[artificial infection]

Hi there, I'm thinking of changing the bridge pickup on my RG8670 J-custom. It originally has a Tone Zone in it but I want to put a steve's special in it instead. I was wondering has anyone changed pickups in their J-customs/USA Customs etc? Does this actually affect it's resale value? I Don't intend on selling it for a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time but my dad keeps on asking me will it, and it's bugging me!!

Thanks in advanced

 

[megadeth]

i don't think that it will make much of a difference..actually ur guitar will sound even better....if u sell it off then u can add original pickup in the deal.
one advice: I think RG8670 is mahogany. if so then do consider an EVO.

 

[Drew]

Agreed, Evo's own in mahogany.

the 8670 isn't that rare, for a J-Custom, and anyway, you bought it to play, not as an investment, right? I don't see the price depreciating if you did a pickup swap, but if it did it'd be offset byhaving a guitar that sounded that much better, during the time you owned it.

-D

 

[adamcbest]

what would you guys suggest for a 8527? I like the sound.. but the pickups are a little too hot for my taste. It comes with the Dimarzio New 7s. I want something a little clearer.. I've been loooking to rewire for a while.. just never gotten the chance.

 

[Drew]

Can you back them off a bit? I imagine they're direct mount, so maybe a light neck shim coupled with raising the bridge a touch (and probably shimming up the bridge pickup a little bit, too - firm-ish foam works well, but if you want hard contact between the pickup and the body, picks work quite well...

As for pickups... I'm guessing it's not the output but rather the bass in the New 7's that's bugging you, as they have a LOT of low end and tended to sound muddy IMO, at least in basswood. In mahogany, something with a slight scoop is your best bet - in the bridge, how about a Blaze bridge or a Duncan JB? The neck, try an Air Norton or a Duncan Jazz, perhaps...

-D

 

[artificial infection]

I totally forgot about this thread! Before even posting this thread I had a feeling to do it, just wanted to be sure first.

But I've done it now - I installed the Steve's Special into my Ibanez JCRG8670. The pickups are now: Air Norton/Blue Velvet/Steve's Special. I'm a happy guy and the JCRG sounds great! I took the Tone Zone out and placed it on another guitar and now that sounds good too. What I love about the Steve's Special are it's treble frequencies ~ how it makes such a great lead pickup whilst sustaining the rhythm tones that I require, where as I found my Tone Zone versatile, but it had too much mids for soloing but it made a great rhythm pickup.

I considered the Evo in there as I've heard great stuff with it in mahogony but I was pretty sure on the Steve's special, Plus I had already bought it and had it on my desk for a week ready to be installed in a guitar. The process was pretty simple too. But I'm glad, I'll try and post clips up when I sort of my PODXT Pro, and maybe I'll upload a few photos too.

EDIT:

Here's two images, and i'll get clips asap. Need to get some sort of drumming program:

www.artificial-infection.co.uk/Ibanez/DSC02084.JPG

www.artificial-infection.co.uk/Ibanez/DSC02083.JPG