Which pickups for mahogany?

Reaper · #1 07-06-2002, 05:35 PM

Alright, I'm building an axe, and I've bought a nice piece of mahogany of appropriate size. My question is what pickups should go in it? I play mostly blues (SRV), rock (AC/DC), punk(AFI, reel big fish, saves the day, me first and the gimme gimmes), Vai and Satch stuff, metal (Trans-Siberian Orchestra- Al Pitrelli's lead sound, particularly toward the end of "Christmas Eve/ Sarjevo"). I'm currently looking at a Pearly Gates in the neck and either an Evolution or a FRED in the bridge. What do you guys think?

Lonely Raven · #2 07-06-2002, 08:22 PM

I love the Pearly Gates. Those are great pickups for blusie/jazzy sounds!

And the Fred will just come alive with much more harmonics when
dropped into Mohog. That's my pickup of choice in that wood.

I'm not sure what an Evo sounds like in that heavier wood, but it can't
be bad! The Evo has lots of harmonic overtones, much like the Fred but
a different flavor...very modern sounding.

I hope that helps out a little bit. Sounds like you have a pretty good
ear for tone already!

tomsthename · #3 07-06-2002, 09:43 PM

My recommendation is the EMG 85. I know for a fact they sound great in a mahogony body guitar and just about any other good guality guitar for that matter. Many people swear by the EMG 81 but I find it too harsh for my ears. The 85 can cover a lot of ground and It's my pickup of choice for the bridge and neck in my guitars (my style is heavy, innovative rock think Pantera meats Sublime "basically anything goes") But I think the pickup is versatile and very quiet.

disassociative1 · #4 07-07-2002, 07:24 AM

the fred is just so nice in mahogany. I would choose it over the evo most of the time anyhow but it just sounds so great in mahogany

Reaper · #5 07-07-2002, 03:34 PM

Quote:

My recommendation is the EMG 85. I know for a fact they sound great in a mahogony body guitar and just about any other good guality guitar for that matter. Many people swear by the EMG 81 but I find it too harsh for my ears. The 85 can cover a lot of ground and It's my pickup of choice for the bridge and neck in my guitars (my style is heavy, innovative rock think Pantera meats Sublime "basically anything goes") But I think the pickup is versatile and very quiet.

The only problem I'd have is the disproportional output levels between that and my other pickup (either evo or fred). Oh, how I wish I could throw an EMG-60 in with passives.

To the others thanks for the recommendations... anyone else?

Reaper · #6 07-07-2002, 03:37 PM

Oh, yeah, another question for you guys... how does each sound when split (single coil)?

Lonely Raven · #7 07-07-2002, 11:27 PM

I know I've raved about the Dimarzio pickups, but honestly, the EMGs do
have their place.

and yes, you *can* match the output of the EMG active pickups to your
passive ones.

EMG makes a mini booster that runs off the same 9volt as the rest of the
EMG package. This booster is made specifically for matching the output
of your passive pickups with the EMGs higher output. They also make
active tone setups for boosting or cutting freqs at you need.

I used to be a real EMG geek. Granted, it's been more then 7 years since
I've played guitar, but I'm sure EMG still makes all that stuff. It would be
silly for them not too!

But I still vote for the Fred and Pearly Gates.

ripl3y · #8 07-08-2002, 02:27 PM

Not sure how they react mahog-wise, but have heard great things for a FRED plopped in the neck (yes I said the neck) and a TZ in the bridge, problem with the TZ is what amp you use when using a mahog guitar, then can get a little muddy with MESA's.
Maybe a Steve's Special?
Speak to the J-Custom Guru's to clarify this for ya.

gl

Steve

P.S. Pearly sounds very good in the neck of a Basswood guitar btw.

Drew · #9 07-08-2002, 05:39 PM

Sounds like you need about three guitars, dude. I have yet to meet a guitar that can go from SRV to Vai to punk and sound 100% authentic. I mean, most of it will be manageable, but the SRV single coil sound just won't sound quite right coming out of a split humbucker.

That said, Pearly Gates/FRED ought to be fairly versatile, more so that pearly/Evo. That'd be where i'd go... unless you can find a good semour duncan bridge pickup, of course.

-Drew

bduersch · #10 07-08-2002, 06:29 PM

For mahogany guitars, I'd reco either a Tone Zone or Super 3 in the bridge. The Steve's Special, being highly scooped, comes off as a pretty dark-sounding pickup in mahogany. For the neck, Air Norton, PAF Pro, and FRED all make pretty good choices.

--B

MidnightFlamed · #11 07-11-2002, 10:57 AM

I've actually got a Steve's Special in a mahogony guitar (SG, so it's a set-neck) and have been very pleased with the tones. In some ways the mahogony balances the lack of mid in the pickup quite well, and it's got great bite in a hard-driven sound. It stays tight, even with high gain. I've thought about trying evos, but have been incredibly happy the more I've played with the EQ and found a "signature" sound.

It does sound somewhat "dark," but then again I've never heard a pickup that didn't sound dark in a guitar like that. So instead I just use the descriptor "beefy," which definitely is a good word for it.

Reaper · #12 07-11-2002, 02:22 PM

Well, it looks pretty much like it's gonna be Pearly Gates/ FRED. I'll definately consider that Steve's Special as a replacement for my G400, though- it sound like exactly what that guitar needs.

Thanks to you all!