Ibanez RGA-121 Pickup suggestions???

[Jay_dicky]

I know this is the tele forum but I thought someone might want to provide some input:

I want to put in some pickups into my RGA-121 and would like some suggestions. I want to play mostly blues/rock. I want to cover tones in the Joe Bonamassa to David Gilmour. I like a balsy (not metal) bridge tone, and a very warm, bluesy neck tone. I like versatility.

The guitar, in case you're not familiar, has a mahogany body and maple top, rosewood fingerboard, 24-fret, Wizard Prestige neck, a Gibraltar Plus bridge, and Ibanez pickups (V7/V8). Pickups and pickup placement provide the hard-edged cutting tone needed for heavy rock according to ibanez.

Is what I'd like to do a possibility, or is this guitar just designed to be a total rocker. I love the way it feels, and sounds pretty good as is, but it's currently not the sound I'm after.

Ibanez RGA-121 prestige:
Pick up suggestions? Wiring configurations?

[Jay_dicky]

Bump...

[Berndizzle440]

Originally Posted by Jay_dicky

I know this is the tele forum but I thought someone might want to provide some input:

I want to put in some pickups into my RGA-121 and would like some suggestions. I want to play mostly blues/rock. I want to cover tones in the Joe Bonamassa to David Gilmour. I like a balsy (not metal) bridge tone, and a very warm, bluesy neck tone. I like versatility.

The guitar, in case you're not familiar, has a mahogany body and maple top, rosewood fingerboard, 24-fret, Wizard Prestige neck, a Gibraltar Plus bridge, and Ibanez pickups (V7/V8). Pickups and pickup placement provide the hard-edged cutting tone needed for heavy rock according to ibanez.

Is what I'd like to do a possibility, or is this guitar just designed to be a total rocker. I love the way it feels, and sounds pretty good as is, but it's currently not the sound I'm after.

Ibanez RGA-121 prestige:
Pick up suggestions? Wiring configurations?

I feel going for a Duncan 59 and JB pair would be a great set for ya. enough hair on its chest to get some in your face sound but clean up really well also

[SeizeTheDave]

I have a RGA-321 with the Bill Lawrence (Wilde Pickups) L-90 4H/6H combo. It sounds fantastic and will cover the genres that you mentioned very nicely. It was tough to get them installed as they take up every millimeter of the pickup pockets but I was able to do so. I left the existing wiring diagram as it's pretty much perfect as is. Position 4, neck in parallel, sounds awesome. Really strat-like and great for cleans.

[Jay_dicky]

How would you compare the bill Lawrence setup vs jb/59?
I have a jb/jazz setup in a schecter c1-classic and it sounds amazing. What do you think the thinner body of the rga-121 will affect the tone?
Is the rga-321 have the same body?

[SeizeTheDave]

The only differences that I'm aware of between the 121 and 321 are that the 321 has a flamed maple top and a translucent blue finish. The 121 has a plain top and is a natural finish. Also, the stock pickups are different

I can't compare them directly to the JB/59 setup. I avoid SD and DiMarzio pickups. I'm just not a fan of them. The distinct advantage that they'll have, though, is that they will fit much better into the cavity. BLs are bigger and deeper. If I'm not mistaken, I had to get new screws and had to sand down the corners of the pup to get them to fit just right. It was a hassle, I won't lie. But well worth the trouble. BL pickups sound GREAT and the L-90 pair is about as good as they get. You can get a LOT of hair out of them with great clarity and they clean up very, very well. Position 4, neck in parallel, has so much sparkle to it. Sounds phenomenal.

In terms of similarities with your Schecter, if you're happy with your its setup, then you'll be happy with the same/similar setup in the Ibanez. The two guitars are of similar woods so the tone will be in the same ballpark. I'd argue that the Ibanez will sound better because I think they make a better guitar :-)

[Jay_dicky]

Any other suggestions?

Beautiful warm clean and bluesy neck
Crunchy singing not super high output bridge.

I'd like to get a great Strat neck tone a la Andy Timmons, with a nice rockin' blues bridge tone a la bonamassa/ Timmons.

Versatility. If I can pull this off this becomes my favorite guitar.

The jb in the schecter is very nice but can go warmer for something different in this guitar.
The jazz is nice but want a deeper clean that gets that deep nasaly/ warm neck tone. Know what I mean?

Thanks again