Diff tween a RTM custom shop and JB?
- Thread starter BloodRose
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darthphineas
New member
Re: Diff tween a RTM custom shop and JB?
I've been using JBs since '85 and got into the RTMs this year. it's almost as if it's taking the JB up a notch, and not in that JB8 way either - that JB8 is too saturated. since DiMartini was using JBs during RATT's prime (the 80s), it makes sense that it would sound a lot like a JB. but it is not just a JB with an A2 in it... or everyone would be doing it.
my first two RTMs I put in solid maple guitars with Floyds that are identical, outside of one having a rosewood board and the other ebony - both of these has JBs in there immediately prior, and Demons prior to that. even the guy from SD suggested finding a really bright guitar. it is loud and proud. lots of tone. lots of presence. harmonics pop right out. it wants to sing and it wants to sustain. you want to break in to some RATT riffs and when you do, you can definitely hear the DiMartini tone coming through. the area that really jumps out for me would be the highs. while not shrill or spikey, the highs definitely still has what it takes and it's right there where you can hear that 'sparkle' coming through where you almost think it's going to go into an uncontrolable feedback, but it doesn't. very sweet highs, but don't you think that means it's a soft high either.
and when it comes to the highs being a little sweeter, don't think that puts it in the same arena as a Hybrid. the Hybrid is great and has slightly less sustain in the highs than the JB, but the RTM has a different type of high end and is going to have more sustain than the Hybrid as well.
I put the third one in my '90 American Standard Strat, also with a Floyd. alder with maple neck and maple board. the alder eased it off just a smidge. personally, after dealing with blueman, I put an UOA5 in this RTM and that made it sound much more like the stock RTM in a bright-sounding solid maple guitar. there was nothing wrong with the RTM's tone in alder, I just wanted to experiment.
you're not going to get near a RTM by changing a mag in a JB, be it an A2 or an UOA5... anymore than you're going to get a DD by putting a ceramic in a JB.
thank you very much, I'll be here all week, don't forget to tip your bartender and waitresses and I'm still waiting on my complimentary 4-con zebra RTM for all the people that end up buying one after hearing about my expereince. *knock know* hello, Evan?
I've been using JBs since '85 and got into the RTMs this year. it's almost as if it's taking the JB up a notch, and not in that JB8 way either - that JB8 is too saturated. since DiMartini was using JBs during RATT's prime (the 80s), it makes sense that it would sound a lot like a JB. but it is not just a JB with an A2 in it... or everyone would be doing it.
my first two RTMs I put in solid maple guitars with Floyds that are identical, outside of one having a rosewood board and the other ebony - both of these has JBs in there immediately prior, and Demons prior to that. even the guy from SD suggested finding a really bright guitar. it is loud and proud. lots of tone. lots of presence. harmonics pop right out. it wants to sing and it wants to sustain. you want to break in to some RATT riffs and when you do, you can definitely hear the DiMartini tone coming through. the area that really jumps out for me would be the highs. while not shrill or spikey, the highs definitely still has what it takes and it's right there where you can hear that 'sparkle' coming through where you almost think it's going to go into an uncontrolable feedback, but it doesn't. very sweet highs, but don't you think that means it's a soft high either.
and when it comes to the highs being a little sweeter, don't think that puts it in the same arena as a Hybrid. the Hybrid is great and has slightly less sustain in the highs than the JB, but the RTM has a different type of high end and is going to have more sustain than the Hybrid as well.
I put the third one in my '90 American Standard Strat, also with a Floyd. alder with maple neck and maple board. the alder eased it off just a smidge. personally, after dealing with blueman, I put an UOA5 in this RTM and that made it sound much more like the stock RTM in a bright-sounding solid maple guitar. there was nothing wrong with the RTM's tone in alder, I just wanted to experiment.
you're not going to get near a RTM by changing a mag in a JB, be it an A2 or an UOA5... anymore than you're going to get a DD by putting a ceramic in a JB.
thank you very much, I'll be here all week, don't forget to tip your bartender and waitresses and I'm still waiting on my complimentary 4-con zebra RTM for all the people that end up buying one after hearing about my expereince. *knock know* hello, Evan?
