What’s new at Zystrix? Read on… November 11, 2024 Zystrix introduces… Guitar Pickups -- Part One. First we’ll cover the most popular humbucking guitar pickups available for rock and metal. In part two we’ll cover money-saving choices when buying new pickups, and finally, no or low-cost alternatives instead of buying new guitar pickups. So sit back and relax. Welcome to Zystrix, the heartbeat of the universe. Where creativity and free-thinking have more value than conformity. Background Artwork Ad The colorful artwork that surrounds the edges of this website is invisible to many cell phone users. It’s included here for your enjoyment. Multiple copies are tiled together for a cohesive and seamless background seen all around this page. Enjoy. Introduction to Guitar Pickups Is your guitar tone heavy enough? Let’s transform your wimpy guitar tone into a self-sacrificing molten force that dominates the stage. Maybe it’s time to search for and install some flame-throwin’ guitar pickups designed for rock and metal. Or maybe not. You be the judge. In this part one episode we’ll cover pickups that dominate. Ones with power and clarity. So sit tight, grab the popcorn, and let’s talk about the most popular metal guitar pickups. POPULAR GUITAR PICKUPS FOR METAL and HARD ROCK The following pickups are the most popular, and many guitarists whose sound kills seek them out. They are not especially ones I would choose, but they are definitely way cool. I guess it just depends on your ear. We’ll cover that topic in part two. Anyway, here they are… EMG 81 (Top Choice) The EMG 81 Active Guitar Humbucker Bridge/Neck Pickup in black is popular among many guitarists. This pickup employs solid ceramic magnets, and the company says they have a solderless installation that’s popular with someone without soldering gun skills. This pickup is typically positioned in the guitar’s bridge position. Recommended pairings from the company for this pickup include the classic 81/85 configuration (shown above) and the 81/60 combination. DiMarzio Super Distortion DP100 This high-output passive humbucker pickup is designed for classic rock sounds and offers the versatility of coil-splitting. Regular or F-spacing to fit vintage Gibson or most Fender guitars. High output and a mid-boost deliver the maximum from your tube amp. Its key feature is the hot output, which is ideal for 1980s heavy metal. DiMarzio DP155 Tone Zone The Tone Zone humbucker has a wide dynamic range. It’s a passive pickup that’s aggressive, ballsy, and with plenty of drive. It comes in a black finish. DiMarzio X2N DP102 The DiMarzio X2N is the hottest and certainly one of the most aggressive pickups that DiMarzio makes, so if you are looking for something for modern death metal, this is the better choice over the Super Distortion. The high output EQ is very balanced with the Bass rated at 5.5, the Mids at 6.5, and Treble at 6.5, and it pairs best with a higher output neck position pickup. Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb Alpha & Omega This is a high output passive humbucking ceramic-powered signature set built on precision and clarity, and are available for 6-, 7- and 8-string guitars (8-string pictured). They are perfect for down-tuned guitars for clear chord definition, although they are expensive. Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker Alnico Fishman Modern Alnico Humbucker pickups offer classic alnico sound with added versatility, active battery operated power, and clarity. The Fluence technology allows you to switch between two different voicings (Modern Active and Crunchy Passive), making it easy to dial in the perfect tone for any playing style, and comes with a push-pull guitar knob for quickly changing voicings. The pickup also features a rechargeable battery. This could possibly be the best pickup available right now for metal guitarists. Seymour Duncan SH13 Dimebucker This pickup features a blade style design that ensures consistency through bends for pure metal sound. It delivers a powerful and high-output sound with a DC resistance of 16.25k ohms and an inductance of 8.45 H with a resonant frequency of 5.1k Hz which produces sharp, clear tones. It also includes mounting hardware, a custom mounting ring, and a detailed schematic for easy installation. Fishman Fluence Classic Humbucker This active pickup offers two distinct and useful sounds, classic PAF tone and a hot-rodded humbucker. Rechargeable with the optional battery pack, these pickups make it easy to upgrade your guitar. This one is designed for the bridge position and features a black nickel cover. Don’t touch that dial… Stay tuned next time… Before you think about upgrading your pickups please read part two (coming November 25, 2024) of this Guitar Pickups issue. We’ll cover the facts to know about guitar pickups to help you make an informed buying decision. Then we’ll look at inexpensive alternatives that sound just as good as expensive new pickups. And here’s something that’s not related to guitar pickups at all. If you enjoy neo- classical piano, Dangerous Neighbors has another tune to download free called Pull out the Rug. And the USA holiday called Thanksgiving (turkey day for some) is fast approaching – November 28th to be exact. Maybe I’ll see you then. The other day I installed a skylight in my apartment, and now the people who live above me are furious. Knowledge, art, and music for all.
