>>Guitar Pickups<<

nicolaad30 · #1 03-20-2003

Hi everyone.

I'm about to purchase a three new mics for my guitar (strat style). I play from alternative to blues and hard metal. The thing is that there are too many mics out there that one can't imagine which one to buy.

I found Dimarzio and Fender, the best ones, so I'm thinking on buying this ones:

Position Pickup Sound
-Neck - Fast Track 2 (DP 182) - Heavy, metal, (overdrive)
-Middle - Heavy Blues(DP 403) - Warm Blues sound
-Bridge - The Cruiser (DP187) - Sweet cleans

Also, I have thought on this option too:

Position Pickup Sound
-Neck -HS-3 (DP 117) - Heavy, sweet overdrives
-Middle -Virt. Ving. Solo (DP 404) - Sweet dist.
-Bridge -Virt. Vintg. Blues (DP402) - Nice highs.

The third option was to get a Set of Fender Custom '54 strat Pickups.

So the thing is, which of these three otions would have the best performance (talking about sound), knowing that I need mics for heavey stuff and also traditional fender sounds too.?

Aaron Cheney · #2 03-20-2003

You'll get a million different opinions on this, and here is mine:

First of all, it sounds like you're trying to fill 3 single-coil spaces. You mentioned that you play "hard metal", and I think most would agree you won't get that kind of tone from a single coil.

I also don't know if hum-cancelling is important to you or not, but I will say I have NEVER heard a hum-cancelling single-coil that could hold it's own against the real thing. They lose their attack and/or transparency almost always. The ones Fender is putting on their Strat Deluxe are the worst of all - really, really bad. Of all of them I'd the DiMarzio virtual vintages are my favorite.

If it were up to me, I'd get a set of Van Zandts. THey are just regular old single coil pickups with no hum-cancelling. But they sound absolutely stunning if you are after a blues tone. I like them better than Fralins.

If you want a hard metal sound, I'd look towards getting a guitar with humbuckers.

Aaron
http://www.voodoovibe.com

Aaron Cheney · #3 03-20-2003

Oh... and by the way...

Ignore manufacturer's hyperbole like:

Sweet high's
buttery bottom-end
thick mids
smooth sustain
low end grind
warm mids
sparkling highs

etc...etc...etc...etc...

They really mean nothing, and don't really describe the sound in any meaningful way.

aaron
http://www.voodoovibe.com