Pickups suggestions?

[Tuned]

A short preface first
I bought a JP7 here on SSO with a DiMarzio CL/LF set that I liked the sound of a lot. Then owned a MIJ Schecter Japan 7 superstrat with a Japanese version of the Tom Anderson / Schecter custom shop Super Rock / Monster Tone set that sounded very impressive as well. For the time being, my only guitar is an E-II 7 that came stock with a SD Nazgul/Sentient set that I didn't care for. The neck pup was tolerable in all truth, but the bridge pup sounded too 'metal only' and I couldn't bond with it.
I bought a CL/LF set off someone else's JP7 and had it installed. Strangely, I can't get the sound that I'm used to and love. It is too dark and gloomy, lacks life so to say, even when coil splitted. I experimented with the wiring, installed CTS 500K pots, changed them for no-load ones, bought a Klon clone instead of a TS to lighten up a bit, used an EQ pedal before the amp. Right now I'm in the process of buying extra low-capacitance cable for ridiculous money, just to retain some more highs. By the end of the day, I give up and think these pickups just somehow don't connect to this exact guitar. I guess I need to try something else in it to find the right balance.

What would your suggestions be on the pickups swap? My main criteria is versatility. Both the JP7 and the Schecter 7 did it for me to a large extent, with I think more versatility on the Schecter side but more assertiveness and breed on the JP side. I use a Kemper for an amp, and my guitar is an E-II bolt-on superstrat 7 with an OFR, alder body, pickguard- mounted pickups, ebony fretboard. When with the band, we play prog or art rock type of thing with some folk and maybe light jazz mixed in it, but for myself, I love playing some DT songs , Marty era Megadeth, C.O.B., Arch Enemy. The tuning is B standard 7.

 

[TheWarAgainstTime]

You might like the Dimarzio Ionizer set. I've had the Nazgul/Sentient, Ionizer, and CL/LF in a handful of guitars over the years and the Ionizer is a really good in-between for what you're trying to do.

The bridge isn't as hot as the others, but it's very clear and articulate. It has a focus on the mids/upper mids, but it's not as sharp/djenty as the Nazgul. Definitely brighter and less bassy than the CL, too. The neck pickup is similar in that it's more upper-mid focused and lower output compared to the LF being thicker and hotter. Plenty of versatility in the set, but I've also got them in my main 7 string tuned down to F doing low-IQ chugs no problem

 

[odibrom]

... have you tried a different STRING set? not necessarily a different gauge, but a different type of string / different metal alloy...? you know there are strings that sound darker or brighter than others, right?

Another suggestion is to go with even higher valued pots. I've installed 1Mega ohm pots for volume on all my guitars. It might be similar to having a blower switch. Removing the tone pot fomr the circuit is also an option.

My last cheap suggestion for keeping those pickups is to back the pickups away from the strings a bit more. The closer they are, the bassier they sound... This will also affect their punch and output, but since these are hot pickups, it shouldn't matter much.

Mostly due to construction types and specs (bridge type, neck joint type, bridge pickup position relative to the bridge), some guitars may sound darker than others...

 

[Choop]

Mostly due to construction types and specs (bridge type, neck joint type, bridge pickup position relative to the bridge), some guitars may sound darker than others...

Very careful to avoid saying "body wood"

 

[odibrom]

Very careful to avoid saying "body wood"

... damn it, I knew I missed something... 😁

... on purpose that is...😁

 

[Tuned]

thank you for your replies,

I'll check out the DiMarzio Ionizers. Sounds like they could be the ones to go for on this guitar. Their being not so hot is fine by me, and clarity and articulation is vital when it comes to dissonances and extensions

I forgot to mention I did fiddle with the pickups heights, and now their bass side is noticeably lower then the treble side. Didn't realize the overall pickup height resulted in bass response, I'll try lowering the pickups altogether, thanks.

Strings, yes, I've tried D'Addario, NYXL, Ernie Ball, StringJoy with this guitar, they all have their nuances, but not like I've found a remedy in them at this point.

1 Meg pots, been thinking about these, but could only find cheap no-name ones that I even bought but never cared to install. Guess I should, just to listen to what happens. Been following retailers in my country to carry 1M CTS pots metric size, but that's one very rare thing to find

Removing a tone pot is not an option for me, I use both the volume and control pots, even installed strat-like hats with numbers instead of the stock 'blind' black barrels. I do get a small portion of extra highs when the pot is in the no-load 10 position, it kinda sorta imitates a removed tone pot, but only when the pot is at 10.

 

[Tuned]

Construction specs, yes, that's what I think it comes to. There's something in the interaction between the appointments that changes the balance of tone. At times it may get very unobviuos as to what it is that is not right, when every single factor seems to be just perfect per se.

 

[Hoss632]

Have you thought about trying different pots to brighten it up a little bit? Might allow you to keep the CL/LF set in there.

 

[TheWarAgainstTime]

thank you for your replies,

I'll check out the DiMarzio Ionizers. Sounds like they could be the ones to go for on this guitar. Their being not so hot is fine by me, and clarity and articulation is vital when it comes to dissonances and extensions

I forgot to mention I did fiddle with the pickups heights, and now their bass side is noticeably lower then the treble side. Didn't realize the overall pickup height resulted in bass response, I'll try lowering the pickups altogether, thanks.

