Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

[Butch Snyder]

I started a thread a few days ago about my recent gas for an Ibanez Universe. Man, I love that guitar. It has prompted me to open my mind a bit and think about other guitar/pickup sets for Fusion music. I know I have a rep as a Country player. The truth is that I like about all music and enjoy playing it. Right now, I'm really into a Fusion vein. Allan Holdsworth, Scott Henderson, Pat Metheny, Al DiMeola, Bill Conners, and even some of the shred masters, Satch, Vai (I'm really getting more into his stuff), Morse, Tony MacAlpine (very cool player), etc.

What would you say would be some really cool choices for a great Fusion guitar as well as the pickup set included? It can be stock too. Personally, I find a Strat-type guitar with 22 or 24 frets, an H-S-H setup, with good mid-to-high output pickups to be where I like. I have seen players use vintage Strats with all single coils and make it work. Scott Henderson uses an S-S-S Strat-type guitar. Allan Holdsworth mainly uses the bridge position for everything. What do you guys think?

 

[tone4days]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

i dig that genre a lot too, butch ... honestly, i've seen so many different players with so many different styles of guitars/pickups, pedals/effects, amps that it really doesnt matter - you can get there with just about anything

i like my HSH ibanez 540s (59/duck/C5) alot for this ... i also really like my ibanez am-50 semihollow (L-500XLs and trick wiring) as well ... and my ancient midi rack (rocktron progap/intellifex/midimate --> carvin dcm600 --> (2) 1x12" boogie/celestion cabs) fits the job nicely

i think the rocktron prophesy would be a killer update to my pre/effects

t4d

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

I agree that almost anything can and will work. There's a player named Burr Johnson from NYC. He's a killer player and uses a Gibson ES-336. I really like the versatility of an H-S-H guitar. I'll even take a Floyd...

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

Holdsworth- What can anyone say after that?
Considering the range of axes these guys cover I have to agree that this is more of a style than a sound- compare the Fat boy to the strats that he played back in UK, but he always sounds just like holdsworth-

Obviously pups that can clean up and are rather articulate would make sense and I always imagined that this would be a good venue for Joe Bardens (I really wanted to try his tapped humbucker)-

But my guess why he went hollow was to keep warm, but reduce 'smear' that often comes with warm bodies, Maybe this is a common feature?

Good question and would like to hear what you are playing !

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

Holdsworth- What can anyone say after that?
Considering the range of axes these guys cover I have to agree that this is more of a style than a sound- compare the Fat boy to the strats that he played back in UK, but he always sounds just like holdsworth-

Exactly... He sounds the same now as he did when playing with U.K. and Bruford.

Good question and would like to hear what you are playing!

Equipment or music?

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

both, but I mainly wanted to hear what you're up to and how you are approachign fusion in general-

I've gone through cover bands, years as a producer, studio, into mfg side for a while and finally back to cover bands in my old age- But I never got the time (or talent) to really chase what he did and I always saw it as the grail for a guitarist-

Actually he scares me a bit- Got his instructional video a long while back and he explains how he didn't like conventional theory so he threw it out and created his own theory and then he tries to teach it on the tape!

Now I happen to love conventional theory as it's always been the crutch I can lean on when I'm hitting my weak spots- But when I heard what he said, it made complete sense and I realized, I can't only not understand what he was talking about, I also wouldn't dare allow my conventional thinking to fade as I would be pretty naked without it-

So long way of saying, I'm fascinated by anyone who can chase any form of fusion and pull it off, especially AH- How about a bio, tech, and some clips?

Good stuff!

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

both, but I mainly wanted to hear what you're up to and how you are approachign fusion in general-

I've gone through cover bands, years as a producer, studio, into mfg side for a while and finally back to cover bands in my old age- But I never got the time (or talent) to really chase what he did and I always saw it as the grail for a guitarist-

Actually he scares me a bit- Got his instructional video a long while back and he explains how he didn't like conventional theory so he threw it out and created his own theory and then he tries to teach it on the tape!

Now I happen to love conventional theory as it's always been the crutch I can lean on when I'm hitting my weak spots- But when I heard what he said, it made complete sense and I realized, I can't only not understand what he was talking about, I also wouldn't dare allow my conventional thinking to fade as I would be pretty naked without it-

So long way of saying, I'm fascinated by anyone who can chase any form of fusion and pull it off, especially AH- How about a bio, tech, and some clips?

Good stuff!

Hah!! It's really funny that I could ever think that I could ever think of emulating AH's style or tone.... For one thing, his fingers are twice as long as mine. For another, my playing is far too percussive. I approach Fusion from more of an Al DiMeola style than AH. On some of his IOU stuff, I do not see how he chords the way he does. I have a harmonizer set for a 7th above the root and the effect tone is about 40%. It lets me do some nice things. Go to my site and you can hear some of my ramblings. I am just now getting back into some "real" Fusion so most of stuff has tinklings of Smooth Jazz and Country because I was playing the hot Tele stuff. Bottom line? I guess my style more slosely emulates Neal Schon in that aspect. AH is an unattainable pipe dream....

