31

The Pickup Place / Re: Ibanez PGM301 bridge pickup

« on: June 24, 2018, 01:36:06 PM »

If you did not like the 59/custom hybrid, I don't think you will like the AT-1 either. Those seemed similar to me,

I have both pickups. Even though I have not tested them in the same guitar they sound completely different to me. I would describe the 59/custom hybrid as a louder PAF with a bit of P90 vibe thrown in whereas the AT-1 to me is definitely in the more midheavy category. So if you did not like the hybrid because it did not have enough midrange for you, the AT-1 would be a good choice.

Cheers Stephan

Yeah

That hybrid is jangly and a little better for rhythm or lead work where you can get by with a little less “push”. Both coils come from models that are scooped in the mids.

The AT1 is a lot like a JB with a 250 pot. End of story.  Plenty of mids and a little beefy without getting tubby.

I’d agree, which is why I told him to try to find the cheap route and get a used JB locally, which anyone can find virtually anywhere, and try it out with 250kohm pot, even if he wants to use 500 for rest of pickups he can solder in a resistor quick only for his bridge pickup, this way he’d get 95 % AT-1.

JB with 250 kohm load is also slightly quieter output-wise then an at-1 on 500 kohm load so would balance with singecoils a bit better (although I think both will overpower them anyway).

32

Gear Closet / Re: Amp choices

« on: June 20, 2018, 06:27:00 PM »

My first real amp was an Traynor - was late 70s model, decidedly clean and I was a shredder in my 20s and early 30s, listening to VH and trying to just nail that sound from Eruption, I remember using a nasty sounding distortion box from ibanez from that time with the amp… simply didn't know better. Then I remember the output tranny blowing up, I however don't remember why, the thick wire coils of the tranny just popped out, so I gave the amp (or the surviving parts anyway) to a buddy for free, and bought ADA Mp1, which I thought was THE sound for the time.

I was using superstrats with JBs (Charvels) since my other role model, Steve Stevens, had his loaded with JBs as well. This was beginning of the 90s, and I was one of the few "hair metal" guys around… didn't last a long time, around 94, I was all grunge. As I would usually be "late", I ended up continuing the grunge all the way to the 2000/2001... where I just quit, but luckily didn't sell my gear.

I picked up my act again in early 2008, and traded 3 of my Charvels and an ADA MP1 with the Marshall 100/100 monoblock poweramp, and an old VHT deliverence cab I had, to a local pawn shop - by this time I was out of service in the military, and I decided to stay in Europe with my now-wife, instead of going back to states -- this I state because pawn shops aren't such a big thing on this side of the pond - but I was extremely lucky, to find Lee Jackson moded 2203 head (Metaltronix), with KT88s, smaller Marshall 2x12 cab with V30 speakers instead of stock T75s, and a bog down, simplistic all-mahogany flat Les Paul Special Faded, and some cash. I quickly switched the pickups of the Gibson to DiMarzio, a SuperD and PAF Pro, and was hooked ever since.

That JCM 800 2203 is hands down the best sounding amp I currently have and that I ever tried. And in the meantime, so I can compare, I've bought a few - two other 2203, an 2205, and 2203KK which also has KT88s, but sounds nothing like my Metaltronix does! Also had DSL50 but I sold that off, and Laney VH100R suffered the same fate, couldn't bond with them.

Aside Marshalls, I have a smaller practice tube hybrid Line6 spider valve 40 112 combo, which is great for writing stuff because it has plethora of sounds mimicking other amps and alot of effects, and sounds pretty decent too. I have Roland Jazz Chorus 120, that is my main clean amp, simply best cleans solid state. I have an older Dual Rectifier solo head… and I'm in a GASS and hunt mode for a used ENGL Blackmore siggy, played one at a friend's venue and loved how it sounded.

