Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus
- Thread starter Nagisa
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Masta' C
Well-known member
Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus
The ToneZone is a true "oldie but goodie". Definitely thickens up a thinner sounding guitar, but it's not my favorite personally.
Might I suggest the Illuminator, as well? Not sure why I didn't mention that before.
I actually prefer the Illuminator slightly to the Satchur8. It's a little fuller/rounder on the high notes and the upper midrange sits nicely in a mix for soloing. Where the Satchur8 has more edge and bite, the Illuminator has more smoothness, but it's still voiced fairly open, the harmonic qualities are very good (Satchur8 is only slightly better) and the Illuminator has a nice level of tightness on the bottom, in my opinion. It also responds better than the Satchur8 to adjustments of the volume knob.
The Satchur8 does have an undeniable "Satriani" voicing to it, which is really cool, where the Illuminator is a bit more neutral sounding and sits alongside instruments like a keyboard well, if that makes any sense.
The ToneZone is a true "oldie but goodie". Definitely thickens up a thinner sounding guitar, but it's not my favorite personally.
Might I suggest the Illuminator, as well? Not sure why I didn't mention that before.
I actually prefer the Illuminator slightly to the Satchur8. It's a little fuller/rounder on the high notes and the upper midrange sits nicely in a mix for soloing. Where the Satchur8 has more edge and bite, the Illuminator has more smoothness, but it's still voiced fairly open, the harmonic qualities are very good (Satchur8 is only slightly better) and the Illuminator has a nice level of tightness on the bottom, in my opinion. It also responds better than the Satchur8 to adjustments of the volume knob.
The Satchur8 does have an undeniable "Satriani" voicing to it, which is really cool, where the Illuminator is a bit more neutral sounding and sits alongside instruments like a keyboard well, if that makes any sense.
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus
No one ever mentions the PATB-1, but it is a fantastic pickup specifically designed to add beef back to trem equipped guitars. If you want something even hotter, which I wouldn't think, but the PATB-2 is huge. The PATB-3 is much more PAF ish. The whole line is terrific.
No one ever mentions the PATB-1, but it is a fantastic pickup specifically designed to add beef back to trem equipped guitars. If you want something even hotter, which I wouldn't think, but the PATB-2 is huge. The PATB-3 is much more PAF ish. The whole line is terrific.
Teleplayer
Active member
Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus
I'm curious to know what the UOA5 Custom would be like. Is it not enough output for you?
I'm curious to know what the UOA5 Custom would be like. Is it not enough output for you?
Nagisa
New member
Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus
Yea it’s great in my LP, but I don’t want the same pickup in 2 guitars (I only use 2 guitars so I want a little different sounds in each). That said the custom’s output is pretty good for my needs.
Anyways I’m really between the Satchur8 and illuminator at this point. I’m not sure if the illuminator will be good for stuff like Surfing with the Alien or Paul Gilbert’s Fuzz Universe, and is more geared toward METAL...what do you think? I would probably just get the Satchur8 but they don’t sell one in white in my country and ebayers won’t ship them here, so it’s goijg to be a pain getting one.
Mastac you said a bit about the differences, but what do you think about the pickups in the context of instrumental guitar music like I mentioned, as a bridge pickup only solution? I will get the illuminator if you think it’ll be a good match, since it’s available and I like Dream Theater. Thanks for your info so far
Yea it’s great in my LP, but I don’t want the same pickup in 2 guitars (I only use 2 guitars so I want a little different sounds in each). That said the custom’s output is pretty good for my needs.
Anyways I’m really between the Satchur8 and illuminator at this point. I’m not sure if the illuminator will be good for stuff like Surfing with the Alien or Paul Gilbert’s Fuzz Universe, and is more geared toward METAL...what do you think? I would probably just get the Satchur8 but they don’t sell one in white in my country and ebayers won’t ship them here, so it’s goijg to be a pain getting one.
Mastac you said a bit about the differences, but what do you think about the pickups in the context of instrumental guitar music like I mentioned, as a bridge pickup only solution? I will get the illuminator if you think it’ll be a good match, since it’s available and I like Dream Theater. Thanks for your info so far
gtrgrl
New member
Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus
OMG I love Vai <3 <3 <3 and a really really really like Satch! (Only one <3). I agree with the person who said “antithesis”. (Ha ha - big word for guitar players!). I am not a tone goddess, but I don’t think any Satch pickups would work for Vai and like the same thing in reverse wouldn’t work well either! :boggled:
I was thinking about getting Evolutions for an Ibanez S570, but instead got Duncans. I ended up with a 59 neck and a 59/Custom bridge. (Thanks everyone - it’s a total everything guitar. Blue, naturally
)
Anyways, I played a Jem with Evolutions and did not like them one bit! But I also ended up with a Blue Jem77 that has Gravity Storms by DiMarzio (Sorry Mr. Duncan
). I like those for a lot of things and way better than the Evolutions. They have more mids and can get a decent Satch sound.
OMG I love Vai <3 <3 <3 and a really really really like Satch! (Only one <3). I agree with the person who said “antithesis”. (Ha ha - big word for guitar players!). I am not a tone goddess, but I don’t think any Satch pickups would work for Vai and like the same thing in reverse wouldn’t work well either! :boggled:
I was thinking about getting Evolutions for an Ibanez S570, but instead got Duncans. I ended up with a 59 neck and a 59/Custom bridge. (Thanks everyone - it’s a total everything guitar. Blue, naturally
)Anyways, I played a Jem with Evolutions and did not like them one bit! But I also ended up with a Blue Jem77 that has Gravity Storms by DiMarzio (Sorry Mr. Duncan
). I like those for a lot of things and way better than the Evolutions. They have more mids and can get a decent Satch sound.
