Question about the Tone wiz?

[ztevie]

I've tried to use the ToneWizard on this site, but I've got a few questions about the results.
I've got a Schecter C1+ with a mahogany-body. I want a high-output, plenty of distortion PU at the bridge and something cleaner in the neck. I've been reading lots about the different characteristiscs of the different PU:s and decided that the Distortion would suit me well. But, when entering Mahogany in the wiz, the suggestions is Custom5, CustomCustom or JB...?
What is it about the Distortion that would make it not go well with mahogany when playing metal?

Also, I never hear anything about people using the combination Distortion/Jazz in the B/N position? How come? I'd think, from what I've read, these have the tone I'd probably like...

 

[Imp]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

distortion/jazz? jerry horton from papa roach has that combo in a signature schecter

hope this helps,

tom

 

[Kac]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

The distortion would work in your guitar...
and I've heard of a couple other famous players useing distortion/jazz if I could remember their names I would tell you, but can't, oh well...
I think either dave mustaine or randy rhoads had at least one guitar with that set up...
Rock On :smoker:

 

[Travis]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

Randy Rhoads had a DD/Jazz in his Jackson. Granted, it was not mahogany. I've got a DD in a couple of mahogany guitars and believe me, it sounds awesome.

 

[ztevie]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

Thanks guys! It really helps...
I've also been thinking about the JB in the bridge but seems like some people think they're too bright sounding which I wouldn't like.
I think I'm able to pull off some screaming harmonics as well as heavy rhytm with the DD, right?

It seems like I'm thinking right anyway, even if the ToneWizard don't want me to put a DD in my mahogany-guitar...? :wink:

 

[ztevie]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

distortion/jazz? jerry horton from papa roach has that combo in a signature schecter

Oh, haha, should have seen that since I've been looking at different Schecter guitars for a while...
That one is also a mahogany-body so I guess it can't sound too bad, or Schecter wouldn't have used that combination?

 

[Kac]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

Distortion/Jazz is a great set-up, I would personally prefer JB/Jazz...
As for the Tone Wizard, I think a little more work would make it a lot more useful.... There are a lot of pick-ups that the wizards reccomdendations somewhat leave out...
I would suggest adding more options in the music style selection
Rock On :smoker:

 

[ztevie]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

Distortion/Jazz is a great set-up, I would personally prefer JB/Jazz...
As for the Tone Wizard, I think a little more work would make it a lot more useful.... There are a lot of pick-ups that the wizards reccomdendations somewhat leave out...
I would suggest adding more options in the music style selection
Rock On :smoker:

Why would you prefer JB?

 

[Kac]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

To me it's a little more versitile than the Distortion. Don't get me wrong the distortion rocks and I love that pick-up, but the JB is my favorite pick-up and I've always prefered it's sound
Rock On :smoker:

 

[gtg10k]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

ztevie,
ive got the c1+ too and what you may not know is that the stock pups on it are duncan designed hb103's ( modled after the distortion) so putting a distortion in there would probably sound more clear and the tone would feel more genuine than with the stock pups. I just got a jb in my les paul and its not bright at all, however it could be in a c1+. you could put a jazz in the neck with a distortion or a pearly gates, soon im replacing the pups on my c1+ too so let me know what sounds good on it when you finally do it.

good luck

 

[ztevie]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

ztevie,
ive got the c1+ too and what you may not know is that the stock pups on it are duncan designed hb103's ( modled after the distortion) so putting a distortion in there would probably sound more clear and the tone would feel more genuine than with the stock pups. I just got a jb in my les paul and its not bright at all, however it could be in a c1+. you could put a jazz in the neck with a distortion or a pearly gates, soon im replacing the pups on my c1+ too so let me know what sounds good on it when you finally do it.

good luck

Yes, I know it's equipped with duncan designs. I'm not very pleased with them. Well, they're OK but not for playing metal/hard rock stuff. I'd like a little more bite and punch in the bridge...
Maybe JB wouldn't be that bright after all? Is the JB higher output?

Another question: When I change the pickups, do I need to think of anything else, like changing pots or anything? Or will I get away with just soldering the new ones on there and still get the maximum out of the PU's?