I also do maintenance of my own amps, and repair amps that I buy for low money, and sometimes also repair amps for friends or local bands. Of the cheap amps that I got that needed repairing; Ashdown Fallen Angel 40 combo, so many cold solder joints, burnt PCB around one of the output EL84, fluctuating bias, nonworking vu-meter… made in england on the back and PCB proudly states "Made in PRC" inside... nightmare of repairing but it's repaired now and sounds decent - great modding platform that I'll probably mod to an 800 clone with EL84s, they're so crunchy!; FBT BR500 M2 an old late 60s Italian vintage copy of the Fender Bassman that needed refurbishing and had to switch to different output tubes from stock El503 to Rus EL500, sounds great for both bass and guitar; and Bugera 6262 a copy of the 5150II that had the molex connector of the OT burnt down and had all of it's fuses eating because of it constantly, simple fix direct soldering proper bias with good quality tubes and the amp sounds pretty good, not exactly like the amp it's supposed to sound like but in the ballpark. I'm probably gonna give that away to a young guy that I know father of, he's into Killswitch Engage a lot, 6262 can get that kind of sound with a good EQ in the loop.

So yeah, got a full wall of amps, but really only regularly use the 800s - I usually do cover band venues, and the Metaltronix stays home, while my other Marshalls work it out live. They rarely need any work, they used to be better made before, all of my are originals, not RI.



You Know what's funny? When I was younger, I used to hate Marshalls and thought I'd never settle on one. But I guess it's true that when you find a good one, it's a lifetime companion.

As for H&K... didn't try GM Deluxe, but did play on TubeMeister 18, and loved how versatile that thing was! So many useful and practical things in a small amp, if I just needed something for studio recording and needed that kind of sounds, TM18 would definitely be it.

Cory

33

The Pickup Place / Re: Slimming down to 1 guitar, HSS Strat. Need it to be versatile. Help with pickups

« on: June 20, 2018, 04:43:00 PM »

Hi,

It's definitely a tall order, but it's possible, with some compromises. The PG+ is basically an A5 Pearly Gates, it definitely does everything from blues to old school metal, if you don't need it for very technical and tight stuff, it's great and versatile, and if you like it's sound you have it sorted.

With a lot of gain, however, it's not a very tight pickup, it is pretty bright but sadly not the tightest, very fast playing on the lower strings can get inarticulate with high gain, although this can be slightly dealt with raising the pickup screw on the bottom string. If you need it for the more modern techie stuff, and this part of the sound has a priority to you - you could change the bridge humbucker to something else with a little bit tighter bottom end and perhaps slightly more output, and still have it super versatile.

Plenty of very versatile pickups -- Norton, AT-1 or even Evo2 from DiMarzio… Custom series from Duncan will do anything from jazz to metal, Bareknuckle the Mule(s), VHII or Rebel Yells will do as well. Pick your poison… they all sound different, but they all will do everything you can think of, provided you have the right kind of amp/simulator to back it up.


Texas Specials are awesome overwound single coils (yeah, they're reasonably loud), and they're great for everything you can throw at them (sans metal of course, they're at their core still single coils). If you ever feel the need, you could switch to a single-sized humbucker in the neck if you want the neck humbucker sound as well as singlecoil from the same position. If you feel the need, Satchtrack is great if you want both the humbucker and singlecoil sound from it, because it sounds like a real humbucker but also have an excellent split sound, Injector is great for fat powerful loud shred sounds - but like I said, if you don't plan on adding tons of gain on the middle and neck, stick with Texas Specials, because they're really great pickups, and can cover a lot of ground.

Lastly, amp has a take on it as well, a high gainer like a Dual Rec or 5150 won't have issues sounding super aggressive even if you're running 36th Anny, and I doubt anyone would comment SuperD's clean sounds bad from Fender Twin or JC120, so it should be put into perspective. If you use modelers/software/profilers, my experience is they react better to tighter and louder pickups then they do otherwise.


With all this said, I'd first buy the guitar, and try it out, and find out if you're satisfied or you're missing something.

Cory

34

The Pickup Place / Re: I'm so sorry...

« on: June 20, 2018, 09:46:53 AM »

Thanks!  I'd actually never considered the Norton, but I'll give it some serious thought.  The Custom/Pegasus (at least the coils I use) is essentially just a really refined Custom (I run mine with an A6 which makes it a bit smokey and fills out the low-mids).  More note separation, easier to control.  I've tried the other coils (Pegasus slug, Custom screw) and that combination was VERY loud and compressed.

