DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

[DKSEARS]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

The J90C might work, but it's a bit hashy in the upper mids to my ears. The mahogany in the V might tame that a bit. If you have one on hand, it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.

I have a J95, labeled originally as the "Hot Alnico" in the catalog that has an A5 and it's a thing of beauty in my Model 88.


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[BloodRose]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

Question....
Ive never been too big on Dimarzios, tho Ive used a VV Blues in the mid of one of my axes and loved it, and have used a Super D in a Les Paul and used (and liked) a Tone Zone in my Strat for a long time before putting a Custom 5 in it.

Have heard lots of good things on the Crunch Lab/Liquifire combo and heard the Air Norton makes a great neck pup.

I normally associate Dimarzios more for shred type of axes. And know ACE was long known user of a Super D in his LP. How would any of these Dimarzios work in a V?? Just trying to think of something alittle diff from my normal.. Dunno why, but am..

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

Question....
Ive never been too big on Dimarzios, tho Ive used a VV Blues in the mid of one of my axes and loved it, and have used a Super D in a Les Paul and used (and liked) a Tone Zone in my Strat for a long time before putting a Custom 5 in it.

Have heard lots of good things on the Crunch Lab/Liquifire combo and heard the Air Norton makes a great neck pup.

I normally associate Dimarzios more for shred type of axes. And know ACE was long known user of a Super D in his LP. How would any of these Dimarzios work in a V?? Just trying to think of something alittle diff from my normal.. Dunno why, but am..

Well it's more that the shredders that use said shred axes just happen to be more inclined to endorse DiMarzio and have signature models, It's not so much that's their design goal overall, but yeah the association is deep.

I think the super distortion would sound good in the V. The Crunch Lab, and Liquifire may be a little more "modern", however I honestly don't tend to believe in general are suited to specific niche genres, and honestly can work well for a wide range of music styles beyond what their marketing targets. If you choose that route I would probably opt for the illuminator bridge instead, or the transition bridge if you need more low end. The evolution or evo2 might be a good one to check out too possibly even the x2n.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

Just crossed my mind that I have a Tone Zone and an EVO at the house. Pulled em out of my Charvel So Cal. Maybe Ill try those. I just dont have time to do too much switching. I worry the TZ will be too muddy in a short scale guitar.

 

[Aceman]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

You want either a Distortion, or a Gibson 500t. Lots of thump and sizzle.

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This. Turn amp down for 70's

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

If you have one, try the evo before coughing up for something new. The tonezone might be a bit much for that guitar, its better for and excels in floyded basswood shredsticks.

 

[devastone]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

The Evo you have is a neck model, don't think you will like it for the bridge of the V but it should work great in the neck. The TZ is a great pickup if set up right, just don't get too close to the strings on the bass side. The Super D sounds like what you are looking for in the bridge but the TZ is worth a shot.

IIRC you are using a 50 or 100W amp at "house" levels (which may be slightly higher than bedroom levels, but still), you may never get the tone you are looking for, the speakers and/or the tubes aren't really getting a workout. Some bigger amps can sound pretty good at low levels, but it definitely isn't their sweet spot. Forgive me if I'm wrong, just going on my memory which ain't what it used to be. FTR, I love amps, I miss my amps and I've had a boatload including some amazing Soldanos, Mesas, Randalls, Fenders, Marshalls, etc... but I haven't been in a situation to use a real amp in years so a modelers or small preamps/SS power amps make it a lot easier to get tones from bedroom levels to more than gig level although I'm running direct most of the time. No, it ain't the same as feeling the air moved by a Superlead or ________ and a 4-12, but it works. Anyway, my <$0.02.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

Yes, yes and yes..... Evo is the neck model. I was only considering using it in the neck. Yes, the TZ is prolly going to be too much, def very bassy. As Joey V said, its a great pup for thickening up a thin sounding guitar.
And, Yes, Im running a Splawn half stack and Im sure Im not driving it too hard. Im sure it would A)sound glorious dialed up, and B) probably level the neighborhood.. I "crank" it up to about 1 or 2 on the master and have been heard about 3 blocks away....

