Brand new Ibanez w/DiMarzio IBZ's sounds terrible! HELP!!

IceNine

IceNine

New member
Hello all.
For 15 years I've played '90 Jackson Fusion Pro w/factory pick ups and it sounds great. I'm not a collector and I don't have the budget to buy new equipment very often so I'm not very schooled in various hardware. I just purchased a brand new Ibanez RG2570EVSL with DiMarzio IBZ's and it sounds like a throaty fart cannon w/ no low end chunk or high end brightness. I play hard rock and melodic metal using arpeggio sweeps and low to high trick picking. My Jackson has great dynamics w/ chunky low ends and bright high ends. I'm at the edge of sending this guitar back but it plays great; I like the scale of the neck better than my Jackson and I've been told new pick ups would do the trick. I haven't got a clue what to buy or even where to start. Just reading thru the posts on this forum has enlightened me greatly. Any suggestions to help me on this would be so awesome and greatly appreciated.

IceNine

"Ibanez used lightweight basswood for the RG2570EVSL which makes it very comfortable for extended playing. Right in between alder and mahogany in sound character, bass wood offers a good balance of highs and lows. Equipped with DiMarzio pickups in the versatile H-S-H configuration and a locking Edge Pro tremolo. Additional features include: shark tooth inlays; 24 jumbo frets; 5-piece maple/walnut neck; 5-way switch."
 
Re: Brand new Ibanez w/DiMarzio IBZ's sounds terrible! HELP!!

I'm gonna suggest either the Custom, JB, or Distortion for the bridge, and either the '59, Jazz, or Full Shred (with an emphasis on the Full Shred for the sweep stuff) for the neck. I hate a single between two 'buckers. However, I have a Strat with a silver Lace Sensor pickup in the middle, and it's outstanding! :D
 
Re: Brand new Ibanez w/DiMarzio IBZ's sounds terrible! HELP!!

Wow! Thanks so much for the quick response and the welcome. I need to also point out that I play shows every weekend. We do some original music but we also do lots of cover tunes (Kansas to Creed) so versatility is also a factor.

Thanks again,
IceNine
 
Re: Brand new Ibanez w/DiMarzio IBZ's sounds terrible! HELP!!

IceNine said:
Hello all.
I just purchased a brand new Ibanez RG2570EVSL with DiMarzio IBZ's and it sounds like a throaty fart cannon w/ no low end chunk or high end brightness.
IceNine
Click to expand...

Exactly why I sold my RG2570 and got a RG2120X. Same pickups but much fuller sound.. probably because of the Mahogany body.
 
Re: Brand new Ibanez w/DiMarzio IBZ's sounds terrible! HELP!!

Hails man... i play black/death/thrash/fusion metal and i like very much 2 hands and tapping, and arpeggio sweeps too...
i recomend a Full Shred Neck, or Duncan distortion.. but maybe the Duncan Distortion should be too much for you... Also...for the bridge...you can go witha Dimebucker, a duncan Custom or a Custom Custom, Or A Jb for versatility.
Hails
J.P
 
Re: Brand new Ibanez w/DiMarzio IBZ's sounds terrible! HELP!!

i played a jem with a basswood body and it sounded fantastic, i dont think havin a basswood body would make it sound any worse than mahogany. i would take a Jb and maybe a full shred or a 59 for the neck also. that would be awesome for shreding, sweeping and also very versatile
 
Re: Brand new Ibanez w/DiMarzio IBZ's sounds terrible! HELP!!

Thanks for the help so far everyone. It's so awesome to have fellow musicians that are gracious enough to lend a hand. So far from what I've assesed from other threads and this one the collective opinion has been JB or Custom in the bridge and Full Shredd or '59 in the neck. But what of the single coil in the middle? Should I leave the DiMarzio in?

The main thing I'd like to verify also is that pups are going to solve my problem. This axe is a week old for me and I can easily send it back BEFORE I mod the pups... but not after.

Thank you
IceNine
 
Re: Brand new Ibanez w/DiMarzio IBZ's sounds terrible! HELP!!

Changing my bridge pickup in my basswood RG made an enormous difference, so if you like how the guitar plays i am sure some pickups could make the difference you need.
 
Re: Brand new Ibanez w/DiMarzio IBZ's sounds terrible! HELP!!

i have a jazz as my neck pickups and i use it everytime i do sweep arpeggios, and string skipping. IMHO it has a lot more clarity and definition than the JB in my bridge for those kinds of stuff. i also play metal.
 
Re: Brand new Ibanez w/DiMarzio IBZ's sounds terrible! HELP!!

