luekemeyer

Super Distortions rule the world. I have seen them take over other pickups, just like in the movie transformers.

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JCM 2000 DSL 100 & MC412 Cab
Crate Blue Voodoo BV-120H and 4x12 Cab
ADA 1/2 Cab

POD X3 Live
VOX ToneLab
Tube Screamer
Flanger
Phase 90
Chorus
Crybaby Wah

Epi Les Paul Plus Top - Dimarzio Super Distortions
Dean Dime Shadow ML - Dimebucker bridge
Ibanez RG - Van Halen II paint job - Dimebucker
Kramer Aerostar
Fender Squire Strat(From Corona Plant employee sale)

HOT TUBES 70

if thats the case , sticking to the topic !!
the best 80s metal pick up would have to be a FURY GUITARS ZP 20.
no other pup that i have ever tryed sounded that good , ZP stands for
zero pole , its a patented design that has no magnetic effect on the
string , very high gain pick pup! but good sounding.

my late 80s early 90s rig was jacksons w/ zp 20 into my JCM 800
2210 w / a 4x12 , and a few assorted pedals. it sounded good !

only one problem , the owner of the company has retired , and has
stopped making these pick ups , he said that they were expensive
to make . they are very rare . i have 2 of them left..

plexipaul

DiMarzio PAF Pro
Bill Lawrence L500XL
Gibson 500T

Dmann

Any active pickup, + an ADA MP1 or MP2 preamp. ART effects units were widely used as well.

HOT TUBES 70

i just find that active pick ups take away all the natural warmth from the guitar
thats my only beef with EMG and alike.
my pal still uses his ADA MP1 pre amp , works great for metal imo.
i have heard good things about the bill lawrence pups. but i have
never played a guitar with them in it .

drolaw

I've tried the Super Distortions and EMG's. Didn't like any of them. Took the recommendation to try a Seymour Duncan Distrotion pickup and it was very close to what I wanted but it wasn't as warm as I would have liked it. So I finally put the JB in my guitar and BAM it's THE sound I was looking for.

The JB can do it all. EMG's, to my ears, are a one trick pony and not very warm. The Super Distortions are too fuzzy for me. The JB had thump that I could feel in my chest and sustain for days.

HOT TUBES 70

you and me are on the same page , i had the same problem with EMG,s
not very focused sounding imo , very loose .
the JB has a long history of being a great pick up ,in many types of
guitars and music , seymour had been building pups for a large group
of players at the time , but he kept on being asked to have the same
pick up as JEFF BECK , that was a custom wind for jeff at the time , but
not exclusive !! so over time it was just refered to as the JEFF BECK pup.
very classic gibson / paf but with some "balls" thrown in on it. its the
worlds best selling humbucking pup. very good all around pup.
as for the real thick saturation i still like my rare FURY ZP20's , not much
that i have played over the years can match these humbuckers.

jcmjmp

I find this statement odd. The EMG 81 is one of the tighest sounding pickup out there. Excellent pickup for clear note definition and fast attack. I haven't played a pickup that is as tight sounding as the EMG 81 yet. For stuff like Megadeth, Metallica (think Battery, Trapped under Ice, One), the EMGs are hard to beat.

jcmjmp

The ADA MP-1 is absolutely awesome. I still use mine. Great sounds in that little preamp and more than enough gain & distortion to avoid the need for a boost or OD pedal. Coupled with a TC Electronic G-Major and a stereo amp, the sound is just jaw dropping.

HOT TUBES 70

This is just my opinion about the EMG's ,i just don't like them v/s other pick ups that have tryed IMO.
BUT AGAIN TO EACH THERE OWN !

Silverbursted

IMO EMGs have their place, for example the sound really good in a Strat to give you that David Gilmore sound, but in a Les Paul they sound muddy. Again this is my opinion.
I'm getting ready to swap out the pups on my Traditional, and I'm toward the JB/Jazz combo in order to achieve that 80s tone. I have no desire to carve into my Lester for any tone.

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Gear
2007 Gibson Les Paul 1959 Reissue
2008 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty
2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2007 Fender Yngwei Malmsteen
2009 Jackson Custom Shop Soloist
2007 Traveller Speedster
Marshall JVM410c (Inbound)
Laney VC15

anvil

80's sound !
That is easy man Jackson guitar with EMG's and at least 1 marshall 800 or older and a stack of greenbacks IE 2 /4 /12 cabs with green backs in them black backs sound good too but there just not the greenies.

