Opinions on 3 different guitar and pickups setups?

[SliderJeff]

Ok guys,

After getting some valuable feedback from Eddie "EKG", I THINK I have figured out which setups I want to go with pickup-wise.

1.) USRG30 - alder with maple cap, direct mounted pickups
Neck: Air Norton
Bridge: Tone Zone

2.) S540 - mahogany S, direct mounted pickups
Neck: Al DiMeola Neck Model
Middle: HS-2 (stock C2 pickup)
Bridge: Megadrive

3.) Fender HM Strat - basswood, pickguard mounted pickups
Neck: Humbucker From Hell
Middle: HS-3 (this is what's in there now.. no clue how it will sound split with HFH in neck or SS in bridge)
Bridge: Steve's Special

My main preamp is a Mesa Boogie Triaxis v2.0 without phat mod. I run a Mesa 20/20 power amp and a Mesa Recto Vertical 2x12 for a cab. I also use an ADA MP-1 and a Digitech GSP2101 Artist Pro every once in awhile.

Any thoughts on the chosen pickups with my given setup?

Thanks,
Jeff

[RSVampire]

they all looks like great combo's!

[SliderJeff]

Hmmm, not sure if it matters, but perhaps I should also state what pickups are in these guitars currently:

1.) USRG30 - alder with maple cap, direct mounted pickups
Neck: PAF Pro
Bridge: Tone Zone

2.) S540 - mahogany S, direct mounted pickups
Neck: IBZ USA F1
Middle: HS-2 (stock IBZ USA C2 pickup)
Bridge: IBZ USA F2

3.) Fender HM Strat - basswood, pickguard mounted pickups
Neck: PAF Pro
Middle: HS-3
Bridge: Tone Zone

You may or may not be able to tell... but based on the two guitars here that have PAF Pro's in them... I'm not a fan of that pickup in either guitar.

Thanks,
Jeff

[Paul Secondino]

I think you should sell me the USRG 30 and use the money to go to Cancun

[Mandrak]

Just be careful because the combo Tone Zone - TriAxis - 20/20 - V30 can sound too middly.

[SliderJeff]

Any particular reason you say that?

Later,
Jeff

[BeastofLove]

I'd keep the PAF Pro in the USRG30. I debated putting an AN in my USRG30 and am glad I didn't. The AN just seems a little 'flat' compared to a PAF Pro. I don't mind the one I put in my RGT3120, but I think I'm eventually putting a PAF Pro back in the neck position (leaving the TZ in the bridge).

-Ben

[SliderJeff]

Thanks for the word of warning, Ben... but the general crux of things is that I HATE the PAF Pro. I have it in both the USRG30 and my basswood Fender HM and it sounds nothing like what I want a neck pickup to sound. Hopefully I will be happier with the AN in there, but if all else fails I will be sticking a spare Humbucker From Hell in that spot.

Thanks again,
Jeff

[BeastofLove]

Well, if you hate it, anything will be an improvement
Like I said, the AN is completely serviceable in the neck of my RGT, and I actually jammed with someone during lunch and I thought it sounded particularly good today. I also like the way a Tone Zone sounds in the neck- very loud, but a great full sound; the PGM10th has a TZ in the neck and it sounds great in there.

The places I really love the PAF Pro are in the neck positions of a PGM300 and BFP, so maybe they just go with maple necks better.

-Ben