Query failed: connection to localhost:9312 failed (errno=111, msg=Connection refused). Pickup advice please! - Guitar Discussions on The Fretboard
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UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45

Pickup advice please!

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MalCoxMalCox Frets: 5
in Guitar
Hi, I recently acquired a Shijie TM-5 (superstrat style) which I really like in all aspects except for the pickups, particularly the bridge, which is very weak, extremely bright and thin. Sounds feeble compared to my other guitars, so much so that I wondered if there was something wrong. I tried to eq it and boost it but it's just got no punch or depth. The guitar has an okoume body with a maple top, roasted maple neck and board.
It's quite light weight, sounds bright and snappy acoustically.
I'm looking to change the bridge pup, probably both but am after recommendations for a darker voiced, powerful sounding humbucker(s)
Thanks in advance. 
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Comments

  • FunkfingersFunkfingers Frets: 13312
    edited September 2023
    Is the selector switch three-way or five-way?

    It is possible that there is a physical short that leaves the bridge humbucker permanently coil split. It is equally possible that the pickup is just crap.

    As for replacement pickup suggestions, begin by measuring the string spacing across the bridge saddles. That will show what polepiece spacing is required.
    Be seeing you.
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  • MalCoxMalCox Frets: 5
    There is a push-pull coil split fitted, which works, the wiring looks sound. I forgot to state that's its 52mm spacing on the bridge, 50mm neck and they are black open coil, thanks.
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  • timmypixtimmypix Frets: 1979
    Depending on your budget, you've got your pick of everything!

    Most powerful pickups will be darker-voiced by nature of hotter pickups generally having a higher wind, which rolls off the top end. So it depends where your definition of dark and powerful land!

    Seymour Duncan: JB or Custom Custom;
    Dimarzio: Super Distortion, Fred, Gravity Storm... and more! Dark and hot for superstrats is Dimarzio's speciality.
    Oily City Nightfighter or Scrapyard Dog Plus;
    Bare Knuckle True Grit, or Crawler, or Nailbomb, or Silo, or Holydiver, or Warpig... Bare Knuckle do a lot of powerful pickups!
    Monty's Full Monty isn't as hot as most listed here but it's got enough balls for most applications.
    Fletcher, House of Tone, Bulldog... they'll all do custom orders based on existing recipes.
    Tim
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  • SvartmetallSvartmetall Frets: 456
    Iron Gear Hot Slag (Alnico V, 17K) in the bridge, Iron Gear Rolling Mill (Alnico V, 8.5K) in the neck. SImples! :) 
    https://cziltangbrone.bandcamp.com/album/isotopes                                        https://devoidmusic.bandcamp.com/album/tombs
    https://cziltangbrone.bandcamp.com/album/null-hypothesis-5-ep
    https://cziltangbrone.bandcamp.com/album/machine-space-2
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  • LestratcasterLestratcaster Frets: 1024
    Seymour Duncan JB has a lot of power and sustain, it cuts right through a mix too. Love mine in my Strat. Any of the other high output humbuckers from their range would also do the job.

    Suhr Doug Aldrich gets mentioned a lot, can't remember the pick up name. SS something. Has alot of output.

    I'm sure one of the Bareknuckle ones have a lot of power as well but I have no experience of any of them sadly.
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  • robertyroberty Frets: 10231
    The DiMarzio Super 3 is my fave. Not nearly as crazy as the specs suggest. Not really into Alnico for high gain
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  • SvartmetallSvartmetall Frets: 456
    roberty said: Not really into Alnico for high gain
    Just out of curiosity, why is that? I've found that ceranic high-gain pickups can often have a shrill edge to their sound that really grates; I really like the Hot Slag for rock & metal, for example, rhythm-wise it's very reminiscent of the kind of tone Iommi had on 'Heaven And Hell' (in fact, it does a perfect 'Neon Knights'), and it's very balanced for soloing in any register.  
    https://cziltangbrone.bandcamp.com/album/isotopes                                        https://devoidmusic.bandcamp.com/album/tombs
    https://cziltangbrone.bandcamp.com/album/null-hypothesis-5-ep
    https://cziltangbrone.bandcamp.com/album/machine-space-2
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  • OilCityPickupsOilCityPickups Frets: 7616
    tFB Trader
    Svartmetall said:
    roberty said: Not really into Alnico for high gain
    Just out of curiosity, why is that? I've found that ceranic high-gain pickups can often have a shrill edge to their sound that really grates; I really like the Hot Slag for rock & metal, for example, rhythm-wise it's very reminiscent of the kind of tone Iommi had on 'Heaven And Hell' (in fact, it does a perfect 'Neon Knights'), and it's very balanced for soloing in any register.  

    To my mind around 14k is the highest DC resistance that works well with alnico magnets. I will probably mortally offend some folks, but the Duncan JB simply sounds 'constipated' and 'adenoidal' to my ears. Alnico 5 lacks midrange and naturally scooped, with Bass and treble way more 'present' than mids. Ceramic is a flatter EQ with a tighter bass, so punches out better in the midrange, and cuts through the mix better when you go full on 'balls to the wall'. If you are finding ceramic pickups shrill ... then you have been trying the wrong ones :-) The DiMarzio Super Distortion is unashamedly BIG ceramic magnet and could never be described as shrill! 
    Professional pickup winder, horse-testpilot and recovering Chocolate Hobnob addict.
    Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups  ... Oil City Blog

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  • FunkfingersFunkfingers Frets: 13312
    SD JB with A2 bar magnet isn't a million miles away from the spec of the old Allan Holdsworth model.

    Perpetual Burn is rather nice, IMO.
    Be seeing you.
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  • sweepysweepy Frets: 4005
    Suhr Thornbucker, probably one of the nices all round bridge humbuckers I’ve ever installed 
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