Anvil

Personal note :
Need to rig a light above my key board so i can see to type all the letters in the dark..:>(

ToneZone100

I have been using Dimarzio's for years. I currently have a "Fred" in the bridge and a Paf Pro in the neck on one of my Charvels and a Tonezone in the bridge of the other. I also have a Paf Pro in the bridge of my Iceman, and a Paf Pro sat on the shelf doiing nothing!
The Tonezone is basically a hotted up PAF Pro and the Fred is also similar to the Paf Pro but with a more "nasal" pronounced midrange (to my ear) and a slightly higher output.
I am considering getting a Trembucker to tinker with as I tend to chop and change a little with pickups. My last flirtation with SD was back in the 80's when I had a PINK "Full Shred" in my Charvel model 1. I found it a bit OTT and muddled.
I must say it pays to get a pickup that suits your guitar. I have tried various combinations of my pickups in my guitars and the guitar itself will affect the overall tone of any pickup you fit. My Model 1 Charvel is a bright sounding guitar in general but my Model 3 is noticeably thicker sounding and benefits from a brighter sounding pickup. as a contrast my Firebird is more like a Les Paul. It all depends on the wood and setup of the guitar. It's also worth considering changing the pots to get the desired result.
Have you considered "Bareknuckle" pups, I haven't actually played one but they get very very good reviews.

psphill27

OK...lots of stuff here on the JB. Some say they love it (agree) some say it's too warm and would go with EMG (like them too, and own them). Tubes says they get rid of natural sounds (agree).

Bottom line...for '80s metal the JB is my favorite pickup. I had two custom painted Kramer Berettas back in the day with zebra JBs and the sound was incredible. Putting those through my marshall (with a few effects) i thought produced excellent tone. It's what I used.

Maybe not good for Slayer, but anything from Ratt and Dokken to Maiden, it will definately get the job done.

jcmjmp

The problem is that a lot of people have opinions but don't really know what they're talking about.

Zakk Wylde uses EMGs, a Les Paul and a JCM800 2204. Is his sound muddy? Hmmm.... I think not. If you think so, you might want to get your ears checked.

guitartate

I for one enjoy the 500t and the 496r in my LP. I think the sound awesome for metal.

Silverbursted

I concede that Zakk Wylde is anything but muddy, perhaps muddy was not the right term to use. I guess when I think of 80s hair metal, Mr. Wylde does not immediately come to mind. Though I realize he was very big during that period. I usually think of the likes of Dokken, Ratt, Maiden, Motle Crue, VH etc.

__________________
Gear
2007 Gibson Les Paul 1959 Reissue
2008 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty
2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2007 Fender Yngwei Malmsteen
2009 Jackson Custom Shop Soloist
2007 Traveller Speedster
Marshall JVM410c (Inbound)
Laney VC15

jcmjmp

Exactly. EMGs are NOT the 80's metal sound. Dokken, Ratt, Crue, VH did NOT use EMGs at all.

preston

ok so for my ibanez prestige which is the neck thru and alder body ill go with the duncan jbs. but the other rg which is a bolt on and basswood body whats best, the tone zone, paf pro, or get the same duncan jbs?

Shawn Fate

Seymour Duncan Custom Shop 78

http://www.seymourduncan.com/product...8_model_great/

FLICKOFLASH

YouTube - Bole's TopHat Review

The TopHats are exclusively made in a limited run for & sold thru our Admin Alex

sojatriani

With the Basswood Rg you will want something with a little less output, to warm up the basswood. The Tone Zone, PAF pro, Air Norton, Fred, SD Custom Custom, SD PAF, the JB is way to brittle sounding in the Basswood Bolt on, I have an RG550 and it was OK with 250K pots and a JB. Dimarzios always sound better in Ibanez guitars.

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Marshall 92 JCM 900 4101/running thru 1936 212 cab
Marshall 2008 Vintage Modern half stack
1975 VOX AC30 with extension cab
Peavey Classic 50 212 combo
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'85 Les paul
'74 strat
2002 American Deluxe Strat/Fat 50's
2004 Richie Sambora Strat
1997 USA Roadhouse Strat
1992 Ibanez RG 550
1996 ESP Eclipse

DocNrock

Another DiMarzio that is very versatile, but will nail that 80's tone is the Norton.

preston

well just so every one knows i went ahead and put the dimarzio paf pro on the ibanez 320 and the seymour duncan jbs on the rgt prestige. they are SICK! ill have to you tube it or something so everyone can get a feel for the sound of them.

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1985 Marshall JCM 800 4010
1982 Marshall JCM 800 4210
Gibson Les Paul Standard - Burstbuckers
Ibanez RGT Prestige 220A - Seymour Duncan JB
Ibanez RG 320 FM - Dimarzio Paf Pro
Taylor 214
Godin Seagull Limited 25th Anniversary

thrashforlife95

sd george lynch forgot what their called

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07 ibanez rg 350 dx
08 yahmaha fg720s
09 lespaul studio

HOT TUBES 70

not so much of a paf pro fan but the JB is one of the best all around
humbuckers made IMO !!

HOT TUBES 70

lynch's pup's are call the scream'n demom , don't be fooled they are a
moderate output pup , not hi out put like the name suggests.

tim warner

but that is what makes them great for 80's hair band stuff,
they clean up real good for all those power ballads.
THink (Into the fire) that was a screamin demon pickup.
You don't want high output for 80's hair. medium is perfect, especially with a stereo chorus, it doesn't get muddied up like a high output. Ya gotta have a stereo chorus for 80's hair ballads or you can get fined. YOU DO HAVE A STEREO CHORUS, DONCHA? Well ,,,,,,Doncha?

HOT TUBES 70

oh yes !!!! stereo chorus and moderate output pick ups are a must !!!!

and long hair !!!

rockinr0ll

I'm trying to figure out if I should switch to stereo...

.... I have everything else you listed