HELP!? Gibson pickups vs. Duncans vs. DiMarzio

xPrestigeRGAx · #1 07-26-2008, 03:02 AM

Hi. WOuld someone be willing to help me out. I took out Dimarzios (Breed in bridge and Air Norton in neck) out of my Ibanez RGA 121 Prestige and sold them because i didn't liek them. i thought they were too thin and weak after trying active emgs (81 specifically). Im looking for pickups for neck and bridge positions. I have a Gibson 496 R and a 500T, Duncan SH-6 distortions (n and b), DImarzio X2N, Or Seymour Duncan Invaders (set). I play hard rock/modern metal. WHat woudl be the most best pickup combo? i already have emgs in my jackson and want somethign more versatile in my other guitar. Are the gibson pickups good? What are your opinions? Thanks alot.

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GuitarBizarre · #2 07-26-2008, 01:55 PM

From your query, I'd say the distortions are your best bet. The X2n is basically a passive 81 with the problems thereof, the invaders are flat out the muddiest most useless high end pup i've ever played, the gibsons are versatile but for me they have far too much of a 'flumpf' sound rather than anything versatile. Its like they just want to make everything into a big pillow of sound.

If you were enquiring as to any sets to purchase other than what you have, then I'd say D-Acticators are right up your alley.

On the other hand AGAIN, an EVO2 set would be versatile incarnate for you. I'm having that set put into my S2170FW as we speak, but its not quite as all out as you seem to want.

Scali · #3 07-26-2008, 02:14 PM

It's just a case of personal taste, but the 496R and 500T are among my favourites. They combine high output and lots of punch with warmth and a vintage edge. This allows me to play any music I like (I have them in an M3, H-S-H with coil tap options and all, most versatile guitar I've ever played).
Most other high-output pickups seem to be too much of a 'caricature', and are too one-sided. You hear more pickup than guitar, if you know what I mean.

xPrestigeRGAx · #4 07-26-2008, 08:28 PM

you guys are awesome. thanks alot. so ill go with duncan distortions, or the 496R and 500T? or maybe....i could buy a super distortio in bridge and a 496R or 500T in neck? something like that?

**elcid** · #5 07-26-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scali

It's just a case of personal taste, but the 496R and 500T are among my favourites. They combine high output and lots of punch with warmth and a vintage edge. This allows me to play any music I like (I have them in an M3, H-S-H with coil tap options and all, most versatile guitar I've ever played).
Most other high-output pickups seem to be too much of a 'caricature', and are too one-sided. You hear more pickup than guitar, if you know what I mean.

See, I'm at the opposite end. I hate everything about the 500T. Every Gibson I ever bought with it got it pulled out the second I got home with it.

xPrestigeRGAx · #6 07-26-2008, 09:10 PM

Duncan Distortion bridge with 496R in neck
500T in brdige and duncan distortion in neck
500T and 496R
Duncan Distortion Mayhem set (SH-6b+SH-6n)

thats what i naroowed it down to so far. I never had a gibson so I don't know gibson pickups. would someone please let me know what would be good for detuned metal? just what pickup configuration would be better...and my ibanez has a 5 way switch. do i need a 3 way for the gibson pups or are they splitable? thanks so much guys.

xPrestigeRGAx · #7 07-26-2008, 09:53 PM

ok. just bought a GIbson 496R pickup off 3bay. i had an Epiphone Les Paul Std. Plus(Chinese) (it was a rent) and when i had my Peavey XXX head it sounded good ont he neck pickup. But the epi had cheap pickups and i liked the neck sound. Im 100% positive the 496R will fit me (i plan to use it for shredding/sweeping/fast solos) thats it. Now...hmmm...for the bridge.....500T or SH-6? or somehting else?

Scali · #8 07-27-2008, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcid

See, I'm at the opposite end. I hate everything about the 500T. Every Gibson I ever bought with it got it pulled out the second I got home with it.

It would help if you explained why.
I've already explained why I like them. And I'd like to add to that that it depends on the rig. I like the warm vintage edge to the Gibson sound, but what sounds warm on one amp may get muddy on another (and vice versa... a pickup sounding okay on a 'muddy' amp might sound too thin on a more transparent sounding amp).
I have a Marshall 6101, which has a 'traditional' sound, Bassman/JTM45 cleans, Plexi crunch and Bogner-ish leads.
The traditional clean and crunch sounds work great with a 'traditional' Les Paul/Gibson sound. And that's what Gibson's pickups deliver. As hot as the 496R and 500T are, they still make my guitar sound like a classic creamy Gibson guitar with the clean and crunch sounds. Just with a bit more 'oomph' packed in. And that 'oomph' really comes into its own when you switch to modern lead/rhytm sounds.
With many other ceramic pickups I could get okay 'modern' sounds, but the guitar didn't sound anything like it should with clean/crunch sounds. Which is why I normally prefer alnico pickups.

mi2tom · #9 07-27-2008, 08:31 AM

I really can't believe that the breed and air norton is thin and weak.

mi2tom · #10 07-27-2008, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

On the other hand AGAIN, an EVO2 set would be versatile incarnate for you. I'm having that set put into my S2170FW as we speak, but its not quite as all out as you seem to want.

I don't agree with EVO2(although EVO2 is my favourite pickup of all time) since I've heard the breed and IMO is thicker than the EVO2.

xPrestigeRGAx · #11 07-27-2008, 12:13 PM

the breed was muddy and weak. after playing with an emg 81 for 30 mins ( i know, i shouldn't be comparing active pups to passive because active is more powerful hence of the battery) but the breed was weak. im pretty sure, ill just go out and buy a near new SH-6 Distortion and combine it with the 496R that i already bought. but ne more problem. The 496R has 2 conductor wiring, SH-6 has 4.....can i split coil and wire both to a 5 way switch in my ibanez?

Scali · #12 07-27-2008, 01:14 PM

Then you have a stock 496R, which can't be split.
The after-market 496R has 4-conductor wiring (as do some stock 496Rs, like in the M3).

xPrestigeRGAx · #13 07-28-2008, 01:29 AM

oh...ok..i dont use the split coil feature anyway...i guess ill just wire in the 496R and the SH-6 in humbucker mode or whatever its called. :P 3way switch, is what i need, correct?

xPrestigeRGAx · #14 08-05-2008, 11:55 PM

i got the pickup today. its a 2 conductor. can anyone help me wire it? i tried and looked all over for a 2 conductor wiring diagram but i cant find it? i never wired pickups before. can someone please help me? the guitar is a Ibanez RGA 121 Prestige 1 Volume 1 Tone. the 496R is goign in the neck position. Also, which way do i put the pickup, the screws toward the neck?

Scali · #15 08-06-2008, 02:21 PM

The screws go toward the neck yes (and towards the bridge for a bridge pickup).
As for wiring, that's not an easy one to answer, we'd need to know more about what kind of switching you want, and what switch is in the guitar, and how it is currently connected.