Changing Pickups In My RG550

[fusionist777]

Hello all. I have ordered a Tone Zone for the bridge position and an Evolution for the neck. Is anyone familiar with this setup? Will this make a good combo? Also I am looking for a good clean sounding Dimarzio single coil to go with this setup any recommendations?

Thanks

[The_Grindfiend]

Well, the Tone Zone will be great for the bridge. Regarding the Evolution, though, did you order the neck model or bridge model? I'd say that the neck model would be a good match, but it you put the bridge model in the neck, it would most likely overpower the Tone Zone in the bridge.

[fusionist777]

Yeah I made sure I ordered the Evo for the neck position. I am worried though about the humbuckers over powering the single. I was thinking of maybe going with the Dimarzio HS-2 for the single. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

[The_Grindfiend]

I don't have any experience with the DiMarzio single coils, as not many of my guitars have single coils, and I'm not a big fan of the middle pickup anyway, but I've heard good things about the HS-2.

[MicJustMic]

I have an HS-2 in my RG 550 wired for single coil.

It's about as close to a Jem single coil as you're going to get without butchering an actual Jem for one.

A word of advice, if you're looking to match the out put, or even come close to the out put of the humbuckers an HS-2 isn't the way to go.

In humbucking wiring it is actually lower in output than in single coil wiring, and even using just the top coil it's not nearly as loud as the humbuckers (keep in mind I'm using a matched pair of Evo's) but even with a med-out put humbucker like a PAF Pro it's quiet by comparison.

Most people have a single coil because the want it to be lower out put, for cleaner sounds, but there are plenty of single coil sized pups that are just as loud, or louder than a humbucker, so I'm sure you can find something, I just don't know what to suggest right now since I love either a vintage Strat single.

:-)

Mic

[kennydoe]

For a single coil with better output, use either a Virtual2 Bridge model or a red or blue velvet. You'll find these much better choices to balance with the hotter outputs of your humbuckers.

~Kenny