Questions on Pick Ups n a distortion pedals

[berukblue]

Hi i have an Ibanez RG3120 that has a Dimarzio PAF pro in the neck position but i find it to be thin and muffled (perhaps something to do with the mahogany body?) so i'm looking for something with more balls to it...any recommendations?

Also...i have a Keeley DS-1 Ultra for my distortion rite now but it sounds its best in Ultra mode pushing a tube amp. The SEM mode is definitely better than stock but i feel that there has to be something else that can do better so i'm looking for a distortion pedal with the balls and tube like distortion of the Ultra mode but with the gain of the SEM mode. I'm trying to avoid the metal zone as i feel its just a little black box of noise and i've read the review of the new DOD death metal but i am afraid it may just be too much distortion for me...help guys? Thanx

PS: If u haven't notice...i like balls :lol:

 

[Praetorian]

I can't answer your distortion question, but I'll attempt to answer your pickup question as best I can.

From what I hear, DiMarzio PAF Pro's sound oddly horrible in most Ibanez's.

If you insist on a DiMarzio for the neck, you can try the Super Distortion, though I'm not too familiar with DiMarzio's. The DiMarzio Evolution is also a pretty decent choice.

That or an EMG.

However, for a multitude of reasons, I reccomend a Seymour Duncan. They sell the best, and IMO they have more "character" than a DiMarzio. EMG's are pretty dead, if you know what I mean.

The Duncan Custom or Custom Custom should give you the neccesary punch you need in the neck. Maybe a Jazz, too. The Jazz is a clean, clear pickup, but sounds oddly delicious on distortion. I don't know how the JB would sound in the neck, but if you like, put a JB in the bridge. You won't regret it.

Now for the No-No's. Stay far, far away from putting the Invader in the neck. Heavy as it is, and even though Seymour Duncan produces a "balanced" neck version of the Invader, the sound simply doesn't cut it. Muddy and blur. Trust me. I have an Invader in my neck and I don't like it half as much as I like my JB (Bridge).

But then again, I have a Basswood body, whose tonal qualities is warmer than an Alder body and brighter than your Mahogany. It's somewhere inbetween.

So if I were you I'd narrow down the choices to a Custom, Custom Custom or Jazz.

 

[psionic]

berukwank!

 

[berukblue]

Thanx for the recommendations...i know what u mean about EMGs although i still feel it has its uses.....will the pickups u recommended sound very different from my Tonezone in the bridge? Coz i would prefer it to be at least similar....don't want to be swtiching to a completely different sound in the middle of playing but yet i dont want it to sound to similar since a neck pickup should sound like a neck pickup....u know what i mean?

 

[pooo]

If you're a Dimarzio man, i'll back Praetorian on the choice of an Evolution neck. I've played it before, though in a basswood RG. It's got great response, harmonically rich, loud, basically, has BALLS.

If you're a Seymour Duncan fan i suggest checking with Subversion. The man's got a number of SD's in the necks of his guitars and should be able to give you proper directions should you choose that path.

Prae: The SD custom and custom custom are really more bridge orientated pickups, not really the "neck" sort... Basswood is a neutral sounding with a nice warm tone, not really brighter than mahogany.. mahogony in general produces clear bright tone, not as much as alder though..

 

[berukblue]

Evolution? I'll check that out since i'm definitely a dimarzio kinda guy....

So any recommendations on the distortion pedal? Just to be clear i'm looking a pedal that sounds great through any amp wether tube or solid state...


Oh yes...hello psionic 8)

 

[pooo]

A lot of people will tell you to get a Boss DS-1, i'm sure hehe.

But if you want that consistant tone, all over the place, regardless of whether you're playing a tube or solid state, and have money to spare, get the Tech 21 Sansamp GT2, or the TRI A.C.

 

[Praetorian]

Prae: The SD custom and custom custom are really more bridge orientated pickups, not really the "neck" sort... Basswood is a neutral sounding with a nice warm tone, not really brighter than mahogany.. mahogony in general produces clear bright tone, not as much as alder though..