I like to tinker the pickups myself to tweak out the finer details, so I completely understand it. Yeah, of all the DiMarzios, Norton is closest in wind to the Custom, it's just warmer and darker, changing the baseplate will open it up further, and will remove some of the mids as well. It sounds excellent with ceramic as well, albeit still smoother then a stock Custom.

Also, like Tone Zone, the coils are mismatched, not as much as TZ or D-Sonic, but there's still slightly different sounds to it, so I'd try to flip it over - installed "normally" with the wire portruding towards pots on a right-handed guitar is the bassier warmer sound, flipped over it's tigher and brighter, ever so slightly.

I would think a Norton would be definitely up your alley, and since you're not affraid to tweak it, could probably nail the sound even further.

Cory

35

The Pickup Place / Re: Mahogany body: EVO 2 vs Evolution

« on: June 20, 2018, 02:32:57 AM »

Hi,

Evo 2 is my favorite DiMarzio... I used to be a SuperD fanatic but with years of playing I figured Evo2 does everything. I’ll put it into perspective — I use Evo2s in most of my Les Pauls, and most of my alder Superstrats. Evo 2 sounds better in guitars with harder heavier woods, and imho allows a guitar to give back some of its own sound imprint as well. Evolution is a better shredding pickup because it has an innate boost in central and lower mids, giving better sustain, is slightly more sensitive due to more magnetic pull (no air tech in original Evo) and more of a cocked wah sound... but it trades that for sweeter too end, tighter bottom, more dynamics and a better overall balance and better recorded sound in case of Evo2. To me, it’s too much of a trade of for a practical boost in soloing, as Evo2 with a slight boost can achieve the same solo sound but sounds better virtually everywhere else. Evo2 is considerably more versatile as well, you can play blues on it and it will sound right, rock on it sounds right, funk on it sounds right, metal rhythm on it sounds right, shred on it sounds right — it’s a super versatile pickup, whereas original Evo is more of a one trick pony.

Perhaps the only scenario I slightly prefer Evolution to Evo2 is in light basswood or Agathis bodies - because it overrides guitar natural tone, or lack thereof in case of very cheap guitars.

So in your case, yes Evo2.

36

The Pickup Place / Re: Ibanez PGM301 bridge pickup

« on: June 20, 2018, 02:08:01 AM »

Hi,

While I’m a big fan of SatchTrack, and Fred and MoJoe and Satch tone in general - I don’t really like Satchur8, I personally think it would sound too big for you. In many ways it sounds like a big fat FRED. But to my ears it lacks a character, sounds a bit dull.

Instead, in your case I’d try a JB — but with 250 kohm load, if you haven’t already. It sounds just like you describe you want it to sound. However that’s with the 250 k load, with 500 it sounds bigger, louder, spikier and like a high output pickup, with 250 it’s more sort of medium output - perceived anyway. I know you said you don’t like it tonally but 250 kohm load makes it imho into a different pickup altogether.

I’m not trying to persuade you against the Satchur8 - you may just love it - but I’m simply saying getting a used JB shouldn’t be a problem, and you can score them cheap on evilbay (or your local used ads site) if you look long enough for one, then you can compare. And flip back one you like less. FWIW, I think you’ll like JB more, I know I do.

Cheers

37

The Pickup Place / Re: I'm so sorry...

« on: June 20, 2018, 01:48:36 AM »

Hi,

There’s no need to apologize, and one should not limit to just one company anyway. While I never tried Custom/Pegasus hybrid, I did try both in the same guitar and I generally liked both, Custom is still my most favorite Duncan pickup, so I can imagine hybrid - it would sound good. In many ways, it should sound very much like a Norton, so if you have a chance to try a guitar with one, do it. Norton itself is similar wind to Duncan Custom but has a A5 magnet and a brass bottom plate, both of which warm it and darken it up, and it has a similar Eq stock to a Pegasus albeit with a lesser power and slightly less of presence. From what I could imagine your hybrid to sound, Norton would be close.

Cheers

38

Guitar Lounge / Re: ESP guitars

« on: June 01, 2018, 04:19:06 AM »

Besides all said, if you want an ESP and want it true to the Gibson in terms of construction, materials, looks and, to a lesser degree, sound, and don't want to part with a large sum for a Navigator, check the Edwards LP line. They can be had for surprisingly cheap if you're getting used, but new is problem because you have to import them from overseas.

