Mick Mars - Motley Crue tone.

depecheanix

New member
Hi i have a Gibson Les Paul studio 2003 model. And im wondering what kind pickups I would need to get the sound that mick mars had During theatre of pain through to Dr feelgood.

Thanks :)
 
Re: Mick Mars - Motley Crue tone.

well i know mick used to use lp's before his back went all wacky. now he has to use strats cause they're lighter. but thats beside the point. i don't think mick replaced the pups in his guitars. (i could be wrong.) but i know the key to the doctor feelgood tone was mic placement. bob rock would walk around the studio listening for sweet spots in the room. when he found one, he placed a mic there. thats what gave it such a thick sound.

personally, the girls, girls, girls tone and the dr. feelgood tone are two tones i constantly try to achieve. a thick bottom with a razor sharp top, if you will. i've found the Duncan Distortion in the bridge can pull off this tone pretty well. just be careful with cleans. i use a triple recto and can't clean that damn thing up enough to save my life. it's always driving the clean channel. but i'm sure you won't have a problem with it. it's a good pickup.
 
Re: Mick Mars - Motley Crue tone.

Reckless Abandon said:
He used a '59 then



Are you sure?? His pickup choice has never really been disclosed in any interview I've read, although, I suspect he used Dimarzio SuperDistortions on the first two albums...he had double creams on his Les Paul and the tones just sound like those pickups.

As for his later stuff I have no idea....I wouldn't doubt a '59 but have never seen any evidence either way.
 
Re: Mick Mars - Motley Crue tone.

I just read the interview with him in Vintage Guitar, and he didn't say anything about pups in that one, either. He did say he defied anyone to get thicker tone than him.

Sorry, I don't guess that helps much, but I thought it was interesting. It's a good read for anyone interested in Mick Mars.
 
Re: Mick Mars - Motley Crue tone.

Yeah whatever buckers Mick uses he said the output is around 16K, and it is one of his "secrets". The VG article is pretty good, but I wish it was longer.

Luke
 
Re: Mick Mars - Motley Crue tone.

JacksonMIA said:
I just read the interview with him in Vintage Guitar, and he didn't say anything about pups in that one, either. He did say he defied anyone to get thicker tone than him.

Sorry, I don't guess that helps much, but I thought it was interesting. It's a good read for anyone interested in Mick Mars.


Does anyone have a link to or a scan of that article??
 
Re: Mick Mars - Motley Crue tone.

It was on this site. He has a super dist on the live wire video. I think it was on the artists page but not for sure. He is quiet about it so I may be wrong, sorry.
 
Re: Mick Mars - Motley Crue tone.

Mick used a Super Distortion on the early stuff, And from there, either a Duncan '59 or a JM Rolph PAF type pup. This discussion was brougth up on another board, and someone claimed that back in the day he read a article that he used Rolph's.
But I guess a few years a go he use to be a Duncan endorsee, and had '59's listed as his pup of choice. Which I believe, cause I can nail "Kick start my heart" with a Screamin' Demon straight into my Rivera.
 
Re: Mick Mars - Motley Crue tone.

most important is tune down a whole step,do that and dial in your gain,eq it.
after i did that i pretty much nailed it.mick always far as i know tuned down a whole step.
let me know how it sounds.mick mainly uses strats and teles but sounds deadon on my lp.
 
Re: Mick Mars - Motley Crue tone.

jukes said:
most important is tune down a whole step,do that and dial in your gain,eq it.
after i did that i pretty much nailed it.mick always far as i know tuned down a whole step.
let me know how it sounds.mick mainly uses strats and teles but sounds deadon on my lp.

Bingo! You need the Crue tune!

Also, didn't Mick use JCM800s??

Mike
 
Re: Mick Mars - Motley Crue tone.

He uses modded JMP-100's according to an interview on guitar.com and Guitar player.

The amp will get you closer on his tone. Motley are my favorite and my modded marshall does perfect for the girls girls girls tone. I use a JB mainly as well. But when I had a '59 it was closer
 
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Re: Mick Mars - Motley Crue tone.

JacksonMIA said:
I just read the interview with him in Vintage Guitar, and he didn't say anything about pups in that one, either. He did say he defied anyone to get thicker tone than him.

Sorry, I don't guess that helps much, but I thought it was interesting. It's a good read for anyone interested in Mick Mars.



another good read is his interview in a recent issue of guitar world. that article didn't state his pup choice either. (as far as i can remember...i'm gonna check again tonight.)

TO BE CONTINUED...
 
Re: Mick Mars - Motley Crue tone.

i use duncan designed(aka from a hamer guitar)which are the same specs as a duncan distortion(i read it somewhere)and it goes great from blues to thrash metal.
 
Re: Mick Mars - Motley Crue tone.

depecheanix said:
btw what size strings would you suggest? 11s?


Yeah....for a Les Paul definitely. It's all tuned to D so 10s would be kinda loose IMO.
 
Re: Mick Mars - Motley Crue tone.

I'd use 12's but I use 11's in standard so it's all personal preference. I know guys that use 10's in C# on just a 25.5" scale.
 
Re: Mick Mars - Motley Crue tone.

I have heard from various sources (which I cannot remember) that his black Les Paul (used on the first two albums) had a Super Distortion in the bridge.

During the Kramer era, I think you can't go wrong with a JB!
 
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