a gibson SG and a D-Sonic in a high-end neck thru BC RICH.

The EMG 81 + basswood combo is wicked.

elsmacko · #14 05-04-2011, 04:01 AM

EMG/Actives apre a PINA to wire, you have to change the battery every so often, and they lack tone! Let me ask you this: Do you prefer a heavy hitting kind of bassy sound pickup, a really trebly pickup, or maybe something with lots of treble and bass with very little mids (scooped).

If bassy, get the Duncan Invader (really heavy hitting with lots of low end, sounds like the world's buffest humbucker), if you like lots of trebly sound, consider the Duncan JB. If you want lots of treble, plenty of low end and scooped mids, go for the Bill Lawrence L500-XL, also consider the Dimarzio X2n.

OUt of the above, my favorite is the Bill and Becky Lawrence (Wilyde Pickups), 2nd is the X2n, third is the JB, and the Invader I didn't like that much because it was too brutal for me.

If you insist on going with actives, buy the DragonFires kit that comes with both pickups, and everything else you need for the price of one EMG. Realize that you need to wire it correctly (does not ground to bridge like passives). There's a lot more wiring to squeeze in there as well.