this is nothing less than the greatest pickup comparison ever posted to youtube.

@ryannickum7826

3 жыл бұрын

And maybe the best riff ever written. ALSO Merrow is a god to be that consistent

@willroland9811

3 жыл бұрын

The short version. I appreciated it, actually made it easier to pick em apart. Also the camera angle made it easier to cop this F-n riff thats been eating my brain since the original vid came out. This is the final jeopardy music for the apocalypse. Congrats...

@davidepannone6021

Жыл бұрын

Imagine thinking this is actually not a sale pitch for sd.

@abnzg

Жыл бұрын

Imagine not realising everyone knows that

i can listen to this forever

That Riff makes every pickup sound amazing.

Sounds incredible 10 years later

I hope you got paid for this, fuck changing 12 sets of pups to record one demonstration!

@bargoldstein4898

8 жыл бұрын

he also changed the pontetiometers to demostrate the blackouts

The clarity of the Dimebucker is a wowser

@rascal1717

10 жыл бұрын

Indeed, I have one in one of my axes and its a very bright sounding pickup.

@AscentToZenith

10 жыл бұрын

Sounds like it doesn't have any mid range.

@stevencorry5790

10 жыл бұрын

Oh,its got mids

@Terribleguitarist89

10 жыл бұрын

I bought a dimebucker equiped RR3 years back and hated it because it's so shrill (it's also setup with just a a volume and no tone circuit so it's like an audio ice pick of death)... now going back to it I realized I was just butthurt that it made my sloppy playing more pronounced (on top of being too stupid to tweak my EQ settings) haha Now I double track that guitar along with either my Evo equiped strat or semi hollow with a Breed and it's a massive fucking sound.

@stevencorry5790

10 жыл бұрын

Glad you have improved in playing and knowledge of equipment....rock on!

This is exactly how a pickup comparison should be. especially the last 3 minutes with the guitar only. In this video everyone could here the big differences between the individual pickups. Great job guys

@crazyirishdan

9 жыл бұрын

I totally agree...I like Ryan Bruce's videos, but in his EMG comparison for instance he had one riff he played the 57/66 and Het Set on, and another riff he did the 81 and 81X on. Really wasn't a four-way comparison as the riffs were pretty different. And again, the guy seems swimming in gear, so you try going around looking at say Lace pickups, and every video is a different guitar, overdrive pedal, amp, post EQ (he at least is good about sharing all that info) and it's about useless if you're trying to use his vids to compare a Nitro Hemi, Wino, Drop N Gain, Heshers, and Deathbucker, for instance. Different styles, riffs, amps, eq settings, everything. It's okay for gear whore GAS induction, but less than ideal for apples to apples comparisons. This video was great, because for my money the classics - SH5 Custom & SH6 Distortion - are KILLING it for my money for what I want. And I already own both. Keith, you just saved me some moolah!

That must have been A TON of work. Very nicely done. This is some of the best advertising imaginable.

Unlike guitar solo's this is something you can listen to infinitely

@p.c.1019

6 жыл бұрын

Arsam Khalilian Fake Pickup. Believe me. I know the best pickups.

@p.c.1019

6 жыл бұрын

Arsam Khalilian I’m surprised amps were swapped tho (I know it went along with the genre). Makes sense for genre specific players, but how would a Sentient sound in a Mesa Roadstar? Instead of TripRec? Same amp. Possibly an off/on Screamer or something? But...I totally appreciate the value of this. INCREDIBLY! Fucking awesome! And, yes. Absolutely something you can listen to repeatedly without losing it. Good shit!!

@skeevybastid689

5 жыл бұрын

Ive listened to this so much that keith should play something else from now on..

@UnderWorldOfDarkness

Жыл бұрын

Much unlike other people's comments, I can stare at your comment to infinity. After staring at your comment for over 700 hours, it downed on me, "I can reply". Now I'm going back to staring at your comment.

