John Petrucci Tone...

[downrodeo]

Hey guys, I know a lot of people who want that perfect tone go for BKP's and I'm one of them. I'm a huge fan of the smooth John Petrucci lead sound AS WELL AS his excellent clean tone that he accomplishes. I must know which pickup is going to get me in that super chunky riffing-singing hi-gain leads, topped with exquisite clean territory. To me his tone is a cross between Hetfield rhythm and Al Dimeola lead (more gain though)...which is what I want. So, how about it guys?

[FiXXXeR]

he uses, dare i say this name on this forum...... Dimarzio pickups

i was watching the dream theater DVD today and his clean from what i hear is going through (on some tracks) a acoustic simulator, but he may be using fishman saddle pickups they can make pretty nice acoustic sounds on an electric.

my nailbombs cover all bases i think but are very wide open natural sound, not extreamly focused say like the warpig, but great for everything i throw at them which is a hell of alot.

they are also for for cleans,

[Dakine]

NO help with the BKP but know some on JP.
He does use DiMarzios.
It is a Air Norton I think and a proprietary one of his design.
As for the acoustic stuff, his guitar is equiped with piezo. He can mix the piezo with the pups or use just magnetic pups or piezo.
He runs a stereo setup into an AD box.
He has a HUGE effects/backstage setup. But thats about what he does.

This is a pretty cool lil film of him showing some of his stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2uklZ7_C5s&search=john%20petrucci

Course he also uses Mesa, Lonestar and Roadking I think.
I have ordered a JP6 myself and tried one this weekend. But was through a Marshall so not exactly JP sounding, although it did sound good.
Bear in mind his pickups are also NOT adjustable. They are afixed directly to the guitar body and he has a fair bit of air between the strings and pups for his preference/style.

[downrodeo]

I understand this guys. What I was looking for was a suggestion on which BKP will help me get reasonably within Petrucci's tone. I know I haven't got his chops just yet, but I was that super smooth high gain lead tone, the chunky rythm and his sweet clean. I was thinking Miracle Man for his distorted tones but maybe the NB would be better for the all-around tone thing he's got going on, and the Pig just sounds to be too heavy (if there is such a thing).

[Dakine]

Well
my only suggestion, for what it worth is Cold Sweat.
It's a newer sound pup with great cleans and crunch.
I thought after you may know all I posted, sorry. Thing is, he has a pretty unusual setup and blends that piezo.
But, for cleans with a crunch I would say Cold Sweat!

[HJM]

1 The Cold Sweat neck nails the Petrucci neck sound. Nis bridge tone used to be a Steves Special in the old Picasso  JPM guitars. Depending on your amp I'd look at the Miracle Man as it's so tight and has lots of low mid, Nailbomb for a more aggressive tone or the Cold Sweat for the bottom end power, slightly reduced mids and clear top end.

For his cleans he uses a special three way that taps the 'buckers in the middle position, (I think it's the outside coils he uses, but can't remember!)

[Peterku]

Petrucci has quite a hair metal sound masked by the Mesa character. I think if you don't use low tunings, a Nailbomb or a Cold Sweat will be just fine, you'll have to split them for cleans, though, they're really hot humbuckers. The Nailbomb's more aggressive with its mids but its also more versatile IMO. For lower tunings the Miracle Man's the most defined pickup.

[Dakine]

Tis what I thought (blends centre coils though), but he also "blends" that piezo into the mix ALOT.
This would be a good one for Tim. If I get my JP6 what would I replace pickups with (if req.). As they are 3 way switched/centre mixed and mixable with the piezo. My head hurts already, but then I am NOT the Pup Guru that is Tim :)
Darn toggle switches are circuit boards too, not pots, makes matters even more mind numbing I would think.

[Bowks]

PM me for the JP wiring diagram and switch spec.  Would be rude of me to post it here.

[downrodeo]

A hair metal style...yikes. I would never have said that. But whatever. Would a Cold Sweat set be tight enough on rythm and have enough sustain to get the Petrucci tone? Same question for the Nailbombs.  I don't really want to go for the Miracle Man as I really would like more tonal versatility.

[Dakine]

there used to be (not looked of late) some GOOD clips of the Cold Sweat in players room.

[downrodeo]

My amp is a Marshall DSL 100 and the guitar im using is a neck thru, string thru body,  mahogany body with maple top and neck. It's pretty dark and needs a replacement for the JB in the Bridge which sounds poor on chugging and fast riffage (it's covered...ick.). This should help as far as suggestions go. I know I'm not gonna get a Mesa tone like Petrucci, but I want that all around feel and that liquid sustain. Yum. Thanks guys.

[Peterku]

A hair metal style...yikes. I would never have said that. But whatever.

I said sound, not style.

[lepersmeesa]

I would say go for a Cold Sweat in the neck and a Nailbomb in bridge. I have this combo in my 7 string and im quite happy to rustle up some clips if you tell me what your looking for.

[downrodeo]

If you could post some clips of Metallica riffs, solos/leads and clean sections, that would most definitley be awesome. Thanks leper. I would really like to know if my C-1 classic's tonal character would fit the Nailbomb/ Cold Sweat combo as it's a little dark. Leper, is the Nailbomb solid for leads???