Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

[Eddie J.]

hi guys :fing2:

i`m changing a bridge pickup in RG570 basswood locking trem guitar, and i have DiMarzio Breed and DiMarzio Super Distortion in mind. First i wanted X2N, but now i think that`s a bit too much.

my major worries are:

about Breed:

is it going to be too middy/bassy..like uncontrolable? I see it has a big hit on both scales, basswood is already bassy and middy. Don`t get me wrong, i like that, i just don`t wanna end up with too much of it.

and second, can it deliver really wicked palm mutes?
actualy, can it be good under distortion like Super distortion?


about SD:

is it muddy in basswood? i heard it in mahogany and it was great, but few guys said it`s muddy in basswood. I like a load of distortion, but with some clarity.

what do you think? which one will fit my needs and this guitar better?

thanks

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

I don't think they'll be a problem. Steve Vai uses the Breeds in his guitar, and those are basswood, I believe.

Ibanez guitars are notorious for sounding thin, so the Super Distortion shouldn't sound muddy, if anything it should sound great.

If you DO find 'em too muddy, send 'em back and try something else. Maybe the Breed neck in the bridge with a FRED or PAF Joe in the neck, see how that works.

 

[Eddie J.]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

here where i live i have absolutely no chance of returning a pickup if i don`t like it. Only if it`s dead or broken.
That`s why i`m trying to get as much info as i can.

It would really help if someone who used this pickup/wood combo would leave some feedback, cause i should finish it in a week.

thanks.

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

Where do you live?

DiMarzio gives you 30 days to try out a pickup, and if you don't like it you can return it for another pickup.

 

[Eddie J.]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

yeah, dimarzio does, but east europeean dealers don`t. trust me, it`s a drag.

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

Wow, I really don't know then. I don't see the Breed being a problem, since Steve Vai uses it in his JEMs, which are basswood bodied guitars. I'm fairly certain that the Super Distortion shouldn't cause any problems either, but if you don't want to take the risk, you could always go with the Evolution or Evo2. It definately won't sound muddy.

 

[Eddie J.]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

yes, but i think would be bit too screetchy for my taste i`m definitely for some beefier sound.


i think that breed should do fine, also i`m in for a super distortion, but i don`t want to get too muddy...and people are these days trying to convince me that it will end up like that. So i`m not sure anymore.

 

[jony]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

How about a FRED? or a Norton.

Pretty in between.

 

[dasfonzie]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

Ibanez JEMS are made of Alder, the ones Vai uses anyway. They have DiMarzio Evolution pickups too.

It's the lower end models that are basswood with Breeds

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

yes, but i think would be bit too screetchy for my taste i`m definitely for some beefier sound.


i think that breed should do fine, also i`m in for a super distortion, but i don`t want to get too muddy...and people are these days trying to convince me that it will end up like that. So i`m not sure anymore.

Well, like you said, if it's dead or broken you can return it... so, if you don't like it, throw it on the ground real hard. :fing2:

 

[DracoAran]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

You're kinda playing lottery there.
Only YOU can determine if your guitar is bright enough before you order the pickups. Some basswood guitars can be very fat sounding, others bright. But for what is worth, there is a Vai signature model called the Bad Horsie, which has Breed pickups, and is made out of basswood. BUT, you must take into consideration that the Bad Horsie is front routed and the pickups are mounted on a pickguard.

I would personally go with a Breed neck in the bridge position.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

i used dimarzios on my basswood maple/rosewood combinated guitar.If you go with dimarzio ,try EVO2 and for the neck a Fred.EVO2 ist the only Dimarzio with so much mids ,and controlled top and bottom.X2N is a waste for your taste i think.Breed is what i don't like ,SO EVO2 is the only choice in my mind!!!

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

Ibanez JEMS are made of Alder, the ones Vai uses anyway. They have DiMarzio Evolution pickups too.

It's the lower end models that are basswood with Breeds

Actually, There are two Jem designs for Vai and they are equally expensive. One uses alder and the Evo pickups. The other design is basswood and uses the Breeds. The alder/evo ones are for screaming, and the breed/basswood versions are for warmer tones. Vai uses both. I had a client that wanted me to help him build an alternative to a Jem, so I looked into this pretty intensively. Otherwise I'm not too up on Ibanez models.

