Blackouts - How Versatile are they in maple neck through guitar with Floyd Rose?

[Monsta-Tone]

I have a Carvin ST300 that I love to play, but hate to hear!
No matter what I have tried, it is still far too bright.
The only thing that seemed to tame the brightness was 250k pots, but that sucked all of the harmonics and sparkle out.

Guitar specs:
Maple neck-through, 24 frets
Ebony fretboard
Medium jumbo nickel frets
Alder body sides
2 humbuckers
Floyd Rose tremolo with L shaped Floyd big brass block

The brass block upgrade seemed to knock a little of the brightness off.

Pickups I have tried so far:
Stock C22's - Sound ok, but not great. Lots of great cleans, but the distorted tones sound a bit thin
Liquifire/Tone Zone - Liquifire was ok in this guitar, but seemed to be lacking punch. Tone Zone was shrill, no matter where I set it.
PAF Pro/AT-1 - PAF Pro was decent in this guitar. I actually liked it much more than in my JS1000. AT-1 seemed to have no life, it sounded much better in my PRS CE-22.
Super Distortion - too bright
Custom Custom - Ok, but needed more power (I have not tried an alnico 8 or ceramic magnet yet)

Pickups I have but have not tried yet:
PATB-1 with alnico 8
Screamin Demon (I would only try this in the neck of this guitar)
Custom
Custom 8

I keep coming back to Blackouts. A friend of mine has a set of the original Blackouts in an ESP MH1000 with Floyd Rose. They sound incredible in that guitar, but that is a set maple neck with mahogany body.

Have any of you guys tried Blackouts in a super bright maple neck-through guitar?
Should I consider different Blackouts like the Gus G Fire or the Emty?

I love to play the guitar, but just can't find a great tone in it.
I play hard rock to classic metal with lots of bluesy clean stuff thrown in. I use lots of distortion and Fender Twin like cleans on a Rivera S-120 stereo combo amp.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Blackouts - How Versatile are they in maple neck through guitar with Floyd Rose?

Forget that the guitar is Maple, Ebony, Alder, Mahogany, etc... Focusing on the "species" is akin to looking at DC resistance as a specific measurement of "output". Yes, they're related, but it's a small piece of a much bigger picture and most players get waaaay too hung up on the wrong details. Besides, from a basic composition and construction standpoint, your guitar really isn't much different from your friend's.

If you already have a PATB-1 or Custom and an A8 mag, I say give it a shot. Otherwise, your best bet is to give the original Blackouts a try. You already like their tone and they tend to add body to the mids and top end, while retaining a good amount of overall character. I think you'll be happiest with those (and, yes, I've tried the EMTY and Gus G sets).

 

[Letus]

Re: Blackouts - How Versatile are they in maple neck through guitar with Floyd Rose?

What about the Blues Saraceno PATB?

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Blackouts - How Versatile are they in maple neck through guitar with Floyd Rose?

The maple neck through with active pickups is a recipe that appeals to my taste.

Don't try too hard voicing a guitar to something it isn't; play to its strengths. Just a suggestion.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Blackouts - How Versatile are they in maple neck through guitar with Floyd Rose?

What about the Blues Saraceno PATB?

Normally, any of the PATB models would seem to be a good suggestion, but the OP said the stock C22's were "thin", the Liquifire was "lacking punch", the Super D was "too bright", the Tone Zone was "shrill", the Custom Custom was "lacking power" and the AT-1 was lifeless...seems a little backwards on nearly every count.

Assuming we're not dealing with a wiring issue, a serious problem with how the OP dials in his gear or a weak link somewhere in his signal chain, it would seem that his guitar is tonally challenged. In that case, the dude could benefit from actives.

MONSTA-TONE: What is your rig like? What are you typically playing your Carvin through? Have you played your guitar through the same rig you tried your friend's MH1000 through?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Blackouts - How Versatile are they in maple neck through guitar with Floyd Rose?

Maple through / Ebony IS going to be bright.

But yeah…Having trouble understanding what he needs. Sounds almost like he needs an A2P, but with Invader level power. Heck - might as well try the Invader.

ToneZone & SuperD Shrill???? Not feeling that at all. Interesting case…..

 

[guitarjunkie986]

Re: Blackouts - How Versatile are they in maple neck through guitar with Floyd Rose?

Yeah I'm surprised to hear the Super Distortion described as shrill. Very dark, thick sounding pickup when I tried it in my SL2H (Maple neck through with ebony board). The Invader might be alright.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Blackouts - How Versatile are they in maple neck through guitar with Floyd Rose?

How about the new Slug?

 

[jmh151]

Re: Blackouts - How Versatile are they in maple neck through guitar with Floyd Rose?

Turn the treble and presence down a bit on the amp

 

[Monsta-Tone]

Re: Blackouts - How Versatile are they in maple neck through guitar with Floyd Rose?

Thanks guys,

My setup is:
Guitar -->
Digitech GSP1101 input -->
Digitech send -->
Rivera S120 combo input -->
Rivera Send -->
Digitech Loop input -->
Digitech Outputs -->
Stereo returns on Rivera amp

This amp is in no way bright. I have seven other guitars that sound phenomenal with the same or very close settings, including 3 Strats.
The guitar is just WAY too bright. The only other guitar that I have that the Tone Zone is far too bright in is a swamp ash Carvin Bolt Plus with Floyd Rose.

I don't get this guitar at all, that's why I'm so confused with it. It's just bright no matter what I do.
I have a PATB-2 in my JS1000 that I am thinking about trying in the Carvin.

I basically just want to tame the brightness of the guitar and make it useable as an all around rock guitar. My friend's Blackouts didn't seem overly powerful. The neck pickup sounded pretty organic and warm, the bridge pickup sounded nice and tight, but big and fat too.
If the guitar didn't play so nicely, I would just get rid of it. I like the playability much more than my American Deluxe Strat and my JS1000.
I'll try the PATB-1/8 this weekend with the Screamin Demon in the neck and see if that does it. If not, then I'm thinking seriously about Blackouts.

 

[Monsta-Tone]

Re: Blackouts - How Versatile are they in maple neck through guitar with Floyd Rose?

Forgot to mention, don't laugh at the Digitech. It is so user friendly and sounds so good that it replaced my G-System and G-Major 2.
I don't use any of the amp mods, but I do use the overdrives in front of my amp.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Blackouts - How Versatile are they in maple neck through guitar with Floyd Rose?

Let us know what you think of the PATB-1/8 when you get a chance.

I still believe the Blackouts will solve your issue, so, if I was the cab driver, that's where I'd steer ya...

 

[Monsta-Tone]

Re: Blackouts - How Versatile are they in maple neck through guitar with Floyd Rose?

So far, so good with the PATB-1/8! Lots of sustain and a thick crunchy tone.
Cleans are a bit too bright, but I never use the bridge pickup for cleans.

I don't really like the Screamin Demon in the neck for this guitar though. Everything I've tried in the neck position has felt really stiff and just didn't seem to have any life. It's hard to explain. It's almost like I have to work harder to get the same notes if that makes sense. I'm guessing this is because it's a neck through?

I'm going to put the PAF Pro back in the neck. If I don't like it, then I'll bite the bullet and get a set of Blackouts.
Thanks for all the help!