Author Topic: Humbucker for Custom 7 string guitar, I am at loss =) (Read 3393 times)

Metafis · « **on:** May 11, 2008, 11:21:27 PM »

Hi people!

I have the following guitar:
http://www.lootnick.com/gallery.php?gid=97

It has set-in neck, mahogany body with flamed maple top, fixed bridge, 25,5" scale. Currently I have a set of DiMarzio Diactivators but I am not 100% happy with them. They kinda don't have "body" and don't have much of those screaming harmonics.

So, what I need is a "full-body", wide, rich sound with possibility to get beautiful pinch harmonics (very important, as I love pinch harmonics). I am mostly focused on playing progressive-power metal with well distorted sound.

I was suggested a Cold Sweat by someone, but istn't it too vintage sounding?

What would you suggest?

=)

ilÿti · « **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2008, 11:48:09 PM »

Wow.

Just wow.

First let me say, that is one of the best looking guitars I have ever seen. I'll be drooling over that the next couple of days thats for sure. If it plays half as good as it looks, you're a lucky sonofashedog.

There are so many possibilities with that guitar. All BKPs are said to have great (and easy) pinches so I think you'll have to be more specific as for how you want the voicing of the pickups.
If I were you, I'd go for Cold Sweat bridge and Abraxas neck, but that's my taste, not necesarilly yours.

Daniel G · « **Reply #2 on:** May 12, 2008, 12:59:00 AM »

Well, before i'd suggest anything, you'd do well to tell us what kind of music you'll be playing, so we can narrow down the possibilities.
OR, you could go ahead and ask Tim, since he usually has the best advice, IMHO.

Antag · « **Reply #3 on:** May 12, 2008, 10:28:32 AM »

Nice guitar! :) Several choices spring to mind here:

Painkiller, Nailbomb, Miracle Man or (alnico) Warpig bridges could all work.

Cold Sweat neck is a great match for any of those, of just get a calibrated set (e.g. Nailbomb bridge + Nailbomb neck)

A few questions:
Do you ever need to play clean on your bridge pickup?
Do you need a thick/fluid noodly neck lead sound or do you only use the neck for cleans?
Does "progressive-power metal" require a really TIGHT sound for fast palm muted riffs?
How "well distorted" are we talking here - JCM800? Recto? super-saturated?
Do you tune that guitar to standard E-E w/low B?

Antag · « **Reply #4 on:** May 12, 2008, 10:28:53 AM »

& welcome to the forum :)

Metafis · « **Reply #5 on:** May 12, 2008, 12:09:41 PM »

>ilyti

Thanks! Yeah, the guitar is very beautiful, in reality it looks even better.
It plays damn well too. Very comfortable neck (very very close to Ibanez Ultra necks profile, exactly as I wanted), very low action, long sustain, very good attack. The guitar is nicely balanced, so the neck does not outweigh downwards (on some 7 string guitars I saw this problem). The tone is powerful, a bit compressed, clarity of the notes is really high.

Cold sweat (bridge) sounds like a good choice, but isn't it too vintage sounding? No?

I am not choosing neck pickup yet, want to start with bridge only.

>Daniel G

I mentioned that I mostly play progressive/power metal stuff. I also play some melodic death metal from time to time.

I have actually got an advice from Tim =) Now I want to hear some forum advices too :D

>Antag

Thank you for the welcome message! Nice to join this forum!

As for your questions:

1) Nope, I don't play clean on bridge pickups. I use either neck or one of the 5 positions of the switch (coil splitting stuff).
2) Right now I don't consider getting neck pickup at all, want to start with bridge one only.
3) Yep, I definitely need focused, tight sound. I'd also prefer sound with "bigger grain" than extremely super tight with very "small grain" (hope you understand what I mean).
4) Well distorted - not JCM800 for sure :D I'd say, kind of recto sound yes, but with less buzz.
5) I have standard 7 string tuning BEADGBE

opprobrium_9 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 12, 2008, 02:05:05 PM »

the back on that mutha is unbelievable! i mean wow! Flawless job, you should be really pleased (as i am sure you are).

talk to Tim about it i say, but if you want screaming harmonics i would say go for Painkillers, maybe the Miracle Man.

Metafis · « **Reply #7 on:** May 12, 2008, 03:22:58 PM »

opprobrium_9

Thanks! Yep, I am pleased with it, no shite :D

And thanks for your opinion about the humbuckers!

Antag · « **Reply #8 on:** May 12, 2008, 04:30:06 PM »

OK, I'd lean towards the Painkiller here - plenty of power, clarity & definition, but with a lot of midrange "grunt". Pinches scream out of my PK-equipped guitars.

If it's any help, I recently put a Painkiller clip in the player's forum...

Metafis · « **Reply #9 on:** May 12, 2008, 04:44:24 PM »

>Antag

Thank you for your opinion! And for the sound clip too (btw, you should roll back the Gain button, there is way too much gain) :)

Daniel G · « **Reply #10 on:** May 13, 2008, 12:48:01 AM »

Quote from: Metafis

>ilyti

>Daniel G

I mentioned that I mostly play progressive/power metal stuff. I also play some melodic death metal from time to time.

I have actually got an advice from Tim =) Now I want to hear some forum advices too :D

I saw that, the reason i asked was that that's a very broad spectrum, lots of bands, some with very distinct sounds.
But i guess i'll try without the specifics.

On a whim, i'd say Miracle Man, because i love how mine sound when doing pinch harmonics.
But i feel the others have a good point with the painkiller too.

Metafis · « **Reply #11 on:** May 13, 2008, 10:30:54 AM »

Ok, if we go to something specific then... Last Dream Theater album, Dark Eternal Night song - thats the sound I would aim for.

ilÿti · « **Reply #12 on:** May 13, 2008, 01:49:24 PM »

Painkiller.

Metafis · « **Reply #13 on:** May 13, 2008, 08:00:40 PM »

Thank you, mate! Will consider this

:)

ilÿti · « **Reply #14 on:** May 13, 2008, 08:13:14 PM »

Sys Chaos was the dog's bollocks btw. :D