Pickup suggestions for maple?

[mab8485]

I've got a pre-pro charvel tele with a maple body, maple neck, and ebony fretboard. It has a JB in the bridge and a 59 in the neck. I love the 59, but the JB is a little too brittle. I'm looking for something to fatten up the bridge a bit. Any suggestions? I play hard rock and metal.

[dg]

Hard to beat a Duncan Custom, imo. I haven't heard one in an all-maple bodied guitar, though. I can definitely believe the JB would be pretty harsh in there.

[straycat]

Swap pickup positions and see if that helps JBs sound pretty good in the neck.

[Dave L]

You want fatness, you say? Try one of the higher-output Andersons.

[mab8485]

Swap pickup positions and see if that helps JBs sound pretty good in the neck.

Sounds like an experiment for next weekend. The 59 in the neck actually has a "59b" sticker on the back. I'm thinking if I like the 59 in the bridge, this guitar might get a 59 set and become my classic rock guitar. It'll be interesting to hear the JB in the neck.......

[mab8485]

You want fatness, you say? Try one of the higher-output Andersons.

Anderson pickups might be a little hard to come by in Australia. I'll check out their website.


DG, what is the custom like tonally?

[Dave L]

I guess there is a risk of Anderson not producing any more pickups, but I´m sure there are plenty left unsold. And I´m also pretty sure they should have an australian dealer.

[Dreamland_Rebel]

George Lynch used Duncan Distortions in his all maple strats back when Dokken was Rokken.

[dg]

Anderson pickups might be a little hard to come by in Australia. I'll check out their website.


DG, what is the custom like tonally?

Duncan describes the Custom as a "PAF on steroids" and that's a great description. It's got some of the character of the '59, but with more output & sustain. It's got a great combination of good clear mids, awesome harmonics, and tight bottom end. I've got Customs in 3 different guitars: my Model 6, Dweezil Charvel, and I just put one in my SD pointy Charvel after trying out a Custom 5 for a while (lacked mids, imo, & had less of a biting tone than I like). Each one sounds great but completely different from the others, so it's a pickup that doesn't overwhelm the guitar's natural tone. The Distortion is also a great pickup, and is my 2nd favorite right now.

[Soap]

Characteristics for maple usually are = bright and loads of sustain.
I love maple bodies.
What I've use and sampled in maple bodies.
Screamin Demon = Designed for Lynch's signature guitars. Great pickups does everything well.
EVH = A warmer pickup but sounds killer in maple and sound wonderful clean in maple as well. Brings out alot its characteristics that are masked in a basswood body. Its sustains well also in a maple body.
Duncan Custom 5 = Just an all around very good pickup. Its the pickup used frequently by Jackson and Charvel in some of the guitars. Sounds good in a maple too.

Remember maple is bright and some pu's used in combination with maple, cause your picking hand techq to stand out, really stand out.
Just something I thought you should know. For some this is a big deal and for some its not. For me, it made me work harder to improve my picking hand techq because I didn't notice it much on my other electric. Nonetheless, I love maple bodies regardless.

[Jackson-Charvel]

+1 Duncan Distortion for MAPLE!!!!!

[toejam]

DiMarzio Tone Zone!

[Bengal65]

I have a Duncan Screamin' Demon ready to go into my maple body/neck combination ala Lynch. If I ever get my body and neck back from Paul at Bighead I'll let you know how it sounds!

[max]

Dimarzio Super3 would be my first try for an all-maple guitar. A high output warm sounding pup. Next thing would be a Duncan Invader.

[DonP]

George Lynch used Duncan Distortions in his all maple strats back when Dokken was Rokken.

+1