ESP Phoenix - Seymour Duncan Pickup advice

[xsargeownsgunsx]

I just bought an ESP Phoenix 200. Rosewood fretboard, basswood body, hardtail, with ESP LH-150 stock pickups. Its the entry-level model with no bells or whistles with the intention of customizing it myself. I was lookin to dropping some seymour duncans, since my last ESP M-series had a set of JB 59's. I was thinking maybe going with a set that was a little more raunchier.

Right now I'm playing through a Marshall Valve-state VS100 and crate 4X12, but looking to upgrade to a Peavey 6505+ or even a 6534+ when I get some extra money.

Playing style: I am pretty straight forward. Metal and hardcore. I wouldn't consider myself to be much of a shredder. I just like really crunchy heavy rhythm with a little feedback and medium sustain. I really like that mid-tone range, just to have a little more depth of sound. Sometimes I might detune to D, D# for a heavier tone.

genre/Band wise: NY style hardcore, stoner metal; somewhere between Hatebreed and Six Feet Under.

Anyone have any suggestions or advice? I was lookin reading up on the Distortion Mayhem and Synyster Invaders, wondering if anyone uses these? Whats your opinion on either, as opposed to just the traditional JB 59 sets? UPDATE: I almost forgot to mention, I'm more interested in passive pickups.

Thanks

sarge

[Bfeeney]

My M-50 had the LH-150's I swapped out for the AHB-1 Blackouts, if you want to go active.

[xsargeownsgunsx]

Thanks for the recommendation. I knew I forgot to add something to my request. I want to stay with passive pickups. I hate batteries, haha.

[dominus]

TB-5 Duncan Custom would sound great through the 6505+. Maybe the TB-14 Custom 5 if you want the pickup to scoop the mids a little and give you a slightly more organic sound.

[GuitarDoc]

Duncan Distortion all the way. No question this is what you want. It's got great mids, is very articulate so you get those really good crunchy rhythms without any mud, it's high power gives you all the raunch you can handle. Sounds great clean, but with some OD/distortion it is truely amazing for what you want.

[xsargeownsgunsx]

Duncan Distortion all the way. No question this is what you want. It's got great mids, is very articulate so you get those really good crunchy rhythms without any mud, it's high power gives you all the raunch you can handle. Sounds great clean, but with some OD/distortion it is truely amazing for what you want.

I've been getting the same opinion from friends and other forums regarding the Distortions. Which I guess this is coming down to a no-brainer.

[Grindspine]

+1 on the Duncan Distortion

[ex-250]

I too concur on the Distortions. If you liked the JB but want raunchier and more crunch, DD is what you need.

[Luke Duke]

Distortion Mayhem set. Raunch and filth all the way.

[xsargeownsgunsx]

Another question I got since everyone is pretty much in agreement regarding distortions. Am I better off just going with a pair? Or a combination with something else?

[crguti]

sorry dude but that guitar is a LTD. You don't call a Squier a Fender, right?

[xsargeownsgunsx]

sorry dude but that guitar is a LTD. You don't call a Squier a Fender, right?

Oh man, way to state what wasn't already obvious, Captain.

[gman128]

Another question I got since everyone is pretty much in agreement regarding distortions. Am I better off just going with a pair? Or a combination with something else?

I have a distortion bridge in 2 of my strats - i didn't even bother looking at the DDn - ceramic neck pickups aren't very versatile imo - they chuck out too much output, esp. for a 22-fretter.

I've used the pearly gates and alnico II pro bridge pickups in the neck slot - they sound fantastic and easily keep up with the BEAST DD in the bridge.

Get an a2 or a5 based neck pickup - much nicer than ceramic for most uses.

[Bfeeney]

I hate batteries, haha.

Don't blame you there. The AHB-1s are nice though.

[GuitarDoc]

I agree with gman128, alnico mags in the neck. The Pearly Gates is a very excellent choice.