 Long tenon set neck construction, correct wood choices, premium hardware and Duncan pickups. I've got two and I like them just as much as many of my Lester Standards real deals.

They feel a bit different, and sound different thanks to different pickups, of course. Edwards are not weight relieved but feel incredibly light (or atleast two of mine do), and with the JB on the bridge the sound is ofcourse more contemporary as you'd expect from a higher output pickup. That was really my only issue with them, the JB which I simply switched for a different pickup.

A buddy has a Jimmy Page lookalike Edwards that he put whola lotta love and an a2pro in the neck, and that guitar just completely nails those LZ tones to a T.

39

The Pickup Place / Re: "GIFMEN" pickups?

« on: May 19, 2017, 09:08:49 AM »

I suppose, but then no mods to move it to the right one either.

40

The Pickup Place / Re: HELP: Zebra or Reverse Zebra on my RG?

« on: May 12, 2017, 11:02:03 AM »

I prefer zebra, it has more of a traditional look to me. My LPs with DMZs are all zebras. I guess its a tastes thing - both ways look good and better then all black does, anyway.

Like DBM said, its just an appereance difference, theres no actual difference in sound the way you install them.

41

The Pickup Place / Re: Dimarzio Satchur8 Humbucker

« on: May 12, 2017, 10:59:24 AM »

No official info from DMZ but Ibanez says it's passive alnico 8 pickup on the bridge coupled with sustainiac on the neck.

He didnt answered what kind of output it was but Im guessing he just has no clue about it. My guess, probably around Paf PRO output with A8.

Cory

42

Everything you wanted to know about .... / Re: The Breed

« on: May 06, 2017, 10:53:07 AM »

That was some thread ressurection!

I don't gel well with Breed neck in the neck, it's almost too warm and smooth. However, it's excellent in the bridge position with something like Air Norton in the neck. More people should really try it because it produces a really good sound.

It's like the Duncan Distortion neck, years ago I tried it in the bridge, was blown away by articulation and crunch, then I was told by Skopp that it was originally named Seymourizer and used in the bridge.
Breed neck should really be marketed as a unique pickup (like Paf PRO) that works for both position.

Cory

43

The Pickup Place / Re: Mo'Joe & Paf Joe wiring with push-pull pot on Ibanez RG1570 by BL1025 modding

« on: May 06, 2017, 10:44:51 AM »

What Buddroyce said is true, it sounds like a grounding problem. Check your pots wiring. It being more appereant on humbuckers instead of singles has nothing to do with the actual pickup type but tied to it's output, bad wiring will sound worse on higher output pickups then on lower ones, in my experience anyway.

I didn't check the diagram, and it's reasonably hard to figure out what's wrong online except going step by step. I can tell you, however, to check the wires from the pickups to the selector switch, and then double-check the wires you soldered as grounds to the bottom of the pots. It's likely your issue is one of the two.

HTH,
Cory

44

The Pickup Place / Re: neck pickup input

« on: May 06, 2017, 10:36:20 AM »

Hi,

If you want more bite and tighter sound for the neck, try out the Humbucker from Hell. It's not the high output monster the name will have you believe but it's pretty tight and pretty biting. If you find yourself in need of more volume out of it, you can jack it up and slam it real close to the strings, as it has a weak magnet it's not going to be pulling them strings, and it will still stay tight and articulate.

HTH,
Cory

45

The Pickup Place / Re: Suggestions for Ibanez RG570 pickups

« on: May 06, 2017, 10:32:03 AM »

Hi there,

You're on the right track with CL/LF, it'll do the tones you want it to, and then some. I used Evo set (and Evo2 which I like better in the bridge) for some NWOBHM, and it sounds legit. Evos will also do speed/power metal sound really good. D'As will do the Metallica tones but I found them too bright and slightly plonky for my likings, and I think they won't sound right for the more british stuff, way too modern. Now pretty much every medium output and higher DiMarzio can do metal (and even some PAFs, with the right amp), but some sound better at it then others.

HTH,
Cory