opinions please? pup,pedal or amp?

[SABOTAGE]

I was wondering if the best tone(mean overdrive with harmonics) comes from having a lower output pup and a very high gain amp like a 5150 or a XXX?
or a very hot pup and a medium gain amp like the jcm 800?
like zakk wylde use a medium gain 800 with a amg 81 and a overdrive pedal?
If i chose to not use a pedal with a 800, is it best to go with a super hot pup for a strong kick to the preamp of the amp?
I heard originally pups like the super distortion and X2N were designed for the amps of that time,amps that really did not have a real high gain

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: opinions please? pup,pedal or amp?

IMO, High output pickup do not have as good of a tone as lower output PAF type pickups. It is also my opinion that highgain amps (unless you go with something real high end like a Bogner or a VHT) have weak clean tones. I would much rather run with PAF type pickups and a midgain amp because the clean tones will be far better as will the dirty/crunch tones, and if you need/want the extra kick use a good boost/overdrive. That said, somekinds of mucis just do not call for anything but a massive crunch tone, if that's the case get a high output pup, and a super highgain hard and burn it up!

 

[SABOTAGE]

Re: opinions please? pup,pedal or amp?

IMO, High output pickup do not have as good of a tone as lower output PAF type pickups. It is also my opinion that highgain amps (unless you go with something real high end like a Bogner or a VHT) have weak clean tones. I would much rather run with PAF type pickups and a midgain amp because the clean tones will be far better as will the dirty/crunch tones, and if you need/want the extra kick use a good boost/overdrive. That said, somekinds of mucis just do not call for anything but a massive crunch tone, if that's the case get a high output pup, and a super highgain hard and burn it up!

thanks for your input.
I use a JCM 800 2203 re-issue and love the amp but was just curious of my options on getting more overdrive from it.
I would rather if at all possible to not use a pedal.
as far as high gain amps i prefer engl but own a mesa MK-IV this amp needs very little help in overdrive department but the 800 is a bit tame compared to it but i love the tone of it and want to work with it

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: opinions please? pup,pedal or amp?

thanks for your input.
I use a JCM 800 2203 re-issue and love the amp but was just curious of my options on getting more overdrive from it.
I would rather if at all possible to not use a pedal.
as far as high gain amps i prefer engl but own a mesa MK-IV this amp needs very little help in overdrive department but the 800 is a bit tame compared to it but i love the tone of it and want to work with it

What kind of guitar and pickups are you using? It sounds like you like the tone but you just want more crunch, is that right???

 

[SABOTAGE]

Re: opinions please? pup,pedal or amp?

What kind of guitar and pickups are you using? It sounds like you like the tone but you just want more crunch, is that right???

I have a esp MII with a duncan distortion.
what i am looking for with the 800 is more drive i guess?
i play slayer type music and they use the 800's but theirs sound much better than mine does at the moment as far as gain?

 

[Buckeyedog]

Re: opinions please? pup,pedal or amp?

Their amps are almost guaranteed to be modded or they use a pedal of some sort. I don't know much about Slayer, but the 800 doesn't have a ton of gain as you well know. I know you may not want a pedal, but why not at least try a Boss SD-1 for about $40 and see. Your pickup is pretty hot already. Don't think you'll get much more in that department. So, pedal, or new high gain amp IMO. Good Luck.

 

[Davey]

Re: opinions please? pup,pedal or amp?

JB through an ENGL powerball on chanel 4 (also known as, rip your head off gain channel)?

whatcha say?


seriously... get a drive pedal for that added boost and focus. the jcm800 can get brutal with the right setup

 

[WITH FULL DISTORTION]

Re: opinions please? pup,pedal or amp?

get a medium output pickup and a high gain amp

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: opinions please? pup,pedal or amp?

I know in about 1988 Kerry Kings guitar rig was fairly simple. Straight JCM800's (unmodded) neckthrough BC Rich's with EMG81's and a EQ booster pedal. He was always cryptic about exactly what pedal it was. I've tried rigs like this and it gets really close in tone. Most people think i'm crazy cause to me their tone isnt ultra high gain and has tons of mids thats just the way I hear it. Another thing on his tone seems to be hes used alot of Kahler trems they sound way different from a floyd.

So to answer your question I think really you should just add a boost out in front try and graphic eq and boost the mids or like a MXR Micro Amp or something of that sort. My favorite has always been the TC electronic line booster... They rock for punching in the face of an old Marshall...

 

[WITH FULL DISTORTION]

Re: opinions please? pup,pedal or amp?

Is that possible to acchieve the sound of DECAPITATED-NIHILITY Cd witha marshall jcm 800 or 900 or 2000 dsl, and a guitar tuned in D, 0f course and witha an emg 81?
or i´ll only acchieve that sound with a Mesa boogie or a vht or a framus cobra?

 

[BigBazz]

Re: opinions please? pup,pedal or amp?

if you want to drive your jcm 800 buy an ibanez tube screamer or maybe a marshall bluesbreaker pedal and turn the boost too full. a seymour duncan pickup booster can help a lot. i prefere medium output pickups as apposed to the distortion pickups since they sound better and you can get a nice clean sound if you want it.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: opinions please? pup,pedal or amp?

Your's won't have as much gain as Slayer's because the heads have to be modded to run 6L6 power tubes, and they run an EQ infront of the amp.

PM Jeff Seal about the powertube mod, he'll be more than helpful!

 

[Neeradj]

Re: opinions please? pup,pedal or amp?

JB through an ENGL powerball on chanel 4 (also known as, rip your head off gain channel)?

That's correct, I'm living proof of that. In fact Channel 3 will also rip your head off! I almost never turn the gain past 4 (11 o'clock) on my Powerball, both channel 3 and 4. It's got an amazing harmonically rich ultragainy sound with tons of clarity, IMO the sweet spot for any high gainer. I know a lot of Powerball owners who set theirs to 8 which I don't recommend.

as far as high gain amps i prefer engl

Me too, more gain than anyone could ever need and the ballsiest amp ENGL makes is the Powerball (next to the SE, which is more expensive than a Bogner XTC) :dance:. The Savages are tighter, but not ballsier.

I'm currently using medium-high output pick ups as you can see in my sig, but with a Powerball I'm not even considering using higher output pick ups compared to what I use now, but actually lower output pick ups for clarity