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Hello all,
I need help with some pickup upgrades. I have an Ibanez AR-50 that I want to change the pickups on. I know there is another thread on this but he wants a more vintage sound where I have other needs. I want to have a bridge pickup that can handle a mesa triple rec. I want a very heavy metallic sound but also want it to be able to produce hard rock sound ala Nuno Bettencourt with my second channel. I would also like to split to a single coil as well. For the neck I would like a good clean sound and a nice lead tone (I get pretty happy with the toggle switch). I have done some research and have narrowed it down to some options. For the bridge a Dimarzio Super Distortion, X2N, Breed Bridge, Evolution, Duncan JB, Duncan Custom, or a Duncan Distortion. For the neck I have narrowed it down to Dimarzio PAF Pro, PAF Joe, Breed neck, Duncan ?59, or a Duncan Jazz. I was also considering a Bill Lawrence L-500 set up.
I also have a Washburn Dime Stealth that I put a Dimebucker in. Would I bet better with a ?59 or a Jazz in the neck. Please tone experts what are my best options on both guitars. All help is very much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Hey man, welcome to the forum!

First of all I'm going to warn you I'm not very familiar with the guitar's constuction (woods etc) I also couldn't find it on their site. But I'm going to guess it is similiar to the Artist line that is currently in production? This is the majority of my pup breakdown, I hope you find it useful. Also listen to the soundclips till your ears bleed, then do it some more. Also don't let output be the only thing you look at, you can always boost your signal, and come on it IS a Mesa front end.

The 59---The 59 is the quintessential A5 PAF (patent applied for) pup. Imagine getting in a time machine and going back to 1959 and swiping a brand new A5 pup from the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo and bringing it forward to today. They have found most homes in many neck slots. It has symetrical coils and lots of quack. It has thumping bass, a scooped mid, and cutting highs. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Seth Lover---This pup is as true to the original as can be. This pup is unpotted and comes standard with a gold, or nickel pup cover. It has an A2 magnet and has good quack and fair mids. For this pup imagine going back in time to 1955 and grabbing one of the very first PAF's before they debuted in the LP's. This pup is warm and creamy, but can also get bright with the tone knob on 10. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Alnico 2 Pro---The warmest of the Duncan PAF line. It has symetrical coils and is a modern take on the A2 PAFs. It has round bass and smooth treble, it also has lots of mids to make the guitar really sing. It will warm up the coldest or shrillest of guitars. The most well known Alnico 2 Pro user is Slash of Velvet Revolver and GNR. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

Pearly Gates---The PG is the hottest of the Duncan PAF line. It has asymetrical (mismatched) coils and an A2 magnet. The mismatched coils give this particular pup its rude personality. It has a frequency push in the Presence/Cut knob frequency band. This is the quot;Sizzlequot; PG owner talk about. It has the most mids of the Ducan PAF line and is also the hottest. Its patron is Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Standard 4 conductor Wire

The Jazz---The jazz is the pup that bridges the gap between Vintage and Modern pups. Its output is at or around the vintage level. Don't let the name fool you this pup is very versatile and smooth. It has an A5 magnet and is very widely used in the neck slot. It is articulate regardless of the tuning as well. This pup negociates cleans or overdrive very well. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

The Custom Series---The Custom Series is all on pup configuration but with different magnets. The coils are symmetrical and the pups come with Standard 4 Conductor wire

Custom---The Custom is a PAF kicked up a few notches. This pup gets its aggressive edge from its Ceramic magnet. This pup has lots of grind with good treble and midrange. It also has ample bass for palm mute playing.

Custom Custom---The Custom Custom is a midrange heavy pup that lends itself to leads and warming bright guitars. This pup gets its huge midrange from the Alnico 2 magnet. I has smooth bass and treble. Essentially it is an overwound A2 PAF.

Custom 5---The Custom 5 is a pup with an EQ very identical to The 59. It has thumping bass, scooped mids, and cutting treble. Like the 59 it is a bright pup that will liven up dark guitar, but the bass can be overwhelming in a bassy guitar, or the the treble overwhelming in a trebly guitar.

JB---The JB is in a class of its own. There is really no other pup like it. It has fair bass and lots of treble. This particular pup has a large upper mids spike that allow it to cut through the mix like no other. It can be heard on countless recording especially throughout the 80's. Lots of people like to pair it with a Jazz or 59 in the neck. In bright guitars it is usually soldered to a 250k pot just like the original Seymour made 30 years ago.

Distortion---Same coil configuration as the JB, but it has an oversized ceramic magnet. It has high output which drives an amp well into, and beyond OD/Dist. It has a very aggressive high and and pretty good low end with good mid and tons of harmonics.

Hope this helps!

Luke

Thanks for the info. I have read about the d- sonic and the megadrive so I am throwing them two in the mix as well. (lot of research ahead )