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Hey guys, I'm looking to replace the bridge pickups in my 2005 Ibanez SZ 520. It's string thru, mahogany body w/maple cap and a mahogany neck.

I'm looking at the Duncan JB, I'm into stuff like Avenged Sevenfold, Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage.

I play through a Peavey XXX and a modded 5150 through a 5150 4x12. Normally I'm an EMG guy but I'm looking to try something different. I was also looking at the Duncan Invader but I think it'll be too dark and muddy in this particular guitar.

All info and opinions are appreciated.

Thanks.

EDIT: My main concern is that the JB will not have enough low-end and girth for what I want. I need something that cuts really well but has some body.

I would recommend the Custom for the kind of music you're describing. It's thicker, punchier, and more aggressive than the JB. The JB has a lot of cut, but can be a tad lacking in the bass for the really heavy stuff. I've also heard great things about the Dimebucker, although I don't have any personal experience with it.

I agree with Koolkat; the JB can cut, but to me, it just doesn't have the chunky lower end for the heavier stuff. It's not a bad pickup by any means, but I would suggest otherwise for your type of music.

Go with a Custom! I have both in my guitars, and the JB is comming out soon. Just not thick enough. I play an XXX as well.

Thanks for the replies guys. I was really hoping the JB would do it for me.

I always heard that the Custom was rather harsh so I stayed away from that one.

Nope, the Custom will be more aggressive than the JB, but the JB by far has more high end.

The DD will give you smooth distorted tones w/good bottom end, and is not the least bit shrill. Just an idea.

I don't see how either the Custom or JB wouldn't be cool.

How about an SH-6 Duncan Distortion? This is the pickup that most of those bands you mentioned use.

I find the JB has plenty of Bass, use your bass knob. I had a JB took it out and put in a custom. It was not what I wanted so I put the JB back in. In the guitar I was using the CUstom had a bit of shrillness that my JB did not. I hear the opposite from others though. I lopve the boosted mids of the JB which seems to fill out my tone. But the Custom has more of the punch you seem to be describing that you want.

^ I know Killswitch uses EMG 85's, LOG uses Invaders and I'm not too sure what A7X uses.

I've got the Duncan Designed Distortion in the guitar right now as it came stock, and it's just about the worst pickup I've ever used. It makes my 1/2 stack seem like I'm playing through an 8quot; speaker. It's extremely thin with NO body whatsoever. So if the USA Distortion is anything like that I'm not interested.

I'm normally an EMG guy, I'd just like to try something different.


Originally Posted by killswitch_19^ I know Killswitch uses EMG 85's, LOG uses Invaders and I'm not too sure what A7X uses.

I've got the Duncan Designed Distortion in the guitar right now as it came stock, and it's just about the worst pickup I've ever used. It makes my 1/2 stack seem like I'm playing through an 8quot; speaker. It's extremely thin with NO body whatsoever. So if the USA Distortion is anything like that I'm not interested.

I'm normally an EMG guy, I'd just like to try something different.

Just wondering what do you think of the emg 85 in the bridge?
I never thought the distortion was thin at all when I used one.

Thinking about it, if you did want to try out a JB, I'd trade you one for an 85 if you'd want.

I don't use an EMG 85, nor have I tried one in the bridge. I was just saying that was what Killswitch Engage are using.

I use EMG 81's which I love.

THe 85 is supposed to be alot darker with alot more bottom then the 81. I would would only recommend it for a lighter, bolt-on style guitar.

I have an Ibanez SZ320, which has the same pick up you have on yours. I tried my JB in the 320 and the stock Ibanez pickup had more balls. It also had more balls than the JB while the JB was installed in my LTD/ESP Les Paul copy (ec-400ATS) which also has a mahogony body.

If you are ussing both pickups (middle position), they are wired so both pickups will be split (single coil mode), hence the thin sound. They will go to humbucker (dual coil) mode when using bridge or neck, but not both. Is is possible is was wired incorrectly

Maybe your amp, string gauge, pick guage????

I'd recomend a Dimebucker.

And last time I checked, I quot;heardquot; the invader was supose to be bright.