Jackson DK2 Dinky pickup upgrade

[Capt.Crunch]

I did a search and found quite a few DK2 owners wanted to upgrade from the Duncan Designed to higher quality pickups. I like this guitar well enough myself to want the same, and feel this guitar is worthy. I knew this was a cheap guitar when I bought it. It's main purpose in life is to go with me on the road as my travel companion...to keep my practice up. (I'm away from home a lot.)

I use a Pandora PX4D or Dean Stack in the Box on the road. At home I use a Carvin BelAir through a 4x10 Crate with various pedals...or a pair of Behringer B2031A active monitors through a Digitech GNX4. The music is mostly Satriani and Hendrix with this guitar.

I'm not well versed in guitar gutz. If you would be kind to offer any advice and suggestions, I would be grateful. This is what seems to be the concensus.

For the bridge... JB or Distortion.
For the middle... vintage or hot rail or Lil '59.
For the neck..... cool rail or hot rail or Lil '59.

In your experiance...can you tell me what to expect from any of these choices...so I can narrow down a selection better? Maybe a DK2 owner that has already done the deed...will read this and save me some trial and error.

This will be my first attempt at changing pickups.
The tone, volume and selector switch are working fine....but will a cheaper tone pot effect my pickup response?...do I need to consider changing it out while I'm dropping the floyd and gutting my guitar?

I know I'm cramming a lot of questions in this thread. This part of gartology is all new to me. Thanks.
regards Capt.Crunch

[Loserchief]

No idea about the singlecoils but imo both the JB and the DD would be a little to bright for a DK-2. IMO a custom should work much better because of it's warmer and less shrill nature. If you want to keep it more edgy than a custom would be you might try a Dimarzio Evolution. It works perfectly in my Jackson DXMG(which is basically the same as the DK-2). Balanced overall tone with the right amount of edge, incredible tightness and a lot more balls than the JB or DD(and the most insane harmonics i've ever heard from a pup).

[JacksonMIA]

Just something to keep in mind, Satch used a Pearly Gates when he had Duncans. Some vintage rails might sound good with that, but I don't know. APSs if you don't have to have noisless.

A JB and lil 59s I guess would be closest to what comes in a lot of the US models.

FWIW, I had a Custom Custom in the bridge, a hot rails in the middle, and a cool rails in the neck of my Peavey with a switch to split the CC and it was one of my favorite combos. You could get a push/pull pot to split it so you don't have to drill a hole.

If you want the real deal single-coil sound and still want noiseless you can get some classic stacks. There about as close as you can get in a noiseless pup, from what I gather.

Welcome to the forum!

[MZA]

I just did a pickup swap and a few other upgrades to my Jackson DX10TB Dinky and have been meaning to post here about it. Stay tuned.

[wixedmords]

I had issue (my DK2) with a few SD pickups above the 12th fret on the higher 3 strings Crunchy. I tried the Distortion and EVO, both were a bit ice-picky. I ended up going with a Breed. Glad I did.

I would look toward the Custom Custom or the Invader in SD pickups.

You may find something different works for you. My output was into Laney and Marshall tube amps. Much more ice-picky in the Marshall's.

[BloodRose]

I put a JB in my DK2 and am very happy! I was leary cuz so many posts said the Jb was bright etc. But I noticed most of the top line US Jacksons come with what? JB >> and arent US Jacksons creme?? Uh huh..
Plus, most of my fav music from the 80s was made with JB loaded axes with trems.
Do it.. The JB works great.. Great for rythym and screams on leads..

My axe was supposed to be a Sustainer, but the sustainer was bad so they put in some kind of mini bucker in the neck that sounds great! and sold it as a second. ( got it for $279) Any how next time I change strings Ill pull that one out and see if there are any markings.. I put a Lawrence in the center and sounds fab...

[Capt.Crunch]

Thanks everyone.
This will be my first time gutting a guitar.
I'm a little worried I may hyperfluejinate the gaunkulator.
while disgronifacating myself into cerebreal submission.


I seek to enjoy this completely. I'll strip away all my inhabitions.
I plan to get all up in this, and take my time finding the sweet spots.
I wanna make this baby scream for me.

[YJM_Rocks]

[MZA]

Here I went and wrote up a big new thread entry about the upgrades to my Jackson Dinky and it's saying that it's too long... I'd have to put it into three parts... I cover a lot of ground and it wouldn't really be possible to trim the post down much. Oh well.

[Capt.Crunch]

Here I went and wrote up a big new thread entry about the upgrades to my Jackson Dinky and it's saying that it's too long... I'd have to put it into three parts... I cover a lot of ground and it wouldn't really be possible to trim the post down much. Oh well.

Please hang onto your efforts and put it in a PM to me...or email. That would be so nice, and it is important to me.

I sent you my email address. Thanks...Gary

[MZA]

Email sent.