The JB and the 59/Custom Hybrid sound the best to me, they have a lot more mass than the others.

59/custom hybrid is my favorite

@112358miau

10 жыл бұрын

I agree. Sounds really great!

@ezeudoezikeuzor9970

4 жыл бұрын

Cool story.

@willroland9811

4 жыл бұрын

Yea, WTH? What strange wizardry is this? I'm scared, going to lie in my tub of JBs till the world makes sense again...

I have the Distortion, Nazgul and JB installed in 3 of my guitars and can honestly say the Distortion is the best for metal by a noticable margin. If you are looking for a slightly warmer very versatile pickup that can do rock and metal, go for the JB.

I regularly come here just to listen to the riff. Fucking sick.

I chose the JB gives a totally new feeling to my distortion, love it!

0:00 Intro 0:06 Distortion (Full Mix) 1:02 Full Shred (Full Mix) 1:58 Invader (Full Mix) 2:56 JB (Full Mix) 3:52 Alternative 8 (Full Mix) 4:50 '59 / Custom Hybrid (Full Mix) 5:46 Custom (Full Mix) 6:43 Dimebucker (Full Mix) **My Fav** 7:40 EMTY Blackout (Full Mix) 8:37 Blackout Metal (Full Mix) 9:33 Blackout Standard (Full Mix) 10:30 Gus G. Fire Blackout (Full Mix) 11:27 Distortion (Isolated) 11:38 Full Shred (Isolated) 11:49 Invader (Isolated) 11:59 JB (Isolated) 12:10 Alternative 8 (Isolated) 12:21 '59/Custom Hybrid (Isolated) 12:32 Custom (Isolated) 12:44 Dimebucker (Isolated) **My Fav** 12:55 EMTY Blackout (Isolated) 13:05 Blackout Metal (Isolated) 13:16 Blackout Standard (Isolated) 13:27 Gus G. Fire Blackout (Isolated) 13:38 DAW View

Thanks a ton for taking the time to film this, and all of the soldering and string changing you did to make this happen. Helped me out a TON on selecting a new pickup.

I want the tabs to this crazy riff, i can't stop hearing it on repeat !!!!

The song is Pillars of Re-Creation by Keith Merrow

I wish more companies showcased their products in a similar way. This is amazing and really helped me to get properly oriented before buying. Thank you to the people at Seymour Duncan who made this!

Dude....Beyond THANK YOU for this video. AWESOME to hear the differences between the pick-ups FINALLY in one place!! Those JBs are as sweet as it gets....Love them!!!

59/custom wins for me here. sounds like the JB with a bit more low end.

@willroland9811

4 жыл бұрын

The jb has gotten every bridge slot I've had since 95... FINALLY a worthy contender is amongst us... I love a good scrap, let's get in ON!

Man, that is one tasty riff! Please make part 2 with all those pickups but with the Nazgûl and Black Winter too. And some clean phrasing would be great too!!

@bargoldstein4898

8 жыл бұрын

he did an updated comparison with all of the pickups in this comparison and he added the Nazgul, Mark Holcomb Omega, Pegasus, Custom 5 and Dave Mustaine Live Wire. but without the 59 custom hybrid, AHB2 and Gus G

I think I've watched this video about 50 times since it was posted. It never gets old, and it always kicks so much ass. Love it.

Best pickup demo hands down.. period. Perfect playing to demonstrate. You've gained a new follower. Cheers.

The Distortion had some delicious palm muting

@ezeudoezikeuzor9970

4 жыл бұрын

Cool story.

Through YOUR stuff, I liked the distortion and gus g. They really stood out and had more character, imo.

Sick video! That Riff absolutely slays !!! This is very helpful, especially the quick comparison at the end. Keep up the good work 👍

Wow. One of the best demos I have seen. Put together very well. Thank you. I liked the JB myself. It's an oldie but it is still my preferred sound for sure.

This video makes a huge difference!!! It was very educational!!!