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ZYSTRIX POPULAR FREE DOWNLOADS The Best Free Synthesizers of 2024 It’s another epic issue, and there’s lots of FREE downloads here. And the Honorable Mention Synthesizer List might surprise you. This list is long, so prepare yourself. And if it seems like too much to take in, I warned you. Click here for the official list of The Best Free Synthesizers of 2024. The Best Free Mastering Plugins Your DAW (digital audio workstation) will be so happy. And so will you. Here are the best of the best for EQ, compression, limiting, tube and tape emulation, reverb, delay, and honorable mentions. This list is a must have with lots of downloads. Check out The Best FREE Plugins for Mastering 2024. Here’s a free download of almost one and a half hours of original neo-classical solo piano by Dangerous Neighbors. This full length album called Piano Top to Bottom consists of 18 original piano pieces with the final piece in two movements. There is a bonus track making 20 files total. This download comes in three format options: the first option is a single file MP3 containing all the tunes in one chunk similar to tape recordings. The second download option is a folder with all of the separate MP3 piano pieces named and arranged in album order similar to a CD or MP3 player. The third download option is similar to videos found on “ZooTube” with the names and times on the screen. There is also a fourth surprise version made only for “ZooTube” and it is edited down to less than 15 minutes long because of their telephone number required rule. Basically it just guides the listener here. To download any or all of these options simply click here. Enjoy. Free Guitar Cabinet Impulse Responses Introducing the next generation in guitar cabinet impulse responses. Try the new Djammincabs Maxxx 4x12. All of these cab IR files are based on old, new, and boutique 4x12 cab curves. All are recorded in beautiful 24-bit 48K mono and will work on most free and paid digital convolvers. Hear the guitar IR breathe fire with pure attitude. Don’t be suckered in with high-dollar sales pitches, there ain’t no guitar IR downloads better than these. Choose from many cab sound recording styles: cone, edge, angled, arm away, inside cab, back of cab, or back of room. Djammincabs is the world leader in guitar cab IR invention -- no other guitar IR company can imitate these. Djammincabs Maxxx 4x12 makes it easier for you to design your own personalized sound -- even your own Metal IR pack. If you can’t find a cabinet or combination you like here, then you don’t like 4x12 cabinets. This guitar IR download also includes a Tactical Munitions Manual with suggested uses and detailed cab combinations. This is the best free guitar impulse download available anywhere. Djammincabs Maxxx 4x12 “Murder Your Competition.” I feel brave. I want to try them now. Here’s my email... Djammincabs for Guitar Free Guitar Impulse Responses This is the original Djammincabs guitar cabinet impulse response collection that started it all. Click here to download over 200 Free Guitar Cabinet Impulse Responses. Djammincabs for Bass Guitar Download Free Bass Impulse Responses Click here to download over 200 Free Bass Guitar Cabinet Impulse Responses. Best Free Guitar Impulses. The Top 11 Best Free Guitar and Bass Cabinet Impulse Responses for 2022 (in alphabetical order…) Find, download, and test the best free guitar cabinet impulse responses for 2022. FREE BASS LOOPS SAMPLES DOWNLOAD ROYALTY FREE BASS LOOP SAMPLES FREE BASS LOOPS Over 200 samples are included in the collection Download the complete collection of 24-bit bass loops here. NOTE: This download size is approximately 369 Megs. Free Pendulate Synthesizer Presets Original Newfangled Audio Pendulate synth patches/presets Click here to download over 240 Free Pendulate Synth Presets (patches) Synapse Audio Dune Synthesizer Download Over 200 Free Synapse Audio Dune 2 and Dune 3 Synthesizer Patches and Presets Click here to download over 200 FREE Synapse Audio Dune 2 or Dune 3 synthesizer patches or presets. NOTE: This synth patch download is slightly over 1 Meg in size. Free Reverb Impulse Responses Choose from hundreds available in 48K 24 bit WAV format including new original reverbs. CabSpace Over 400 Guitar Isolation Booth Reverbs Download over 400 Free Zystrix Original Reverb Impulse Responses, and over 200 Free Zystrix Original BONUS Reverb Impulse Responses. Download all the Alesis MIDIVerb 4 reverb impulse responses. Download all the Lexicon MPX-1 reverb impulse responses. Download all the Alesis Wedge reverb impulse responses. Download over 50 Reverb Relics from the past. Click here to download free reverb impulse responses. Free Drum Samples Only Available from Zystrix Free Gong Samples and Sounds Free Snare Drum Samples and Sounds Free Bass Drum Samples and Sounds Free Oriental Cymbal Samples and Sounds Free Oriental Bells Samples and Sounds The Ultimate Original Drum Sounds List Download over 2000 original slammin’ rock bass drums. Download original Gongs, Cymbals, Broken Cymbals, and Bells. Download Over 200 Free Original Bass Drum Sounds and Samples. Download over 200 Original Free snare drum sounds. Click here to download Drum Kit Sounds. Dangerous Neighbors The SW Michigan Rock Band Power Trio. Free Rockin’ Music Downloads Download tunes from the 80s to today. Use the special codes on the Embalmed for Life page (see the DOWNLOAD FREE AUDIO BOOKS link below) and get free downloads for the complete album and the free horror audio book The Fluid - Embalmed for Life. Click here to download various music from the rock band Dangerous Neighbors. Download Free Synth Samples for Intros, Interludes, and Endings Listen to example #01 by clicking here (MP3 Sample) Download FREE professional quality stereo sample packs that slowly evolve over time. All samples are in 48K 24 bit WAV format and are about 20 seconds long or more. If you like suspense, psycho, outer space, or terror then this collection is for you. These range from paranoia to sci-fi, cinematic gore to strange industrial horror, and creepy creatures to insane laboratories. Click here to download all the synth Intros, Interludes, and Endings. DOWNLOAD FREE AUDIO BOOKS The Fluid, Embalmed for Life There are Free Audio Book codes for Audible downloads (must sign up). There are also free sample downloads of the book reading. There are free downloads of music samples. There is a free “Look Inside” download of the paperback. There is a free glossary of the largest list of mortuary slang in the world. The Free Dangerous Neighbors Album The Fluid, Embalmed for Life comes included as part of the audio book and parts are available here as a free download. The paperback book is available for sale at Amazon dot com. I have no control over these sales; because of the Amazon agreement I cannot offer complete paperback or complete audio books here. And for some reason most book sales go to Japan. Who would have thunk it? Click here for free audio books, book reading samples, music samples, etc. Take me back to the top of the page. Zystrix Privacy Policy THE FINE PRINT: Zystrix is a world leader in personal privacy and we take your privacy very seriously. We do not store, sell, give away, or barter with any of your personal or private information including your email, IP address, links clicked, location, habits, tastes, online activities and behaviors, or anything else considered personal or private information. We never have. 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