bruce919 Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 I have a beat up Hamer Chap that I am going to rewire & put new pickups. I normally go with a Duncan Blues Saraceno pickup in the bridge pickup on my Floyd equipped guitars. Looking for something different this time.Let me know your choice for Shredder guitar bridge pickups?
diablo175 Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 My go-to p'up is the TB-5 Custom. I'm looking forward to trying the TB-15 Custom Alt 8 with alnico 8's. However, I've been suitably impressed by the DiMarzio Tone Zone and Super D.
DBraz Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 I like Bare Knuckle VH2's but I'm tempted by the new Bartolini's.
Victor (Fret Friend) Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 Bill Lawrence L500XL (the Dimebag one)... http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/bill-lawrence-l500xl-hot-humbucker-electric-guitar-pickup
atquinn Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 There is no "best"; it all depends on the guitars. I've been a big fan of the PATB1 in most guitars I've had it in, although not in my current Cali. That has a JB in it, which is doing a fine job (and although I'm not a superfan of the JB I've had it in a couple other Cali's and Diablo's and it was fine). Given that you like the PATB3, I would recommend checking out a Seymour Duncan Perpetual Burn since it is a medium-output pickup, not high-output pickup like everything else that's been suggested. It might be more your speed.-Austin
Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 Best shredder bridge pickup?Isn't that like asking which is the best Hamer guitar?"Best" is almost purely subjective. It only gets into the objective range if discussion moves around to how good a Wal-Mart guitar's pickup would be as a shredder pickup in your favorite guitar.
Sugartune Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 I "shred" with a TV Jones Powertron Plus.Bridge Position Only: The Power'Tron Plus bridge model was designed with more magnet wire to resemble a hotter Gibson PAF Humbucker (in the 8.5k DCR range) while still retaining the core Filter'Tron™ characteristics. It has more output and natural full midrange. The lows are tighter and more defined than a traditional Humbucker. DC Resistance: 8.5K | Inductance: 5.25H TONE / Characteristic:Increased midrange with tighter, more defined low-end. More punch, slightly darker with a hint of sparkle. Works well if coil splitting is desired. BEST FOR:Heavier RockRockRock n' RollBluesPunk LIKENESS / Derived from:Power'Tron Bridge Gibson PAF Humbucker
BillW Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 Bill Lawrence L500XL (the Dimebag one)... http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/bill-lawrence-l500xl-hot-humbucker-electric-guitar-pickupI'd have to pretty much agree with this for shred style tone. My '87 chap has the OBL version in there, and it's been my favorite tone for that genre.
Victor (Fret Friend) Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 I bought my Cent from Matt and I tried JB's / PATS and all sorts until I decided on the BL 500 = it's the best pickup for this tone IMO. A Hamer fan friend in the UK who bought my Cent had never heard of the 500XL and liked it that much in the one he bought from me that he went and bought more for his other Hamers...
zorrow Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 I dislike the L500XL. It doesn't color your tone, just give you more gain and compression, even if it does remain very articulate. But if the natural sound of your guitar is not very attractive, it will sound the same with the 500XL, just louder. I've owned several shredders. My preferred bridge pickup was the Seymour Duncan Distortion (TB-6). It sounds AWESOME if you tune down one tone, or even just a half. I cannot claim it's the best, though. It's just a matter of taste.
analogsystem Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 My Chap has a very prominent mid range "bark" to it. I usually don't like scooped mids but the Duncan Custom-5 actually balanced things out really well. The pickup is often described as a high output PAF in terms of feel and overall tone. I think it cleans up way better than, say, a JB (which I do like in general). The leads don't "sing" as much as I'd like but the "chugga chugga" stuff sounds good and overall I'm pretty happy. It sounds WAY better than the OBL or the parallel axis pickups I tried before the custom-5. They are pretty cheap used so it might be worth trying. I was pleasantly surprised.
LucSulla Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 I'm one of those weirdos who likes the medium resistance pups. The Duncan alnico pro II Slash, Gibson '57 Classic, and the overwound Lollar Imperials are all favs, even for metal stuff.
zorrow Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 I'm one of those weirdos who likes the medium resistance pups. The Duncan alnico pro II Slash, Gibson '57 Classic, and the overwound Lollar Imperials are all favs, even for metal stuff. On my Vees I do prefer medium resistance pups as well. But shredders are different. Or maybe it's just that I perceive them differently. Actually, I don't even play them anymore. The sole guitar I own now that is close to a shredder is my Phantom A5, and I'd say it's a unique take on the Strat theme rather than a Super-Strat. It's even a set-neck with 22 frets!
