Pickup suggestions for a jem FP

[woodros]

thinking about buying a 2003 jem FP when they come out over here, just wondering about different pickups for it. i have an rg550 at the moment with a breed bridge paf pro neck and hs-2 middle, i am happy with that sound. for the floral jem, how would the air norton tone zone combination sound with a fast track in the middle. would this work well in the guitar. this is just one suggestion. the thing is i play a lot of different styles so i would want a versitile setup, i like vai's distorted sound, and his sound in general especially the clean tones on Sisters for example. i would like to achieve a similar tone without having to use evo's as i think they would be too hot for my needs. In terms of playing style and pickups i would like a sound that works well with legato playing as well as long sustained leads, single note passages, and chords. thankyou!

[Jslegacy]

Sounds like your looking for a FRED bridge pup. From what u described to me the FRED sounds more you. I've used it in my js1000 for long time and its amazing so i'd give it a shot. just a recomendation. Goodluck.

[woodros]

i'm not really looking for anyones signiture sound rather just a good rock tone, that is fairly smooth but capable of some bite, i do like satch's sound because of the bite that the fred seems to have and at the same time it sounds smooth. I do enjoy the breed in my rg550 although it can sound a tad brash at times, any suggestions for a neck and middle pickup for the FRED perhaps the paf pro?

[Dan D Mahnn]

For anyone whos never played one I always suggest a Duncan evenly voiced harmonic pickup (EVH). Its 160$ but the pickup will do more for your tone then the 600$ worth of pedals most people have.

Yes its designed after the pickup in EVH's custom guitar but thiers more to it. Its bassically a very strict 59 PAF copy wound just a little hotter. Its probably the best custom PAF type pickup Ive ever played.

the things probably the sweetest sounding, most touch responsive pickup ive ever played. Then again I only have one in my one LP. I have a FRED in another (very good also) and PAF Pro's (Im really not a big fan of satch BTW). Thiers certain things Im after but I dont think anyone could ever dislike this pickup.

[Mandrak]

Originally Posted by woodros

i'm not really looking for anyones signiture sound rather just a good rock tone, that is fairly smooth but capable of some bite, i do like satch's sound because of the bite that the fred seems to have and at the same time it sounds smooth. I do enjoy the breed in my rg550 although it can sound a tad brash at times, any suggestions for a neck and middle pickup for the FRED perhaps the paf pro?

I love the PAF Pro on the neck.
But you still could try a Super 2, maybe the Breed (neck version)...

[jsdetrait]

Keep the fp the way she is... She deserves it!.. Or, try to find some pink "pu" cover, for me a jem without matching pu is not as beautiful as she could be (example : jem with emg "pu", jem fp with black "pu")!
That is only my opinion!
See you!
JS
PS : "pu" = pick up

[bingo]

Originally Posted by woodros

thinking about buying a 2003 jem FP when they come out over here

the 77fp doesn't have evo pickups it got paf pro pickup, and im sure you'll not need to change those, i have a 2k2 version of 77fp bought used about 1 month ago, and i was seraching just what you need, i played jem whit evo's pickup, i do prefer the paf pro in term of sound.
Just find a dealer whit a 77fp and play it, then you can know if you need to replace some pickups (the bridge pickup in clean tone is a bit to hot for me, but i just get remedy by pulling the tone knob down to 6 or 7)

hope it helps

[rty13ibz98]

Originally Posted by woodros

thinking about buying a 2003 jem FP when they come out over here, just wondering about different pickups for it. i have an rg550 at the moment with a breed bridge paf pro neck and hs-2 middle, i am happy with that sound. for the floral jem, how would the air norton tone zone combination sound with a fast track in the middle. would this work well in the guitar. this is just one suggestion. the thing is i play a lot of different styles so i would want a versitile setup, i like vai's distorted sound, and his sound in general especially the clean tones on Sisters for example. i would like to achieve a similar tone without having to use evo's as i think they would be too hot for my needs. In terms of playing style and pickups i would like a sound that works well with legato playing as well as long sustained leads, single note passages, and chords. thankyou!

i use the air norton, tone zone combo...IT KICKS SERIOUS @$$!!!
very versatile. if i were you, i would use a push pull pot to get single coild tones out of the hums in positions 1 and 5(like the rt650 wiring). lots of meat, great for legato playing, much tone! i use this combo in mahogany axes, but i have had them in basswood and it is a very versatile sound. they clean up really well in positions 2 and 4 for the sister's sound your looking for. the coolest thing about the air norton is when you split the coils, it has a very fat single coil tone(depending on how close to the neck/fretboard the hot coil is). not exactly texas special or rio grandes(kick ass), but alot more meat than an american standard. almost like a fast track 1 or chopper fat...with the hum (you won't really hear it. dimarzios are pretty damn quiet. it just makes noise around hum inducing peripherals).


rich