Bridge bucker

WantzChas

Hi, first of all happy new year. May this year be the year everyone wins the lotto (and payout be more than R50)

I want to get a more responsive, clearer, meaner, nastier bridge humbucker for my Ibanez SA160. I want it to be pretty much all out metal as I have a neck and middel pick up for the other stuff I play, some blues and then rock.

NOW, I need to now how much this is going to cost more or less to install. I want to know how much it would cost to install an active pickup in a guitar that currently has passives? Is it possible to use actives and passives together? Should I rather stick with passives? Something like a dimebucker?

Thanks

AlanRatcliffe

First things first:

Is it possible to use actives and passives together?

No. If you are going active, you need to have all of your pickups active and you need to change all your pots and your output jack too (as well as finding a space for a battery.

As to pickups: "more responsive" and "clearer" both point towards a medium to vintage output humbucker, rather than a high output one, but by "meaner, nastier" I guess you are looking for something higher output and more aggressive. Unless you have an older master volume amp that needs a really hot pickup to kick it into lots of distortion, the pickup output level isn't very important as most modern amps have more than enough gain to compensate for all but the very weakest of single-coils. Pickups tend to get more midrange heavy as you increase their output, which is good for lead voices that cut through, but tends to make them a bit mushy for rhythm, where a midrange scoop works better. So going for a high output pickup kind of limits your tonal options -and tone is by far the most important thing to look at in a pickup.

Tonally you should try and define what your guitar really sounds like and what sound you want to achieve, then look at pickup models from there. Some of the other guys will no doubt have suggestions for specific models, but bear in mind that what works in one guitar may not work in another and it will also depend on your taste.

WantzChas

Thanks Alan. I'm open for any suggestions, that was just my initial thoughts. If you'd tell me to try a jazzy humbucker, I would try it.

I want to install the thing myself, will have help from a friend who is studying electronic engeneering, cause shops charge a lot to install them. My guitars body is relatively thin compared to others so I'm not going to have lot of space, thus making the possibilities small for actives anyway. I'm going for a passive. Models I heard that is pretty good includes DiMarzio the breed and Seymore Duncan SH-4.

I have a friend who lives in Canada willing to mail them to me so availability isn't really an issue. Tonal wise, think Paul Gilbert mixed with some Satriani and throw in some Marty Friedman and Jeff Waters. A combonation of those sounds would make the perfect humbucker for me.

I'm a complete idiot when it comes to most things, including pickups, so with the above mentioned kept in mind with the gear I have, Ibamnez SA160, Randall RG50TC (No pedals yet, don't want to get pedals for another while, might then get a Tube Screamer or a Wah pedal).

What should I get?

MoJo-JoJoe

WantzChas

MoJo JoJoe wrote Sounds like you need a DiMarzio Air Zone

I like DiMarzio in general and they work well in Ibanez guitars, Vai, Satriani, Dragonforce. I'll listen to some clips. Do you know of a guitar that comes out with them? Oh and what is your thoughts on the DiMarzio ToneZone?

AlanRatcliffe

I'm a huge fan of the Air Zone - It has the more pronounced midrange of a modern pickup, but still manages to keep the vocal characteristics of a good PAF and adds a lot of low end to warm up a bright guitar. A nice balanced output level (medium range), and the low string pull of the Airbuckers really makes harmonics ring. However - might be a bit too warm sounding for some, especially in a thin mahogany bodied guitar like the SA160, unless WC wants a really heavy, fat low end (as it were). The Norton might be a better fit in this specific guitar - same kind of pushed midrange, but without the additional lows.

The Tone Zone is the same pickup as the Air Zone, but higher output. Does the heavy thing very well with tons of low end chunk, but doesn't have the interesting vocal character to the midrange or make the harmonics sing quite the same.

WantzChas

Do you get these in South Africa or would I have to imprort?

AlanRatcliffe

DiMarzio are busy looking for a local distributor - I've just put them in touch with someone. Early days, so I can't say exactly who or when/if it will happen just yet. If so, probably within the next few months. But DiMarzio are actively looking at the moment, so someone should pick them up within the next few months.

If you need anything in a rush, I might be able to get something for you directly from DiMarzio, but if negotiations with the new distributor go well in the next few days, you might have to wait until stock arrives with the distributor.

WantzChas

I won't say it's a life or death, but you know what it's like waiting for something :'( It's hard.

I would really appreciate it if you could send it to me getting it from DiMarzio. Will you please keep me posted on the progress with the distributor? Also, can you please give me a ROUGH estimate of what it might add up to including postage etc. Thanks a lot Alan.

AlanRatcliffe

I'll let you know.

Most of the DiMarzio 'buckers retail at $99 - $109 in the US, so approximately R1,150 - R1,250 here (roughly). Less whatever discount you can squeeze out of your retailer.

WantzChas

My friend told me he can get hold of the AirZone for $70-80. Postage for a shoe sized box is less than $50. So I assume everyhing is going to work out at round about $100 BEFORE TAX.

AlanRatcliffe

So if you can get them locally and squeeze some discount, it'll still be cheaper... If your friend sends it as a gift with a value under R200 (tricky if you want to insure it), there's no tax.

WantzChas

I don't think I will insure it, stupid I know. I'll rather wait a while and if all else fail, then just get something else which is available that also sounds nice. My first choice is definately the Air Zone, lovely sound.

I think I currently have IBZ pickups in, which if I'm not mistaken is designed by EMG. So I would imagine them sounding a lot similar to EMG's passives.

And thanks Alan for the article about the pickup setting. I just set mine and it's amazing how much differance it makes. I never really, or very rarely play on the neck and the neck and middel setting but I found this lovely twangy yet warm mix that I can't explain.

AlanRatcliffe

I think I currently have IBZ pickups in, which if I'm not mistaken is designed by EMG.

DiMarzio usually for Ibanez. The "Designed" thing is usually more of a marketing than a quality thing - guarantee that they are good pickups unfortunately (although the IBZ pickups aren't too bad) - it usually means they have been designed to be inexpensive and built in Asia with much lower quality control standards.

WantzChas

Don't we all love cheap Asian labour? Ok, so what they are meaning to say is Designed by EMG? How risky is it to import without insuring?

AlanRatcliffe

How risky is it to import without insuring?

I usually insure - if the option is available. But I've only had a problem once (a set of Kinman pickups lost by a big international courier) - and never with normal post.

WantzChas

Well we all know how it works, the one time you don't insure it get's lost or broken. I'm not that worried about it breaking, you just bubble wrap the **** out if it and it will probbably be ok, not sure bout the magnets etc. though. If I can do a deal all in all for less than $100 do you think I should do it?

AlanRatcliffe

If I can do a deal all in all for less than $100 do you think I should do it?

Your call... I might wait a little to see if they arrive locally and then see what price I could get 'em for locally.