Help with pickups for my 7-string

[maryslittlesecret]

Hi, all. I just got a Schecter Damien 7 and, while it plays and looks great, I can't believe how crappy the tone is. Super low output, no gain or sustain, really weak...

Anyway, I really want to replace the bridge pickup and would love some suggestions... Looking for a modern metal tone -- heavy, but not insane; warm and thick, but still clear, not muddy; etc. Going for tone from bands like Sevendust, Deftones, Tool, Chevelle, etc.

Any suggestions? Since pickups aren't the kind of thing you can try out very easily, I'd really appreciate some input/advice. Thanks much!

 

[hoops]

Try a Dimarzio Tonezone 7.

 

[toyL]

Hi, all. I just got a Schecter Damien 7 and, while it plays and

looks great, I can't believe how crappy the tone is. Super low output, no gain or

sustain, really weak...

Anyway, I really want to replace the bridge pickup and would love some

suggestions... Looking for a modern metal tone -- heavy, but not insane; warm and

thick, but still clear, not muddy; etc. Going for tone from bands like Sevendust,

Deftones, Tool, Chevelle, etc.

Any suggestions? Since pickups aren't the kind of thing you can try out very easily,

I'd really appreciate some input/advice. Thanks much!

Hello, maryslittlesecret, and glad to meet you.
Somewhere in Cedar Rapids there is an old man who's been repairing and
customizing guitars ever since he came home from WW II. His shop is a trashed-out small hole-in-the-wall covered end to end with enough saw-dust to burn down the entire city of chicago. When you find him, just stroll in unannounced and humbly ask him about the one project he's currently working on that he's especially enthused about--no matter how unrelated it may be to your own concerns about "pickups". Ask him very short and simple questions about his own current endeavors. Listen carefully, and say very little. He may go on and on for a couple of hours, even tho the topic is unrelated to your "pick-up" concerns. Once he feels that he has an attentive and appreciative audience, it's time for you to specifically ask about your pick-up "needs". He'll undoubtedly recognize that you're looking for something fairly "hot" with "some"emphasis on "tone" as well. Then he'll walk straight over to an old dusty drawer and whip out a well-faded dual-wound component that's sure to purely "scream" at the bridge-position. He'll probably even be able to tell you (estimate) how hot the pick-up is "today" compared to when it was new. Buy it, install it, and you'll not be disappointed. You''ll also wind up in his shop again and again. Have fun, and be sure to do more listening than talking. Hopes this helps

 

[alien]

I have been through several 7 string pickups (Duncan, Bartollini, D'Marzio, Carvin) and and going for the 707-81.

I have played EMG's before in past 6 string guitars and so I've delved into research on the infamous 707.

There's the 707-85. never been keen on the 85. Always thought it sounded like poop.

There's the 707-HZA. Stay away, it an El Cheapo senoir.

The best shot from EMG is the 707-81. Balanced tone. Can be very edgey or clean.

Carvin 7 string PU: It advertises "Slightly scooped mids" Well, more like - they're non existant. Works good for a neck pickup though. Single coils aren't half bad either.

Seymour Duncan SH-5. Nothing bad to say about this pickup. Good tone and sustain. balance on the mids. Little low on the bass, but having a 7 string that is too boomy is not a good thing either.

D'Marzio Blaze - I have an HM Strat and the Blaze is the 7 string version of the Super 3 that was put in the HM Strat, so I was hyped when I got it. It's decent, but it wasn't what I was looking for. I found it to be a bit too muddy on the mids.

Bartolini PBF series - These sound great in some gutiars and crap in others. They generally work better in hard tail guitars. I had two conklin 7 strings and I put Bart's in the trem model and the sound went to poop. These PU's are extremely picky about the resonant freq of the instrument itself. I would suggest against them as they are more of an experiement than an option.

 

[maryslittlesecret]

Wow, thanks for the detailed rundown, Alien. Definitely helps.

I'm thinking more and more that the pup/wiring in my Schecter is faulty. I've attached screen shot of the Schecter vs my Ibanez RG321 and Jackson PS-2 (this is the raw signal, bypassing my rig). Is it right for the output to be that low compared to other stock, passive, relatively cheap pickups?

If not, is there anything I can do to determine if the pup is bad or just needs to be rewired. I've never messed with the electronics in my guitars, so I could use some help/advice. Let me know...

J

 

[onehandpass]

I am a FAITHFUL Bill Lawrence user. If you want a pickup with a TON of bite, give him a call, hes a little hard to understand, but youll get the info your looking for, and quite possibly a new pickup.

 

[alien]

The pups in that schecter are crap.

Remember, Schecter is still transitioning from "bargain brand" to a more respected brand