actives or passives w/ solid state

[usagi]

I'm looking at pickups for my Ibanez 1570 (basswood, rosewood fretboard, maple neck, edge pro trem). I'm looking for something that will bring out the low end pinch harmonics, ala Wylde, Slipknot, Shadows Fall.

It seems all these bands have three gear elements in common; EMGs, Drop tuning, and Tube amps.

I can get good pinch harmonics on the D string and higher. Low E and A sound pretty weak. I'm playing through a Fender Cyber Twin.

Would different pickups improve the harmonics I'm looking for? If so should I go for EMGs or SDs? The times I've played 81s through a solid state amp the tone has sounded weak. Any comments.

 

[some_dude]

Re: actives or passives w/ solid state

I don't like EMGs through solid state.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: actives or passives w/ solid state

EMG's through SS = bleh. Extremely sterile.

Through tubes? Much better!

One thing to keep in mind is that all of those guys run tubescreamers before there amps, in one form or another. One of those, or a Boss SD-1, set to full output, no gain, and a nuetral tone setting will give your pinch harmonics an insane kick in the ass.

 

[usagi]

Re: actives or passives w/ solid state

Would the tube screamer help with the Cyber Twin? It has a tube pre-amp? Thanks for the input on the EMGs guys, I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Imp]

Re: actives or passives w/ solid state

tube screamer dosen't have a tube in it man, it makes the tubes in your amp scream

 

[Jimbojsr]

Re: actives or passives w/ solid state

You're using a Fender amp for doing metal? Hmm.....

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: actives or passives w/ solid state

Fender amps are as metal as the can of Mountain Dew in my hand...you just need to juice 'em right.......

 

[usagi]

Re: actives or passives w/ solid state

My understanding is overdrive pedals boost tubes. Is there going to be any worthwhile effect in a solid state amp with a tube preamp?

 

[vinterland]

Re: actives or passives w/ solid state

My understanding is overdrive pedals boost tubes. Is there going to be any worthwhile effect in a solid state amp with a tube preamp?

Overdrives don't boost tubes, they boost the signal which hits your tubes harder which drives them to distort faster. Are you meaning using the solid state as the power section only? I would imagine using a tube pre into a solid state power section would warm things up. But really if you were going to go through the trouble of buying a tube pre you might as well just get an all tube amp unless you really like solid state sound.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: actives or passives w/ solid state

The way you'd be running the tube screamer (if you set it up how I described) just kicks the amp in the nuts a little, adds some clarity and definition, and saturates the sound a bit more. All this helps PH's.

 

[Kac]

Re: actives or passives w/ solid state

EMG's through SS = bleh. Extremely sterile.

:werd:

 

[usagi]

Re: actives or passives w/ solid state

Well, B-days coming up. I'm going try out overdrive pedals see if something provides the sound I want. Thanks for the input. I would not have considered this solution otherwise.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: actives or passives w/ solid state

Or maybe you can find a Chandler Tube Driver.