51501984
New member
Re: Diff tween a RTM custom shop and JB?
Thanks for the info! Im using alder with maple board.. So cal Charvel.. So mostly just a sweeter high end?
How does this change it?? And where to get one?
Thanks for the info! Im using alder with maple board.. So cal Charvel.. So mostly just a sweeter high end?
How does this change it?? And where to get one?
51501984
New member
Re: Diff tween a RTM custom shop and JB?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alnico-5-un...624?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item337cf66138
To my ears it gives the JB more of that chewy tone , takes away some of the harsh highs the JB can be famous for. Make no mistake it's still a JB , there's not a lot of low end which was fine with me , almost has that sag feel to it and pinch harmonics are effortless
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alnico-5-un...624?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item337cf66138
To my ears it gives the JB more of that chewy tone , takes away some of the harsh highs the JB can be famous for. Make no mistake it's still a JB , there's not a lot of low end which was fine with me , almost has that sag feel to it and pinch harmonics are effortless
darthphineas
New member
Re: Diff tween a RTM custom shop and JB?
somewhat. but it's like a JB Plus. a little more of everything, except the high end is sweeter in the ways described. but it has more air and more dynamics and more breath and is more open that a JB8 - which some people also consider to be a JB taken to the next level. I find the JB8 too saturated and too thick with tone. the RTM notches it up without bogging it down.
what you're going to get with an UOA5 is somewhere between the A2 and the A5. you'll lose a bit of output and the highs will soften/round-out some.
somewhat. but it's like a JB Plus. a little more of everything, except the high end is sweeter in the ways described. but it has more air and more dynamics and more breath and is more open that a JB8 - which some people also consider to be a JB taken to the next level. I find the JB8 too saturated and too thick with tone. the RTM notches it up without bogging it down.
what you're going to get with an UOA5 is somewhere between the A2 and the A5. you'll lose a bit of output and the highs will soften/round-out some.
RayBarbeeMusic
Active member
Re: Diff tween a RTM custom shop and JB?
I've started going back to 250k volume pots with my JBs like I did in the 80s and I'm remembering why I fell in love with that pickup back then. GD it sounds good with a 250k volume.
I've started going back to 250k volume pots with my JBs like I did in the 80s and I'm remembering why I fell in love with that pickup back then. GD it sounds good with a 250k volume.
darthphineas
New member
Re: Diff tween a RTM custom shop and JB?
yep, they did/were.
the JB should be able to handle just about any 80s/90s hard-rock pop-metal tone along those lines.
is your SoCal a solidbody or does it have a pickguard? also, have you made any other mods to it, like a brass block? if the FR on those SoCal models an OFR or a Korean version?
yep, they did/were.
the JB should be able to handle just about any 80s/90s hard-rock pop-metal tone along those lines.
is your SoCal a solidbody or does it have a pickguard? also, have you made any other mods to it, like a brass block? if the FR on those SoCal models an OFR or a Korean version?
Re: Diff tween a RTM custom shop and JB?
Mine is the Japanese made So cal with the pickguard. I have put in JB/Jazz set, and a big brass block.
honestly, the biggest issue with the tone is the fact I dont get to play thru my real amp. BUT.. Ive used this lil one enough to know when Im not just on point with what I want..
51501984,
I think Im looking for just alil more warmth maybe.. ? maybe just alil more beef? But not too much of a change.. I run alot of Custom 8s so Im used to those. But, yeah, dont want to deviate too much.
Raybarbee,
what diff does the 250 make? alil darker?
Mine is the Japanese made So cal with the pickguard. I have put in JB/Jazz set, and a big brass block.
honestly, the biggest issue with the tone is the fact I dont get to play thru my real amp. BUT.. Ive used this lil one enough to know when Im not just on point with what I want..
