Good, Brutal sounding DiMarzio bridge pickup for Ibanez RG1527

[MortuusMachina]

Hello, I'm wanting to replace the bridge pickup on my Ibanez RG1527 Prestige 7 string, made of Basswood (because Ibby stock pickups sound like ass)

I would get an EMG 707, but I'm not comfortable with the idea of cutting away at some of my guitar just to make it fit, so EMG is a no-go for me.

I'm looking at DiMarzios since my friends tell me they have a more natural tone to them.

I primarily play Melodic Death Metal, in the Swedish/Gothenburg style and I'm looking for a Scar Symmetry, Miseration, Solution .45, Dark Tranquillity, type guitar tone...you know, something thats really brutal

I play through a Peavey 5150 2x12 combo, no pedals...just straight in

I tune down a half-step for my 7,
A#, D#, G#, C#, F#, A#, D# low - high
(or Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Bb, Eb...same exact thing, just a different way of saying/wording it), using gauges 10-59

Any suggestions would be great.

Thank you!

 

[Ironbird666]

D-Activator 7 should do the trick man. They do a great job of pretending to be active pickups while maintaining the qualities that make passives great. I have the 6 string version in one of my guitars and I play it through a 5150 and it will get you In Flames tone for days.

 

[Sludgehammer]

The X2N is pretty brutal and damn hot too.

 

[rippedflesh89]

+1 for the D-Activators

also look into the crunchlab 7

 

[BenEllerGuitars]

I would go for either the D-Activator (a passive that acts like an active) or the X2N. good luck!

 

[TRENCHLORD]

Had X2N in my old neck-thru late 80's Charvel. Found it to be slammin for chug riffs but a little cold and sterile for single string/note playing. I really think you'd be happier with one of the more harmonically rich sounding p.ups like D'activator.

 

[Infamous Impact]

D-Activator 7s are your best bet. X2Ns sound like ice picks.

 

[sleepy502]

D'activator 7 or Crunch Lab 7 would both do the trick.

 

[eclipsex1]

I'm in the process of refinishing my rg7321 and replacing the bridge pup with a crunch lab 7, changing the volume pot with a seymour duncan liberator, and getting a 3-way switch instead of a 5-way.

I haven't heard it yet, so I can't tell you how it sounds. However, I've heard nothing but great things about them.

Maybe take a look at bareknuckles? They're more expensive, which is the only reason I didn't get them. However, if you have the money go for it.

 

[Dead Undead]

D-Activator. Simple as that. Similar to EMG's, only far superior.

 

[rippedflesh89]

D-Activator. Simple as that. Similar to EMG's, only far superior.

quoted for extreme truth

 

[ang3]

how to the d-activator compare to d-sonic? the website describe the dsonic better low low tunings

 

[Dead Undead]

how to the d-activator compare to d-sonic? the website describe the dsonic better low low tunings

Totally different pickups.
D-Activators respond very similar to EMG's. They have a tight tone, but aren't really "shrill" like EMG's tend to sound. They are much more articulate in comparison. Greater response to pick attack and all that.

D-Sonic has either a rather dark tone, great for rhythm and low tunings, or a very mid-heavy tone that really cuts, depending on which way the bar is facing. Either pickup will work well for drop tuning.

 

[EdgeCrusher]

I have both the D-Sonic 7 and the D-Activator 7, and I prefer the D-Sonic just a bit more. I prefer the D-Sonic's pick response and dynamics. It also works alot better for leads, but still has an awesome rhythm tone. It's just a hair looser than the D-Activator, but still tight.

The D-Activator can be a bit sterile or bland to me sometimes, but the overall tone is very good, though not really any better or worse than the D-Sonic IMO.

 

[Konfyouzd]

Evo7 and Blaze Custom are my favs in basswood 7s

X2N7 isn't bad, but I think the Evo and Blaze Custom have a better "overall" tone.

 

[Kamin]

I hate my Evo7...

 

[Dead Undead]

I hate my Evo7...

It's definitely not for everyone. They tend to be super sensitive and sterile.

 

[Moltar]

I recommend the D-Activator as well. Although I don't really think it sounds anything like the EMGs I have in another guitar. It does however sound amazing and is my favorite pickup out of everything I have ever tried. It just has this amazing crunch and roar to it I just love it.

 

[mountainjam]

A few people said crunchlab...its a hot pickup but far from brutal

 

[pearl_07]

D-Activator 7 all the way.