Classic Rock conversion

[ztikmaen]

Black black black. The blackest guitar you'll ever see
Google it: RG370DXBK (the BK stands for black)
Btw, the only non covered pickup style I'd like is the Zebra

[Slartibartfarst42]

My guitar has black hardware too and personally, I think that limits you. A gold cover wouldn't work and without anything silver on the hardware, I think any of the silver coloured covers would struggle too. I've never really liked the camo covers so for me, that wouldn't be an option and I remember reading a thread on here about the black covers being prone to peeling problems. That only leaves you with two options; black battleworn and burnt chrome. I think you primarily need to think about how you want the tone. If you want the pickups to remain as tight as possible for that particular model, bearing in mind we're talking about an AIV Abraxas, you need to leave them open poled anyway but if you want to smooth things out more and round off the highs a bit further then go for a cover. I REALLY fancied a cover on mine but I bought them open poled because I think that was best for the model I chose.

[Kiichi]

Okay thanks, is the difference with pickup covers very noticeable? Does it sound muted or warmer?
Uh well it's a black Ibanez RG370DXBK
Okay, seems like I'll get a four conductor. Yeah, I think I'll get the same wiring as you. (Neck side of neck pickup + Middle; Middle side of bridge + middle)

Think of the cover choice as more of a optical choice as Tim can negate the audio change with a tweaked wiring (from what Iīve heard round here). A quick note with the order, if that even is nececary, and you should be fine.
So just think what would look good.


The wiring I got I quite nice I think, especially the neck split is great. I actually am not that happy with the bridge split, so I might try the outer coil there too sometime or even just leaving middle and bridge on fully. But with my gear it doesnīt work right now.

Now my neck split is like my neck (very round and soft) with more treble, bite, dirt and in a way more standout singing. Plus a bit single coil twang and sound. Just very, very musical. They say this splitting with the inner coil is more strat like and the outer is more tele and I get what they mean. This split doesnīt seem as hollow, but more full and punchy.
In a way I have like when you have that soft and sweet solo part and then go for the power part (for more agression still I can go for either middle (single coil sound) or the bridge).
Itīs just a lovely variation on the neck sound for me. I combine a Mule neck and a Irish Tour middle in a Ibanez S for some great vintage-y rock and blues stuff.

[Slartibartfarst42]

I'm not sure that's completely accurate as when I was talking to Tim about an A-Bomb or C-Bomb, he advised me to use a cover on the C-Bomb to tame the highs and round them off a bit but leave it open poled on the A-Bomb to maximise the tightness of the pickup. Clearly Tim felt there was going to be a difference made by adding a cover.

[ztikmaen]

So should I choose some brighter pickups if I want covers on them? I'm currently settled on Abraxas and for a classic rock tone the covers should be fine right?
Oh and in the middle I'm thinking of perhaps an Irish Tour for my clean stuff

[Telerocker]

Don't choose brighter pu's with covers. First: the difference is not that big and  Tim compensates in the windings when you go for covers.

[ztikmaen]

Don't choose brighter pu's with covers. First: the difference is not that big and  Tim compensates in the windings when you go for covers.

Ok, so I'll stick to my original choices. What single coil do you recommend in the middle? Mostly will use the middle pickup positions to do my more biting clean tones (but I still want some body and grind behind it). Would an Irish Tour be good?

[Telerocker]

The IT is a good choice. If you want fatter mids have a look at the Slowhands.

[Kiichi]

The IT certainly has nice cleans with true single coil character. In general a very nice PU. Telerocker said the Slowhands are a good alternative, depending on how you want your single coil character. I like mine to be a little thinner and more biting, so I went with the IT.

[ztikmaen]

The IT certainly has nice cleans with true single coil character. In general a very nice PU. Telerocker said the Slowhands are a good alternative, depending on how you want your single coil character. I like mine to be a little thinner and more biting, so I went with the IT.

Ok cool, that sounds good to me. I'd like a nice vintage single coil tone.
ALSO: What's the difference in tone between a standard P90 soapbar and a Humbucker-sized P90? Because instead of getting a P90 fitted guitar then swapping it, I'd have a larger selection getting a humbucker guitar then swapping to Himbucker sized P90s. I'm thinking of an Epiphone Les Paul with Humbucker sized P90s... 

[Kiichi]

Far as I know itīs the same sound. Just different packaging.

[Telerocker]

Far as I know itīs the same sound. Just different packaging.

Correct.

