New pickups?!

[Supernova]

I have a '03 HCR SG Special which I bought second hand in '06. I've had it and played it as my main axe since.

I upgraded the pickups two years ago to Seymour Duncan's, JB in bridge, SH-2 in neck and I've grown a little tired of these. The neck pickup isn't too bad and I can get some nice tones by messing with the volume and tone knobs. Even the middle position is fine with tweaking but the bridge at the very least has got to go. Very dull and uninspiring. Never use it.

I eq. my amp for my neck pickup, as that's my solo tone. I do A LOT of switching positions and rolling up/down the volume and tone on the guitar. I do not use any effect pedals except a Wah and tuner. I get all my tones from amp and guitar. I clean up by rolling down the volume and playing softer, I rock out by hitting the neck and sending the volume up. Simple.

I love to play old fashioned blues based classic rock, so Aersomith, AC/DC, Jimi Hendrix, SRV, Gary Moore all frequent my set list. Unfortunately, the music taste around here is terrible and as I'm a session player in multiple bands, so I often have to play Pink, Rihanna etc. to get paid, but let's just ignore them.


I'm looking for suggestions on a pickup combination where I can rhythm on the bridge and solo on the neck. I need to be able to hit the classic rock solo tone (Parisian Walkways on the Blues Alive album), nice meaty rhythm (Same Old Song and Dance on A Little South of Sanity) but also clean up to an almost Strat like tone for Little Wing and Slow Dancing In A Burning Room etc...


Looking at DiMarzio DP103 36th Anniversaries, Skatterbrain Quiescence Branes, Lollar Imperial Humbucker, Lindy Fralin STD 59's but I've had no experience with any.

I wouldn't be against a push/pull split either.


Suggestions/Opinions would be great on these, or any others you can think of.


-Lewis

[SKATTERBRANE]

I totally appreciate that you use your volume and tone pots to form your tone. My Quiescence Branes are all about soloing on the neck and rhythm on the bridge! I would be happy ot answer any of your questions through a PM when you are ready.

[Pinkie]

Check out Fuelie and MHD pick ups here on MLP as well.

[Ed hunter]

MHD!

[Lowdown]

MHD "Dirty Blondes" with A2 mags.

I love these to death and on an impulse buy,bought a set of Shep Tributes(which I'm still waiting on). I do some silly things sometimes,late at night...

I definitely recommend a set of Dirty Blondes.

Talk to Rayne.

[Hector Arcadius]

Originally Posted by Supernova

....
I'm looking for suggestions on a pickup combination where I can rhythm on the bridge and solo on the neck. I need to be able to hit the classic rock solo tone (Parisian Walkways on the Blues Alive album), nice meaty rhythm (Same Old Song and Dance on A Little South of Sanity) ...

Are we long lost brothers separated at birth, or something...?


You have already some excellent suggestions to get you there and you can't go wrong with either. Just to trouble you further, Sheptones (all of Jeff's sets) are worth looking into. I went with a pair of Javelinas for my Studio, FWIW. Set your budget first and take it from there.

BTW, both Perry and Moore (as almost everyone else) use(d) pedals as well with their (great) amps to get their tones exactly where they wanted to. Just another parameter of the tone equation to look into...

[kittyhawk]

As you´re in Ireland and in the European Union I would suggest you to try Bareknuckles, Häussels, Leosounds, Amber, Kloppmann or Barfuss. These are mostly cheaper to get (no custom taxes) and very good. As this is an American forum people obviously tend to talk about their brands (which are mostly very good) but do yourself a favour and try some pickups you can get here. If you do so you don´t have to wait weeks or month, don´t have to pay big shipping fees and as said earlier don´t have to pay no customs.
I would choose either a set of Häussel 1959s or Leosounds GrowlDogs.

[LtKojak]

Originally Posted by kittyhawk

As you´re in Ireland and in the European Union I would suggest you to try Bareknuckles, Häussels, Leosounds, Amber, Kloppmann or Barfuss. These are mostly cheaper to get (no custom taxes) and very good. As this is an American forum people obviously tend to talk about their brands (which are mostly very good) but do yourself a favour and try some pickups you can get here. If you do so you don´t have to wait weeks or month, don´t have to pay big shipping fees and as said earlier don´t have to pay no customs.
I would choose either a set of Häussel 1959s or Leosounds GrowlDogs.

The ULTIMATE p'up set from Europe: Shed PAF Daddies.

Shed Pickups //

HTH,