First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

[Van Noord]

I picked up this used MH-350NT yesterday for a decent price.
After owning predominantly traditional Strat/Tele/LP/SG shapes this is my first Super Strat and pointy guitar! Lol!

The neck I'm familiar with as it's similar in feel and construction as my Viper 301, and I'm also familiar with EMG as I used to own an EC-401.
This guitar has the 85 in the bridge though, which is something new for me.

The build quality is great for the price point. The neck thru and tuning stability is great as well.
The biggest surprise is the 25.5 scale length. 11-52 gauge tuned half step down drop D is fantastic string tension wise.

 

[The JEM Ghost]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

Congrats on your purchase mate, and welcome to the Super Strat/Pointy guitar family! :headbang:
Nice looking guitar by the way, I really dig the quilted maple top on it!!
Hope you'll enjoy it big time!!

 

[Demanic]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

If it has an 85 in the bridge, what's in the neck?

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[Van Noord]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

Congrats on your purchase mate, and welcome to the Super Strat/Pointy guitar family! :headbang:
Nice looking guitar by the way, I really dig the quilted maple top on it!!
Hope you'll enjoy it big time!!

Thanks! I've been feasting on metal for years, now I have a proper utensil!

If it has an 85 in the bridge, what's in the neck?

It's a basic 81/85 set, just swapped positions.

 

[Demanic]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

Oh. Ok.

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[Thundermtn]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

Looks killer, congrats!

 

[Van Noord]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

Anyone have any experience using an 85 in the bridge? Thoughts?

 

[Masta' C]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

TONS of guys dig the 85 in the bridge...warmer and smoother than the 81. Myself? I like the bite of the 81, but there are so many other actives around now that really bridge the gap, like the EMG 57/66 set.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

Anyone have any experience using an 85 in the bridge? Thoughts?

Sure. The 85 is more open and less constipated than the 81, what's not to like?

The 81 is voiced just right in order to cope with extreme downtuning and/or way too much preamp gain. Without those two factors to compensate for, it tends to sound rather tinny in my opinion. One more thing to add here is Floyd Rose, being my preferred bridge type, practically guarantees a tight low end in its host guitar's tone. That should at least partially explain my bias.

The 85 on the other hand, with its extended low end, retains a fuller tone as you dial back the dirt. Okay, it won't let you surf the edge of breakup like a stereotype PAF but it is one step towards that direction. Whereas the 81 seems to have the accelerator stuck on full throttle even with the most anemic pickers, the 85 will sound the most aggressive if you let the sound breathe (e.g. dial in the amount of gain) and then pick hard like you mean it. Depending on which way you look at it, the 85 is the more dynamic or the less consistent of the two. By the way, I run 18 volt exclusively, further enhancing the difference.

 

[The JEM Ghost]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

TONS of guys dig the 85 in the bridge

I agree, I think the 85 in the bridge position is at least as popular as the 81, most EMG players I know personally would prefer the 85 over the 81 in the bridge spot.
If you have experience with the 81 in the bridge spot I would'nt change them yet in your LTD, leave the 85 in the bridge spot and test it thoroughly, you may like it better then the 81!!

 

[Aceman]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

You know - I'm not sure this qualifies as a Superstrat / Pointy.

Not "Super" enough - no Trem, standard switching...
Not Pointy enough - Strat shape...

However - helluva sweet guitar! Love the root beer / tiger eye brown burst, and if you dig EMGs, I bet that is a smooth player!!!!!! Nice.

 

[Wolfshead]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

You know - I'm not sure this qualifies as a Superstrat / Pointy.

Not "Super" enough - no Trem, standard switching...
Not Pointy enough - Strat shape...

However - helluva sweet guitar! Love the root beer / tiger eye brown burst, and if you dig EMGs, I bet that is a smooth player!!!!!! Nice.

I was thinking exactly the same, on all counts.

Congrats on a great guitar!

 

[Van Noord]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

Thanks guys, this definitely is pointy and super by my standards! Lol!
After just now checking Wiki it also seems to fit their description being that pointy is not limited to the body or number of "points", and tremolo systems don't appear to be a prerequisite.
Anyways, I'm really digging this axe so far!

