Pickups - Here We Go AGAIN!

[Mike P]

I freely admit, it's been a few years since I've owned an Ibanez. It's been exactly that length of time since I've owned a guit w/scratch plate mounted pickups. Now that I do, again, I am throwing myself upon y'alls mercy for pickup suggestions.... suggestions not listed below..... which will surely put me in some of the Ibanez fans doghouse. But I must do what I must do.

I play anything from Judas Priest to Carlos Santana. I want pickups that can get in the ball park. Not looking for "clone tone" (my invented term). I play a LOT of heavy rhythms using Barre chords.... A LOT. So I look for thick and fairly heavy sounding bridge pickups that still have the ability to cut on soaring leads. Cut w/o the treble hell thingie. Sorta thick, yet defined, I would say is what I prefer. "Bluesy on steroids" maybe?

For points of reference... A JB/Jazz combo usually works pretty good for me. When the JB fails, a Custom or Custom Custom has worked. I also LOVE the crushing tone of the Gibson 500T in the bridge for rhythm. But it lacks some articulation for leads (imho and to my ears).

The guit is a (very sexy) 1550ca - Newly Acquired. I put the JB/Jazz combo in it today and it was an improvement but it falls short. Sounds more than bit sterile/flat. Not enough ballz/chunk.

Rig One (the noodle factory) Boss GT Pro into Art SLA-2 into Two 2x12 cabs w/v-30 clones.

Rig Two - Various pedals (blah blah blah) into Carvin V3 100w tube head into same cabs as above. Most anything sounds respectable through this head and cabs. So I prefer to use the Boss GT Pro/Art SLA-2 rig for pickup comparisons. It tends to emphasize weaknesses/differences on specific settings instead of pouring sugar on them. Weird. Maybe even backwards, I guess.

I'm thinking possibly Air Norton to try in the neck? Otherwise clueless for the bridge. HELP???

[psychoshredder]

THE MIGHTY DIMARZIO SUPER DISTORTION!!

[Of Angels]

Ya'll?

You gat damn Pennsylvanians!

[Mike P]

I have lived in PA for the last 11 years or so. I was born and raised where the South begins.... Richmond, VA. South of the James!

Super Distortions were among my favs back in the day. I've beed a Seymour Duncan fanboy for years though. Generally, they are IT for me. Old habits die hard. Might be a good move to give the Supers a shot!

[psychoshredder]

i've been using duncans too , I can say I have 50-50 between duncan and dmz.

duncan TB 6 distortion trembucker might be the closest one to DMZ super dist, but duncan more 'open' and a little bit 'modern' to my ear.

[Mike P]

I'm still on the fence atm. I'm all for DiMarzio SD's BUT I really don't care for the newer ones as much. I like the 70's SD's. Some may say, no difference, but to my ears there certainly is.

I haven't used a Seymour Super Distortion for quite some time. Was in someone else's guit. Might have to check it out again.

I appreciate the suggestions. I now have a short shopping list. DiMarzio SD, Seymour Super Distortion or the Gibby 496R & 500T set. I can't really go out on a limb for a single coil until I know what it will be matched up with. So that'll have to wait for now.

I should be practicing instead of shopping. It costs nothing to practice. WTF, it's only money, right? HeHe!!

[D.Vial]

Dimarzio Tone Zone, Gibson 500T or maybe a SD Sh/Tb-6 (a little different than the other 2)

[CityofBlindingLights]

Everybody's giving you generic pickups, that have been "time-tested"

Super Distortion's good, I'd suggest the Breed bridge or Super 3. Air Zone might actually get the job done as well.

[buddroyce]

Based on what you're looking for in terms of versatility I think you could do very well with an Air Zone and air norton combo. If not then the Breed+air norton if you want a versatile combo that's a bit more polite sounding.