51501984,
I think Im looking for just alil more warmth maybe.. ? maybe just alil more beef? But not too much of a change.. I run alot of Custom 8s so Im used to those. But, yeah, dont want to deviate too much.
Raybarbee,
what diff does the 250 make? alil darker?
51501984
New member
Re: Diff tween a RTM custom shop and JB?
Warmth , Beef ! I really think with a UOA5 thr JB will do what you want , just make sure to use a 500k pot
Warmth , Beef ! I really think with a UOA5 thr JB will do what you want , just make sure to use a 500k pot
Re: Diff tween a RTM custom shop and JB?
Got one of the mags ordered! Hopefully itll do what Im wanting to hear! I think the stock pots ares 500k. I just need to check a wiring diagram to make sure I have the middle position wired correctly
Got one of the mags ordered! Hopefully itll do what Im wanting to hear! I think the stock pots ares 500k. I just need to check a wiring diagram to make sure I have the middle position wired correctly
Re: Diff tween a RTM custom shop and JB?
Let me ask you a question... is the rtm brighter than the super distortion? I have a charvel usa so cal with a super distortion and I want a bit more bite. Will the rtm do that?
darthphineas
New member
Re: Diff tween a RTM custom shop and JB?
sorry dude, I've never tried a Super Distortion.
but strictly from the impressions I have of it from the guys I've heard that use it, I'd imagine it has more bite than the stock RTM. put an UOA5 in the RTM in an alder guitar and I think you be about there, but I'd still be prone to lean toward the Super Distortion.
sorry dude, I've never tried a Super Distortion.
but strictly from the impressions I have of it from the guys I've heard that use it, I'd imagine it has more bite than the stock RTM. put an UOA5 in the RTM in an alder guitar and I think you be about there, but I'd still be prone to lean toward the Super Distortion.
darthphineas
New member
Re: Diff tween a RTM custom shop and JB?
I think it was a guy names James that was there with MJ when I bought my first RTM. he was the one that told me that the RTM works best in a bright guitar. and I have to agree with him. I put my first one in a maple body with maple neck and ebony board and it's awesome in that one. the 2nd one went into the same, but had a rosewood neck, and it's awesome there. when I tried one in alder with maple board/neck, it seemed to a little tamer, to which the UOA5 resolved that. I've read that some ash can be bright where some may not. I'd imagine if you went with e definite bright ash, you're golden.
never tried a Super V. I did talk with Lynch about it when he was testing it on the road and I gathered from him that he went for a lower output pickup with a vintage vibe and let the amp do the heavy lifting. if I remember, he definitely had one in that ESP Super V guitar and I think he had one in at least one of the signature models he had with him...the Kami or the Bones, I don't remember which. looking at the specs between the two, it'd almost appear that they could be quite similar, but from the guy's own mouth, the Super V is more of a moderate output. so as for the tone between the two, I cannot speak to the Super V, as I've not played one in my own rig.
I think it was a guy names James that was there with MJ when I bought my first RTM. he was the one that told me that the RTM works best in a bright guitar. and I have to agree with him. I put my first one in a maple body with maple neck and ebony board and it's awesome in that one. the 2nd one went into the same, but had a rosewood neck, and it's awesome there. when I tried one in alder with maple board/neck, it seemed to a little tamer, to which the UOA5 resolved that. I've read that some ash can be bright where some may not. I'd imagine if you went with e definite bright ash, you're golden.
never tried a Super V. I did talk with Lynch about it when he was testing it on the road and I gathered from him that he went for a lower output pickup with a vintage vibe and let the amp do the heavy lifting. if I remember, he definitely had one in that ESP Super V guitar and I think he had one in at least one of the signature models he had with him...the Kami or the Bones, I don't remember which. looking at the specs between the two, it'd almost appear that they could be quite similar, but from the guy's own mouth, the Super V is more of a moderate output. so as for the tone between the two, I cannot speak to the Super V, as I've not played one in my own rig.
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