PATB-3 gone.Why?

[Cob85]

Hello everybody,I have a Jackson DK2 guitar equipped with a PATB-3 in the bridge. Here is the problem.

Last week I couldn't get any sound from the guitar when I selected the bridge pickup. I first checked the wiring and the pickup selector, and everything seemed alright. Now, when I went to the guitar shop with the guitar, they said that the internal coil was burnt. I haven't really understood if it's the coil itself or the internal wiring. Anyway, any idea of how this may happen? I haven't used the guitar for several months (I was abroad) and I gave it to a friend of mine, who has never played it with an amplifier (or, at least, she says so).

Which pickup could best replace the Parallel Axis? A Custom 5 would fit?

[dominus]

I'd pull the pickup out and send it to SD. They can tell you if it was damaged through normal usage or abuse, and replace it under warranty if it hasn't been voided.

[cakire82]

Would you be able to measure the DC resistance. If something has happed in the the coil it should read 0 ohms

[Cob85]

Uhm...I'll try this out, but I live in Italy and it will take some time for sure.At the moment i need to replace the pickup.Since the PATB-3 is too expensive for me, I read a lot of good reviews about the Custom 5.Is that good?

[cakire82]

Uhm...I'll try this out, but I live in Italy and it will take some time for sure.At the moment i need to replace the pickup.Since the PATB-3 is too expensive for me, I read a lot of good reviews about the Custom 5.Is that good?

Well it depends. DK2 is alder body but we need to know what type of sound you are trying to get. JB or JB8 are my favorite for alder guitars.

[hamerfan]

Uhm...I'll try this out, but I live in Italy and it will take some time for sure.At the moment i need to replace the pickup.Since the PATB-3 is too expensive for me, I read a lot of good reviews about the Custom 5.Is that good?

Maybe Lt. Kojak can weigh in and help. PM him.

[Cob85]

I love the warm sound the PATB can deliver in tremolo-equipped guitars,but as I said,it's too expensive for me right now,and I need my guitar working as soon as possible

[rocksoldier]

Some fat Dimarzio perhaps, like a Breed or Tone Zone?

[Cob85]

I don't like Dimarzio at all,they sound too compressed in my opinion

[BloodRose]

Im not sure what may have happened, but I just wanted to say the PATB3 is awesome and there isnt much like it for fattening up a sound.. I have one in my RG570. Id love to try a PATB1 and 2 .

[Benjy_26]

Despite what the specs may say, the C5 is not going to be anywhere near as thick, warm, and articulate as the PATB-3. Nothing else really is, TBH.

[Despair]

Despite what the specs may say, the C5 is not going to be anywhere near as thick, warm, and articulate as the PATB-3. Nothing else really is, TBH.

C5 is likely brighter and deeper. But not as warm in the mids, and the articulation of the Parallel Axis design is difficult to match without exceeding it on brightness, it's sad that the design hasn't caught on more. Where's the A2 PATB model? (:

I don't know, I think the PATB-1 gives it a run for it's money. But it's bassier and tighter, arguably stiffer. Different dynamics & feel, even though it's competitive otherwise. Of course, it's another Parallel Axis pickup... There are plenty that match or exceed the PATB-3 on one or more of those qualities, but the combination is tough to precisely match. Warmer and thicker? Fairly common in woolly hot pickups. As articulate? Hah. Identical dynamics? Hah, again.

Full Shred might be around there, too, but more bite there and not PAFlike.

For a modern take on vintage, the PATB-3 is unique.

[dvadneau]

@Cob85, I have to agree with you about the Parallel Axis and vibrato-equipped guitars. I have a PATB-2. That is great in my Ibanez. It's like a slightly warmer, but clearer sounding Duncan Distortion.

I disagree about Dimarzios. What Dimarzios have you tried? I realize everyone has their opinion on sound and it's all subjective, but compressed is hardly what I'd call ALL Dimarzios. They have pickups that sound compressed, because they're supposed to. The Evolutions and Evo2 are shredder pickups, so, yeah, they'll sound compressed. The Tone Zone? No way. The Norton? The Super Distortion? The Super Distortion is far away from compressed. I have a Dimarzio PAF in the bridge of my LP because it was the best combination of warmth and edge of any of the pickups I've tried. And I've tried about 20-30 different SDs and DZs in there. It sounds hi-fi compared to anything else I've tried.

Dimarzio isn't all about shredding, just like Seymour Duncan isn't all about PAF-era rock.

Anyhow, rocksoldier's suggestions are probably the best I could come up with as well. I had the Tone Zone in an Ibanez with Lic. Floyd for a number of years and it was good. Definitely brought out the bass and tamed the highs from the Basswood. It really sounds metal to me, as does the Evolution, so if you're playing metal, great. If not, the Tone Zone can do more, but you'd be better off with the Breed or another.

As for the Custom 5, I like it, in the right guitar. It definitely has a scooped PAF sound. I don't have an Alder guitar so I can't help there. The woods I've tried it in were Basswood (Floyd), Mahogany and Maple cap (LockTone Stopbar), and Agathis (hardtail).

For SDs, the Custom 5 or the 59 maybe. I don't find any of the SDs warm, really, except the Parallel Axis pups ...

[Cob85]

I decided to get a Custom 5.I had to decide quickly before the shop was on holiday,and the C5 is the only pickup that I am confident in,since my previous guitarist played it in a Fender Stratocaster and it sounded really good to my ears

@dvadneau: I admit, I only tried a couple of Ibanez with Dimarzio pickups (Super Distortion and a Jem with an Evo), maybe it was the amp to sound compressed, or simply I didn't like that sound!

[BloodRose]

Custom 5 is a good choice! I love the one I have in my strat. AND, you can fine tune it with magnet swaps if it isnt what you need. Custom 8 is AWESOME!

[Cob85]

Really?I read about this stuff...can you tell me how does it sound compared to a Custom 5?