Adder Plus Corp Persuader Lead

It's a passive humbucker. don't know the other specs, per se, but it's good quality construction, expoxy sealed back, shielding, etc. Looks nice, too :).

Oh, and the wires are twisted pair and not all sheathed and sheilded together like a Duncan or Dimarzio (the Pickup itself is sheilded, and there's a breakout wire for just the shielding). This actually made installation quite a bit easier b/c I could more easily manipulate the position of the wires. (Yeah, it's a tiny nit picking thing, but I thought it was cool).

Replacing EMG-81's (switchable wiring b/t 9V and 18V).

Currently in a Jackson Soloist SL2H-MAH after I tested it in a custom built Soloist clone I made. (Both guitars are Mahogany bodied neck-thru's). It is in the bridge position.

OTher pickups that have been in these guitars are EMG 81 and 85; Duncan Distortion, Full Shred, Invader, and JB; Dimarzio Evolution and X2N. Oh and an old Carvin P.O.S. humbucker from 13 years ago.

So I have a number of comparisons in the same guitar.

Don't know and don't care about Artists using this pickup. I justread about them, thought I'd try them.

I hate giving 10's, but man, this pickup has opened my eyes. I used to be a staunch, hard-core EMG fanatic. Well, the EMGs are going on-line auction this weekend.

I play hi-gain thrash and technical death metal. Currently use Engl Fireball head with EQ into 2 Marshall Mode 4 4x12's that actually have 2 Marshall Mode Four Celestions and 2 Eminence Mon O' War's in each. (Formerly had a VHT-powered rack setup).

First thing I noticed: omfg... NO NOISE!!! My house wiring sucks, and In this house, that's amazing. All my guitars, with both passive and active pickups, are noisy as hell here. Not with this bad boy. Couldn't believe it.

So I'll say this: "Output level" is a deceptive term. One can have the "hottest" pickup known to man yet have no "tone". I tried these in two almost-identical guitars right next to each other, one with EMGs and the other with the Adder, and they aren't as "hot" or "Edgy" as EMGs. !!!HOWEVER!!!...

While they ARE hotter than any other passive I have played, this is not wherein their true beauty lies. As I played the Adder's I began to realize it: I wasn't hearing all the BULLS#!T any more! I don't know how else to describe it, but the EMG's just have too much... I dont know... overtones, noise... SOMETHING, and I didn't realize that all these years I did everything in my power to dial it out. These Adders seem to dish out the REAL guitar tones, and leave the b.s. behind. I had to re-eq everything.

BALANCE: I have yet to hear a pickup so well balanced as this. I mean, chords are rich and smooth, yet individual staccato notes cut right through with perfect clarity and full attack. Hit some high leads and you get all this attack, yet none of the buzzy harshness.

I can go from speeding trem pick, to rapid staccato, to slow chunk and it ALL sounds how I want. You want some singing feedback? Right there. Pinch harmonics? Piece of cake. YOU control the sound, and it's the first I've really felt this way in my almost 20 years of playing.

Doesn't have quite the "edge" the EMG's had, but the tradeoffs are well worth it. Plus, I ahven't fully experimented with the EQ yet. I bet I can dial it in, or even switch of a 1Meg pot if necessary.

I even did a little accoustic thing and they had this really well balanced, sparkly sound. (But in sparkly clean sounds, I am NO expert ;>).

Been playing almost 20 years. I listed the gear above. I also listed the other pickups I've experience with above.

These pups will be majorly affected by playing style, but that's the great part! I'm a metal player, and at this gain/volume, control and dynamics are harder to come by while trying to retain your tone. These are a perfect match. YOU control it like never before.

There were things I'd play over and over again and wonder, "Why does that sound so messy? Am I really that crappy after all these years?" These adders have helped me discover a clarity I didn't know *I* had, and I tone I'm happy to have at my disposal. And they are about the same money as anything else out there, so why not!

I wasn't blown away immediately, but once I realized the deal, I couldn't be happier. If you're coming from active pups, you may be tempted (as I was) to think these aren't hot enough. But do yourself a favor and adjust your amp and play for a while.

I will be buying these for my other axes.

Oh, last thing: don't be scared off by their lame web site :) (Sorry Adder Plus, but it's true: your current site stinks, but your pups are great!). These guys are for real, and I got the pickup FAST.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Charvel 750XL
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Dimarzio Super Distortion
Other pickups on guitar: Dimarzio PAF
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Metal to Latin Blues
Reason for pickup change: Heard outragious claims about these, decided to see for myself.

Perceived output level: Much hotter than the SD it replaced at half the distance to the strings.
Tone: Almost perfectly balanced. Very sensitive to string proximity.
Sonic evaluation: I use a Boogie MkIII live, and a Johnson J-Station for recording. These p/u's are more articulate than anything I've ever heard. On several tunes I'm working on I had to re-learn many parts - The Adder is quite unforgiving to sloppy playing!
With the SD, I had to really dig into the strings to get the desired definition for my leads. Now I just touch the strings and the notes ring out - clear as a bell.
These also match up well with on-board preamps.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play a wide range of styles, and haven't found one this p/u would be unsuited for. I've only used it in the bridge position, so I can't comment otherwise.

Comments: - I would replace it in a heartbeat.
- Been playing about 25 years, have about 9 guitars with SD, Dimarzio, Jackson, and Kent Armstrong p/u's.
- Only negative is the wait time. Mel, with one assistant, builds these as they are ordered. Expect a 2-3 month wait.
- I will be ordering many more of these in the future.

Pickup features: Humbucking - passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez Roadstar II
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: emg 81
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Heavy Metal
Reason for pickup change: heard nothing but good stuff and wanted to try these.

Perceived output level: HIGH (higher than any EMG, Dimarzio, or Duncan)
Tone: Perfectly ballanced, BEST SOUNDING PICKUP I HAVE EVER HEARD!!!!
Sonic evaluation: playing through the pod 2.0, mesa .50 cal, Dual Rec, marshall 800/900/2000, peavey XXX/5150/ultra. it really doesn't matter what amp you use, this pickup will bring the best out of your guitar.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: any position

Comments: i would definatly replace this pup if it were lost or stolen. i have never heard a louder, clearer, hotter, smoother, cleaner, yet still a distortion class pickup in my life!!! EMG only wishes it could sound as good as these pups do! if you want to make a cheap, crappy guitar sound good, or want to make a good guitar sound even better, TRY an APC pickup, you can't beat the sound quality of APC!!!!!!!!