Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

[offworld92]

Which one of these three is the best for tight bass tracking and clarity? I'm playing prog metal (of the less uber technical sort, think Mastodon Crack the Skye), but I also have some parts in some songs where I play fast pedaling riffs, and I need something that can track low bass notes really well for that.

The tuning is D standard, but sometimes I will drop the D down to an A as well. This is for an LTD EC-1000 played through a boosted 6505.

 

[CTN]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

Full Shred, hands down.

If you want more saturation/crunch and screaming mids, Distortion.

Custom is a lot more open sounding than the Distortion and actually the wind is kinda similar to the Full Shred, but the Custom has lots of thump in the low end, without being as tight as the Distortion and neither Distortion or Custom are as tight as the Full Shred.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

edit: holy $hit. didn't mean to suggest the DD when I meant the FS? I mean the FS.

looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

The fullshred has a clearer dynamic attack than the distortion while the distortion has more of an edge. Think like machete vs a chainsaw cutting through demons putside of your cabin in the woods. Nothing cuts like a chainsaw but sometimes it can get a bit unwieldy.... Or should I say... Groovy.

 

[CTN]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

I like to think of it like:

Full Shred: Rapier or Katana
Custom: Claymore sword
Distortion: full length double-bladed battleaxe
Invader: War hammer
X2N: trebuchet loaded with a boulder

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

Bill Kelliher from Mastodon (which is the first band I thought of when I read your tunings, before I read the rest of your post) used Distortions in the neck and bridges of his Les Pauls for a while. I don't know if he's since started using Lace Nitro Hemis exclusively since his signature Gibson came out, but if you're think Mastodon, go with the Distortion.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

I like to think of it like:

Full Shred: Rapier or Katana
Custom: Claymore sword
Distortion: full length double-bladed battleaxe
Invader: War hammer
X2N: trebuchet loaded with a boulder

So like the Dimebucker is a lightsaber or something?

 

[CTN]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

So like the Dimebucker is a lightsaber or something?

I haven't played it, but from what i've heard, that would seem appropriate lol

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

The fullshred has a clearer dynamic attack than the distortion while the distortion has more of an edge. Think like machete vs a chainsaw cutting through demons putside of your cabin in the woods. Nothing cuts like a chainsaw but sometimes it can get a bit unwieldy.... Or should I say... Groovy.

I like to think of it like:

Full Shred: Rapier or Katana
Custom: Claymore sword
Distortion: full length double-bladed battleaxe
Invader: War hammer
X2N: trebuchet loaded with a boulder

So like the Dimebucker is a lightsaber or something?

I like that description...

 

[offworld92]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

I know the Distortion is what they use, I was just worried about how tight it was, because of how high output it is.

I kind of want to be able to get an almost djenty sort of sound on the low string - I'm afraid the Distortion would sound a little too traditional for that. But I don't really know (I know the pick attack massively contributes to that sound, of course).

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

Full Shred can get VERY djenty.

 

[CTN]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

The Distortion is high output, but it is pretty tight still.

But if you want a djenty/proggy kinda sound on the lows, go Full Shred.

Both Distortion and Full Shred have good pick attack, but from everything you're saying the Full Shred is right up your alley, and since it's a bit lower output than the Distortion, it'll be very clear through your boosted 6505.

Other guitarist in my band has a full shred in his schecter 006 elite, which is built like a les paul. Mahogany body, maple cap, mahogany set neck and rosewood fretboard. Same scale length, same kinda hardware. It is crisp, clear and sounds like a precise weapon. No shortage of low end, but it's ultra tight. The mids and highs sing beautifully. He also used to play a 6505 (plays a dark terror nowadays for ease of carrying to gigs)

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

My preference is the Claymore =). I like the classic vibe of the Custom. It is still tight as all heck on the low end, it just has more thump.

 

[Scott Olson]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

Which one of these three is the best for tight bass tracking and clarity? I'm playing prog metal (of the less uber technical sort, think Mastodon Crack the Skye), but I also have some parts in some songs where I play fast pedaling riffs, and I need something that can track low bass notes really well for that.

The tuning is D standard, but sometimes I will drop the D down to an A as well. This is for an LTD EC-1000 played through a boosted 6505.

They'll both work pretty well for what you are looking for. Personally, I'm a HUGE fan of the Full Shred. It's extremely tight, will go with whatever drop-tuning I throw at it. I don't usually like screaming mids so the Full Shred has a balance to it that just sounds great to my ears.

 

[chris effect]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

The tuning is D standard, but sometimes I will drop the D down to an A as well. This is for an LTD EC-1000 played through a boosted 6505.

What tuning is that? I' sometimes drop the D to C in D standard for drop C. I don't know a lot about alternate tunings... and I'd go with the Full Shred for that style as well

 

[offworld92]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

What tuning is that? I' sometimes drop the D to C in D standard for drop C. I don't know a lot about alternate tunings... and I'd go with the Full Shred for that style as well

It's basically just A standard on a 6 string, without the low D. Two string power chord shapes on the lowest two strings (A and G) still function the same way, it just has a unique sound because of the huge disparity in intervals between the notes.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

It's basically just A standard on a 6 string, without the low D. Two string power chord shapes on the lowest two strings (A and G) still function the same way, it just has a unique sound because of the huge disparity in intervals between the notes.

There's that one and the Torche tuning, E standard, drop the 6th to low A. Both are fun to mess around with.

As for the original question, this:

Full Shred...

If you want more saturation/crunch and screaming mids, Distortion.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

There's that one and the Torche tuning, E standard, drop the 6th to low A. Both are fun to mess around with.

Muse uses that one, too. So does Foo Fighters.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

Muse uses that one, too. So does Foo Fighters.

I don't listen to either of those bands, didn't know that.

 

[chris effect]

Re: Custom vs Distortion vs Full Shred for tracking and clarity

Interesting. You must use a pretty thick 6th string. a .60 heavy core is a little floppy on my 7 string in A!