[ztikmaen]

Ok cool. In fact now I'm looking at getting a cheaper Gibson around the $1100 mark. BUT. If I get one of those It would be to swap the pickups to HB sized P90s. But then it would be a shame as I wouldn't know what to do with the standard Gibson pickups. I could putt em into the Ibbie but that would be weird. I could keep them in and change the Ibbie to P90s but that would be even weirder. Ideally I'd get a Gibson upgraded with P90s and upgrade my Ibbie with Humbuckers, but that would be expensive. But THEN I thought "Why not just get a Reverend Sensei 290?" and I was kinda back to square one... I really like the idea of a cheap Gibson though, feels like it would last me forever.
...In fact! What if I got the Sensei 290 and upgrade the Humbuckers on the Ibbie, but at a later date just transfer them into a Cheap Gibson?
Ok ok... My priority is basically a P90 guitar. Then I will be eternity satisfied. (Well not really, but Id be closer to it)
I just can't help but think that my Basswood, hollowed out guitar with a fixed up Floyd rose designed for metal has some serious lack of tone compared to a solid chunk of mahogany with a fixed bridge known as the Gibson Les Paul.
So I have an expensive dilemma to fix until I'm very satisfied

[Kiichi]

That is a problem...thought I would be happy to even afford the thoughts you have xD

At least the "that would be weird" part doesnīt bother me too much. I have a Ibanez S 570b that I turned into more of a vintage rock than into a modern metal axe. Why? Just cause it felt right.

But I see your problem, but that is something you just need to figure out. Or you need a sign.

Like when I bought my Ibanez I had looked at a lot of other Floyd Rose 6-Strings over a perioud of several months, but none really stuck. Then I remembered that I tried to win a Ibanez through the band Protest The Hero, one of their guitarists also plays one, and had another look at it and there was something there. I went to sleep other it, needing to decide the next morning. Now my alarm clock wakes me with music every day, picking a random song out of nearly 5000. Sure enough, that morning what came on was my favourite song by Protest the Hero and I just knew that it was the right axe for me.
Same with my accoustic Ibanez. First thing that caught my eye when I walked in the store was that Joe Satriani Signature. Held it in hand and it sounded amazing. Couldnīt find a pricetag though and just asumed that it was too good to be affordable for me. Looked around, had other good guitars, but that one stuck with me. Later I asked about that one and learned that it was affordable. I knew that that was the guitar right from the start.

What Iīm trying to say is that I find it important that you feel your choice is right. In the end you got to have a relationship with your instrument and that is something I donīt think can be forced. I have one with all of my guitars. You need that feeling in your gut, that knowing that this is it for you.
Just like I name my guitars at some point. That is usually after a PU switch, when feeling and sound form a unity, a character and I find a name fitting for that special voice and character that only that axe has. But it has to feel right, looking for a name just to have a name doesnīt work for me.

I think youīll know when you know.
Just keep an waying options and if possible trying out and listening to sound clips,...



Thats my way at least. You might work different.^^

[ztikmaen]

Wow... That's a great answer :D
Well I've always wanted a Les Paul (although it's not "different"). BUT after playing my standard Ibanez clean this morning, I discovered that it sounded great. So it seems that I fall in love with my guitars every time I play them, no matter how quaint they seem when I think about them. I think the pickups change for my Ibbie can wait, I'm actually quite satisfied wig them at the moment. And I'm satisfied with my Fender. The two of them together make it seem like I don't need any new guitars. Are P90s very different to single coils and Humbuckers? The last thing I want is for them to be similar enough to replace one of my guitars... So maybe I should just replace my Teles pickups first? I'm so confused! I LOVE the idea of getting a new guitar, it's like having a new kid. And changing pickups is like growing up with that kid. If I change the Teles pickups, my single coil tone will be absolutely and utterly sorted. If I change my Ibbie's pickups my Humbucker tone will be covered. So what do I need? Possibly a semi-hollow? I guess, but they never really appealed to me somehow. I guess it's obvious, but they dont seem "solid" enough. I like a nice weighty solid guitar because it feels like it's full of tone. So I guess my question is how different is a P90 to the single coils and Humbuckers?
Oh and I think it would be weird because although you have an Ibbie S, I have a jet black aggressive metal styled Axe. So I guess it would be weird to load that with Les Pauls pickups instead of Bareknuckles. I would just love to have a Les Paul in my collection. Hopefully a Gibson too as I would hate to have the feeling of getting a not so good Gibson. At least with Fender the cheaper stuff is still called Fender although they are made in Mexico or elsewhere. I guess I have some serious working out to do. But I have 4 months to think, so it's ok. Still want opinions though!