I know there are a couple of RG550 20th threads already running but they are huge so I thought I would start one to discuss the pickups specifically.
I am interested in peoples opinions of the stock pups.
I got my DY and RFR on Sunday, after playing around for a couple of days I decided the pups were ok but a little generic and lifeless so I ordered a set of Bare Knuckle Holy Divers and a set of Nail Bombs. However, I spent a little time tweaking the set up and after I lowered the pups I managed to get them to sound really sweet (granted through a POD), especially the neck. I’m sure the BKP’s will be a step up but I have a nagging feeling I have been a bit hasty.
How are other 20th owners finding the pups, have you upgraded or are planing to do so, if so, to what. How do the stock pups cut it live.
PMT Southend has a black and rfr for sale, they did mime for £800 if anyone is interested
I'm perfectly happy with the stock pups and find them anything but lifeless for my personal taste. If I do change mine out I will replace with similar Paf Pros in colors which would be the only reason I'd replace mine, for cosmetic reasons.
I have been loving these stock pups thru my live rig(s) as they are fairly transparent and let my hands, my pedals and my amp(s) do any of the coloring to the tone. They are clean and have a very balanced output that have been keeping me grinning from ear to ear for the past couple months of serious gigging and rehearsals (many, many hours racked up so far).
Yeah, I'm pretty happy with the stock pups in my 550. Like demon69 said they are pretty transparent - I love that I can mold and shape every note with my fingers, instead of everything sounding the same.
I'm sure down the road I'll switch them out for some Dimarzios, but since I have NEVER changed pups (not very knowledgeable on different pups) I'll see how long these make me happy...
I just tried to locate it in the multimedia section but to no avail. Dee can post a link to it if wants to. It is pretty damn cool, he has some real talent
i also like the stock pups, they are very hot and even, the overall sound is great you can even tweak them with your EQ and you can get pretty nice sounds trebleish or muddy or even a middleish with a southern feel... i dig them but i've lower them so i can get more sustain out of them... i love them, if i ever change them it would be for cosmetics, i'm thinking of getting bobin toppers, what do you guys think?
bobbin toppers suck, iv bought them and they are ugly... Only get them to see what your axe would look like with a certain color. Bobbin toppers are just stickers in case you didn't know !!!
just to whore out my new modds here is my 550DY with new pups, i know some wont like it, but i like my 80's fluro colors
I just got a DY last week and I like the pups so far. The bridge is great for rock/metal, of course, but I can get some nice bluesy tones with the middle single and the neck hum doesn't get muddy with high-gain like a lot of guitars. Plus, the volume between the pups is matched pretty well, which usually isn't the case with guitars that have hums and singles. Overall, I'm very happy so far
BTW - are these pups exactly the same as the originals? Because in high school I had a friend that had a RFR 550 and I remember not liking the pups then.
they dont look same??? there is only one visual difference, in the new ones the "V" doesnt come printed on the pup.
Sound? i think the new ones are hotter the bridge doesnt sound so thin like the old ones...
The original 550 pickups didn't have anything printed on them, not even the V logo. At least, mine didn't. It was an '87. They also had a row of screw poles, not hex screws like the 20th pickups.
has anyone had enough experience with different pickups to be able to recommend some pickups that could closely match the 20th pickups. i ask this because i use my 20thrg live and if i break a string it would suck, and i would have a backup guitar. most likely i'll use my rg3exqm1 as a back up since ive gigged with it with the band im in. and i want to have a similar sound so that i dont have to mess with the eq. we have rounded our sound out really well for a live experience, between the 2 guitars and bass...so anyone know any pups that are near to the 20ths so i can put those in my other rg. plus i dont really like the designed by emg pups in that one. theyre alright but i enjoy the 20ths a lot more
I was going to change the pickups in my 550 20th, but I like them alot particularly the bridge HB. They sound quite bright IMO.
The bit I am disappointed about is the volume pot, no it hasn't stuck, but there is very little volume transistion its basically on or off. Any suggestions for a replacement? is it easy to do? I'm sorry to say I've never picked up a soldering iron in my life!
Well, first off you should read some basic soldering guides if you've never used an iron.
For replacement pots, try ones made by CTS, they are a direct fit. Have a look at this site: http://www.rsguitarworks.net
I noticed the original pot doesn't taper well. I used a Dimarzio 500K pot which is MUCH better and it cleans up nicely. Only problem is you gotta make the hole in the pickguard a few mm's wider. I did this with the blade of a large pair of scissors.
my vol pot just reduces gain more so, when its on 1 or so with my metal zone on it is almost clean and a bit overdriven. and when its at 10 its more distorted and the usuall yadda. it doesnt necessarily adjust volume i suppose. not too many vol pots do, i think i should invest in a volume pedal....but i love that the vol pot does what it does in the 20th
i like puttin on the metal zone and putting the vol knob to around one and then puttin a lot of reverb, i like the sound, its sweet
It depends more from amp (or overdrive) than guitar. When you reduce guitar volume you will reduce signal level, so amp/od will have less signal to clip thus producing less distortion. Tube amps react better to volume changes than solid state generally, you should pretty much cleanup tone with volume control
I was told PAF or PAF Pros are a close approximation of these RG20th pups. I haven't done a side by side test yet to confirm but this is the info I've heard.
I like the fact that these pups give me the chance to use my own expression and not color the tone. Sustain for days with tone to spare
You'll need a 500K pot, btw. I forgot you were in the UK, Mark. You should be able to get CTS pots on the Bay or something, but the RS Guitarworks pots on the site I linked to are supposed to be great. Not sure if you're OK with ordering from the states.
the pickups are freaking hot... like i said before... but what i like the most of the pups is the naturality that they have... all of the notes can be heard clearly...
I'm only leaving one of my 20th's stock--I've put a Breed set in one, a EVO 2/PAF PRO combo in another, and the third is getting Super 3/ISCV2/Evolution Neck.
I guess I'm fortunate to not have some of these problems with seized/ unresponsive pots or with the pickups. I love the stock pickups. I find them clear, responsive, and hot. Also, they each sound different, which isn't always a given.
'course, I am still a noob . . .
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