I was actually quite surprised and to my ears the 59/Custom hybrid was extremely well suited to this guitar in terms of what I like to hear in a metal sound. Very well balanced. The Alternative 8 was disappointing to me. The JB didn't suit this guitar, way too much mids. Wasn't too fussed about any of the blackouts. Thank you for making possibly the best guitar video ever.

What a riff!!! Still so good years later.

I am definitely going with a Blackouts (Standard). After watching this video, it became clear to me what I want. Thank you so much for all the hard work you put into this pickup comparison.

I chose, after watching this vid, the Hybrid/59 because it seems to have the best sounding tone (passive).

Wow... sick guitar playing and sound

I was just looking for a video like this one to know more about SD's. Amazing video!

Mr Merrow, you are a legend! I have been looking for a video that shows most duncan bridge pickups for a while and now I have made my mind up!! I need to replace my JB for a Distortion!!! Thanks!

I just noticed that at about halfway through this video, I had the biggest grin on my face. I could listen to this all day.

1. JB 2. 59/Custom Hybrid

I am not even looking to buy pickups. I just want to listen to this riff on loop which is one of the greatest metal riffs of all time.

I have the Alternative 8 on a LTD EC-200QM (Agathis Body), and I must say, I don't know if it's the weird wood/pup combination or what, but the sound is just badass. I mean, *really* badass. Love them, hope to get a nice recording interface to show you. When recorded with my little POD it sounds like a regular *but still badass* guitar. Great review, and really awesome riff. Thanks man.

59/custom hybrid. Difficult to handle but for me, the best sound ;)

Invader!

So glad I have a KSR Gemini being made. This video is sick. Tone is on point.

Thanks for doing this vid, I bet it was a real pain in the ass to do, swap pups, jam an awesome riff, swap pus and repeat. I appreciate you took the time to do it, the most honest side by side comparison I've heard. Thanks, Keith!

59/Custom wins, second one maybe Distortion. It seems that most "metal" pickups sound quite thin and hollow... (scooped mids?)

I need the tab of these riffs! :D BTW I prefer Alternative 8, cause of that tasty fat glitchy sound while picking! awesome!

Thanks to this amazing comparison video I've finally decided on my next purchase. Alternate 8s!

Maybe because is the first one but "distorsion" is my favourite!! Amazing guitar, killer sound, and kickass RIFF!!! I could be listening to it over and over and over and over...

i can listen to this riff all my life

That tone is awesome. Heavy as shit with a nicely pronounced midrange. The Distortion's my favorite, but I liked most of the others, too. The only one I really didn't like was the Dimebucker.

@MarcusKimballmusic

2 жыл бұрын

Funny thing is I liked the Dimebuckers better than anything else here.

@jaymcalister5556

2 жыл бұрын

@@MarcusKimballmusic Yea same. The dimebucker was bright and zesty. Me like.

Best pu comparison I've ever heard. Thanks for the time and effort.

It's when the demos are right beside each other you get a true taste of the comparison. Love it

Getting my Horizon with 59/custom this week. Sounds promising (from an EMG player.)

@joshbarnes6759

5 жыл бұрын

Did you get the white E-II? That’s what I got.

@zzr7502

4 жыл бұрын

@@joshbarnes6759 No DKSB went for more traditional look.

59/custom hybrid for me !

@franzmaurer7108

4 жыл бұрын

Absolutely yes

as always this is awesome

Great demo of the pick ups!

I think the Distortion sounded the best by far. I was planning to put a new JB in my guitar but after watching this video I'm definitely going to go with the Distortion it sounded much better.

Dimebucker ! Amazing

This is exactly what I need to help with my baritone tele project. I originally thought I'd need a high output, ceramic, Distortion for my axe, but now I'm leaning towards the more open sound of the Hybrid. Thanks a heap.

