I mentioned rebuilding my POS B.C. Rich in the “dream guitar” thread. It needs a humbucker and two single coils, but sadly I’m not terribly pickup-savvy. So here we are …
The main goal for this project is to have a functional instrument at the end, and musically I’m all over the map, so I’m not looking for any particular sound. Also, I’d have to add a battery case for an active circuit. While I’m not dead-set against it, I’m leaning toward “more work than it’d be worth”
I’m thinking about a DiMarzio D-Activator in the bridge position. I’ve not owned any DiMarzios before, but the reviews on harmony central seem encouraging.
What type of music do you want to play on the guitar?
What are 3 - 5 examples of guitar tones you love? What are some examples that are close, but you actually really DON’T like?
What type of amp do you plan to play through?
Seymour Duncan has been around since Larry DiMarzio and makes a wide variety of affordable designs. There are COUNTLESS hand winders and boutique makers but from the sound of it you are looking to something that sounds good and is a good value. Both makers fit that category, but I would need more to go on (see questions above) before I would recommend any model or at least design considerations…
I play through a Mesa-Boogie Triple Rectifier (1995-ish) head with the MB 4x12 cabinet, and a Fender Princeton 65 combo.
A few examples of tones I really like:
Queensryche “Operation Mindcrime” - I really like all the guitars on that album.
Eric Johnson on Cliffs of Dover
Slash on Sweet Child o Mine
Yes - Changes (except the solo in the beginning of the song)
A few examples that are close but don’t like:
Allman Brothers Ramblin’ Man
Joe Satriani - War (solo’s, the rythym tone isn’t close at all)
Rush - Spirit of Radio
Okay - my interpretation based on your stated preferences?
you want a lower-output humbucker pickup, either a PAF clone (do you know what a PAF is? Gibson’s original “Patent Applied For” humbucker design). Both DiMarzio and Duncan have many types of low-output humbuckers. You do NOT want a high-output or super-distortion pickup. You like a classic rock tone with just a bit more edge to it…but not a scooped-mid, over-gained metal sound or a cleaner sound either…
You want to run it through your MB with the gain dialed down pretty low. Find the sweet spot (did you see that Tube Amp thread that discusses this?) on your amp and then dial in the gain to get the tone you want - but I would be suprised if you dialed it over 4 - 5. Do NOT put a fuzzbox in your chain - if you do, you are not taking advantage of the extra gain stages in that amp.
On your Princeton, find the sweet spot and go ahead and put a fuzz box in your chain - maybe a Boss SD-2 super distortion or a ProCo Rat (what I use) - or you can use a clean boost like an MXR Micro-Amp. Dial the distortion down LOW but turn the Level/Volume up high - this is basically adding a gain stage to your Princeton that is already baked into your MB.
Once you get the pickups wired in, play with the controls. Slash is using the neck pickup on his LP replica with the tone at least somewhat rolled off to get the SCoM tone - that tubey, chimey tone of his opening lick…
JMHO, but I’d stay away from DiMarzios. It could all be in my head, but I’ve never been able to dial one in. They sound…harsh. I’d go with Seymour Duncans. Maybe a Pearly Gates, Custom, or Custom Custom. Those are fairly high output options.
Also, the Gibson 57 Classic is a fine, fine pickup. Vintage output PAF.
As for your 2 SC’s, I’d consider SD Vintage Strats, or maybe Fender 69 Customs.
**Ogre **- if you have that opinion about DiMarzios, then I will offer mine, too: I agree with Ogre. I know a LOT of folks who have used them and really like them, but I am not one of those people.
As for Duncan 'buckers - I also recommend their JB - classic PAF type tone.