Pickup Recommendations?

Airbus Brad · #1 12-04-2006, 04:52 PM

Hello all,

I'm a pretty new Jemsite member, and I have to say that I'm blown away by all the information on here. I've been playing for around 15 years, and have a pretty decent guitar collection. As I've improved, I've started assembling a few guitars as well.

My next guitar project is a Loch Ness Green Jem. I have acquired a basswood body painted in Loch Ness Green and a neck with a matching headstock. This is a little bit of an updated model than the original Jem777 though. My neck is birdseye maple, and I upgraded the pyramid inlays to colored shell instead of plain plastic like the originals. I think it looks killer. Also, I have the updated "All Access Neck Joint" instead of the 4-bolt neckplate like the originals. I'm basically putting together my "Dream Jem" instead of a 100% faithful reproduction of the original.

Which brings me to the point of my question. I'm looking for recommendations for pickups for this beast. The original Jems had two PAF Pro humbuckers, with a custom wound Strat pickup in the middle. I'm pretty sure I want to stick with DiMarzios to kind of keep it in the family, so to speak. But I don't necessarily have to use the same exact pickups. I was thinking of maybe putting something a little hotter in there, but I'm really kind of torn. I know that Vai uses the Evolutions now, but that he also uses the Breed models as well. While I'm looking for a hot-sounding combination, I really demand great tone. (Gee, I'm sure noone has ever thought of that!) I think I may be leaning towards an Evo2 bridge and a Evo neck, but I'm open to ANY input you guys have. Please help me make a tone monster!

Thanks guys,
Brad

Sabre · #2 12-04-2006, 05:03 PM

I think the Breeds would go well, slightly fatter than the Evo's but less gain; and maybe a HS-2 or HS-3 in the middle? People have differing opinions about Evo's, you better use the search function to find what people have said.

TheToneZone · #3 12-04-2006, 05:48 PM

In the bridge slot I would try out a Norton... It's got a heavy Paf Pro vibe with more bottom end for added versatility. I think it's a great match for basswood and has the early Vai and Satch vibe. I tried it in mohagany and it didn't fly, just for reference.

The Breed would also be another good choice in the bridge slot of a basswood axe. It's like a SUPER fat and warm Paf Pro. Equally good for rhythm and lead. It's a bit more straight forward sound and doesn't seem to have as much of the "awwwwe" mid peak that the other Dimarzio Paf variants have.

As for the Evos... I tried them in basswood and they just weren't my kind of sound.

Mike

**jaxadam** · #4 12-04-2006, 05:54 PM

I've never tried breeds but I hear good things about them.

I have a custom that has an Evo2 in the bridge, and an Evo in the neck, and it sounds absolutely killer.

I would love to know the secret to getting an HS-2 or HS-3 to sound good with hot pickups, because I have one guitar with an HS-2 for a single, and one with an HS-3 in the single spot, and they don't do it at all.

As far as a single in the middle, I'd go for an FS-1.

Evo2, FS-1, Evo and you've got yourself a killer combo.

waylay00 · #5 12-04-2006, 05:57 PM

I would go with a Tone Zone/Air Norton or Breed/Breed combo.

Laionel · #6 12-05-2006, 04:37 PM

Somebody had tried the breed (bridge version) in bridge and the air norton in neck?

I'm not sure about this combo, but could be interesting but I've heard sometime that the breed neck can be to warm and bassy

Lefty Robb · #7 12-05-2006, 07:11 PM

I know theres a lot of debate over this, but Evo's sound really bad in basswood, no bottom end and really scooped and shrilly.

**jaxadam** · #8 12-05-2006, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lefty Robb

I know theres a lot of debate over this, but Evo's sound really bad in basswood, no bottom end and really scooped and shrilly.

I have an Evo2 bridge and Evo neck in a basswood body, and it sounds great.

But just like everything, I could take those pickups out, and put them in another basswood body, and it sound terrible. They just happen to sound great in that particular guitar.

Airbus Brad · #9 12-06-2006, 11:41 PM

Hello all,

Just a quick update...I tried out a set of Evos yesterday, and they just weren't my cup of tea. They were hot, but I thought they were a bit brittle. I'm going to look around and see if I can find any Jems in the area stores that have the Breed pickups installed before I make my final decision.

But I really like the idea of trying out the Air Zone. I love the TZ, and this sounds like it would be different enough for me to not feel like I'm getting the exact same sound again. So, if the Breeds don't work out, the AZ/ AN combo may be what I go with.

As for the single coil, I've gotten a lot of praise for both the Fast Track 1 & 2. So those are both definite possibilities. What I'm thinking would be:

Option 1: Breed Bridge, Tone Zone S or a Fast Track in the middle, Breed Neck or

Option 2: Air Zone Bridge, Fast Track 1 or 2 in the middle, Air Norton Neck

What do you guys think?

Thanks,
Brad

Sabre · #10 12-07-2006, 03:46 AM

I'd go for the breeds then, warmer and fatter than the EVO, so it'll compensate for that 'brittle-ness' your talking about; I think there is some breeds in the mirror JEM.

Airbus Brad · #11 12-15-2006, 05:47 PM

OK guys,
I've made my decision. I'm going with a set of Breeds, with a Fast Track in the middle. Hopefully, it will sound killer. If not, you guys can buy them from me when I throw in the famous TZ/AN combination. I KNOW that would sound awesome.
Wish me luck!
Brad

Drew · #12 12-15-2006, 06:48 PM

Um, I'm probably an hour late here, but the two most important questions in ANY pickup thread are 1.) What's your rig, and 2.) what sort of a tone are you going for?

Airbus Brad · #13 12-16-2006, 08:49 PM

My main amp is a 5150 half-stack. I typically play Rush, Van Halen, and AC/DC style stuff. So I'm going to something heavy, but a little different sound than my Ernie Ball EVH & Wolfgangs.
Thanks,
Brad