What a great comparison video! This is how it should be done. My favorites are the Custom and 59/Custom Hybrid, I'm between these two for my Strat. I also like the JB and have them in my Schecter. Full Shred, Alternative 8, Dimebucker...yuck, not my thing.

any one tab this out yet? i would appreciate it! thanks! sounds awesome

dont be sorry for the repetition when this song is fucking awesome ! !!

This is awesome, dude. Thanks. Trying to find an alternate to the "always full crush" of the Gibson 500T in my 2016 Explorer. Great music. Thank you so much for the controlled variables. Even though it's not what I want to do with that guitar, it gives me a great idea of the options.

Wow! The Dimebucker sounds awesome. Has a lot of cut. I can't believe people don't appreciate it. I like the JB and 59/Custom Hybrid too for that mid presence, but they don't have as much high end.

Ijust noticed, that guitar has 26 fretts

@capperith1292

8 жыл бұрын

+Jeff Cantrell It has a long neck.. Long one...

@diegomillar6729

8 жыл бұрын

baritone men

Distortion or Custom for me.

@anemonaloco

9 жыл бұрын

Emrah Otlu 59!

@anemonaloco

9 жыл бұрын

Gilbert X well custom does it very well too :)

Thanks for the info and setting the record straight. Wish they would have more relevant info like this on the website.

That's an interresting and usefull initiative. And it's a fu##ing success ! Personnally, love the old school / heavy metal / middy tone of the Distortion. Wether it's a Di M. or Seymour D., you can never be disappointed by a mic when there's "Distortion" in it's name !

Firstly, thanks Keith for this wonderful piece ("Pillars of Creation"). Overall the SH-16 owns this showdown. It is also really versatile in other settings (clean, lead, tapped, etc). I don't understand how anyone can like the Dimebucker. Perhaps our dearly departed genius had a hearing disorder? (I engineered once for a guitarist who really had a hard time hearing treble and was only happy when treble was set to 11 and was stripping the paint off nearby woodwork).

@mikejarrett7655

8 жыл бұрын

o

@kianhowtan2429

8 жыл бұрын

+xxxnstuffxxx I think Dimebuckers have their place in extended range guitars like the one used in this video, the higher treble would be less pronounced and still retain some of the nice harmonics. (Dimebag pinches)

@Patmclean232

8 жыл бұрын

Yeah I know I put the dimebucker in a guitar and was really disappointed! I also bought his distortion pedal and hated it as well. although his signature crybaby is awesome! I love dime but I guess I don't love his sound. on the other hand I put a duncan distortion in a cheap guitar and it ripped! made a cheap guitar sound killer!

@MalakaiDerg

7 жыл бұрын

Ah well, don't hate the man. He didn't even use the Dimebucker and he had nothing to do with those shitty distortion pedals with his signature. To get his tone you need to get the amps he used along the EQ racks.

@xxxnstuffxxx

7 жыл бұрын

Nobody was hating Dimebag! Hell no! But just because we love him doesn't mean he had no flaws. This was probably the least of 'em. ;)

Alternative 8 for playing lead, custom for playing rhythm

Really awesome demo! Thanks for helping in my Hot Rod quest for my Les Paul. You got about 40 hits from me and my guitar friends that I referred to help me out...haha

Man! Thank you So much for this vid, it's the best one there I could find to decide to which Mic I want to change, it helped me a lot. Thank you!

Certainly picked a good guitarist for the demo. And that riff damn, never even got bored of it. Refreshing they put so much effort in to a really nice demo like that.

The JB and the Custom 59 sound best to my ears.. maybe it's the spuds. But I have taken my JB out of my Les Paul, and tested it in my Strat, and it sounds thinner, got to be the different wood in the body and neck. Then you have the amps, so it's not just Pups, it a mix of all the above. IMO, you need to match your Pups to the your style, and guitars wood. PS.. you do need an ear for tone, your not going to be able to just throw a Pup in a guitar and have amazing tone.