Alder is the brightest amongst the three.

Basswood is smack in the middle of Mahogany and Alder.

Mahogany is the warmest of the lot.

Ibanez uses Mahogany to capitalise on it's warmness. I'm positive I am correct in this case. Let's see what the others have to say.

 

[stillwater]

Hey beruk,
I love dimarzios too. n agree wif u on paf pro sounding thinnish, due to its lost of mids. i tried that once n was thoroughly disappointed too. i wanted to get something like steve vai's tone in his whitesnake days, but it wasn't even close.

evolution seems like a good choice, alternatively, u could consider air norton, which seems to be a perfect match for tone zone (according to dimarzio's webby).

cheers

 

[pooo]

Mahogany is the warmest of the lot..

Mahogany in general are termed as "warm", and have that punch. This punch is that mid range that is more pronounced. This attributes to a higher pitch, more piercing sound to cut through. Hence my referal to brightness. Basswood has better low range response. In terms of brightness, i agree with you on alder being brightest of the three, followed by Mahogany and finally Basswood.

 

[Praetorian]

Mahogany in general are termed as "warm", and have that punch.

Uh, that's what I'm saying. I never said Mahogany is bassy. =/

 

[pooo]

Hey beruk,
I love dimarzios too. n agree wif u on paf pro sounding thinnish, due to its lost of mids. i tried that once n was thoroughly disappointed too. i wanted to get something like steve vai's tone in his whitesnake days, but it wasn't even close.

evolution seems like a good choice, alternatively, u could consider air norton, which seems to be a perfect match for tone zone (according to dimarzio's webby).

cheers

Honestly i think the Air Norton doesn't quite have enough of the balls he's looking for. It's really warm. If that's what you're seeking than it'll be a good choice also.

 

[stillwater]

Hey beruk,
I love dimarzios too. n agree wif u on paf pro sounding thinnish, due to its lost of mids. i tried that once n was thoroughly disappointed too. i wanted to get something like steve vai's tone in his whitesnake days, but it wasn't even close.

evolution seems like a good choice, alternatively, u could consider air norton, which seems to be a perfect match for tone zone (according to dimarzio's webby).

cheers

Honestly i think the Air Norton doesn't quite have enough of the balls he's looking for. It's really warm. If that's what you're seeking than it'll be a good choice also.

ya, u've got a point poo. 4gotten its about the balls! :lol:

 

[vernplum]

Ibanez uses Mahogany to capitalise on it's warmness. I'm positive I am correct in this case. Let's see what the others have to say.

Not always - my S-Series is basswood I think.

 

[mikemann]

Tone mainly comes from your 2 hands.

How you play the guitar and how you work the vol/tone control with your pinky. Also knowing to adjust the amp is vital to getting that sound.

As a guitarist progresses, he will realise that the best combination for tone is just the guitar and the amp only, without effects.

 

[subversion]

Not always - my S-Series is basswood I think.

your S570 is definitely mahagony (if that's what you are refering to).

i've bad encounters with the PAF Pro in the neck, not even its residence in a Prestige model would help. Joe Satriani recently customized his PAF Pro to become PAF Joe, check if the stores have it. maybe you should take the cue from that...

 

[vernplum]

Thanks for clearing that up - I was never sure. I saw a lone review on Harmony Central and the guy said he thinks it's basswood - but then he probably doesn't know too.

 

[subversion]

he he, it's in the 2002 catalogue, which i own...

 

[edo83]

hmmm....guys i have a PAF pro in my RG1550 neck too. i usually use it for my lead tones....does the problems u guys mentioned contribute to my lead parts hard to hear in a band? cos im considering a pup change too.....but any recommendations? perhaps a warm and full sounding one rather than muffled and lack of balls.......btw im using a steve's special in the bridge

 

[subversion]

if you have played in a band context & find that the neck humbucker stands out enough in the mix, then leave it be. otherwise there are other units which help manifest clear individual notes in the neck.