EMG, DiMarzio, or Seymour Duncan?

Post Mortal · #1 07-07-2011, 02:12 PM

I just ordered the Squier VMJ Fretless last night online and I am most likely going to hate the pickups because it's not my style. (Who knows though, I might love them. This is for just incase.) I'm more of a 80's thrash/death metal tone than jazz. So I did some research and heard EMG, DiMarzio and Seymour Duncan make good metal J pickups and I was wondering what would TB recommend that I do. All help is appreciated!

Thanks.

-Doug

Post Mortal · #2 07-08-2011, 08:42 AM

rummy · #3 07-08-2011, 08:50 AM

Haha. There are no metal pickups. It's all about the amp, effects, and technique that gives you "metal" sounds. If you're planning on throwing distortion on top, I suggest hum-cancelling type of pickups. Seymour Duncan is just fine. Maybe the SJB3? Or, even the SJB1.

allexcosta · #4 07-08-2011, 08:51 AM

EMG, go for it...

Stealth · #5 07-08-2011, 08:56 AM

There are no good pickups for metal. It just comes down to how you play the strings, where you pluck or pick, how you set the controls on the bass (volumes and tone) and how you set the tone controls on the amp.

Point being, try the bass out first. I got some great sounds from a cheap jazz bass like that and I reckon it would fit in with any genre, including death metal.

SGD Lutherie · #6 07-08-2011, 10:12 AM

Who plays a fretless for metal anyway? Not that it wouldn't be cool, but just get a tone you like, and do your own thing.

Stealth · #7 07-08-2011, 10:17 AM

SGD: Can't tell if trolling or just being silly. :P

SGD Lutherie · #8 07-08-2011, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealth

SGD: Can't tell if trolling or just being silly. :P

No, I was being serious.

He's asking about pickups for a metal tone, and then is playing a fretless, which will never get that tone anyway. Unless it's for those insipid power ballads.

And what is a metal tone? I guess if you are playing in Metallica you just turn so low that no one can hear you?

(now I'm being silly... but you still can't hear Trujillo. At all)

But it could be something new, and that's never a bad thing.

Post Mortal · #9 07-08-2011, 11:12 AM

Hahaha I can't stand Metallica. But listen to Death, either Human or Individual Thought Patterns album or Sadus, either Illusions or Swallowed in black(best albums). That's Steve DiGiorgio, he uses fretless bass and it sounds simply amazing. And I know theres no "metal" pickups, just pick ups that would enhance the metal tone I get out of my amp.

darkstorm · #10 07-09-2011, 02:46 PM

EMG actives with emg preamp eq for that type muisic and pup type as best choice imo.

Peg_legs · #11 07-09-2011, 06:36 PM

If you like his tone, you can use what he uses..

found this on wicki: (no mention of pickups, but looks like EMGs in the photo on his website)

Equipment

DiGiorgio uses a custom Mjollnir by Thor Bass, and also plays custom ESP basses. He is mostly seen with a F-series fretless 5-string bass in a dark green finish, but also uses a very unusual double-neck construction with a fretted and a fretless neck in one body. He uses Ampeg SVT Classic amps and cabinets by Ampeg and Randall.[4]

All basses except the Ric's are fitted with Hipshot Extender Keys. Strings - Rotosound swing bass 66. Gauge: 110-85-70-50-30. Cables - Monster Cables. Amplifiers - Ampeg SVT Classic, Randall, Ampeg 8X10, Ampeg 1X15, Ampeg 2X10 w/horn, Randall 2X15. Wireless - Nady 101. Effects - DOD: Stereo Chorus, Stereo Flanger, Octoplus, Bass EQ, Envelope Filter, 270 A/B. Digitech: Two Second Digital Delay, Digital Stereo Chorus/Flanger. Ibanez: BP10 Compressor. Korg: AX1B. Keyboard - Korg: DW8000. Soundmodule - Yamaha: TX81Z. Alesis: Microverb III, SR16. Misc. - The Bass Hammer, EBow. Cases - A&S Custom flight cases.

markanini · #12 07-09-2011, 07:40 PM

You might want to forget about the neck pickup. I think a Duncan Hot Stack would do the trick, It's an Alnico single-coil, a config known for for good coherence, yet has aggressive and growly mids reminiscent of a Musicman. I bet it would sound great on your fretless in a metal context.

Stealth · #13 07-10-2011, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

No, I was being serious.

He's asking about pickups for a metal tone, and then is playing a fretless, which will never get that tone anyway. Unless it's for those insipid power ballads.

Well, there's always Death, and Cynic, and Control Denied, all of which have a killer fretless tone that works juuuust right for death metal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

And what is a metal tone? I guess if you are playing in Metallica you just turn so low that no one can hear you?

(now I'm being silly... but you still can't hear Trujillo. At all)

Metal tone is, then, the Other Carrot in this forum.

Post Mortal · #14 07-10-2011, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peg_legs

If you like his tone, you can use what he uses..

Yeah I checked that out, couldn't find too much but I then did some research and a lot of bassists I looked up use either one of those three.

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstorm

EMG actives with emg preamp eq for that type muisic and pup type as best choice imo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by markanini

You might want to forget about the neck pickup. I think a Duncan Hot Stack would do the trick, It's an Alnico single-coil, a config known for for good coherence, yet has aggressive and growly mids reminiscent of a Musicman. I bet it would sound great on your fretless in a metal context.

Thanks for the help, I'll check them both out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealth

Well, there's always Death, and Cynic, and Control Denied, all of which have a killer fretless tone that works juuuust right for death metal.

Exactly ;D Not a fan of newer-day bands but Obscura was doing good with fretless bass also. Even though he was in Pestilence before that, I never actually listened to him in Pestilence. Too bad he just left Obscura, I have low hopes for their bass tone now

RBX4 · #15 07-11-2011, 09:41 PM

EMG Actives

NKBassman · #16 07-12-2011, 11:40 AM

Another vote for EMGs.

odin70 · #17 07-12-2011, 11:45 AM

YOUR taste should decide, not others. Try different things and use what YOU like.

SGD Lutherie · #18 07-12-2011, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odin70

YOUR taste should decide, not others. Try different things and use what YOU like.

+1

Post Mortal · #19 07-12-2011, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odin70

YOUR taste should decide, not others. Try different things and use what YOU like.

Well I know this. But I was hoping that I would get what I want sooner by seeing what other people like and trying to cut out the middle man of spending all this money trying to find the right ones.

Yeah I was thinking EMG from the beginning, what's the difference between the J's and the J-X's?

pbgonecrazy99 · #20 07-12-2011, 12:36 PM

I would wait till you get your bass before dropping another 100+ on new pickups. The new squiers have decent sound now, so it may even be what you want. Also many metal bands have varying tones. You need to specify what tone you want, like a fat tone or a tone that cuts through the mix easily.