@LucasBortoliniKuhn

9 жыл бұрын

Not the wood. Proved in all tests to this day that it does not make any difference at all. Probably has something to do with the potentiometers on the Strat, if I'm not mistaken strats usually have 250k pots and LPs have 500k or the reverse.

@TheBadguygaming

9 жыл бұрын

250k pots lower the frequency, so it reduces the amount of highs you get, if i would have went with a 500k, it would have been even brighter, so there has to be something else to make the tone change, the Strat has a swamp ash body, maple neck, huge jumbo frets, and a different style bridge than the LP, LP has mahogany neck, and body with a maple cap. it's not a huge difference, but you hear the different tones very easy. I'm no rocket scientist, but you can take a LP, and Strat off the shelf, switch out the pups, and still not get a Strat to sound like a LP, or LP to sound like a Strat.

@LucasBortoliniKuhn

9 жыл бұрын

That's on the pots. Experiments conducted showed that if nothing else but the wood changes (the specific one I'm mentioning the guy just moved everything, even the neck and the electronics and strings), there is no tone change at all. And there would be no reason to be a tone difference, I guess, if it did there would be a difference from when you play with the guitar against your body or not, as there is in acoustic guitars which also sound different according to the wood because it is the wood that emanates sound, but the electric the sound is captured directly from the strings. Traditionally it was thought that the science was the same, wood = tone too in electrics, but this was proven wrong lately, but manufacturers never stopped with the claims, mainly Gibson, because many people would go to the seven hells after a mahogany even if it was expensive as fuck, and many people did experiments on this that were done wrong and kept the myth up (like the Rob Chapman video where he grabs two different guitars that have different sound and claims it was from the wood).

@LucasBortoliniKuhn

9 жыл бұрын

But wood quality is still important as it defines if the guitar is really solid, if it responds well to temperature changes, if it maintains tune well, if it handles a string gauge well, and other things.

@TheBadguygaming

9 жыл бұрын

Not saying wood makes a difference, but just what the guitars are made from to compare, the only thing that was switch was the pickup, and it sounded different, why doesn't fat Strats sound like a LP's.?

I tried the TB-14 in a E-II HORIZON FR few days ago and really love it above all the pick ups shown here. nice video thought. peace!

This video helped me make up my mind...a set of 59' C.H. or Duncan Custom's with gold covers to match for my SG Custom

by the way, after this video, I bought a DIMEBUCKER, and now my guitar sounds like HELL. Thank you :D

Jesus... The Alt-8 and the Dime sound like they're coming to eat me.

description--> keithmerrow ddoott com --> downloads --> pillars of recreation. buy the album, it's 100% worth it!

Wow, dude your band sounds really amazing . Congratulations, and continue this way. You rock! A fan

Distortion was the most balanced with the custom being a close second. The alternative 8 is my favorite and is just so damn fun to listen to. The Gus G blackout was the only good blackout JB is for grunge and more set it and forget it metal tone the invader is so overrated. so compressed you can actually hear the noise in the background....

@9unslin9er

8 жыл бұрын

+cave digger Agreed. Alternative 8 has very unique sounding midrange. All the other pickups sound the same with slightly different EQ.

DIMEBUCKER!!!!! for sure, have one loaded in my Jackson, kills

That was awesome! Dimebucker wow! Nice riffs man!

Great clip. Great playing. I loved the Custom and the JB best. A few others a close 2nd. Hated the dimebucker.

This really helped me. I really don't like the Alternative 8 haha.

@wolfman6489

7 жыл бұрын

To me, the Alternative 8 sounds like someone dialed off all of the bass, scooped the mids , and cranked the treble on their amp. In other words, a hair dryer

@wolfman6489

7 жыл бұрын

Then again, I just watched another hot pickup comparison video and the alt 8 sounded better there.

@NorgGrimm

7 жыл бұрын

He had better recording equipment for the newer video and to me it looks like I'll be either getting Alt8, Nazgul or Black Winter :D

@wolfman6489

7 жыл бұрын

timoteus96 Awesome! I went with the Invader.

