Ibanez GRG121DX Seymour Duncan 59 & JB Pickup Swap

Alright folks in today's video I swap out the stock pickups in my Ibanez GRG121dx for a set of Seymour Duncan 59 & JB, and test ehm out in both an amp and an amp sim
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Hi there, my name is Lee and I have a home studio in Yorkshire in the UK, I do music and gear reviews for youtube.
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Gear used in this video
Canon EOS200D
Presonus audiobox iTwo
Studio One
Ibamnez GRG121dx
Seymour Ducan
Joyo Zombie
Joyo Ulimate Drive
Audio Assault Hellbest
#ibanez #seymourduncan

[@AleArzMusic]

Woohhhh the new pickups sound huuuge! Great video mate

[@leearmitage]

Thanks mate yeah I think they sound awesome 😁

[@BrianBower]

I think it sounds absolutely awesome!

[@leearmitage]

Thanks man

[@ParasiteBreed]

Today i installed a Seymour duncan invader as bridge pick up, incredible difference! Thx for your video!

[@leearmitage]

Awesome yeah made a big difference when I changed them

[@judgedonald2325]

How is the invader compared to the jb?

[@BIGFESH]

1st timer here. Thank you so much. Your video was a huge help. 🍻🍻🤘🤘

[@leearmitage]

Awesome man glad it helped you 🤘🧙‍♂️🤘

[@jovanradojkovic5167]

Great one Lee 😁🤘

[@leearmitage]

Thanks man 😁🤘

[@Ethersis]

Very interesintg. I never had changed pickups for myself. ;-)

[@leearmitage]

Yeah only 2nd time I've done this myself😁

[@chris_sndw]

Going to buy such an Ibanez tomorrow. Didn't play for ten years. Will be fun 😅

[@leearmitage]

Awesome pretty good guitar to start back up with, let me know how ya get on

[@jovanradojkovic5167]

I put heavier strings gauge, but tone is not right...strings sounds whamy on sustain and fading out fast.

[@kanethebutcher]

Nice one

[@leearmitage]

Thanks pal

[@Ferjimenez1111]

Hello again! A question for you bro: Are those jb pups good enough for metal, do they chug? if thats so, what kind of metal? Do you feel they differ a lot with the stock ibanez ones?, cause im not sure about it since i've seen different reviews of people who are not happy with them for metal and other people who really are, can you help me out? i've just ordered a set to play metallica, megadeth, COB etc. PS: I have that very same guitar and i'm convincing myself to swap those stock pickups for the JBs

[@leearmitage]

In my experience they are great for metal, the GRG121DX I have them in I have in drop c and to me they sound awesome and chug really well

[@Ferjimenez1111]

@@leearmitage Thanks buddy! cant wait to install them! cheers!

[@leearmitage]

No problem bud

[@georgesaris9968]

Great video Lee, and wow what a big, punchy, chugging sound those new pick-ups gave this guitar. I got this exact guitar last year (I also commented on your 1st GRG121DX video) I was VERY disappointed with the stock pick-ups in my GRG121DX, they sound far inferior to the stock pick-ups in my GRG7221 seven stringers, which is odd since they are also GRG series! I too now want to change the pick-ups in my GRG121DX, keen to hear what you recommend for playing old school death/thrash, I am thinking of EMG Hz's or 81/85's.

[@leearmitage]

Thanks man much appreciated. Yeah I know what you mean as I have a 7 string gio and those sound better than the stock one in this too. I know a lot of people knock EMGs I like em I have HZ ones in my ZW les Paul and Jackson Demmelition, also I think these pickups would sound good for that old school vibe too 🤘

[@georgesaris9968]

@@leearmitage Many thanks for the info Lee. 👍 I have EMG HZ's in my Cort EVL-X4, very good pick-ups for what I want, just deciding if I should go for EMG 81/85 instead for the GRG121DX. Cool you got a Jackson Demmelition! Must be the PDX Demmelition King V with the EMG HZ's. Phil Demmel is a legend, I've been a Vio-lence fan since their '86 demos, they already had one the HEAVIEST chugging guitar tones ever from back then. 🤘

[@leearmitage]

I would say either would be good in the 121. Yeah big fan of Phil's and Violence have the string through hard tail version plays and sounds awesome

[@jovanradojkovic5167]

Hey I changed volume and tone pot with a pair of CTS 500k pots, done coper tape shieling, bang some orange drop capacitors on tone but I wanna ask you for help, now I have a lot of noise on volume pot in midle position and it interacts with a tone pot by noise get a lot quieter with tone pot all up or all down. But noise is present a lot in middle position on volume pot. Everything is well grounded and I have no idea how to filter that. Any idea on your mind bro greatly apriciated 🤘

[@leearmitage]

I'm no expert on electronics I would have said a ground issue but from what you have said that seems fine. Have you checked the wiring is all correct

[@jovanradojkovic5167]

