EJ custom

[bsrg2550]

Hello everyone,

I was just wondering if any of you ever tried installing an EJ custom pickup on a prestige rg. In the neck or bridge position? How do they sound for shredding?

Here is my thinking here:

1) I was going to switch out the Ibz/Dimarzio pickups with a paf pro in the bridge and yjm pickups in the middle and neck positions like I have it in my custom strat. I would have to buy a custom pickguard to accommodate a single coil size pickup in the neck position.

2) Because of my limited funds, it would be better to not buy a custom pickguard.

3) I like the YJM pickups because of their low output and for their clarity when it comes to shredding. You can hear every note clearly and it causes me to play carefully and tastefully.

4) My impression of the EJ custom (from what I read on the Dimarzio website) is that it is a low output humbucker that sounds sorta like a single coil pickup as far as clarity goes.

5) So, instead of buying a custom pickguard to accomodate a YJM in the neck position, I am thinking of getting an EJ custom and hoping I will love the sound and response of it. I also think the YJMs could use a little more output so I think the EJ custom will fit the bill just fine.

[bsrg2550]

I'm going to go for it and just try out the EJ custom.

[mozfan98]

I'm actually getting a EJ custom too. It should arrive sometime this week. I also have a YJM pickup installed in another guitar and it's very quiet and clear..just like I want it. I have an Ash Body SA prestige and looking to get a vintage sound out of it.

[bsrg2550]

Cool, let me know your impressions of the EJ custom when you have it installed

[mozfan98]

Just got it installed today. Its the bridge position EJ Custom. The ash body in my guitar is already bright as it is, but I figure this pickup would balance very well with mahogany woods. First impression through the distortion channel. It sounds great and still clean no matter how high I turn up the gain. I was surprised how good it sounds distorted. It has a nice single coil like twang to it, and doesn't sound too thin at all. Everything on the Dimarzio site's description of this pickup is right on..except to me..it doesn't remind me of a Gretsch countryman sound..but the closest to having it is in the clean channel only. A pretty bright pickup that doesn't sound too harsh on the high end. I think this is the lowest output humbucker that Dimarzio has put out, but doesn't sound like it due to it being a bright sounding pickup.


Overall, I'm happy with this pickup and its great to play different styles of music like classic rock, blues, jazz runs, or neo-classical shredding. It's a vintage sounding pickup with quite a bit of bite to it.

[bsrg2550]

I know its been a while since I first post this but now I have the time to follow up.

I am glad I decided to get the EJ custom for the neck position of my RG 2550gk. I bought the one with the polished nickel covering on it.

IMHO, it sounds a hell of a lot better than the HS-3s and YJMs I was accustomed to using in the neck position of my guitars. The EJ custom has the same qualities I liked from the HS-3s and the YJMs but with more girth, warmth, output, and clarity. I can only imagine that if I got the one without the cover, it would just add a little bit more treble. So I really lucked out because now I don't have to order a custom pickguard just to put in a HS-3 or YJM in the neck position of my RG2550.

I did, however, switch out the middle stock Dimarzio/Ibz single coil pickup with a HS-3 pickup. I switched out the stock bridge Dimarzio/Ibz humbucker with a Bare Knuckle Nailbomb pickup with gold covering.

My RG2550 is now the most versatile guitar I have ever owned. I can play funk rythm with the pickup switch on the 2nd position and country with the pickup switch on the 4th position. I use the neck pickup (1st position) for Yngwie type shredding or for clean jazz tones and I use the bridge pickup for Vai or Satch style soloing, Classic rock music or blues soloing (although the neck pickup is also good for that).

The nailbomb pickup's output is way louder than the other pickups - but that is where the volume knob or a volume pedal comes in. I'd say that the Nailbomb pickup is the most versatile pickup on the guitar because it is very loud yet clean and organic sounding with a very open sound. It can do metal easily. It can do other less heavier genres just by using less distortion or just by adjusting the volume knob.