Help! What Pickup set fits this Description?

[axeologist]

I asked this in another thread but the title was about magnets SO... lets try this again...

I guess I'm looking for a pickup that may not exist off the shelf. What would you recommend for a guy who plays zeppelin, STP, radiohead, Foo Fighters, Rage Against The Machine and others in a coverband. I Split the neck pup for Chili Peppers, Sublime and Nirvana songs.

I like low to mid output pickups (7.5k - 8k neck and 8k - 12k bridge). I like clear articulate pickups with a nice punchy low end (not woofy). I like mids that are not overbearing or mid heavy and mostly in the upper range. I like sweat highs that are complex and not ice pick. Finally, I need them to be wax potted so they won't feedback with high gain. 4 conductor.

If this description is not the 490r/490t or 498T (with possible magnets changes), then what pickup am I looking for? I like the UOA5 magnet from what I hear from samples and descriptions. To me A2's are to round (although I do like the 490R), A4's seem to flat, A5 and A8 are Harsh and A3 is weak.

So, anyone making a 490R typr with UOA5 Mag and a mid to hot bridge PUP to match (like a hotter 490T with UOA5 or 498T that isn't harsh and muddy)?

I need to get these ASAP. My Pups are bad and I practice with the band Thursday!!!

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

Damn, I had it until you mentioned wax potting!

 

[bill m]

Same here. Although you can half wax a pickup.

 

[st.bede]

The tonal sound you are describing would be just like Lollar Imperials: tight low end, smooth mids and extended highs. A lot of people also express that their Lollar HBs have a 3d sound. I do not use that terminology for my Imperial HBs but I will concur that the PUs have breath or air. Since I do not play highly distorted, I can not vouch for how the Lollar PUs will handle that. I do not know if they are potted or not but when I crank up the volume I have no problems.

 

[LtKojak]

To me A2's are to round (although I do like the 490R), A4's seem to flat, A5 and A8 are Harsh and A3 is weak.

Well, after this description, the logical step is no magnet at all!

I need to get these ASAP. My Pups are bad and I practice with the band Thursday!!!

Get the magnets out. I'm sure your band will be delighted with the outcome!

 

[ARandall]

What you describe could easily be wound by David Plummer aka Zhangbucker. The downside is that being custom, he can't get it done in an instant.

There are a few others on the forum who could do this sort of thing too...Wolfetone & MHD spring to mind. Be aware that all these companies are small businesses and custom pickups either take time or cost more $$ (possibly both). The upside is significantly more likelihood of getting exactly what you want with the very first purchase, as well as better clarity than any factory pickup will offer

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

Well, after this description, the logical step is no magnet at all!



Get the magnets out. I'm sure your band will be delighted with the outcome!

Classic

 

[Jakeislove]

What's wrong with a little feedback?

 

[axeologist]

Well, after this description, the logical step is no magnet at all!



Get the magnets out. I'm sure your band will be delighted with the outcome!

As I said, A2's are OK in some pickups and UOA5's. Your suggestions in the last thread were just about as helpful as this one.

 

[axeologist]

The tonal sound you are describing would be just like Lollar Imperials: tight low end, smooth mids and extended highs. A lot of people also express that their Lollar HBs have a 3d sound. I do not use that terminology for my Imperial HBs but I will concur that the PUs have breath or air. Since I do not play highly distorted, I can not vouch for how the Lollar PUs will handle that. I do not know if they are potted or not but when I crank up the volume I have no problems.

These Pickups sound good. I will look into them more today. Thanks!

 

[Rhust]

have you ever played george lynch screamin' demons? I have one in my charvel and it fits the bill you describe... it's med output, but cleans up great and sounds very good in single coil mode... and no microphonic feedback with high gain... very tight bass response.

it's a great pickup, often forgotten.

 

[LtKojak]

Your suggestions in the last thread were just about as helpful as this one.

I gave you excellent advice in the past threads. My last answer was because of your obvious hearsay-based statement about the magnets.

It's Ok, I'm not offended or anything.

I guess you chose to ignore the advice given because most probably it didn't comply with your ill-informed preconceived ideas, so you valued more your ignorance than my knowledge.

Don't worry, you're not the first and you will certainly not be the last!

Good luck fixing that LP of yours...

 

[MATTM]

The original poster would be a lot better off giving a good winder the description of the sound he is after as opposed to saying it can't be this or that. Who cares what the specs are or, how it is thought up and constructed. That is for the winder to worry about. Is this case, you should be worried only about the tone you are after and that only.

As far as magnet types, DC ohms, potting, etc, there are many exceptions to the rules.

 

[Ryan Givhan]

any good paf clone??? and most nirvana was on a bridge humbucker.

 

[LtKojak]

The original poster would be a lot better off giving a good winder the description of the sound he is after as opposed to saying it can't be this or that.

Too rational... it's just not the way he rolls. No, it's just NOT going to happen, Dave. Wishful thinking.

 

[axeologist]

I gave you excellent advice in the past threads. My last answer was because of your obvious hearsay-based statement about the magnets.

It's Ok, I'm not offended or anything.

I guess you chose to ignore the advice given because most probably it didn't comply with your ill-informed preconceived ideas, so you valued more your ignorance than my knowledge.