@@leearmitage Thanx a ton bro, I think I had figured out what I screwed up hahah...😁 I think I made a multiple ground jumers and used unshielded flat copper wire under pickups ....could be it. I think unshielded wire picks more electromagnetics interference....shit back to operatong table 😂😂😂

[@leearmitage]

Cool hopefully you've figured it out 😁

[@jovanradojkovic5167]

What pickup height you recomend for bridge and neck, and what action is best for this one, maybee a stupid question but don't hurtbto ask 😁

[@leearmitage]

No question is stupid the bridge I usually have quite close to the strings may 4-5 mm and about 7-8 for the neck but that's not a hard and fast rule all depends on the pickups

[@jovanradojkovic5167]

@@leearmitage Thank you bro 🤘😊

[@JAF2991]

Hey man, you didn't buy the Trembucker version of the JB? Just the SH regular humbucker?

[@leearmitage]

Yeah it's just the regular version I'm happy with it, it growls like a beast

[@WholeLottaBulldog]

Massive difference. I quite like the JB, but its brother the Distortion sh-6 for some reason I just have never liked. Everyone seems to love it but even after 5 years and in 3 or 4 guitars (I've moved the one pickup around) I just don't get the hype. Different strokes though as they say...

[@leearmitage]

Yeah I'm really glad I swapped to these it's made a big difference. Never tried the distortion might get one to try out as the pickups in my warlock are crap at best, yeah like you say different strokes

[@RastjackA]

lol i liked the burp

[@leearmitage]

Haha yeah gotta have a good burp every now and then

[@David-zv7ds]

Is 3 way switch or a 5 cause i saw the grg121dx may have a 5 way switch btw nice video

[@leearmitage]

Thanks man, mine has the 3 way switch I know some have the 5 way

[@init-crioxica]

Good Job! But how about active humbucker on bridge? Only one humbucker but active, is it real?

[@leearmitage]

Thanks man yeah that could be done

[@init-crioxica]

@@leearmitage What if you need to drill an additional hole or everything will fit and so? I would like to replace only one humbucker near the bridge with emg 85.

[@leearmitage]

You may be able to fit the battery in the control cavity will have to take a look when I get chance

[@init-crioxica]

@@leearmitage I checked and it really fits there, i hope I can do it.

[@leearmitage]

Fingers crossed for you

[@daginn896]

Hey. Did you get the trembuckers or the humbuckers? What is the best fit for this guitar?

[@leearmitage]

Humbuckers the classic JB 59 set

[@daginn896]

@@leearmitage Nice setup :) How do you like the guitar?

[@leearmitage]

It is, for the price it's a great guitar got it tuned to drop c and it sounds like a beast

[@daginn896]

@@leearmitage Awsome!

[@leearmitage]

🤘🧙‍♂️🤘

[@Alexander_grunge]

It's model pickup 59 hybrid?

[@leearmitage]

As far as I'm aware it's a standard 59

[@savin9424]

what a freaking tone coming out from these sd's(((

[@leearmitage]

Yeah they are great

[@dessidentdrums4679]

good sound ! Cheers from Ukraine )

[@leearmitage]

Thanks man much appreciated 😁🤘

[@band-maidsheep2665]

awesome~!^^ Like I did comment I wouldn't bet putting quality pickups on an inexpensive guitar, but you seemed to have pulled it off, my friend!^^ You're basically (lol at that burp~XD) the next awesome man after Ola Englund~! =D \m/

[@leearmitage]

Thanks man yeah to me they sound better. Haha yeah gotta get those BURPS in 🤣😂🤘

[@jovanradojkovic5167]

Could it be an intonation issue ?

[@leearmitage]

Yeah could be or maybe some of the Frets may not be level that would be another place to check

[@jovanradojkovic5167]

Frets are good, but I using heavier gauge for first time, and maybe I need some time to get useto it 😂

[@leearmitage]

Possibly may just raise the action a little, not trying to teach you how to suck eggs but some people do forget to do that with thicker strings and lower tunings

[@Yunus-to1kp]

Are the stock pickups ok for metal?

[@leearmitage]

They are ok but not the greatest pickups, thats the good thing about this guitar it's cheap enough to put upgrades in it and plays really nice. I've recorded a few bit with the stock ones and they will get you by

[@Yunus-to1kp]

Lee Armitage I am thinking about buying a guitar and learning by myself (with help of the internet). I think that guitar is gonna be enough for me. Thx for replying.

[@leearmitage]

@@Yunus-to1kp It's a great guitar to learn on I don't think you'll be disappointed

[@1337Ox]

@@Yunus-to1kp I got it some time ago as my very first guitar, and I love it so much, couldn't get anything better than that for its price!

[@leearmitage]

Exactly for the price its a damn good guitar

[@ahmedalnajjarofficial]

Is the JB one for bridge SH4?

