New pickups for an SZ720FM.

AmericaN8Mare · #1 12-12-2007, 04:34 AM

Hey everybody, I'm brand new to this forum stuff, but I've looked around and could not find an answer to my question already.

I just got a almost new Ibanez SZ 720 FM, got a great price on it but the pickups are not quite what I expected, all the ones I have seen in the catalogs and online say Designed by Duncan on them, showing they are the cheaper Foreign version of the Seymores. But mine do not, in fact they don't even have the little reddish orange square off to the side like all Seymores I have seen. So I guess that whoever had this thing before me switched them out. Any way I am still very impressed with every other aspect of this guitar, I just want new electronics, I know what pots I want but I have no Idea on how to interpret the charts on pickups (hertz and resistance and such) to figure out what type of sound they will produce. I will be keeping the 3 way switch, possibly rewiring the config. I play mostly blues/jazz and 80's hairband rock, (I know it is a weird combo) I was wondering if a Seymore Duncan SH-2 jazz model would pair up nicely with a Full Shred? If so... which would you put in the neck? the bridge? and Does any one know the diff between the SH-10 full shred and the TB-10 full shred?

**jono** · #2 12-12-2007, 04:45 AM

The SH and TB designations I believe (but only from hearsay) are "Seymour Humbucker" and "Trem Bucker".

The SH is designed to fit Gibson style string spacing at the bridge and the the TB to fit Floyd Rose string spacing which is a bit wider (It's Duncan's version of DiMarzio F-Spacing, although I'm not sure who did it first)

I think people usually go for the Jazz in the neck position and something else in the bridge. Most often the JB or a Custom for a jack-of-all-trades sound.

AmericaN8Mare · #3 12-12-2007, 04:59 AM

Thanks, also, with this guitar having a 25.1 scale, how does that effect my string spacing?

Sorry for all the questions guys but I am learning here, I do appreciate all your help though.

**jono** · #4 12-12-2007, 11:41 AM

The scale length of the guitar doesn't affect the string spacing.

The string spacing is really only dependent on the bridge of the guitar and is basically the distance between the strings where they sit on the saddles of the bridge, so it runs at 90° to the scale length.

screamndemon69 · #5 12-12-2007, 11:49 AM

I would try either a JB/'59, JB/Jazz, Active JB/Jazz or a JB/Paf Pro. I have left the stock pups in my SZ4020 and might possibly try the active JB/Jazz set in mine one day. Congrats and welcome to the board.

rty13ibz98 · #6 12-12-2007, 04:47 PM

i use the alnico 2 pro and jb in my sz520. great all purpose rock sound. with the factory petrucci switch, sounds great in the middle position, too.

rich

GP13 · #7 12-12-2007, 07:48 PM

I ordered a set of JB/Jazz from bay.. it arrive today, will install soon to my SZ520

GP13 · #8 12-12-2007, 07:49 PM

go to seymourduncan site.. you can listen to audio samples of each pickup

screamndemon69 · #9 12-12-2007, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GP13

I ordered a set of JB/Jazz from bay.. it arrive today, will install soon to my SZ520

Good choice for that guitar.

AmericaN8Mare · #10 12-13-2007, 12:53 AM

Franks Guys,
The site was really helpful, I really think this guitar is capable of that warm yet twang tone I am looking for,(kind of like that other solid mahogany classic (yet overrated) guitar). I got new pots today, Ernie Ball power slinkys, and a push pull pot for the tone, probably be till payday(3 days) till I can get the new pickups, but I should be able to decide by then thanks to the Seymore Duncan website sound bits.

AmericaN8Mare · #11 12-13-2007, 02:32 AM

OK I think I'm done, settled on SH-2 Jazz in the neck and SH-4 in the bridge, also with the push pull tone pot for coil splitting, and oh yea, I think I'm gonna get the nickel covers cuz I think it would look great with this guitar. Gonna take it to my local shop this weekend and have them install the new pickups, pots, and some new Ernie Ball power slinky's, set it up w/ a low action, and set the Iton., (which is actually quite easy w/ the Gibraltar 3 fixed bridge). Can't wait to play afterwards. FYI still open to comments and suggestions.

AmericaN8Mare · #12 12-13-2007, 03:02 AM

sorry, did not really figure this one out yet, has to do w/ string spacing, I think i have read on here already that the string spacing is diff on my SZ than normal, maybe F spacing like w/ a floyd, even though this is a fixed. So in that respect, should I get the trembuckers, or not?

Jemwielder · #13 12-13-2007, 04:42 AM

Can never go wrong with the jazz/neck JB/bridge setup. It's been a staple of many rock and metal guitarists. The screamin demon is worth a look too. I had the full shred in an old jackson and it was nice but the JB definetly trumps it in my book.

screamndemon69 · #14 12-13-2007, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmericaN8Mare

sorry, did not really figure this one out yet, has to do w/ string spacing, I think i have read on here already that the string spacing is diff on my SZ than normal, maybe F spacing like w/ a floyd, even though this is a fixed. So in that respect, should I get the trembuckers, or not?

Yes, trembuckers will probably "look" nicer with proper spacing but it doesn't affect sound with the amount of output these pups have. If you are getting nickel covered versions, I wouldn't worry about it.