@NorgGrimm

7 жыл бұрын

I don't know what about the Invader puts me off a little :D Maybe it's the poles. BTW, on this video the Distortion and Active Blackouts Bridge sounds quite the same in the mix while they sound different on their own :D

alternative 8 WOWWWWW

A fantastic video - thank you - I loved the JB s, they gave great mid-range definition for me. I'm sold on them. Seymour Duncan should pay you commission.

@Paipol666

9 жыл бұрын

He actually works for SD

This video is largely the reason I chose a JB pickup for my Godin guitar. Thank you a lot, it sounds great now.

Winners SH-5 and SH-6

beast as fuck riff

excellent demo, amazing riffs. Top class

best pickups comparison I have ever seen

personally a fan of the dimebucker!

@BlazemanGuitarX

9 жыл бұрын

I'm curious, why do you like the scooped mids sound?

@caidurkan251

9 жыл бұрын

Not replying on the guys behalf, but I like it because they have meaner character. You can boost the mids on a naturally scooped pickup and it'll sound very different to a pickup with more natural mids. If you compare a JB and a Dimebucker but boosted the dimebucker mids to the same level as the JB, they would indeed sound very different.

@Obi-WanKannabis

9 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I liked that too, and I don't know jack shit about sounds, I just like the sound of it.

DimebuckeROAR

@bimby7217

10 жыл бұрын

I can't decide between the Alternative 8 or Dimebucker, they both have a really clear sharp sound which I love, hate it when it sounds like its underwater or behind closed door, I need a sharp sound xD But I can't decide!

@kzrrz

10 жыл бұрын

Andrew Kelley Same here, man. Tough decisions.

Excellent demo Mr. Dude. Great playing. I like the Custom & the Gus G best. Thanx.

This years revelation was when I found out that the hair on the top of the screen is NOT your hair but your beard. Awesome. Thanks for all the incredible work you put into making these videos!

where can I learn this riff?! Its badass!

@BurningStapler

10 жыл бұрын

www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/keith-merrow-pillars-of-creation-tab-s86011t0

@SugarMapleForge

10 жыл бұрын

BurningStapler Thank you!

@JohnoO_O_

10 жыл бұрын

BurningStapler Can I have your babies for sending us all that link?

@Zenergyx3

10 жыл бұрын

BurningStapler thanks a lot for this!

@SugarMapleForge

9 жыл бұрын

Thanks but I learned it a long time ago.

There's something about that JB.. ;)

@eddiesteele7428

10 жыл бұрын

Check out a Bill Lawrence 500xl. It will eat up that JB all damn day...Actually, it will eat up all these pick ups. The best pick up I have ever used in 40 years of playing...And, you can't beat it for 64.00 bucks...

@RasmusAlmlundMusic

10 жыл бұрын

I will do that if I get the opportunity :)

@jamasters62

10 жыл бұрын

Eddie Steele I agree, and the Wilde (bill lawrence the person, not bill lawrence usa) 500xl was the pickup that Duncan reverse engineered to create the Dimebucker. Wilde / Keystone (Bill and Becky Lawrence's pickups) are hands-down the best pickups for the money I've ever experienced. I have Keystone true single coils in my strat and tele copies and they never fail to freak out my friends who have super-high-dollar guitars with boutique pickups. You don't have to pay a ton for great tone. Those 500xl pickups are the bomb, and they sound totally gorgeous clean as well!

@karverwoods1109

9 жыл бұрын

jamasters62 Bareknuckle Juggernaut. That's it.

Distortion and JB for me they sounded great. Good mid punch but clear bass and perfectly crisp highs🤘🏼

i play the invader for many years and for me its the best rock/metal pickup. And i also love the coil-splitting of the invader (clean and crunch/distortion) but after this video i think i must test the 59/custom hybrid. thanx for this helpful Video :)