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Alright, I've finally got the hang of tuning my Ibanez (floating bridge) and now I'm looking to start playing it more, but I want to toss in some new pick-ups. Though, since I know nothing about active pick-ups, I was hoping someone could suggest me a bridge: metal/death metal-ish neck: jazzy/good for sweeps.

from : localhost/- that is the guitar.

thanks!

Hey, bro. Glad you got the tuning thing down. Once you do it once or twice, it's a breeze.

I don't know a lot about any of the active pups. Most of the people on here have experience with EMGs, so that's likely the suggestions you'll get. They're great pups.

Not many people talk about the SD live wires, but I think, from the clips I've heard, they might be good to consider. Maybe a LW metal in the bridge and LW classic in the neck.

Yeah, I was considering that, but like you said, I'm not that well versed in active pick-ups. Hopefully I can find a set, purchase them and have it sent to the tech by this coming Tuesday.

I was going to go for passive ones, but the guitar already has it set-up to where you can use actives so I figured why not? lol.

later!

TatooedCarrot said in a recent thread that if he had to pick only one pickup to use (out of any pickups made), it would be the EMG 85 in the bridge. I trust his judgement.

EMG gets my vote. The 81/85 set is darn good for metal, and it cleans up ok as well.

Thanks everyone. I'll probably order them soon, I'll wait to see if I get any more replies first though.

Alright, I scoured the net and couldn't find any prices. I'm going to have to have these pickups ordered from the store. I was wondering if anyone knew how much a 81/85 set would cost and the 85: bridge, 81:neck, correct?

Thanks again!


Originally Posted by ApprenticeAlright, I scoured the net and couldn't find any prices. I'm going to have to have these pickups ordered from the store. I was wondering if anyone knew how much a 81/85 set would cost and the 85: bridge, 81:neck, correct?

Thanks again!

Where do you live?


Originally Posted by ApprenticeAlright, I've finally got the hang of tuning my Ibanez (floating bridge) and now I'm looking to start playing it more, but I want to toss in some new pick-ups. Though, since I know nothing about active pick-ups, I was hoping someone could suggest me a bridge: metal/death metal-ish neck: jazzy/good for sweeps.

from : localhost/- that is the guitar.

thanks!

If your guitar has a dark sound in itself, I'd like to suggest 81-bridge and 60-neck...
81 is tighter than the 85, at the same time it's brighter. And if you want a quot;jazzyquot; neck I can't understand why you wanna go with 81 or 85 there? 60 is much cleaner...

the emg 60 is basically a jazz humbucker and it sounds great played this way but it also is a nice crushing rhythm pup if you hit it with high gain. I guess you should go for a 60 neck it's just more fitting to your description. The bridge depends on who bright/dark the guitar sounds.

I live in Florida.

To ztevie: I don't know anything about active pickups. lol. Which is why I'm trying to get some definite answers before I purchase them. You think the 60 would be a better for the neck, whata bout bridge? I want something that is going to be able to handle some nice distortion. : )

both the 85 and 81 handle distortion like champs, I prefer the 85 for the fuller sound and tighter bottom end. I highly reccomend the 60 as a neck pickup for you, but you're gonna have to weigh the pros and cons of the bridge pickups on your own. Some people love the 81 in there some people love the 85 in there, it all comes down to personal preference.

depends which type of distortion you're after

i had and loved the 89 - its a tappable 85. very good choice for the bridge, as it sounds similar to an EMG SA in singlecoil mode..

for metal and tight rhythm tones, i'd suggest 81 bridge, 85 or 60 neck

for classic rock and everything cleaner, i'd suggest 89 bridge, 85, 60 or 89 neck.

tom

Thanks everyone. I listened to some sound samples and read some reviews and since that is the only thing I can go off of, I'm going to try the 81 and 60. I'll post some reviews once it is all set-up.

85 Bridge, as 81 has a little bit high attack.. 85 has a PAF sound with less output.

60 neck for crystal sweeps..

I think you're right to go with the 60 in the neck.
The bridge is another thing... I'd like to say it depends on how bright/dark your guitar is in itself...
I've got a mahogany Schecter which is pretty dark-sounding, so the 81 is f*n incredible in it. Fast muted-palm riffs sound like a dream... Tight, crunchy...Great for metal.
If you on the other hand has a bright-sounding guitar you may wanna try the 85. I'ts a much darker pickup with loads of volume and distortion. But in my dark-sounding Schecter it sounds kind of muddy, therefore I prefer the 81.

I quickly looked at your guitar which is basswood according to MusiciansFriend...
Here's what I found about basswood when I did a quick google:
Tonal characteristics of basswood lends the fullest bass growl and crunchy high-end bite at the same time. The quot;baswwodquot; tone is dynamic and tight, leaving enough midrange to quot;breathequot; your way through the densest of mixes.

So, it's up to you, I think you'd be happy either way...

You can't go wrong with the 81/85 ZW set. You could always switch them around with the quick connects REALLY EASY!! I have tried both in the bridge and neck they are GREAT for metal. You should be able to land them in the price range of 180 to 199 dollars. They are both great and versatile.

I would definitely go with the 60 in the neck over the 85....I would never need that much output in the neck so as to kill my cleans.

The cleans on the 60 are beautiful and so are the distorted tones....if you push the pickup up close to the strings it will get saturated and you can get all those shred tons pretty nicely.


Originally Posted by HarrisonDavidYou can't go wrong with the 81/85 ZW set. You could always switch them around with the quick connects REALLY EASY!! I have tried both in the bridge and neck they are GREAT for metal. You should be able to land them in the price range of 180 to 199 dollars. They are both great and versatile.

Nothingt wrong with the ZW set, but didn't the guy say he wanted a quot;jazzyquot; sound for the neck?

For prices the EMG site has links. All of them have the 81 and 85 at 99 dollars each