I just hate that my budget has gotten non existent. Im really sweating what pup to try. Cuz I cant afford to just buy em and see.. The DF didnt sound too bad today.. Sadly, most of it is my playing, but some days it isnt too bad and somedays it seems off. Like the guitar is out of tune or something..

 

[BloodRose]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

This. Turn amp down for 70's

Yeah, I figured this one out. The Splawn set on 1st gear covers 70s to punk to AC/DC..

 

[devastone]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

Running big amps are really low volumes can be kinda muddy so that may also be contributing. Again, the TZ is a great pup in the right guitar with the right setup, I'd definitely give it a try, and try adjusting it some to see if you can dial it in. You might also some lower output pickups if you have some around, I recently picked up a used LTD M-1000se with a PG in the bridge and a Jazz in the neck, I'll always used med to high output pickups but I'm pretty impressed with the PG. Sometimes I dial in a little more gain with it to give it a little more "push".

 

[BloodRose]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

Thanks! I usually gravitate to hotter pups in the bridge. Not over the top like X2N, but things like Custom 8's (a fav), JBs, etc. About the only deviation in that is the Whole Lotta Humbucker set in my LP. Run lots of Jazz's in the necks tho. Thinking of a PG for the neck on this one, depending what I go with in the bridge..

 

[devastone]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

You could always shake your world up a little and try one of these - http://wildepickups.com/Wilde_Bill_s_Twin_Blades.html

I highly recommend the Wilde version over the BL USA ones. They may sound similar, but Bill (RIP) and Becky are (were) stand up people and it's still a small family business that makes great products, the other seems to be some faceless company that seems very removed from it's customers, not to mention they are still using Bill's old designs. Hard to argue with Nuno's tones

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

Bill's old designs. Hard to argue with Nuno's tones

Hard also to say what nuno actually used. His tone on the first two records was a parts caster pieced from stew mac. The two pickups I remember in their catalogue from the early mid 90's when I was a kid was a '59 and a Lawrence USA l500xl (Wajcman), and it would have most likely had been the l500xl produced by the Wajcman Bill Lawrence USA that was in Nuno's guitar (and Dime's, who also bought his pickups from stew mac) during the time they were recorded in the late 80's/90's since "Bill" (Willie Stich) signed away his part of the company in the early 80's and was no longer involved. "Bill" (Stich) was back in Germany during that time doing OBL. That said I think the original L500XL design used ceramic 5, at least thats what is strongly hinted at, and the current one from Bill Lawrence USA L500xl (Wajcman) is ceramic 8. I'm not positive when ceramic 5 became infrequent in pickup use, but I have a suspicion it was long before Nuno bought his L500XL from stew mac, so the current ceramic 8 Lawrence USA (Wajcman) is probably what was in his guitar at the time of those records. Nowadays I think it's the Bill and Becky version that is in his signature models, which is AL5.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

You could always shake your world up a little and try one of these - http://wildepickups.com/Wilde_Bill_s_Twin_Blades.html

I highly recommend the Wilde version over the BL USA ones. They may sound similar, but Bill (RIP) and Becky are (were) stand up people and it's still a small family business that makes great products, the other seems to be some faceless company that seems very removed from it's customers, not to mention they are still using Bill's old designs. Hard to argue with Nuno's tones

I have some of Bill's keystone pickups in my black strat and had a trio of his 450s in my black Epi Ace Frehley. Ive never tried one of the 500s, tho I should sometime..

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

Actually I'm pretty sure a Custom 5 would sound great in there. They're amazing in mid-heavy guitars (like most V's). There was a dude at our last gig who was rocking one in an Edwards V & it's sounded HUGE. Really meaty/crunchy & juicy!

