[bazguitarman]

I`m going to try my best to notmake this into another "What pickup for me" thread. So I want to get pretty specific in my inquiry.

First I will lay out my rig to give everyone a good base line of what I have to work with. The guitar in question is a basswood RG7321 which is strung with 10-56`s and tuned 1/2 step flat. I am playing through an unmodded Peavey 5150 II head which is loaded with Tung-sol reissues in the pre-amp and JJ 6L6GC`s in the power amp. Running through a Boogie "over-sized" standard 4x12 with well broken in V30`s. I use effects very, very sparingly. I have a wah in front of the amp and a pedal digital delay, EVH Phase 90, MXR 10-band and a Boss NS-2 in the loop. I use Monster Cables 500 series "rock" cables into the amp and for effects send and return. My pedal board is set up with George L`s patch cables.

Secondly is style. I`m 36 and my formative years were the 80`s. In which i became a huge fan of thrash metal and the "bay area" type riffing. I was a huge fanboy of Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, Testament, Iron Maiden, etc in the 80`s and Pantera in the 90`s. But unlike a lot of geezers I don`t live in the past. I devour new metal like food and water. Particular faves are LOG, Chimaira, All That Remains, Unearth, Demiricous, etc. I would say that my style is rooted in 80`s thrash/speed metal, but with the groove of 90`s Pantera and the modern crunchy tones of the newer bands. I only play origional music which I usually build around simple and catchy riff ideas. Not speedy, but moderately brisk with fast breakdowns.

Check out the clip "Cold Steel Circle" on my band page for a good idea of the slower type riffing I do. The "untitled" clip is a little faster. My more normal tempo.

www.myspace.com/diedeadgone

Thirdly is tone. This is simple. Keeping in mind that my 5150 II is huge in the upper mids and has a tight bass responce. I like having a thick, thick bass responce, but not boomy, woofy or loose. I`m not playing bass. I just want thick, tight bass responce with very good pick attack. I like a smooth and controllable mid-range. It doesn`t need to be beaky or accentuated, but I don`t want it hollow either. I prefer the top end to be sweet and crisp with a singing charactor. I normally use my bridge position pup for crunchy, tight rhythms and cutting leads. I use the neck position for smooth soloing in a "woman tone" type way. I also use the neck positions and in between positions for faux clean tones for intros, quiet breaks and outros.

After doing quite a bit of research for the past two weeks, I have decided my first try at aftermarket pups will be the Dimarzio D-Sonic 7 in the bridge. With the solid bar polepiece toward the bridge. And an Air Norton 7 in the neck position.

*Question*- Do you guys think I am barking up the right tree with these two pups? I don`t want to replicate the above tones, but you get an idea of what I`m looking for.

What say you?

Thanks,
Eric

[technomancer]

Since I had the guitar you have now, and had that pickup combo in it, I can say you should be happy with it. That combo definitely sounds better in mahogany as it can be a little bright in basswood, but turn down your treble a tad and you should be fine

[Hellbound]

I must say that the paf7 that came in my K7 definately has more of a bass response to it than the D sonic but to me it sounds muddier. I don't think you can go wrong with the d sonic just takes a bit more tweaking and you can get the bass response really close to where you want it. Yeah go with the D sonic you will not be let down.

BTW I'm using pretty much what you are using a 6505 and a mesa 4X12 with the vintage 30's. I also have a TS9 thrown in front of it which helps things out tremendously as far as overall tone and gain....everything. I may be trying out the TS808 since I hear it's alot better....I want to find out for myself.

[The Dark Wolf]

The DS7 is kind of noisy.

I played mine last week through a Peavey 6505, which is the same thing, basically. I wasn't super impressed. I think a warmer/fatter pickup would work better for that (although my DS7/custom DS7 work great for my setup. Think more like Meshuggah-meets-Nevermore tones).


Maybe the D Activator 7? In theory, the DS7 sounds perfect for you, but like I said - 1. I wasn't nuts about it in a 5150/6505 (my friend's Dimebucker sounded better), and 2. as Steve said, it's a better fit for mahogany than basswood.

My votes, if Dimarzio, are maybe the DA7 (which I have not played), or the Blaze/Blaze Custom (which I have, and love. I think they might fit the rather bright 5150 better overall.

[999dead666]

your influences are the same as mine. testament, forbidden, slayer, metallica ( till and justice for all ) malevolent creation were and still one my favorite riffing bands. back to your question. i remember when i wanted to change my pups i was wondering what to choose between evolution b blaze n combo or the d sonic an ir norton combo. finally i picked the evolution and im really happy with it. it gives this thick fast strong attack with palm muting. and every tone is clear to the ear. much clearer than any pickup out there except active ones. but with evolution you get tone and dynamics. i posted samples in earlier thread you can check them again incase you didnt : http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...?bandID=676537

try to lestine to the 2nd one called evolution . i had my bass on 2 only!! and my middle on 7 trebele on 4. i like lots of midrange. so incase the sound wasnt that bassy to you remember i had my settings diffrent from others. good luck with your mission for better sound

[The Dark Wolf]

Ah, yeah. The EVO7 is a good choice, too.

[Drew]

Yeah, for growly bass, especially with an amp with strong upper mids, the Blaze is the first thing that springs to mind, but it's admittedly not as "tight" as a DS7 would be...

[EdgeCrusher]

The DS7 and AN7 would be perfect for you, they are my favorite pickups, as well as Petrucci's.