OK, I have a pretty clean amp (Crate V18) and I want to get some nice Tool disto tones. Now, since I am using disto pedals for my dirt, does pickup choice even make a difference? I know that the hotter humbuckers were designed to push tube amps into more distortion, but using pedals, do the pickups really make a significant difference? I know that crappy stock pups on a 3 or 4 hundred dollar guitar will normally suck balls, but besides the eq curve, does the expense of buying a Duncan or Dimarzio really make that much of a difference? I know that in my basswood rg, the Super D in the bridge, fattens that bastard up quite a bit, but will it make a difference in the crunch and grit that I can obtain? I don't mean to sound like a **** idiot, but I cannot afford to get a Mesa or a Deizel (hopefully someday, Deizels are the ****), but I want to get the best tones out of the gear that I can get, and switching pups is not only fun, but if it can help my sound, I ****ing love it.
Pickups and Pedals....
- Thread starter Filthpig
- Start date
lowenzz
New member
Re: Pickups and Pedals....
Valid question, no worries. I would save the money and bide my time on craigslist. You can find some amazing used tube heads for less than a grand. I just recently picked up a pristine DSL50 for $530.00. Not bad I think.
Distortion pedals and modelers take the guitars character out of the equation. With some Line6 type stuff you could probably get Pantera on a Tele.
Valid question, no worries. I would save the money and bide my time on craigslist. You can find some amazing used tube heads for less than a grand. I just recently picked up a pristine DSL50 for $530.00. Not bad I think.
Distortion pedals and modelers take the guitars character out of the equation. With some Line6 type stuff you could probably get Pantera on a Tele.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Pickups and Pedals....
There is a gain point where it really doesn't matter. and it doesn't matter if the gain is from a pedal, a preamp, or power tubes. Push the amplitude far enough and all you get is compressed fizz. That's when the amp drives the tone. See VH1 for a great example. "Brown" sound has jack to do with the pup. Any guitar put into that chain was going to sound like that.
There is a gain point where it really doesn't matter. and it doesn't matter if the gain is from a pedal, a preamp, or power tubes. Push the amplitude far enough and all you get is compressed fizz. That's when the amp drives the tone. See VH1 for a great example. "Brown" sound has jack to do with the pup. Any guitar put into that chain was going to sound like that.
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MonkeyDungologist
Re: Pickups and Pedals....
it always makes a difference IMHO.
when i try a new or modded p/up i run it straight into a little fender practice amp, straight into a marshall JCM, and then through my mesa v-twin to test it out and then start adding dirt and volume to see if it's going to squeal on me; there's never been an instance when i couldn't hear the change/s.
there's no shortage of dudes who buy a cheap guitar with crap pickups/wiring/components because they bond with it and/or it's a good player, and then change the pickups and components, give it a good set-up and swear it beats top-dollar guitars off the shelf, myself included. do a search on squiers in 'the guitar shop' for some examples...
obviously if you're DIing an electric guitar straight into digital processors YMMV.
if you get handy with the iron you can also mod pedals too...
short answer is yes, it makes a massive difference
it always makes a difference IMHO.
when i try a new or modded p/up i run it straight into a little fender practice amp, straight into a marshall JCM, and then through my mesa v-twin to test it out and then start adding dirt and volume to see if it's going to squeal on me; there's never been an instance when i couldn't hear the change/s.
there's no shortage of dudes who buy a cheap guitar with crap pickups/wiring/components because they bond with it and/or it's a good player, and then change the pickups and components, give it a good set-up and swear it beats top-dollar guitars off the shelf, myself included. do a search on squiers in 'the guitar shop' for some examples...
obviously if you're DIing an electric guitar straight into digital processors YMMV.
if you get handy with the iron you can also mod pedals too...
short answer is yes, it makes a massive difference