 

[Aceman]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

Thanks guys, this definitely is pointy and super by my standards! Lol!
After just now checking Wiki it also seems to fit their description being that pointy is not limited to the body or number of "points", and tremolo systems don't appear to be a prerequisite.
Anyways, I'm really digging this axe so far!

Would that be the same 'Wiki" that described Anthrax as "Glam"....:lmao:

I want to hear about the action.

That thing is set or neck thru, right? I have found you can get mega low action with that sort of thing. How shred fast is she?

 

[Wolfshead]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

Thanks guys, this definitely is pointy and super by my standards! Lol!
After just now checking Wiki it also seems to fit their description being that pointy is not limited to the body or number of "points", and tremolo systems don't appear to be a prerequisite.
Anyways, I'm really digging this axe so far!

I was only joking. It's not as pointy as a Jackson King V but it's pointy enough :1:

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

Thanks guys, this definitely is pointy and super by my standards! Lol!
After just now checking Wiki it also seems to fit their description being that pointy is not limited to the body or number of "points", and tremolo systems don't appear to be a prerequisite.
Anyways, I'm really digging this axe so far!

Pointy headstock = Pointy Guitar

and

Neck Thru = Superstrat

Much respect to LTD!! Some people don't realize how killer they are!

 

[devastone]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

Nice score, glad you like it!

You said you had strats and teles before, so what was the surprise about the 25.5" scale length?

 

[Van Noord]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

Nice score, glad you like it!

You said you had strats and teles before, so what was the surprise about the 25.5" scale length?

Yes you're right, I guess my surprise is that 11s feel great on the LTD, whereas if I use that gauge on my Strat the strings feel like bailing wire. Same scale, different tension. Weird...

I'm stoked to be using EMGs again for my metal riffing. I have used them previously, and initially they took some getting used to. But I just love how the notes compress and how fast they track under high gain when doing triplets and
tremelo picking.
Sure, I've had passives that do that too, but there's something about these actives that offer heightened note articulation and balance when chording.

I recommend trying the 85 in the bridge, too. I've only ever used the 81 which can come across as being overly thin and razor like. Use of it also influences the notion that EMGs are too synthetic and sterile sounding IMO.
The alnico 85 is fatter, smoother and less spikey sounding than the ceramic 81. I just add a bit of presence/treble from my amp to get that same "cut" and "slice" as the 81. Otherwise, the 85 sure thumps and growls in the bridge position.

 

[Adieu]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

85 @ 18v or better yet 85X @ 18v is the best bridge emg if you gotta have emgs

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: First Super Strat / Pointy Guitar

Anyone have any experience using an 85 in the bridge? Thoughts?

ME ME ME!!

My #1 active guitar is my Charvel 650 with the 85 at the bridge + two Steve Lukather SLV singles, which are basically overwound SAs. Personally, I like to add the EMG SPC mid boost circuit to my active guitars to fatten up leads. The SPC is adjustable by replacing your tone control (I never use it any way).

My 650 was in a state of living death when I bought it. It must have languished under someone's bed for 10-15 years. :boggled: Someone had put an 81 in the bridge and I wasn't feeling it for that guitar, which I wanted to be very versatile. The 81 is the Thrash Master and is peerless for fast/galloping rhythms, and maximum velocity thrash style leads, but doesn't like to moonlight in non-heavy styles much. The 85 has much broader shoulders---more low end and midrange ooopmph---although it doesn't quite have the same surgical clarity as the 81 at max distortion. It is a much richer lead pickup and still has what I call the EMG Terminator Effect-----that is, virtually every note during high gain leads has the same volume, making is sound as if you your hand is perfectly controlled and consistent/mechanical/industrial, like a relentless T1000. This can be a turnoff if you want traditional dynamics (the 18V mod can give you more dynamics if needed), but I like this effect for when I'm in the mood for EMGs. There is a crispness combined with low noise that EMGs give you at high volume that passives just can't match. Just another color on the artist's pallet. :cool2:

I have mad respect for recent LTDs. They remind me of the famous MIJ Charvels and Jacksons of the early '90s. Nice example you have there! I have been jonesing for one of those myself. I just have to make up my mind on which color/config....and then find a steal online somewhere...