Help: pickups for my new rg550

KyleChx · #1 03-25-2007, 10:17 PM

alright well i just got my DY rg550 and im kinda not diggin the pickups
i would prefer something hotter toned (for a metal/classic rock guitarist)
my style is zakk wylde meets jimmy page but w/ some technical aspects
im not very familiar w/ H-S-H combo's or dimarzio's(was thinkin dimarzios cuz they seem most popular w/ ibanez's). (mostly been LP guy)
i was thinking Evo's at first but have read that they blow in basswood
so what do you think?

**jaxadam** · #2 03-25-2007, 10:23 PM

I think you'll find a ton of pickup suggestion threads with a search.

The good thing about Dimarzio is that if you don't like them, you can swap them for something different.

Why don't you start off with a Norton, FS-1, HFH and go from there.

quiksilverdew · #3 03-26-2007, 01:34 AM

Well if you play shred and such, Air Nortons are good neck pups in Basswood. Thats a start I guess. As much as I know until I get my RG550MXXDY in 2 days! (I already ordered the pups, Super 3 (B), The Chopper (M), Air Norton (N), (Pink, Green, Pink : P)

mi2tom · #4 03-26-2007, 01:53 AM

AN/TZ, PP/TZ

TheToneZone · #5 03-26-2007, 04:01 AM

I'm not even hearing Jimmy Page and Zakk Wylde comining close to being on the same planet tonally, with Wyldes Ozzy contributions anyway. Pride and Glory is maybe a different story. Though ALOT of Pages earlier stuff is Telecaster.

Anyhow, from the Dimarzio camp it really is hard to beat a Tone Zone in a basswood RG, Norton is great too, sings wonderfully and without all of the chunk of the Tone Zone. Never used an Air Norton so I can't comment, but the Paf Pro is a general go-to pickup for the neck position. It's versatile enough from smooth to sharp with height and pole piece adjustments. I've used the above mentioned in both basswood and mohagany. TTZ and the Norton are both better in basswood, PP is indifferent to wood type it seems. Also, I personally think that the EVO isn't even going to get you close, definately not a "riffy" pickup.

Mike

jb4674 · #6 03-26-2007, 09:30 AM

Kyle,

If your style is Zakk's, then why don't you just put a set of EMG's in that S???. You could probably order the set from EMG and get pretty close to his sound. From what I've heard, those active pickups are not that dependent on the wood of the instrument like a passive pickup would be.

Jimmy

dragsternj · #7 03-26-2007, 11:38 AM

Both Gibson Players and there is no way you get anywhere near these sounds with DiMarzio pickups. I also would say oif you like ZW slap a set of EMG's in. Try a set of 60's.

KyleChx · #8 03-26-2007, 04:45 PM

thanx everyone, so im considerin TZ, Nortons, or breeds. When i had EMG (81&85) in my LP it felt like something was missing. so im not too paticular on those right now. but for the single coil what is good in basewood w/ a nice clear crisp clean w/ lots of sustain that would accent the above humbuks well?(sorry if im picky in my sound but hey its what makes music better)
thanks again for the sugg)

**jaxadam** · #9 03-26-2007, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyleChx

thanx everyone, so im considerin TZ, Nortons, or breeds. When i had EMG (81&85) in my LP it felt like something was missing. so im not too paticular on those right now. but for the single coil what is good in basewood w/ a nice clear crisp clean w/ lots of sustain that would accent the above humbuks well?(sorry if im picky in my sound but hey its what makes music better)
thanks again for the sugg)

Tone Zone/FS-1/Air Norton is a dynamite combo.

screamndemon69 · #10 03-27-2007, 03:18 AM

i was recommended an HS3 in the Dimarzio line for a good single to keep up with hotter pups in the neck and bridge. i plan to try it in alder body with an Evo II in the bridge and a Paf Pro in the neck...also my goto pup

it'll be awhile before i get to that stage of the project.

**jaxadam** · #11 03-27-2007, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by screamndemon69

i was recommended an HS3 in the Dimarzio line for a good single to keep up with hotter pups in the neck and bridge. i plan to try it in alder body with an Evo II in the bridge and a Paf Pro in the neck...also my goto pup

it'll be awhile before i get to that stage of the project.

I have an HS-3 with a Evo II bridge and Evo neck, and the sound drops very significantly when switching to the HS-3. I've tried wiring it up both ways Dimarzio recommends.

The HS-2's and HS-3's just really don't seem to have enough output to hold up with the higher output pickups.

screamndemon69 · #12 03-27-2007, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxadam

I have an HS-3 with a Evo II bridge and Evo neck, and the sound drops very significantly when switching to the HS-3. I've tried wiring it up both ways Dimarzio recommends.

The HS-2's and HS-3's just really don't seem to have enough output to hold up with the higher output pickups.

that's good to know so i don't end up another pickup dissapointment. thanks Adam.
i saw some "USA hot stratocaster/telecaster single coil" (interchange tele or strat with whichever you want to look for) pups on the 'Bay that came in around 11.3 in output and usually come in around $30-$40 at auction end. those might be a possibility. i'd be interested to try one of the tele style neck pups in another project and maybe the strat one in my mid single spot on my Jem project.

BTW Adam - what other cool axes you have on the horizon? we still need to get our axes togethr for a meet and greet sometime.

**jaxadam** · #13 03-27-2007, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by screamndemon69

that's good to know so i don't end up another pickup dissapointment. thanks Adam.
i saw some "USA hot stratocaster/telecaster single coil" (interchange tele or strat with whichever you want to look for) pups on the 'Bay that came in around 11.3 in output and usually come in around $30-$40 at auction end. those might be a possibility. i'd be interested to try one of the tele style neck pups in another project and maybe the strat one in my mid single spot on my Jem project.

BTW Adam - what other cool axes you have on the horizon? we still need to get our axes togethr for a meet and greet sometime.

This should be here soon.

Also, a Jem 20th as well, and an EBMM BFR JP6.

screamndemon69 · #14 03-27-2007, 11:48 AM

well damn! somebody need some Rolaids becuase that is a HUGE GAS attack!

awesome stuff! woohoo! i'll get to see a 20th and i've never tried one of those Caparisons either. must be your birthday or second xmas

**jaxadam** · #15 03-27-2007, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by screamndemon69

well damn! somebody need some Rolaids becuase that is a HUGE GAS attack!

awesome stuff! woohoo! i'll get to see a 20th and i've tried one of those ^ either. must be your birthday or second xmas

I'm looking forward to the Caparison, because it's neckthru, ebony board, mahogany body, and the PH-R and PH-F are supposed to be some pretty cool pickups. I doubt I'll do a pickup change on this one.