FrettyMcgee Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 18 volt Duncan Metal Live Wire. On a more realistic note....love the Duncan Distortion, as well as the ol' faithful JB. Also love the EVH Frankenstein, its not just a cash grab. Evolution is good. I like the Tone Zone, but not for my Cali...mahogany + TZ = muddy. Lawrence 500XL in my N4 is a snappy thin...like a muscled single coil. But that's probably the swamp ash speaking. I've yet to try these new-fangled boutique pickups like BK's or the WCR Murkat, made to exacting specs for some jerk.
FGJ Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 Frankly, I just dig the Dimarzio Slammer that came in my Cali. I've toyed with the idea of trying something different, but everyone who plays it loves it as is. If it ain't broke, don't break it.
Disturber Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 Frankly, I just dig the Dimarzio Slammer that came in my Cali. I've toyed with the idea of trying something different, but everyone who plays it loves it as is. If it ain't broke, don't break it.The Slammers are insanely great pickups. Both the 17K version and the 10K version. Zenmind thinks that the hotter Slammer is the pup that later became the Musicman Axis pickup, (as is: same pickup just a different name). And that the Slammer also was the prototype for the Tone Zone.
sixesandsevens Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 Lawrence 500XL in my N4 is a snappy thin...like a muscled single coil. But that's probably the swamp ash speaking.You may be right about the guitar in that case. I have a Wilde 500XL in my Studio and it's clear but not particularly single coily. The L90 I have in the neck does sound like a muscled single coil in that guitar.I also agree that the Hamer/DiMarzio Slammer is a great pickup. I have an original one in my Checkerboard Special and between it and the sustainblock bridge, that's really articulate guitar.Bruce - When you say "shredder" are you just thinking any old post-Van-Halen rock or are you specifically talking stuff like Paul Gilbert, Animals as Leaders, or Malmsteen? The reason I ask is that thick and heavy would be my choice for the former but something closer to a medium output PAF with good clarity would be my choice for the insanely complex line stuff. If I had to pick one pickup for both, I'd pick something medium output and serious clarity. Maybe an L90 or a DiMarzio PAF.
Bennyboy-UK Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 Frankly, I just dig the Dimarzio Slammer that came in my Cali. I've toyed with the idea of trying something different, but everyone who plays it loves it as is. If it ain't broke, don't break it. The Slammers are insanely great pickups. Both the 17K version and the 10K version. Zenmind thinks that the hotter Slammer is the pup that later became the Musicman Axis pickup, (as is: same pickup just a different name). And that the Slammer also was the prototype for the Tone Zone.I love Slammer Pickups. Pinky SS1 just sounds fabulous to me. I might get it out in a minute.
FGJ Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 I've never personally tried the Axis pups, but the "hot" Slammer in my Cali sounded far better (to my ears) than EVH Wolfgang pickups. While the Wolfgang pups are, as everyone correctly notes, very articulate insofar as they never get muddy, they really didn't hold a candle to the Cali IMHO. The Wolfgangs sound like modern-Eddie, while I can get the Cali to sound more like classic-Eddie. While I like both, I MUCH prefer the latter.
Disturber Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 I've never personally tried the Axis pups, but the "hot" Slammer in my Cali sounded far better (to my ears) than EVH Wolfgang pickups. While the Wolfgang pups are, as everyone correctly notes, very articulate insofar as they never get muddy, they really didn't hold a candle to the Cali IMHO. The Wolfgangs sound like modern-Eddie, while I can get the Cali to sound more like classic-Eddie. While I like both, I MUCH prefer the latter. I dunno. Never tried a Wolfgang pup. But I've had the 17K Slammer in two guitars and it was great. I had it in the bridge in the Super Pro and it sounded very very good. And the 10K version in the neck. Also had 'em in a bunch of Steve Stevens Hamer's and they've sounded killer in all of them.I have a 10K Slammer in a 79 Sunburst right now, in the bridge. Does not sound that far from the old Hamer paf's. A little hotter but with the same spank and bite. It's an early Slammer and I don't think it is pottet, but I can be wrong.
TheDan Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 I find it strange that we're on page 2 of this topic and nobody has mentioned EMG's so far. I got 'em in 3 Chaps and couldn't be happier. No love for EMG's?
Victor (Fret Friend) Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 It depends what guitar EMG's are in IMO. I only ever liked EMG passives in my Cort VX-2V. In any of my other guitars it's been mainly SD's or actives...
Bennyboy-UK Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 I love the eggs in Nathan's Centaura Deluxe.But... I don't see them as shreddy pickups. I was surprised as I expected mega output like the preamp in my mockingnird.Not the case. I think they are mega versatile:) five God high gain, but like them for anything.
DBraz Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 I find it strange that we're on page 2 of this topic and nobody has mentioned EMG's so far. I got 'em in 3 Chaps and couldn't be happier. No love for EMG's?People often slam them but for shredding they can be awesome. Lukather makes them sound pretty great - on record and live.
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