After trying about 50 pickups....

[guitarslinger213]

The IBZ/USA F1 is probably my favorite. I use it in the bridge of a Charvel Predator. It abslutely rips. It's thick and clear. It sounds great through good and bad amps. It splits/combines really well with singlecoils.

Ibanez had it stock in the neck position of some 90's sabers. I don't know why they never used it as a bridge pup.

I've yet to try it in the neck position. I think I will just buy another one before I take it out of my charvel.

BTW, the neck position of my predator has a virtual vintage 2.1 which I'm equally satisfied with.

THanks for listening to my pointless post.

[giannifive]

Cool. It's always great to finally find the right pickup.

I have an original IBZ/USA (no letter marking), which I always thought was the same as the F1. I used to have it in the neck of a fixed-bridge, mahogany-bodied guitar, but it was just *way* too dark for my tastes. Maybe I should have tried it in the bridge...

[JESTER700]

Originally Posted by giannifive

Cool. It's always great to finally find the right pickup.

I have an original IBZ/USA (no letter marking), which I always thought was the same as the F1. I used to have it in the neck of a fixed-bridge, mahogany-bodied guitar, but it was just *way* too dark for my tastes. Maybe I should have tried it in the bridge...

I thought that too, but Frank (who I trust about these things) says otherwise. I never A/Bed them to really hear what's going on.

[guitarslinger213]

Originally Posted by giannifive

Cool. It's always great to finally find the right pickup.

I have an original IBZ/USA (no letter marking), which I always thought was the same as the F1. I used to have it in the neck of a fixed-bridge, mahogany-bodied guitar, but it was just *way* too dark for my tastes. Maybe I should have tried it in the bridge...

interesting,

I've had one F1 and two orig. IBZUSA's, I find the F1 to be very SLIGHTLY hotter and a little more balanced.

The orig ibzusa seems to have a weird midrange peak that gives it a much honkier sound than the F1.

They are both great pickups BTW.

[giannifive]

Originally Posted by guitarslinger213

interesting,

I've had one F1 and two orig. IBZUSA's, I find the F1 to be very SLIGHTLY hotter and a little more balanced.

The orig ibzusa seems to have a weird midrange peak that gives it a much honkier sound than the F1.

They are both great pickups BTW.

Have you measured the DC resistance of the F1? I can do the same with my IBZ/USA tonight and give you the reading so we can compare.

[giannifive]

Oops, forgot about this thread. But I just happened to measure the DC resistance of some of my humbuckers. The original IBZUSA measures 7.74k + 7.68k, for a total of 15.42k.

[Roadstar]

for those that cant get a F 1 pup use the breed bridge or a air zone
they are very similar