Pickup selection help!

[DeMaio]

Hello all!I own an ibanez rg 450, and i would like to change the pickups of this guitar because they suck (they are ibanez pickups s1, v7, v8).I play hard rock, and 80s Metal specially.I like clean solos, and a smooth powerful distortion.I listened full shred sh-10- (I think tremblebucker will be for me because i have a floyd rose tremolo) at the seymour duncan site and i like it, but i don't know if it will work at my guitar.The second one i liked for the bridge position was duncan distortion but i am afraid if it's distortion will be too loud for this position, so i will not hear my solos smooth and with melody.But i would like to have a nice distortion like this i heard. Furthermore, i am thinking to buy HS-3 (Malmsteen Dimarzio hot pickup) for the middle position, in order to have smooth sound, and the Jazz Model, for playing distorted and clean.Please help me, and if it is possible be polite, because i am a newbie and i don't know much yet.Thanks!

[Robert Delahunt]

Hello all!I own an ibanez rg 450, and i would like to change the pickups of this guitar because they suck (they are ibanez pickups s1, v7, v8).I play hard rock, and 80s Metal specially.I like clean solos, and a smooth powerful distortion.I listened full shred sh-10- (I think tremblebucker will be for me because i have a floyd rose tremolo) at the seymour duncan site and i like it, but i don't know if it will work at my guitar.The second one i liked for the bridge position was duncan distortion but i am afraid if it's distortion will be too loud for this position, so i will not hear my solos smooth and with melody.But i would like to have a nice distortion like this i heard. Furthermore, i am thinking to buy HS-3 (Malmsteen Dimarzio hot pickup) for the middle position, in order to have smooth sound, and the Jazz Model, for playing distorted and clean.Please help me, and if it is possible be polite, because i am a newbie and i don't know much yet.Thanks!

I would say Hot Rodded set: it can play 80s metal (mainly Megadeth), and it's versatile as well. However, the Full Shred works too, as does the Invader and the Distortion. I have the Hot Rodded set and I love it!

[Jackson Distortion]

What are your primary hard rock and 80's metal influences- that would help me. But in the meantime, I'll suggest for the bridge a Parallel Axis Original (PATB-1). It's balanced sounding, the more gain you add-the more it sings... really smooth. It will work for heavy rock but when you say 80's metal, you may mean Slayer lol, so this pickup may not be appropriate for you. The PATB-1 has a neck version also that is moderate output.

Was that polite enough for ya? Welcome the forum!

[DeMaio]

TwinReverb thanks for your reply (I will look for Hot Shred's sound at the seymoyr duncan site, or i will put Full shred, because as you say it does the job and i liked it when i listen to it).Jackson Distortion i would like more classical sound, f.e. DIO, WASP, Manowar, Megadeth, Malmsteen,Iron Maiden i don't listen thrash very much, despite the fact that i like Slayer or Anthrax.Would you think that Jazz for the neck will be versatible enough for Full Shred? And HS-3 Dimarzio for the middle will hold enough both of them? Thanks again for your proposals

[Robert Delahunt]

TwinReverb thanks for your reply (I will look for Hot Shred's sound at the seymoyr duncan site, or i will put Full shred, because as you say it does the job and i liked it when i listen to it).Jackson Distortion i would like more classical sound, f.e. DIO, WASP, Manowar, Megadeth, Malmsteen,Iron Maiden i don't listen thrash very much, despite the fact that i like Slayer or Anthrax.Would you think that Jazz for the neck will be versatible enough for Full Shred? And HS-3 Dimarzio for the middle will hold enough both of them? Thanks again for your proposals

Me, I favor Jazz pickup in the neck for most stuff: it's between "hifi" EMG sound and "vintage" '59 sound, at least to my ears. It has more of a sparkle and scoop that I like to hear.

[Jackson Distortion]

Jackson Distortion i would like more classical sound, f.e. DIO, WASP, Manowar, Megadeth, Malmsteen,Iron Maiden i don't listen thrash very much, despite the fact that i like Slayer or Anthrax.Would you think that Jazz for the neck will be versatible enough for Full Shred? And HS-3 Dimarzio for the middle will hold enough both of them? Thanks again for your proposals

Not sure about the DiMarzio, DeMaio, but the Jazz makes a rather nice cleans humbucker- that is, does a clean tone nicely. The Jazz for distorted lead lines is articulate and gives a good feel while playing.

The Full Shred should be good for heavy chunk, speed, and high gain leads. But, I'd also like to also recommend the Custom for a PAF sound for the DIO, Malmsteen, and Maiden. It also will bridge the gap for those styles and the styles of WASP, Manowar, and Megadeth. Really good harmonics for those leads.

Hope I helped some.

[Robert Delahunt]

Not sure about the DiMarzio, DeMaio, but the Jazz makes a rather nice cleans humbucker- that is, does a clean tone nicely. The Jazz for distorted lead lines is articulate and gives a good feel while playing.

The Full Shred should be good for heavy chunk, speed, and high gain leads. But, I'd also like to also recommend the Custom for a PAF sound for the DIO, Malmsteen, and Maiden. It also will bridge the gap for those styles and the styles of WASP, Manowar, and Megadeth. Really good harmonics for those leads.

Hope I helped some.

While I prefer the Jazz+JB combo, the Jazz+Custom is also an excellent combination!

[DeMaio]

Thanks a lot guys.I will go for Duncan Custom bridge and Jazz neck i think.I was thinking going with 59, but i heard it at the seymour duncan main site, and it seems to me a little muddy.Does anybody know if DC and Jazz will match with Dimarzio HS 3 Dimarzio middle i think it has a 93 mv output