Guitar pickups for Metal....

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Zed10R

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'Sup Peeps....

I've asked about pickups before, but now I have a very specific question that the search function cannot help me with.

What pickups give that distinct, open "vowel" like tone.....for example, you're chugging away on a crunchy, groovey, 8th note picking pattern that is palm muted...you let up on the palm mute to emphisize a note or two and you that "WOW" sound...anyone know what I mean??? I'm trying to zero in on something so specific it may be hard to comunicate it with words..... :o
 
Zed10R said:
'Sup Peeps....

I've asked about pickups before, but now I have a very specific question that the search function cannot help me with.

What pickups give that distinct, open "vowel" like tone.....for example, you're chugging away on a crunchy, groovey, 8th note picking pattern that is palm muted...you let up on the palm mute to emphisize a note or two and you that "WOW" sound...anyone know what I mean??? I'm trying to zero in on something so specific it may be hard to comunicate it with words..... :o
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Is it the DiMarzio ToneZone? That sounds like the description of their sound on the website. :confused:
 
Antone_2006 said:
Is it the DiMarzio ToneZone? That sounds like the description of their sound on the website. :confused:
Click to expand...


could be....I'll check em out..thanks.... :)
 
Zed10R said:
could be....I'll check em out..thanks.... :)
Click to expand...

Oops, I was right on DiMarzio but it looks like its the PAF Pro DP151. It says its like a 1/2 open wah pedal type of sound. Its listed on the website under meduim power humbucker pickup.
PAF Pro
 
I think the sound you're looking for is a combination of pickups (DiMarzio Evolution or other 'shred' pickups they make), the amp and it's settings (high gain tube amp with the mids cranked and usually an OD pedal in front), and most importantly, the way you play the notes and manipulate the gear.

EDIT: *pick scrape* chug chug chug-a-chug SQUEAL doodily doodily chug chug chug-a-chug
 
I got the seymour duncan live wire heavy metal pickup set, probably the nearest to what you want to achieve. I have a marshall jcm2000 dsl100, and I get a saturated sound with volume knob set at 2 on a 10point scale. The bridge pickup is simply the best metal pickup I've seen so far, the neck is decent, no more, no less.

CHUG CHUG rules!
 
The Dimarzio Super 3 is a good choice (the one that was stock in the HM Strat's)

Another one, if you can find one, is the Duncan Trembucker 2 aka TB-2 (an emphasis on the 2 there). I had one mounted in a Fernandes Le-2XR and also an 86 strat (strandard trem).

Both pickups have oodles of personality.

The Bartollini PBF-77D high distortion humbucker also has a great sound if youa re playing a Les Paul style instrument.

Personally, I'd stay away from EMG's. I used to swear by them, but they restrict your ability to make your tone unique.
 
If I'm understanding what you're describing, and I think I am....it has alot more to do with the amp and your settings than a specific property of a pickup.
 
metalhead28 said:
If I'm understanding what you're describing, and I think I am....it has alot more to do with the amp and your settings than a specific property of a pickup.
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I'm sure you do know what I mean...and I am aware that amp setting have a HUGE influence on how much of that comes out. It's all in the mids. But....I have had varying results with different guitars...so there has got to be a midrange sweetspot that is more prevalent in some pickups than others.
 
Thank you all for your thoughts.

It looks like SD's and Dimarzio's are on my list....thanks.... :D :cool:
 
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