Recommend pickups for hair metal tone

[jonasaberg]

I want to achieve the ultimate "hair metal tone" (think Warrant, Firehouse, CC Deville etc). What kind of pups would you recommend for that (humbucker)?
I'm thinking perhaps Duncan JB in the bridge but what should I put in the neck (single coil)? Looking for more of a strat tone there but a bit more aggressive.

I don't care about the middle pup as I don't really use it. I'm even thinking about disconnecting it completely.

[Sunbane]

For humbuckers: Jackson J-80C. It sounds very "Mötley" through a Marshall.

[Mordor]

I'd use a Di Marzio Super Distortion rather than a JB for hair metal, expecially if used with a mid/high gain amp like a JCM800.

[jonasaberg]

I was actually thinking about the Super Distortion as well. Didn't really know which one to choose.

[thunderhead]

Dont worry about the pickups.... Tone is in the hair spray can.

[Dreamland_Rebel]

Dimarzio Super Distortion - motley crue / iron maiden
Duncan Distortion - poison / ozzy
Duncan JB - ratt / bon jovi

[Mr Metal]

Dimarzio Super Distortion - motley crue / iron maiden
Duncan Distortion - poison / ozzy
Duncan JB - ratt / bon jovi

+1

[sonicsamurai]

duncan distortion - classic dokken, WASP
duncan 59? - WHite Lion
PAF - Van Halen

[sonicsamurai]

the obvious answer is an HS3 for the neck

[Dave67]

Dimarzio Super Distortion - motley crue / iron maiden
Duncan Distortion - poison / ozzy
Duncan JB - ratt / bon jovi

Agree.
The Dimarzio Super 3 works well with the scooped mids of 80s, think Def Leppard.

[ezbprimerib]

Dimarzio Super Distortion - motley crue / iron maiden
Duncan Distortion - poison / ozzy
Duncan JB - ratt / bon jovi

+1

[GryphonGuitar]

Yeah, I'd say Super Distortion or Duncan Distortion as well. The JB may be too mellow to some ears, but remember that hair metal tone is not about gobs of distortion...

[MartinBarre]

Yeah, I'd say Super Distortion or Duncan Distortion as well. The JB may be too mellow to some ears, but remember that hair metal tone is not about gobs of distortion...

Dave Mustaine used a JB for years. Mellow?

I'd say the JB would do a fine job of hair metal.

I don't understand why people are mentioning Def Leppard as hair metal (a band who always offer much more than Joe Elliot and Rick Savage's hair) and can someone explain to me how IRON MAIDEN qualify as hair metal? Because they've got hair?

[Dreamland_Rebel]

i wouldn't call Iron Maiden hair metal, but i wanted to give them as a reference for the Super Distortion.

George Lynch is the perfect example of the Duncan Distortion. i should have thought of that earlier.

[DonP]

George Lynch is the perfect example of the Duncan Distortion. i should have thought of that earlier.

I used to think that as well, in fact I have a Duncan Zebra DDJ for a Lynch project.

However, my Bengal SL2H (with a TB4) does a great job nailing his early tone (Breaking the Chains). I would have though a Duncan Distortion would be the go-to pickup. I have old mags where he always says Duncan Distortion, but I've also heard hearsay on forums about him using a JB.

For Under Lock and Key, I use a Screamin' Demon.

I haven't played stuff on Tooth and Nail for a while, maybe a DD is right for that album?