[@leearmitage]

Yeah JB in the bridge 59 in the neck

[@ahmedalnajjarofficial]

@@leearmitage Thanks for the answer!, great upgrade by the way!, I think I'm gonna upgrade mine too with this JB in the bridge first!, Greetings from iraq 🤘🏻

[@leearmitage]

No worries buddy always happy to help Greetings from Yorkshire 🤘🧙‍♂️🤘

[@ahmedalnajjarofficial]

@@leearmitage dear sorry for bothering but I've one more question, As you know in the position 2 of the pickups selector it splits the pickups between the bridge pickups and the neck pickups my question is if I install the JB SH4 in the bridge position does the split coil still do the split as in the factory pickups of the guitar? Thanks in advance

[@leearmitage]

@@ahmedalnajjarofficial I think it depends if it's a 5 way toggle switch or a 3 way I could be wrong on that, if it's the 5 way then I think it will coil split

[@sharkboy980]

Can you leave links to these pickups or pickups you recommend. I plan on changing the pickups on mine. I got the same Ibanez but with 5 way switcher. Thanks

[@leearmitage]

Hi I got them from Aliexpress, like this listing www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001871978318.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.5442312d4n8wMg&algo_pvid=d43c5608-167c-46fd-8ac7-c4ad4c0ada14&algo_expid=d43c5608-167c-46fd-8ac7-c4ad4c0ada14-2&btsid=2100bdd716137597005397015e0761&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

[@sharkboy980]

@@leearmitage thank you I will order these. I’m a beginner when it comes to soldering but it seemed simple in the video. Is there a wiring diagram or should I just take a picture of how the wires are wired

[@leearmitage]

I'd take a picture also if you look on the Seymour Duncan website they have wiring diagrams on there

[@Rammetallist]

Не очень хорошо на этой гитаре звучат эти датчики. Лучше что-то поярче, SH-6 хотя бы. В идеале либо Nazgul, либо Jupiter в бридж. Для любителей, также хорошо будет SH-13. В неке SH-1 59 хорошо в сочетании с любым бриджем будет. Sentient, SH-2, Jupiter мне меньше в неке нравятся. Это если ставить Seymour Duncan. Вообще, я бы рекомендовал на эту гитару поставить сет DiMarzio Crunch Lab + Liquifire. Сама гитара довольно глухая, на таких SD звучат мутно. DiMarzio же вытянут из неё достаточно яркости, чтобы в миксе звучать значимо.

[@leearmitage]

Yeah we all have our own preferences. I like these Duncan's definitely more aggressive and detailed than the stock pickups

[@mikerauter1859]

okay tone but this is probably the ultimate example of putting pickups in which are worth more than the guitar to buy in the first place.

[@leearmitage]

Actually they weren't but I get what you mean

[@angusorvid8840]

The Duncans totally rule. The Ibanez pups are terrible, boxy, sterile.

[@leearmitage]

Absolutely glad I swapped them out

[@angusorvid8840]

@@leearmitage I've been using JBs since 1986. I've used a lot of pickups but the JB always delivers. It's the most versatile mass production replacement pup of all time. Any style you play it delivers.

[@leearmitage]

Yeah they certainly do and they bring this guitar to life

[@angusorvid8840]

@@leearmitage I've noticed JB's sound extraordinary in basswood and mahogany. Most Ibanezes are basswood, and of course Gibsons and PRS are mahogany. Always sounds killer. I have the JB in a cheap Schecter and it sounds like a billion dollars. Since JB's are on the bright side and very harmonic they balance very well in those tonewoods. Same with Alder. But ash and maple are way too bright for JBs. I was heavily involved in the metal guitar shred scene in Los Angeles in the 80s when I was a teenager. Best time in the world! And guitar heaven. The JB was undoubtedly the most used pickup. BTW, Satriani used a JB in a Kramer on his first two albums before he got the Ibz and DiMarzio endorsements, and is still known to use Duncans from time to time although he doesn't advertise it. DiMarzio make some okay pickups, but I much prefer Duncans. They cut through better, are warmer, and just feel better to play. I'll tell you right now in order, the top ten pickups from most popular to least popular what pickups were in use in the 80s in L.A.: 1. JB 2. Duncan Custom 3. Duncan Distortion 4. EMG 81, often paired with an 85 neck. 5. Bill Lawrence 500 XL 6. DiMarzio Super Distortion 7. DiMarzio X2N 8. DiMarzio MegaDrive 9. DiMarzio PAF Pro 10. DiMarzio Double Whammy This is just my observation, as someone who had their ear very close to the ground. The JB was not only the most popular pickup among metal/hard rock shredders, but even standard, run of the mill players. It just had The Sound and worked beautifully with British/EL34 style amps like the Marshall JCM, modded or boosted plexis, Soldanos, Laneys, and American style amps like Randalls and Peaveys and of course, Boogies. Yes, I know Soldanos are American, just differentiating between American and British style tones, the EL34/6L6 divide. I tend to prefer EL34 tone. The JB is just perfect with that kind of tone. Pure heaven.

[@leearmitage]

@@angusorvid8840 oh Yeah man a lot of people have used these pickups, it has transformed the sound of this guitar no end and gives it a certain growl I like