Pickups for Shredding and sweeping

goofy913 · #1 07-08-2005, 10:38 AM

Im looking to buy a pick up for my bridge that has good clarity for sweeping but also good distortion for shredding and rhythms Any ideas?

adamcbest · #2 07-08-2005, 11:21 AM

petrucci used the steve's special for a long time in his ibanezs. he has lots of crunch thick distortion rhythms and very clear rakes... you could try that.. now i think he has pickups that are modeled after the steve's special in his EB model

Tsorovan · #3 07-08-2005, 10:18 PM

Well... depends on what kind of guitar you have... basswood? How about a Seymour Duncan JB? Personally I wouldn't aim to come close to Petrucci's pick clack-soaked tone; not a lot of the actual note actually being audible there...

joeydahlia · #4 07-09-2005, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goofy913

Im looking to buy a pick up for my bridge that has good clarity for sweeping but also good distortion for shredding and rhythms Any ideas?

I would just get an Xt...you can adjust it to any pickup system...

JoeyDahlia

The Dark Wolf · #5 07-09-2005, 04:57 AM

The Steve's Special is a good choice. Very clear and articulate, but with good power. Excels at single-note stuff (Low-tuned Meshuggah type riffs, sweeps, fast runs, etc.)

The D-Sonic is also good. Like the SS but with a bit more power and 'umph'. Good harmonics, thick power chords, but still retains a lot of clarity and presence.

The SD JB is an AWESOME pickup. I'd say it likes mahogany best, but it'll work in anything. Very smooth, very clear, and very, very articulate. Almost bright, but not... it has the nicest, prettiest midrange of any pickup I've heard. Very vibrant and alive. NOTE- the bass is mushier and rounder than the aforementioned pickups. The JB, while gorgoues and lush, sounds more 'rock' than 'metal'. Just a heads up.

goofy913 · #6 07-10-2005, 03:35 PM

what could be a good combo though a dimarzio tone zone for rhythm and more gain and a jb just for sweeps?

guitarshredder7 · #7 08-08-2005, 05:45 AM

emg 81 is what i use for bridge with 85 in neck for sweeps shred, and its very clear.

lyconxero · #8 08-08-2005, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarshredder7

emg 81 is what i use for bridge with 85 in neck for sweeps shred, and its very clear.

Ditto on the EMGs. I have the same combo with an EMG S in the middle and it's great. The lead tone from the 85 in the neck is TO DIE FOR and the sustain is insane!!

rty13ibz98 · #9 08-08-2005, 10:28 AM

what type of guitar? wood plays a huge part.

tone zone is a really good all purpose pickup. i use them in mahogany. sweeps typically sound better with a neck pickup over a bridge hum. for the necks, i like air nortons, especially in mahogany. for basswood, i like a fred(n), and super 3(b). great gain on both combos, and good blend of definition and crunch.

rich

fettouhi · #10 08-08-2005, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rty13ibz98

what type of guitar? wood plays a huge part.

tone zone is a really good all purpose pickup. i use them in mahogany. sweeps typically sound better with a neck pickup over a bridge hum. for the necks, i like air nortons, especially in mahogany. for basswood, i like a fred(n), and super 3(b). great gain on both combos, and good blend of definition and crunch.

rich

The TZ and AN also good in basswood

.

Regards

André

Roadstar · #11 08-09-2005, 11:55 AM

active- get a EMG 81
passive- steve's special or megadrive

red5 · #12 08-11-2005, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsorovan

Well... depends on what kind of guitar you have... basswood? How about a Seymour Duncan JB? Personally I wouldn't aim to come close to Petrucci's pick clack-soaked tone; not a lot of the actual note actually being audible there...

I wouldn't go with a JB (or most Duncans) on a basswood guitar. I would try to find something without cut midrange. If you want a lot of lows and highs, then I'd imagine you'd be playing mahogany already.

red5 · #13 08-11-2005, 10:54 PM

I am going to say get an EMG Zakk Wylde set. Why? Because I like them? Because I think you would like them? No, because I don't know what kind of guitar it is so I don't know what to recommend to you, but EMGs will sound pretty close in any guitar.

aero90 · #14 08-12-2005, 09:30 AM

Bill Lawrence L-500XL.

marianozz · #15 08-12-2005, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rty13ibz98

what type of guitar? wood plays a huge part.

tone zone is a really good all purpose pickup. i use them in mahogany. sweeps typically sound better with a neck pickup over a bridge hum. for the necks, i like air nortons, especially in mahogany. for basswood, i like a fred(n), and super 3(b). great gain on both combos, and good blend of definition and crunch.

rich

I didnt really like the TZ on mahogany, seemed to muddy, like too much mids and lows... (love it in basswood and alder)

And as much as i love the Air Norton, im afraid ill feel the same, being the AN sounds mighty fat in basswood, i think itd mud up in mahogany!

(sound clips are welcome

)