Strings, yes, I've tried D'Addario, NYXL, Ernie Ball, StringJoy with this guitar, they all have their nuances, but not like I've found a remedy in them at this point.

1 Meg pots, been thinking about these, but could only find cheap no-name ones that I even bought but never cared to install. Guess I should, just to listen to what happens. Been following retailers in my country to carry 1M CTS pots metric size, but that's one very rare thing to find

Removing a tone pot is not an option for me, I use both the volume and control pots, even installed strat-like hats with numbers instead of the stock 'blind' black barrels. I do get a small portion of extra highs when the pot is in the no-load 10 position, it kinda sorta imitates a removed tone pot, but only when the pot is at 10.

One other thing to try in addition to the overall pickup heights is to flip the Crunch Lab around so the solid bar bobbin is facing towards the bridge instead of the neck. It's not a world of difference, but it's an easy "mod" to clear up a little bit of the bass and lower mids.

 

[Tuned]

Have you thought about trying different pots to brighten it up a little bit? Might allow you to keep the CL/LF set in there.

as a matter of fact, I did to an extent
The guitar came stock with ESP branded 500K pots, I don't know the manufacturer, some say Alpha others say Bourns.
I changed them to CTS.
then I was advised to go no-load but couldn't find CTS metric ones but found a Bourns. Learned BTW that I do prefer the feel of teh CTS to the Bourns.
Diffference in highs and presence , like by a few percent I think

 

[Tuned]

One other thing to try in addition to the overall pickup heights is to flip the Crunch Lab around so the solid bar bobbin is facing towards the bridge instead of the neck. It's not a world of difference, but it's an easy "mod" to clear up a little bit of the bass and lower mids.

yeah, did that too. At first I installed it the way Pertrucci has them, and it is shown so in my older photo attached above. Now it is installed with its rail side facing the bridge.That did actually add a small portion of highs, We also experimented with the neck pickup position, I can't remember what we finally came to, the original way or the vice versa.
thank you for the input

 

[Edika]

It might sound a bit daft, but I've seen that Floyd type equipped guitars are a bit softer in the highs than fixed bridge guitars. It's not an absolute rule, as I had fixed bridge guitars that where a bit more dark sounding, but it's not exactly that. In general, they sound a bit more tamed and I've tried the same pickup set in similar scale instruments and same brand and gauge strings.

In terms of pickups, you should be looking st something with subdued bass response and emphasis on high mids and highs. Personally, I don't like mid output guitar much as they don't compress the frequencies in a way I like with high gain. I generally get more highs and more bass compression when getting them closer to the strings than the opposite. Whenever I pull back the pickups, I get a soft, limpy bass and minimal highs, which never give me the same result if I increase the fain in the amp.

 

[Hoss632]

as a matter of fact, I did to an extent
The guitar came stock with ESP branded 500K pots, I don't know the manufacturer, some say Alpha others say Bourns.
I changed them to CTS.
then I was advised to go no-load but couldn't find CTS metric ones but found a Bourns. Learned BTW that I do prefer the feel of teh CTS to the Bourns.
Diffference in highs and presence , like by a few percent I think

Nice. Then basis on that, pick up wise you could try something like a BKP Blackhawk, maybe a Ducan Alpha/Omega or Scarlet/Scourge set. Dimarzio wise maybe the Titans?

 

[Necky379]

JB with short/chopped screws and a 500k pot is my suggestion for what you love playing.

 

[Necky379]

Suhr Hot 7 with a 500k pot would be another good choice.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

It might sound a bit daft, but I've seen that Floyd type equipped guitars are a bit softer in the highs than fixed bridge guitars. It's not an absolute rule, as I had fixed bridge guitars that where a bit more dark sounding, but it's not exactly that. In general, they sound a bit more tamed and I've tried the same pickup set in similar scale instruments and same brand and gauge strings.

In terms of pickups, you should be looking st something with subdued bass response and emphasis on high mids and highs. Personally, I don't like mid output guitar much as they don't compress the frequencies in a way I like with high gain. I generally get more highs and more bass compression when getting them closer to the strings than the opposite. Whenever I pull back the pickups, I get a soft, limpy bass and minimal highs, which never give me the same result if I increase the fain in the amp.

You find guitars with a floating trem generally sound darker than fixed bridge?

Relatively dark pickups, like the Tone Zone and Crunch Lab, are really popular for Ibanez RGs to compensate for the brightness imparted by the Edge trem.

 

[Edika]

You find guitars with a floating trem generally sound darker than fixed bridge?

Relatively dark pickups, like the Tone Zone and Crunch Lab, are really popular for Ibanez RGs to compensate for the brightness imparted by the Edge trem.

Not exactly, somewhat having a bit softer attack

 

[Tuned]

JB with short/chopped screws and a 500k pot is my suggestion for what you love playing.

what's the deal with the screws? I don't think I understand this part

 

[Tuned]

I just read someone saying the the CL7 is noticeably darker and has less comtrol of lows than the regular CL6
any thoughts on this account?

 

[slavboi_delight]

SH5 medium output and alot of chunk
Well balanced across all fq

SH4 if you like a high mid spike
And a more aggro character

Both are greatly versatile

For neck
SH1 if you like it fairly wooly

SH2 if you like it stiffer

Both have great cleans

I prefer the SH1