Nagisa
New member
Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus
Yea the gravity storms looked interesting too. They also come in white where I live.
It seems a lot of people like illuminators, and the gravity storms may be a bit underpowered for my needs (MAYBE). Man is it hard to choose.
Yea the gravity storms looked interesting too. They also come in white where I live.
It seems a lot of people like illuminators, and the gravity storms may be a bit underpowered for my needs (MAYBE). Man is it hard to choose.
Nagisa
New member
Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus
I spent a while looking at GS and illuminator vids.
GS: too tame
Illuminator: everyone keeps going to the neck pup for solos. Probably not as organic as the satchur8 would be.
Thinking hard about how to import a white satchur8
I spent a while looking at GS and illuminator vids.
GS: too tame
Illuminator: everyone keeps going to the neck pup for solos. Probably not as organic as the satchur8 would be.
Thinking hard about how to import a white satchur8
Joey Voltage
New member
Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus
So have you tried the EVO in alder? That’s the way Steve preferred it, and doesn’t care for it in basswood. If you notice all his basswood guitars don’t have evo’s. They either have breeds, gravity storms or pafpro’s.
I can vouch for the gravity storm if you want to try that one. I have them in one of my basswood 570’s. A lot of people compare it to the the super, but I don’t hear it all. To me it’s everything the jb, the tonezone, or any high output al5 pickup wants to be. It feels hotter. It is super clear, and doesn’t have that choked feel. It has a present but tighter lowend focus. It is clean in the mids, and not congested or nasal. Has a healthy dose of crunchy highmids, and treble, but it oddly never sounds thin, always thick. Doesn’t have that wah like frequency.
The best I can sum it up is that it is sort of sounds like DiMarzio took an axis and voiced it to perform in a non maple capped Basswood superstrat with a floating trem.
So have you tried the EVO in alder? That’s the way Steve preferred it, and doesn’t care for it in basswood. If you notice all his basswood guitars don’t have evo’s. They either have breeds, gravity storms or pafpro’s.
I can vouch for the gravity storm if you want to try that one. I have them in one of my basswood 570’s. A lot of people compare it to the the super, but I don’t hear it all. To me it’s everything the jb, the tonezone, or any high output al5 pickup wants to be. It feels hotter. It is super clear, and doesn’t have that choked feel. It has a present but tighter lowend focus. It is clean in the mids, and not congested or nasal. Has a healthy dose of crunchy highmids, and treble, but it oddly never sounds thin, always thick. Doesn’t have that wah like frequency.
The best I can sum it up is that it is sort of sounds like DiMarzio took an axis and voiced it to perform in a non maple capped Basswood superstrat with a floating trem.
Nagisa
New member
Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus
Thank you guys for all the info and advice!
I just ordered a white Suhr Aldrich.
I spent 2 days scouring youtube and the net, and I think this is the best bet. I almost went with the JB but I think this will be a bit more even EQ wise which I wanted.
Thank you!
Thank you guys for all the info and advice!
I just ordered a white Suhr Aldrich.
I spent 2 days scouring youtube and the net, and I think this is the best bet. I almost went with the JB but I think this will be a bit more even EQ wise which I wanted.
Thank you!
Nagisa
New member
Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus
UPDATE: Got the Suhr Aldrich in. Very nice!
Pros:
Nice and thick on the high strings
Cuts well
Good bass/mids - sounds ballsy for rhythm
Pinch harmonics are great
Splits better than the hyperion imo - sounds closer to a strat bridge
Cons:
Not as clear as the hyperion 8 (higher output)
Not as many natural harmonics as the hyperion 8
Overall I'm glad I made the change - I think this guitar is really a rock machine now.
UPDATE: Got the Suhr Aldrich in. Very nice!
Pros:
Nice and thick on the high strings
Cuts well
Good bass/mids - sounds ballsy for rhythm
Pinch harmonics are great
Splits better than the hyperion imo - sounds closer to a strat bridge
Cons:
Not as clear as the hyperion 8 (higher output)
Not as many natural harmonics as the hyperion 8
Overall I'm glad I made the change - I think this guitar is really a rock machine now.
Nagisa
New member
Re: Bridge hb for alder superstrat with Satch/Vai focus
Mini review of the Aldrich:
As Masta’c mentioned, pole pices are magical. About 1.9mm on bass and 1.7mm on treble does it with wound string poles flat and high 2 up about a whole turn and 3rd a little less. If the treble side is too close, it loses clarity and if bass is too far away it loses clarity. In the right spot this is a killer pup. Reminds me of a DD but more organic- probably like a jb though I don’t have one.
The tone is really old school Megadeth or hair metal, though overdriven bluesy stuff is good too. It’s not as focused as the uoa5 custom in my lp; it’s way warmer, but it is much fatter on the highs which makes it better for soloing imo. Does Satch just fine. Maybe it isn’t in line with the Vai sound - though it can keep up, just with a different and more rawk tone. With its mids it really fills up sonic space. It’s what this guitar needed at least
Mini review of the Aldrich:
As Masta’c mentioned, pole pices are magical. About 1.9mm on bass and 1.7mm on treble does it with wound string poles flat and high 2 up about a whole turn and 3rd a little less. If the treble side is too close, it loses clarity and if bass is too far away it loses clarity. In the right spot this is a killer pup. Reminds me of a DD but more organic- probably like a jb though I don’t have one.
The tone is really old school Megadeth or hair metal, though overdriven bluesy stuff is good too. It’s not as focused as the uoa5 custom in my lp; it’s way warmer, but it is much fatter on the highs which makes it better for soloing imo. Does Satch just fine. Maybe it isn’t in line with the Vai sound - though it can keep up, just with a different and more rawk tone. With its mids it really fills up sonic space. It’s what this guitar needed at least