 

[Mincer]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

i was just listening to Road Games last night, and his latest, All Night Wrong. AH's tone has changed a bit, mostly smoother, if you can believe it.
I was learning 'The Things You See', and I have no idea how he plays those chords- everyone is so crazy about his soloing (rightfully so) but those chords he plays are awesome.
I am a big Morse and DiMeola fan too- I think it comes down to the fact that no matter what gear you have, if you are that talented, you can make it sound great. All of these people use vastly different gear, and their techniques are all different.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

i was just listening to Road Games last night, and his latest, All Night Wrong. AH's tone has changed a bit, mostly smoother, if you can believe it.
I was learning 'The Things You See', and I have no idea how he plays those chords- everyone is so crazy about his soloing (rightfully so) but those chords he plays are awesome.
I am a big Morse and DiMeola fan too- I think it comes down to the fact that no matter what gear you have, if you are that talented, you can make it sound great. All of these people use vastly different gear, and their techniques are all different.

Hi Mincer, I was hoping you would chime in here. I do like Allan's soloing; but, like you, I am simply entranced by his chording. I remember when I first picked up IOU. I had heard of Allan through EVH's ravings about him. I found IOU and bought it. I put on "The Things You See (When You Haven't Got Yur Gun) and my mind, at 18, couldn't handle what he was doing. I ended up shelving it for a few years. But, his chordings are amazing to say the least...

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

During the IOU period, Holdsworth was using mostly basswood body strat head Charvels with ebony finger boards, and vintage style trems. Holdsworth was really the guy that first used basswood as a tone wood, and really started a trend.

The PRS guitar would seem a natrual for this kind of music in my opinion. Dimeola was using them quite extensively in lue of a Les Paul Custom, even before they were available to the public.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

During the IOU period, Holdsworth was using mostly basswood body strat head Charvels with ebony finger boards, and vintage style trems. Holdsworth was really the guy that first used basswood as a tone wood, and really started a trend.

The PRS guitar would seem a natrual for this kind of music in my opinion. Dimeola was using them quite extensively in lue of a Les Paul Custom, even before they were available to the public.

Yes, I think you're right on all counts. How does AH use his trems so fliudly without a locking system?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

I think his style really is very subtle with a term- Ive seen him live twice...he does these things where they are combinations of trem dips with slides and it sounds like a divebomb but isnt.
I know SD had a signature pickup for him (no idea what he actually used) which was a stock HB with 2 sets of screw coils I think. His has a sig Carvin pickup, but I've never tried it. He endorses Carvins, but still uses his DeLap headless guitars for most gigs, I believe. Those have just 1 bridge pickup, and have a very warm sound for just a bridge pickup...in fact, he never uses neck pickups. The one on the Carvin was a concession to the company, as well as the headstock, since he had been playing headless guitars for almost 20 years.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

Holdsworth doesn't use traditional finger vibrato or string bending in his technique. He believes this should be done via the trem, so that he can optimize his left hand fretting technique to his legato playing style.

A traditional nonlocking trem is actually more subtle than a locking trem system. With a locking system the string can't move at the nut, or bridge, so the change in tension and pitch is much more abrupt and much greater.

Doesn't his signature Carvin use a Wilkenson bridge?

In the 80's he first used a custom Steve Blucher designed Dimarzio, before going with a Duncan. I don't know, but I've heard said that the Duncan was a customized JB. I don't recall what his signature Ibanez used as far as pickups. I believe the Carvin pickup uses a special heavier guage winding wire than the typical modern HB. Perhaps his Duncan did too?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

I'd think that the pickup set Mincer uses is the same one I'd suggest for a fusion setup...CC/APH.....or a CC/59, since a lot of fusion has been played with 59 necks. Marin's clips are a good example of fusion with a CC.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

I'd think that the pickup set Mincer uses is the same one I'd suggest for a fusion setup...CC/APH.....or a CC/59, since a lot of fusion has been played with 59 necks. Marin's clips are a good example of fusion with a CC.

Gearjoneser, Yes, I agree.

Mincer and zionstrat, thatnks for the AH lesson. Those ticbits of knowledge are priceless IMO...

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

I don't know.... Sometimes I feel a good Strat is all that's needed. Versatility ++...

I can't help but try to get fancy and look toward the Ibanez UV's...

 

[StrangeSound]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

I don't know.... Sometimes I feel a good Strat is all that's needed. Versatility ++...

Yeah, I agree..I fell in love with this one..that´s a fancy looking fusion guitar for me

I´d say if you listen to guys like Allan, Frank Gambale, Shawn Lane etc...they have a very warm sound and I think of mahogany wood.

I play an Ibanez RG 2570 which is HSH and is made of Basswood dunno if it is THE fusion sound but I have to tweak the knobs to get the smooth, warm tone.

Check out Susan Weinert http://www.susanweinert.com/ and Greg Howe www.greghowe.com He changed from ESP to Suhr..gonna get a signature guitar and amp.

Good luck in finding the right gear.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

Yes, I like that Strat. In dealing with this issue, I am coming back around to thinking I need another Variax....

 

[Mincer]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

you know, just this week i was thinking about buying a variax...with warmoth making bodies and necks, and some of the conversions i have seen on the line6 forum, im pretty much sold. which one do you have?

 

[SOLO GUITAR STEWIE]

Re: Best Guitar/pickup set for Fusion...

okay....for HSH

custom(b)/ vintage rail/ jazz or full shred

or dimarzios

fred(b)/ SD vintage rail / air norton

chris