Which Pups for Mahogany S540?

wandereruk05 · #1 07-09-2009, 04:29 PM

Hi all,

Yes another one of these but searching hasn't really given me quite the answers I was looking for.

After an unfortunate accident involving children/pets my RG project came to a grounding halt. Luckily a family friend had an old guitar lying around they didn't want anymore -a 94 S540 in pretty decent condition (see link - the purple one http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/..._id=208&now=13)

I had pups to stick in my RG - including new volume and tone pots plus a 5 way swtich. Seeing as this is a mahogany guitar I've heard they can be quite dark, and the Paf Pro, ICVS2 single and Fred I had for the RG I'm not sure if these would work well, if at all?

I play a wide range of music, I've got an ESP explorer for heavier stuff so I guess I'm looking for a more 'all rounder' in this guitar.

Which would be the best pups for this one, I like a fairly bright sound without that muddy feeling, but also be able to switch to that creamy tone when need be?

Any ideas? (and sorry for the essay

)

jallen · #2 07-09-2009, 04:44 PM

I have used a PAF Pro in a mahogany guitar and did not think it was too dark. The PAF Pro, to me, is one of the most versatile pickups for the very reason that you can put it in pretty much anything and it works. I even had it in a LP style, set neck, short scale mahogany guitar and liked it.

I can't say about the other models, but the PAF Pro should be a safe bet. Good luck!

reguv760 · #3 07-09-2009, 05:03 PM

... haven't heard one complaint about a Paf Pro in any guitar

Paf Pro's in an S end up very vocal [in a good way]. Very distinctive and clear at whatever gain setting.
an ISCV should shine in a mahogany vs basswood?
'all-rounder' sounds like a Breed bridge but i haven't tried one in an S...

Reg

fretboardpyro · #4 07-09-2009, 05:34 PM

don't treat it like a mahogony guitar, i changed mine to a d-sonic and a d-activator and it shrilled too much, go for something with mid to low end bite! trust me!

wandereruk05 · #5 07-09-2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretboardpyro

don't treat it like a mahogony guitar, i changed mine to a d-sonic and a d-activator and it shrilled too much, go for something with mid to low end bite! trust me!

and good recommendations?

markyperfection · #6 07-09-2009, 06:51 PM

Bare Knuckle Holy Divers, Irish Tour single.

corey j grieve · #7 07-10-2009, 01:27 AM

What they came with! Dimarzio IBZ F2 in bridge(Tonezone) and Dimarzio IBZ F1 in neck(breed) with Dimarzio IBZ C2 stacked humbucker in the middle. Awesome pups and better IMHO than their modern versions as stated,Tonezone and Breed(little hotter with more bite)! I buy every set i can find and put in any Mahogany axe i have. I've got a J custom about to recieve a NOS set soon,thats how much i love those pups. If you like old school Alex skolnick tone from Testament,it was all done with S's and those pups and ADA MP1 preamp(95% of the time).

Though i will confess,i have a mahogany RG with a Paf pro in the bridge which is also STUNNING. You can't go wrong with either.

lerxst6 · #8 07-10-2009, 08:13 AM

I've got a 1988 H-S-S Saber and it's got stock pickups. I've considered putting a more aggressive pickup in the bridge, but never have. The stock pickups give a variety of sounds, which it sounds like you'll want.

That said, the Fred and PAFPro are stock in the JS mahogany guitars (JS6 and JS6000).

I'd give the stock pickups a try for a while, then try the Fred and PAFPro for a while before going in another direction if it were me.

wandereruk05 · #9 07-11-2009, 09:28 AM

hi all, thanks for the help.

In my haste i've actually overlooked the fact that the bridge pickup has no writing on it. A quick look later and its actually a superdistorion!! nifty little surprise there.

Gonna see how that sounds and then maybe stick the Paf pro in the neck and the jem single in the middle, or as its a high output maybe have to swap it out to match what I have.... grrr

nilovag · #10 07-19-2009, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wandereruk05

94 S540 in pretty decent condition (see link - the purple one )

Hi!
I have the same type of guitar: a '99 S540FMTTS (the stock pickups were QM1, QMS1, QM2). I have put an Evo in the neck and middle position and a PAF Pro in the bridge first. The Evo in the neck is wonderful. Lots of sustain, nice fat tone, not muddy in the bass. The single is very similar to the stock QMS1 single. The sound of the Paf Pro was good, but it was quieter than the EVO in the neck. I couldn't balance the volume output of the two by raising-lowering them, so I have changed the PafPro to en Evo bridge.
I like this setup pretty much, for me the Evo works good in this guitar in all positions, altough the bridge pickup could have a little more bass response.

Ironbird · #11 07-19-2009, 09:35 AM

Dimarzio X2N and PAF pro works well for me in my S series ..not sure what you'd like to do with the Single tho!

fretboardpyro · #12 07-19-2009, 10:18 AM

I don't think you'd go far wrong with a super 3 or tone zone in the bridge and a air norton or a breed in the neck or even a paf 36th, all would produce a nice full sound in an s series and are very versatile.

_FR0D0 · #13 07-19-2009, 12:49 PM

I used to have an 89 450S and I tested a few pickups on it. The two combos I liked most are: Air Norton/Steves Special and Super 2/Super 3, both with HS-3 in the middle

wandereruk05 · #14 07-19-2009, 01:58 PM

I actually didn't notice as first but there is a super distortion in the bridge at the moment, its sounds good actually!

I will try the paf pro in the neck with the stock single and see how that goes

fretboardpyro · #15 07-19-2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wandereruk05

I actually didn't notice as first but there is a super distortion in the bridge at the moment, its sounds good actually!

I will try the paf pro in the neck with the stock single and see how that goes

a super distortion was one of the ones i would have recommended as they are low end heavy, one prob with the super d though is its not wax potted, a great pup all round though, paf pro sould be pretty great with it.