RG 520 - Dimarzio

Abhijeet · #1 02-02-2007, 06:50 PM

Hi all,

I want to change on stock pickups on my RG520. I play Metal & Classic Rock(David Gilmour), love Eric Johnson's tone. As per the endless posts on this topic I should go for a Air Noton/PAF Pro combination, but the Tech guys from Dimarzio suggest that I should use PAF Joe(Neck) & Mo’ Joe(Bridge).

I don't like Joe Satriani's tone & am completely confused.

Please Help!!

Cheers!!
Abhijeet

Abhijeet · #2 02-03-2007, 04:36 PM

Hi guys!!

Would appreciate any suggestions!!

buddroyce · #3 02-03-2007, 05:13 PM

I believe what you're looking for is a STRAT.

The guys at Dimarzio suggested the Paf Pro and Mo' Joe largely because they're lower powered and vintage voiced. It's not going to be easy to nail Dave Gilmour's tone and Eric Johnson's tone with humbuckers (especially Eric's since it depends on 'which' tone of his you are after)

Abhijeet · #4 02-03-2007, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddroyce

I believe what you're looking for is a STRAT.

The guys at Dimarzio suggested the Paf Pro and Mo' Joe largely because they're lower powered and vintage voiced. It's not going to be easy to nail Dave Gilmour's tone and Eric Johnson's tone with humbuckers (especially Eric's since it depends on 'which' tone of his you are after)

Thanks buddroyce, I knew that I'm gonna land in fender land!! But the sad part is that I can't afford another guitar! I don't play live, only record at home & already own an RG520.

Anyways I love the way my RG520 feels in my hand, any advice on what can I put on my RG520 to get a fairly large palette of tones??

Wolfram · #5 02-03-2007, 06:07 PM

I have an RG520, well several actually, however one in particular is fitted with the Paf Pro Neck and FRED combo. I know you don't want to sound like Joe but damn it sounds good and their is a very large palatte of tones to be heard.

As to which pick ups...well if thats what the dimarzio guys are telling you....

JasonMalmsteen · #6 02-03-2007, 09:01 PM

ive got RG520 with PAF PRO and Steve's special on bridge.... steve's sounds unique but great on mahogany! its good to be unique and anyway right?

buddroyce · #7 02-03-2007, 10:18 PM

Well.. you could also use the pickups recommended by the dimarzio tech guy but wire it with a coil tap to get the thinner single coil sound.

Ibateur · #8 02-05-2007, 06:33 AM

Humbucker from Hell

Rotti · #9 02-05-2007, 08:01 AM

I would try a paf pro. A more vintage sounding humbucker will get you close to what your looking for.

JiMoSiTY · #10 02-05-2007, 12:42 PM

Hmm.
You said you play Metal and Classic Rock; but want a tone like Eric Johnson.
When you throw a metal tone into the equation, that makes it tougher.

I've got several RG520's myself; I normally have EMGs in all of them, but I did try the Paf Pro (neck) and Fred (bridge) and it was awesome.
One thing to note is that the 520's have a different pickup selector switch than 550/570's, so switching to a normal 5-way switch might help you get some better variations of tone.

I've never tried to nail a Satriani tone by any means, but the Fred is an awesome pickup, especially with the Mahogany body of the 520.

**jim777** · #11 02-05-2007, 01:00 PM

Super Distortion is a fantastic mahogany pickup as well, and would pair really well with a PAF

Abhijeet · #12 02-05-2007, 02:26 PM

Sorry for the confusion JiMoSiTY

!! I started the thread with the aim of getting advice on pickups for a tone like David Gilmour/Eric Johnson(fender Twang) but based on everyones suggestions that it was not a great idea with my RG520, So I figured that the best idea was to upgrade my guitar to be what it essentially created to do............. "shred"!!

So, here's what I have kind of narrowed my options to:
-PAF Pro/Evo2
-PAF Pro/Fred
-PAF PRO and Steve's special

JiMoSiTY; Which EMG do you use?

Thanks everyone!!

JiMoSiTY · #13 02-06-2007, 10:49 AM

Well, with my setup, I've found that EMG 81's work best with a rosewood board and EMG 85's work best with a maple board.
The maple boards are a little brighter sounding and the 85's are warmer sounding, so they compliment each other well.

I know RG520's are typically going to have rosewood boards, but I've put a couple maple boards on 520 bodies, so that's why I differentiate.
So I'd go with the 81 in the bridge and an 85 (or better yet, a 60, or H) in the neck with a stock 520 neck.

I think you should determine what style of music you play and purchase your pickups according to what works best for that style; regardless of what the guitar was 'designed for'.
Other people's opinions are just that.
YOU are the one that has to play the guitar and enjoy how it sounds, suggestions are not the rule.
Your amp/tone will throw another wild card into the mix as well as your hands themselves.
Eddie said it best that tone is in the fingers, and that's very true. I know that no matter what kind of guitar I play; no matter what kind of pickup/amp/etc, I always sound like me.
I'd say the same for most guitarists as well.

If you want to have your Ibanez sound like a strat, look into strat pickups...
That alone won't get you 100% of the way to 'strat tone', but it'll get you in the right ballpark.

sixtywattman · #14 02-09-2007, 01:12 AM

I got a 520qs and a Mo'Joe sitting in my room. Unfortunately my PAF Joe is back ordered. =( I can post a review on these pick-ups as soon as I get my PAF Joe and wire them in, but that probably won't be for a week or so.

RSVampire · #15 02-09-2007, 05:32 AM

I would go with Dimarzio's selection and have them wired up to be able to coil tap them as well.

That pickup pair is very clear and articulate and very bright sound like single coils. Gunna be close to what you're lookin for without buying a strat.