Don't worry, you're not the first and you will certainly not be the last!

Good luck fixing that LP of yours...

I have to let you know that this statement that you made is true and accurate.

I must apologize for my ignorance. Although my original post here was a description of the different magnet types from my research and playing the few pickups I have hear at home, I need to learn NOT to believe everything I read on the internet.

After talking with 2 custom winders and hearing there audio samples I realize that the magnet makes a big difference in the tone but it isn't everything. I thought the magnet was the pickup (Wrong). I was told that the magnet changes the tone relative to the construction and wined of each specific pickup. I assumed that a non wax potted pickup will always feedback with any gain (WRONG!).

The info you gave me in the last thread was correct. The Seth Lovers SH55 and the Electric City 59's were good suggestions. I read that the SH55 was only single conductor (Wrong!). You said that a non wax potted PUP has more "Air" to them. I assumed the Electric City 59's would feedback too much (probably not unless my amp was cranked to much).

I would like a little hotter pickup than 8K in the bridge to push my amp more but then again I am assuming that since my current Tim Shaw bridge is 7.5K an too weak that an 8k from another winder would be too weak but who knows...

I think my sense of urgency and reading threads from cork sniffing know it all's had sent me in a bad direction. Now my only problem is that there are so many good pickups to choose from now that my eyes are open. So let me say thanks for setting me straight and this forum has helped educate me once again.

So I will look for an articulate medium output pickup with punchy lows calm mids and shimmering non spikey highs. Magnet? Who cares! Magnet Shmagnet!

 

[LtKojak]

I have to let you know that this statement that you made is true and accurate.

I must apologize for my ignorance.

You don't need to apologize. Nobody is born knowing everything.

Somebody once told that the difference between a wise man and an ignorant is that the ignorant thinks to know everything where the wise man KNOWS he doesn't know anything at all.

Although my original post here was a description of the different magnet types from my research and playing the few pickups I have hear at home, I need to learn NOT to believe everything I read on the internet.

That's a VERY valuable lesson you've learned, believe me.

After talking with 2 custom winders and hearing there audio samples I realize that the magnet makes a big difference in the tone but it isn't everything. I thought the magnet was the pickup (Wrong). I was told that the magnet changes the tone relative to the construction and wined of each specific pickup. I assumed that a non wax potted pickup will always feedback with any gain (WRONG!).

You see, the tone produced by a humbucking p'up is the result of an incredible complex equation where every single component is a variable, and so is the placement on the guitar, being the magnet one of the biggest single variable of all. That's why changing the magnet in a p'up could make it turn from barely passable to more than adequate, but of course it's not all.

The info you gave me in the last thread was correct. The Seth Lovers SH55 and the Electric City 59's were good suggestions. I read that the SH55 was only single conductor (Wrong!). You said that a non wax potted PUP has more "Air" to them. I assumed the Electric City 59's would feedback too much (probably not unless my amp was cranked to much).

To use the right amount of gain is the key to good tone. In another thread I was talking about how I sometimes tease my "brootalz" customers.

When they find themselves in my workshop, it never fails that they start a race where the one with more gain wins. I know, I know... just bear with me.

Anyway, I usually trick'em into making'em perfectly play their palm muting riffs and shredding leads on my Antiquities-loaded 335 copy with just a tenth of their usual gain telling'em they're getting soft, not "brootalz" enough for what such a player supposed to be. It works every time!

I would like a little hotter pickup than 8K in the bridge to push my amp more but then again I am assuming that since my current Tim Shaw bridge is 7.5K an too weak that an 8k from another winder would be too weak but who knows...

I told you before, you can't go with the DC reading thinking into there's a measure of the p'ups output, because it is not. You can have a very weak p'up measuring 20K and very powerful measuring even less than 8K, so it goes.

I think my sense of urgency and reading threads from cork sniffing know it all's had sent me in a bad direction. Now my only problem is that there are so many good pickups to choose from now that my eyes are open. So let me say thanks for setting me straight and this forum has helped educate me once again.

So I will look for an articulate medium output pickup with punchy lows calm mids and shimmering non spikey highs. Magnet? Who cares! Magnet Shmagnet!

The answer to this it's been already answered. It's up to you take that leap of faith or not.

Anyway, now is MY turn to apologize to you for my earlier statement, not considering you up to the task of thinking rationally.

I stand corrected, and actually very happy for being wrong.

Yours truly,

 

[Chadd]

have you ever played george lynch screamin' demons? I have one in my charvel and it fits the bill you describe... it's med output, but cleans up great and sounds very good in single coil mode... and no microphonic feedback with high gain... very tight bass response.

it's a great pickup, often forgotten.

That was my first thought as well. It really is an underrated and versatile pickup. It pairs well with an A2pro in the neck too.

 

[Neemo]

Duncan JB/Jazz? Alinco V...can split them...versatile

Also i have the 490R/498T combo in my LP 50's and they work well for me, pretty versatile

IMO rage, zep and STP songs i know all work well with an Alnico V bridge humbucker

 

[axeologist]

That was my first thought as well. It really is an underrated and versatile pickup. It pairs well with an A2pro in the neck too.

Do you think the A2pro or sh2 jazz splits better?