Pure 80's metal tone \m/

 

[BloodRose]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

Phatasmagoria, A c5 may sound pretty killer in it. I was all about the c5 when they first came out. But once I tried the custom 8, it was all over.. Still love the c5 in my strat. I hadnt thought about the fact that the v is midstrong.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

Jeeez.. I feel like both a numbskull and like it's Christmas.. I was thinking hard a few minutes ago.. A problem I have is my wife doesn't much like electric guitar and she is very OCD. And since I have limited space for my gear, it's stashed here and there. I'd rather huvebit together. Anyhow, found a suhr Aldrich and rio BBQ too.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

Phatasmagoria, A c5 may sound pretty killer in it. I was all about the c5 when they first came out. But once I tried the custom 8, it was all over.. Still love the c5 in my strat. I hadnt thought about the fact that the v is midstrong.

haha...that makes we want to try a Custom 8

 

[devastone]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

Hard also to say what nuno actually used. His tone on the first two records was a parts caster pieced from stew mac. The two pickups I remember in their catalogue from the early mid 90's when I was a kid was a '59 and a Lawrence USA l500xl (Wajcman), and it would have most likely had been the l500xl produced by the Wajcman Bill Lawrence USA that was in Nuno's guitar (and Dime's, who also bought his pickups from stew mac) during the time they were recorded in the late 80's/90's since "Bill" (Willie Stich) signed away his part of the company in the early 80's and was no longer involved. "Bill" (Stich) was back in Germany during that time doing OBL. That said I think the original L500XL design used ceramic 5, at least thats what is strongly hinted at, and the current one from Bill Lawrence USA L500xl (Wajcman) is ceramic 8. I'm not positive when ceramic 5 became infrequent in pickup use, but I have a suspicion it was long before Nuno bought his L500XL from stew mac, so the current ceramic 8 Lawrence USA (Wajcman) is probably what was in his guitar at the time of those records. Nowadays I think it's the Bill and Becky version that is in his signature models, which is AL5.

I didn't post that to start a BL debate, I'm very familiar with the products and history, I've used his Bill's pups since it was one company based in Nashville. FWIW, both company's pickups have appeared in Dime's and Nuno's guitars at different points, I still prefer the Bill and Becky (Wilde) versions if for no other reason than I have talked to Bill and Becky both and both were extremely friendly and helpful and the other is some faceless entity. Having owned both, and replaced the USA ones with B&B ones in a few Nuno model guitars, I do think the Wilde pups are built better and have a slightly warmer tone, but yes, it would be hard to tell them apart blind.

*EDIT* Most recent pics of Nuno look like he has a B&B in his guitar with the wider blades.

Or in this, you can kinda see at ~ 1:00 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTTcAUeFCEs

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: DirtyFingers vs Distortion or.....??

I didn't post that to start a BL debate, I'm very familiar with the products and history, I've used his Bill's pups since it was one company based in Nashville. FWIW, both company's pickups have appeared in Dime's and Nuno's guitars at different points, I still prefer the Bill and Becky (Wilde) versions if for no other reason than I have talked to Bill and Becky both and both were extremely friendly and helpful and the other is some faceless entity. Having owned both, and replaced the USA ones with B&B ones in a few Nuno model guitars, I do think the Wilde pups are built better and have a slightly warmer tone, but yes, it would be hard to tell them apart blind.

*EDIT* Most recent pics of Nuno look like he has a B&B in his guitar with the wider blades.

Or in this, you can kinda see at ~ 1:00 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTTcAUeFCEs

It more really just depends on which Nuno tone you want. The earlier albums people reference are the USA, The later B&B. I went through all of that not to start a debate either, I couldn't care less, and hate both version of the pickup truth be told, but it's that the the whole story it's quite a convoluted mess to some people, full of Bad Blood on both sides, which has caused a lot of misinfo and smear campaigns, with people hard heatedly taking sides with something they have little involvement in. It's just as silly as if people reacted to a brand of mustard in this manner.

That said, honestly for that type of tone, I very much prefer the dimarzio Steve's special over any of the Lawrence variants. It will do those tones extremely well.