[HamBungler]

Okay, I'm planning on switching out my crappy Duncan Designed bridge pickup in my Schecter Avenger 7 with either a Duncan SH-4 JB7 or a DiMarzio X2N7, or possibly another pickup suggestion if its within price range (Limit is around $100, I'm getting $120 for my birthday and plan on buying that and a new AC adapter). I play mostly Megadeth-style thrashy stuff mixed with a little In Flames chug here and there. I'd like some good ryhthm chug that's versatile enough for leads now and again. I'm kinda shying away from the Evolution 7, but if one of you can convince me otherwise I might have to try it out!

Muchos Thanks!

-The Bungler

[noodles]

With all that mahogany, you owe it to yourself to check out a SH-5 Custom. If you don't like the ceramic magnet in it, just pull the alnico 5 out off the Duncan Designed and drop it in the Custom.

[HamBungler]

Originally Posted by noodles

With all that mahogany, you owe it to yourself to check out a SH-5 Custom. If you don't like the ceramic magnet in it, just pull the alnico 5 out off the Duncan Designed and drop it in the Custom.

Hmm, I'll have to look into it. I don't prefer Ceramics over Alnicos or anything, though I haven't had much experience playing many different pickups other than Ceramics I think. I've never been able to get a particularly bad sound out of them either. I'll check out some reviews and sound samples. Are there any Schecter models that come standard with an SH-5 so I could try it out to see if its to my liking?

[frank falbo]

I agree as well. Try the Custom 7. I had the JB7 in my Schecter Blackjack, and it was a little bright and harsh for me. The Custom 7, or Custom "5" 7 would be better. The X2N is just going to be tearing the paint off the amp at all times. You can wire it with a split or parallel switch to clean it up, but I'd say even if you're a total gain/overdrive freak, you'll still prefer the Custom 7 to the X2N.

[Edroz]

The X2N7 i think works great with solid state/ digital amps, but when you throw a tube amp at it seems to get confused , sounds great, but just a little hard to control with tubes.
the Dimarzio D Activators are currently my favorite pickups, absolutely love them. don't know if they're for everybody though.
as far as duncans go, i'm probably not the best to give a recommendation since my favorite duncans are the Custom Custom and Pearly Gates for which their are no 7 string versions for.

[HamBungler]

Originally Posted by frank falbo

I agree as well. Try the Custom 7. I had the JB7 in my Schecter Blackjack, and it was a little bright and harsh for me. The Custom 7, or Custom "5" 7 would be better. The X2N is just going to be tearing the paint off the amp at all times. You can wire it with a split or parallel switch to clean it up, but I'd say even if you're a total gain/overdrive freak, you'll still prefer the Custom 7 to the X2N.

Ahh, well, I tend to like a little harsher-brighter treble than most people, but also a tight, articulate low-end. If the Custom or Custom 5 can do that then I might have to go with it, but I like what I've heard of the JBs. As for the paint tearing, I don't mind either. As long it doesn't sound overly bad, of course.

Originally Posted by Edroz

The X2N7 i think works great with solid state/ digital amps, but when you throw a tube amp at it seems to get confused , sounds great, but just a little hard to control with tubes.
the Dimarzio D Activators are currently my favorite pickups, absolutely love them. don't know if they're for everybody though.
as far as duncans go, i'm probably not the best to give a recommendation since my favorite duncans are the Custom Custom and Pearly Gates for which their are no 7 string versions for.

I do play through mostly solid state stuff right now (2 different Crate heads and a Fender 85) So the X2N would probably do alright in those. Though I use a Rocktron Metal Planet so the distortion could get a little harsh I'd think.
I've been looking into the D-Activators a little bit. Do they have a tight bass response and sound fairly bright? If so I might actually go with the bridge model of that because it looked intriguing.

[Cancer]

I used the X2N7, and the thing belches metal, I love it BUT it is a bit of a one trick pony(and it does that trick perversely well). You'll probably get more versatility from the Custom.

[HamBungler]

Originally Posted by Cancer

I used the X2N7, and the thing belches metal, I love it BUT it is a bit of a one trick pony(and it does that trick perversely well). You'll probably get more versatility from the Custom.

Sweeet. Well, versatility is good, but I'm looking mostly for a good metal sound of course with good chunk. I have heard people being able to get it to do more than usual, so I might just go ahead and see if I can figure that out for myself! As long as it sounds better than the DD in there I think I'll be quite satisfied

[zimbloth]

The Duncan Custom is my new favorite pickup. Unbelievable. It's like a blend between what I love about the JB and Invader (has fat clear singing leads like a JB and brutal growly lows like an invader). That said, I'm using it in an alder/maple guitar. In mahogany, it's so low middy, I don't know if that would work out.

[kmanick]

I've got the SH5 Custom in the bridge of my Carvin right now (just had it put in on Tuesday).
It sounds way better than the Stock Carvin that was in there but it's still
a little brighter than I'd like. The note definition on the lower strings is waaaaaaaaay better
than it was with the Carvin pickup.
I've also got one in my new GMW (mahogany body with a maple top , same as my Carvin) and it sounds great in that guitar as well. I think the SH-5 has more personality than the JB

Do we have a tutorial on how to swap the Ceramic magnet to an Alnico?
I've got a BK Cold Sweat on it's way for the neck and before I try a Nailbomb I'd like to see how the SH-5 sounds with an alnico magnet .
I also just received my gold OFR 7 , so my Carvin is getting a full hardware facelift

...oh and are there any of those Alnicos left from that last run you guys did.