BigBazz said:
i played a jem with a basswood body and it sounded fantastic, i dont think havin a basswood body would make it sound any worse than mahogany. i would take a Jb and maybe a full shred or a 59 for the neck also. that would be awesome for shreding, sweeping and also very versatile
Click to expand...

Yeah, but you must remember that Basswood have this midrange honk compared to other woods, so what I think is get a mid-scooped pickup or something.

Satriani uses Basswood guitars and his tone is pretty midrangey. Midrange is GOOD for leads.

One suggestion : Try EQ-ing your guitar first and see if you can come up with a good sounding settings.
 
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Re: Brand new Ibanez w/DiMarzio IBZ's sounds terrible! HELP!!

i have just put a JB in the briege of my ibanez RG550EX and it sounds amazing. i would highly recomend the TB-4 for your guitar. make sure you get a trembucker for it, the spacing is a lot better than standard spacing of the SH-4 for a guitar like yours.
 
Re: Brand new Ibanez w/DiMarzio IBZ's sounds terrible! HELP!!

a distortion in the bridge KICKS ASS in those guitars. I prefer it over the JB in that type of guitar. In a Les Paul style guitar I prefer a JB for the bridge. For the middle I'd recommend a vintage rails if you want the thin single coil sound or a cool rails if you want it to be smooth with a little more beef. For the neck I'd recommend a jazz, '59, or full shred. The '59 tends to get a little woofy and bassy so if you don't like bassy neck pickups go with the jazz or full shred for a clean, articulate neck soloing tone.
 
Re: Brand new Ibanez w/DiMarzio IBZ's sounds terrible! HELP!!

since you want alot of versatility...

sh-5 custom in bridge
59 or jazz in neck(i like the 59 but some people here do not)

or

JB and jazz

thats only because you want alot of versatility

or, you cuold try the pearly gates in both positions!
 
Re: Brand new Ibanez w/DiMarzio IBZ's sounds terrible! HELP!!

Hi everyone. Thanks again for the help. I think I'm going to do a JB in the bridge and a full shred in the neck. Still open for more suggestions on the middle pup.

If I go with these pups will I need new pots? How do i tell what kind of pots are presently in it?

Yes, I've tried an EQ and it still doesn't touch my Jackson. If it wasn't brand new I'd almost question the wiring it sounds so bad. I've thought maybe I've just lived a sheltered Jackson life and I need to adjust to the new sound but it's not just the sound... it's the dynamics and the attack; and after much trying to adjust it still sucks. Pinch harmonics (a huge part of my style) are very difficult and the frequencies almost hurt your ears when you crank it. I guess I expected it to sound at least as good as my stock Jackson.

Here's a link to an original tune with my style and sound. This was recorded at practice on an ADAT. There's two guitarist but the solo and bigger rythm is my Jackson. (Go easy on the vocals... that's me too. I hate singing.)

http://www.wrikerchevy.com/downloads/spellz.mp3

Sorry about the URL. I'm a network technician and webmaster for a Chevy dealership.

I'm running a 5150 combo
Digitech 256XL sig proc
31 band DBX EQ
DBX Compressor

Thanks Everyone
IceNine
 
Re: Brand new Ibanez w/DiMarzio IBZ's sounds terrible! HELP!!

Sounds killer, dude!

I used to use an Ibanez USA Custom (Paf Pro neck and bridge) through my 5150 stack-it sounded like crap. However, when I used my JB axe through the 5150 it was, well, Kick A** tone. For you my friend, I have a some combos for ya...

Full Shred (BRIDGE) with a PG (NECK). This combo is a lot like a mullet...business in front and party in back (heheh). Seriously, the neck is great for more 'open' sounding leads and gives you some fatness. The FS bridge is super tight, IMO, and is just a great pickup for what you're doing. I've never used the FSn so I can't comment on that.

JB (BRIDGE) and PG (NECK)-Kinna like the above, but they blend a little better. Plus, you can alway split the JB in the bridge for good single coil tone, if you like.

Custom 5 (Bridge) and PG (NECK)-My personal favorite combo at the moment. The custom 5 has nice output and doesn't have the 'midrangey' tone of the JB. Tight on the bottom and not too icepicky on the treble end. Just a great combo.

I love my PG neck, even for metal. Like you couldn't tell :)

Mark
 
Re: Brand new Ibanez w/DiMarzio IBZ's sounds terrible! HELP!!

Hey thanks Mark.
I hadn't considered the PG until you mentioned it here. From what I'm hearing, the Ibanez w/Basswood body is inherently thin, so the PG might be just what I need in the neck for thickness. Haven't heard much on the C-5. I'd be interested in hearing one in action. I have read something about faulty JBs that concerns me a bit, though, not enough to make a difference.

IceNine
 
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