 

[fab.regnaut]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

keep in mind that if you want an agressive tone you need some HIGHS !
Those Breed and Super Distortion are known to be fat and middy , like Demon Barbeque I would suggest Fred in neck , Evo2 or Drop Sonic in bridge .
After if you play fat music you can ignore this advice .
I play baswood Ibanez Roadstar with Jazz in neck and Demon8 in bridge and it rips ! but I block the trem to get more sustain and a fuller tone .
Ibanez don't sound thin ; floating trem do .

 

[Eddie J.]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

thanks for feedback guys :fing2:

thanks for helping me out here, well...

Fred?
for my ears Fred sounds too clean with distortion. also it doesn`t quite catch that bottom end...at least what i heard from it.

Evo 2 - could be interesting. I never thought about it earlier.

basicaly what i need is massive warm sound with some edge, but with audible strings, not a dirty mush kind of warm. but from the other side not to dry or to sterile kind of clearness. I mean growl more then shred but, i want to hear every string...that level of slight mud is reasonable for me.

warm and as tight as can be to preserve the warmness, with strong bottom end, cause i like thrashy palm muting.

i thought the super distortion or breed are something in that style...
phhhuuuhh. damn these dealers who put me on this "no change" situation. tomorrow i`m gonna do some cheking and comparing with some friends guitars and hopefully figure out how exactly this RG is bassy/trebly.

thanks to you all. i find your posts very useful.
:fing2:

 

[some_dude]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

I have a Super Distortion in the bridge of a basswood superstrat. As mentioned, it's very beefy with alot of midrange and not too much on the high end. I wouldn't call it the most aggressive pickup, but it has alot of chunk.

As for it being muddy....it depends on your amp. I've used it with some amps where it sounds very good....a good low end but not overpowering, but with other amps the bass is a little strong, though it's nothing I haven't been able to correct by moving the EQ.

I wouldn't thrash with these pups as the low end on them is too big to keep it tight, but if you're looking at heavy metal (ie, Sabbath) or a grunge/punk sorta thing you'll probably like them.

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

As for it being muddy....it depends on your amp. I've used it with some amps where it sounds very good....a good low end but not overpowering, but with other amps the bass is a little strong, though it's nothing I haven't been able to correct by moving the EQ.

It would depend mostly on your amp. If it's a bass heavy amp, you should probably look into something like the Evolutions. I don't think your amp is bass heavy. If it was, I'm sure you wouldn't have even considered the Super Distortion or the Breed. I've heard a clip of Sly_D playing a guitar with a Super Distortion thru a Traynor Custom Valve 40, which is a pretty warm amp, and it sounded good. Kinda like Kiss meets Metallica. Modern classic kinda thing goin' on. Classic sound with the output of a more modern pickup (even though it was made in the early 70s).

If you like classic rock, go for it. If you're looking for a more modern tone, go for the Breeds, Evolutions, Norton or Air Norton.

 

[fab.regnaut]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

Fred?
for my ears Fred sounds too clean with distortion. also it doesn`t quite catch that bottom end...at least what i heard from it.

*** Keep in mind that the Fred is conceived as a bridge p-u so in the neck it won't be laking of bass !***

warm and as tight as can be to preserve the warmness, with strong bottom end, cause i like thrashy palm muting.

*** Palm muting will always be muddy with a p-u witch alraedy have a strong low end , tigh p-u can do it : distorted bass are mushy , you need a clear , tight and treebly signal before the distortion stage and add bass after ***

 

[Eddie J.]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

Fred?

*** Keep in mind that the Fred is conceived as a bridge p-u so in the neck it won't be laking of bass !***

probably right, but i`m looking for a bridge pickup.

Palm muting will always be muddy with a p-u witch alraedy have a strong low end , tigh p-u can do it : distorted bass are mushy , you need a clear , tight and treebly signal before the distortion stage and add bass after

Well, i finished it today. I went for an Evo 2 but they didn`t have one, so i took breed. I have to admit that i was driven by something to take breed first, and buying and trying is the only way to finally figure it out.
if i made mistake, sure i won`t toss it in the river:fingersx:

Guys, really thanks for your help :fing2: I`ll post my impressions as soon as i solder the damn thing.

see Ya

 

[Majestic]

Re: Breed / Super distortion in basswood body

I would be very surprised if the Breed sounded overly bassy or "thick" in a thin Ibanez with a floating whammy.....the key being the floating whammy.

The Evo is the WRONG answer for what you want. I've yet to hear anyone sound decent with one in a floating-whammyied bridge, including Vai, who sounds horrible.

My Evo sounds aggressive enough in my stoptail guitar. I hated it in my old Ibanez.

I'll be curious to hear your report.