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Im trying to get an old Kramer Focus with a single slant bucker and want to make this my aggressive beast. the most aggressive pups Im currently using are Custom and Custom 5 and Tone Zone. Should I use my 500 T from explorer? Try an Invader? Distortion? Or Im thinking of a JB just for that searing lead tone. I dont have a JB in anything.What say you?

Custom custom, C-11?

Depends on what you're looking for. If you want low end thump with a beefy midrange hump, go with an invader. If you want something searing, go with either a distortion, JB, or Dime. My choice would be the distortion out of the three. It's the most aggressive pickup I can think of that isn't an invader. JB has that quot;upper midrangequot; peak that makes it way too peaky to my ears. Dime would also be very bright. Distortion is the quot;wall of soundquot; pickup.

How bout the parallel Axis distortion pickup? It might be better for that guitar if it has a whammy on it fo sho.

Go with an Invader with a treble bleed cap to give it a bit of clarity!!! I have done this mod and it is GREAT!!!! I told Kac about it, he tried it and loved it!!!!! If you want it balls to the wall this will do it!

How about bypassing all of the above, and getting a real Lawrence 500XL.

You don't get much more aggressive than that in a passive pickup!

I appologize for this response, but based on your post I can make only one recommendation -and this comes from experience (See below):

DiMarzio X2N!!!!!!!!!! Unbelievably over-the-top. Simply uncalled for in almost any situation. But then again, sometimes that just what you need. Do a search on X2N in this forum and see what others have said.

But I think Theodie's treble cap idea sounds great if you want to stick with SD.

Another one that would be ballz-to-the-wallz over the top aggressive, would be the Gibson Dirty Fingers. It's thick and dark and crunchy and oodles of power.

Funny, Ive noticed that Gibson is selling the Dirty Fingers again.. How does it compare with a 500T? That one is nice and aggressive, but I fear it'll be too bright.?I dont want too bright nor, too muddy.. Is the X2n muddy?

In the bridge of a Kramer with a Floyd? I wouldn't say so. In the neck of a Paul...probably not a good choice.


Originally Posted by 9fingerHow about bypassing all of the above, and getting a real Lawrence 500XL.

You don't get much more aggressive than that in a passive pickup!

Yup!!! Thats a killer choice!!!!!

I may just try the XL500. May as well go all out. Let the wait begin.
Ive used Bill's pups with great results. I see in HC reviews where several recommend mounting the xl500 backwards to enhance the lows. Im real leary of what I read over there. Anyone confirm this? ( they say Dime used to do this) Also, how does the XL500 sound with a tube amp? Ive listened to pantera and know how it sounds SS. If Im not happy, Ill put in the holy grail of trem guitar pups .. (Blues saraceno trembucker) That one is tone to the bone, but I wanted to try something hotter in this one. Thanks!


Originally Posted by AcemanIn the bridge of a Kramer with a Floyd? I wouldn't say so. In the neck of a Paul...probably not a good choice.
Wouldnt say so what? Too bright? Im not following..thanks

BloodRose, I had one of those Kramer's and put a JB into it and it made it a completely new guitar. THe tone was totally awesome. I would recomend doing that you will not be disappointed my friend.

If you've got the ability to do some sculpting with your amp...Full shred is a good choice too...not totally balls to the wall but a good HO pickup

worked for Viv.

Dirty fingers is a bit scoopy..at least the old ones were...you need some mids from the guitar itself to beef it up..I think it may not sound too good in a bolt on neck/floyd guitar.

500T has more mids, about the same brightness as the DF (about like a SuperD or Duncan Distortion)..500T adjusted correctly, IMO is a very good HO pup. But you really have to do some work to find the sweet spot on the individual guitar.


Originally Posted by BloodRose

how does the XL500 sound with a tube amp?

Sounds good in my SG into a 2204-ish amp. Nice and crunchy.

The wait...heh. I was mad about that for a while after getting a few different lines and being told it was shipped. That faded with the passage of time, and the 500XL and 500R set for the SG worked out quite well. The XL is warm and middy, clear, high output (~18K IIRC), nice highs, nice lows. The R is one of the clearest neck pups I've heard, keeps the highs even when the volume is rolled off for a clean neck/ dirty bridge setup, has a bit of bluesiness to it, and I keep thinking of the sound of nickel when I hear it. Like night and day compared to the 490's that were in that axe.


Originally Posted by BloodRoseWouldnt say so what? Too bright? Im not following..thanksIt wouldn't be too muddy. My Kramer isn't at all muddy. But it's Mother%$#$ hot!

EMG 85. Ballsy and aggressive as hell.

If the body is maple, many Kramers were, then don't put a JB in there. It will be too bright. Custom Custom would work better.

If it's alder, the choices are endless but I would recommend a CC (because it can scream), the X2N because it is insane, and a REAL Bill Lawrence L500XL ( from : localhost/www.billlawrence.com/).


Originally Posted by DirtbaggBloodRose, I had one of those Kramer's and put a JB into it and it made it a completely new guitar. THe tone was totally awesome. I would recomend doing that you will not be disappointed my friend.

Dirtbagg,Thanks! My First guitar was a Kramer Striker and before I sold it, I dropped a JB in. (this was my first aftermarket pup) That was a completely different axe afterward!! Had I not bought a Charvel and had to sell the Kramer to pay for it, I would have kept the Kramer after that.Jeff B, Yeah, Ive always been curious about the Full Shred and may try it down the road.

Erik,
From what I gather, the body isnt maple. I dont care for maple bodied guitars cuz of the brightness. I have a Carvin V220 and had a heck of a time warming it up. Maple/ebony/brass nut/ kahler. A Duncan C5 did the trick.I love the CC but want something alittle more rude. And yes, I deal only with Bill the man himself. Thanks for the heads up tho


Originally Posted by BloodRoseErik,
From what I gather, the body isnt maple. I dont care for maple bodied guitars cuz of the brightness. I have a Carvin V220 and had a heck of a time warming it up. Maple/ebony/brass nut/ kahler. A Duncan C5 did the trick.I love the CC but want something alittle more rude. And yes, I deal only with Bill the man himself. Thanks for the heads up tho

It is most likely alder. I know my Baretta is maple. It's heavy as hell and bright as hell too. I put a CC in it and now it's perfect. The JB was simply too bright.

I used to have a Striker too. Got it dirt cheap, 1 hum - 2 singles. It was a POS really, made of plywood. Any hot pickup made those things sound good.