First Pickup Change --- Recommendations?

[excellentrocker]

Hi all. I've decided to experiment with my tone a little with this pickup-changing stuff. I'm not too sure where to start as this is my first time doing it so can anyone give me some reccomendations? I'm switching the bridge humbucker on my el-cheapo Ibanez GRX20... Something for hard rock soloing with lots and lots of gain and high output. Soooo any reccomendations? I'm on about a $100 budget, just a ltitle more or less.

[fusionist777]

I installed a Dimarzio ToneZone in the bridge of my RG550 last week. So far I love it, it seems to be very versatile.

[excellentrocker]

I'm thinking of installing a DiMarzio DP100 Super Distortion pickup. Anyone have or had this and got good tone out of it?

[The_Grindfiend]

Not to be an ass, but there should be lots and lots of threads/posts about the Super Distortion and other DiMarzio pickups already.

Also, don't be afraid to PM someone and ask about their experience with a particular pickup.

[Ibateur]

I have a Super Distortion on the bridge of my 570EX and I absolutely love it. My experience is that it has great "chunk" for the chugga chugga rhythms and yet the treble doesn't get drowned out when doing 5- or 6-string "strums".

[xXxiFvkxXx]

Actually I'm in the same boat, but not so limited as per cost, I've been looking at Kerry Kings EMG 81/85 set and am wondering if its worth putting into a $150 ibanez grx20 (found a brand new set of 81/85s for $200)

[guitarnub3]

Well what amp are you using? I think a good amp should come before new pickups.

[LonePhantom]

Those pickups are worth more than the guitar. Do you think you should sink that sort of cash into that guitar. I'd recommend saving up for a better guitar first, the. Then think about a reasonable amp. Then think about pickups.

[xXxiFvkxXx]

Actually the amp I have is a Fender Mustang I, and I was thinking because the kerry king 81/85 set is solderless, when I do upgrade to a better guitar (literally the only thing thats weak on the grx20 is the pickups), I can remove the kerry king set and put it in the new guitar, the only thing i may not install from the set (comes with 81 and 85 active humbuckers and a power boost switch) is the boost switch accounting if I want that installed I may have to pay for installation. And if emgs are too expensive, is there any alternatives that can give the guitar a similar "crunch"?

[Pooluke41]

Originally Posted by xXxiFvkxXx

And if emgs are too expensive, is there any alternatives that can give the guitar a similar "crunch"?

Dimarzio X2N

Dimarzio D'Activator

Dimarzio D'Activator X

Seymour Duncan Blackouts

Bareknuckle Pickups

The list goes on and on.

[musikron]

Sounds like you need more info on how active pups work. The pickups will have a solderless connector on the lead to connect the pup to the rest of the harness, but you will still need to replace your pots and output jack, and fit a battery in the cavity somewhere to make the switch to active. So in addition to the pups you'll need another $30 or so to accomplish that. Now you're at 230 bones, and we haven't paid anyone labor to perform the work.

Seriously, play what you have for now, gain more experience, them upgrade your entire rig when you are ready.

Honestly, unless yours is a freak of nature, the guitar isn't really worth the upgrades, and you won't benefit from them unless you have a good amp.

[xXxiFvkxXx]

I see, so the Fender Mustang isnt a good amp?

[fwd0120]

well, its not really the best amp out there, but thats not the point.

Active pickups are like, the biggest noob mistake. learn what they are really about, it will take almost 300 dollars. You need to re-route the cavities, change all the pots, switches and the input jack, add a new route for the battery. the pickups themselves are already very expensive. you don't know what you are getting yourself into.

If *I* were you, I would get a normal ***passive*** (<not a bad thing, dude) DiMarzio, such as the tone zone.

Originally Posted by Pooluke41

Dimarzio X2N

Dimarzio D'Activator

Dimarzio D'Activator X

Seymour Duncan Blackouts

So *especially* with EMGs, installation is a huge ordeal, Passives ar sooooooo much easier, and imo, actually sound better and more dynamic, unless you are in a djent band rofl


Welcome to jemsite btw

[AlaskaBat]

Originally Posted by xXxiFvkxXx

I see, so the Fender Mustang isnt a good amp?

Based on your pup choice, it appears you're after a good metal sound. The Mustang ain't going to cut it. Follow the above advice and get a better guitar and amp, then the pups.

[xXxiFvkxXx]

thanks everyone you have been a lot of help, and yea i knew there was some work to go into it and didnt mind doing it myself. just hard to try to find a tutorial (im fine with taking apart and putting together electronics, done it 1000s of times to things like PSPs) i decided on just grabbing a new guitar and keeping this one as sentimental starter lol:P got my eyes on a schecter damien 6 i found for diiiirt cheap and it has the active 81/85s that Ive been wanting