 

[Imp]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

nope, anything set up for duncan designed should be fine for the real deal

the only thing is, the real duncans might come with 4-conductor wiring. if you wanted, you could fit coil taps for the option of cleaner sounds.. thats another can of worms though hehe

tom

 

[ztevie]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

****, I'm going insane! the more I read on this forum the more I hesitate of what I wanna get... :yell:

Now I'm even considering EMG's... 81b/60n could be a pretty good combination from what I've read?

Has anyone here ever put EMG's in a Schecter C1 plus??? I'm thinking about how much work I'll have to pu into it? I don't care if it take smany hours, but I won't start carving pieces out of the guitar to fit stuff in there...

Geez... I can't decide. But OK, it's a pretty big buy so it's not supposed to be easy I guess... :smash:

 

[chcjunior]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

I had the JB/Jazz combo in the Schecter and it was a great set up for metal.....the JB can really scream thru the right amp. Real versatile and warm but can level a building as well.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

I put a C5/Jazz (coil splits via push/pull tone pot) in my C1+ and they sound absolutely amazing. Can you maybe name some bands that have tones you're shooting for?

 

[ztevie]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

Bands...? Well, when it comes to harder rhytm I would say Metallica, Rammstein and such gets pretty close. Tight rhytm with lots of palm-muting and very heavy...
For the lead-parts I like to play deep, singing, highly-distorted stuff with clarity despite the distortion. Harmonics, bends and fast, but not muddy, passages. Maybe John Petrucci is the closest I can think of right now, altough I'm not playing his kind of music, but his tone is pretty close...

These are the main tones I'm looking for, altough I'd really like something cleaner for the neck. Occasionally I do wander away improvising with clean sounds, and then I'd like something not too bright, a sort of laid back, mellow tone which also should have lots of clarity.
Thats why I'm concidering Jazz or EMG60A in the neck, at least I think they get pretty close.

I can't say that any band has the perfect tone that I'd like to copy, I can hear it in my head but it's impossible to put words to what it sounds like... :boggled:

I guess that the SD's are far more versatile than the EMG's, but I'm afraid(for the bridge PUP anyway) that they won't give me that extra bite and punch I'd like for my metal sound...?
I've read somewhere here that the Duncan Designs that's on my Schecter now is pretty close to sound like the DD? Well, I don't think the sound from the Designs are even close to what I'm looking for. They're too nice sounding.
I would really like to try the DD out, to see if that really is the case, but I live in Sweden and I'm planning to order the PUP's from abroad(I'll save a lot), so to return them is not something I'd really like to do...

Appreciate your help guys, I really need it to make the right decision.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

What amp are you using? That will make a big difference as well, possibly moreso than the pickups. If you have a high gain amp, getting a crazy high output pickup could very well compress your tone and make it get buzzy, where a lower output choice could fatten it up. Different people like both, it depends on what you're after.

The C5 I have in the bridge of my C1+ seems to balance out the somewhat middy tendencies of the guitar rather well. I has plenty of chunk on the low end, and the lead tone is VERY throaty. It doesn't have the spike in the mids that can make pickups like the JB or DiMarzio Fred sound overly vocal or nasaly. If you have a middy amp or guitar the C5 is a good choice since its mids are a bit scooped (but it still cuts through).

 

[ztevie]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

Amp? None, really... :13:

Well, actually I have a Peavey 40 watt, and a Kustom 15 watt for playing at home.
I rarely use them though. I've just upgraded my computer to be able to record stuff with Cubase. I use a Line6 POD 2 for amp-modeling, effects and such.
I've found I get really decent sound out of the Line6 when plugged into a PA-system, which I do at rehearsal-studio and at smaller club gigs.
I never play at bigger places than that, so I find a bigass Marshall-stack or similar both difficult to bring and unnecessary for where I play...

I know I'll never get that "true" Mesa/Marshall tube-sound. But hey, there are metal bands with big record-deals playing the POD at live gigs, believe it or not...
First and foremost I think you'll have to have the basic sound you want in the guitar and pup, then color it with whatever comes next in the signal-chain?

Of course, at high volumes, with a high-gain amp you can get great results with a pickup that's not very hot, maybe that's why I'm leaning towards EMG... Can SD really get me closer to the sound I want with their pups and my gear??

I actually have an old Peavey Vandenberg guitar with a humbucker and a singlecoil. That humbucker gets me pretty close to the sound I want, it's got loads of output and distortion in itself, I can roll off the dist-knob on my 15-watt Kustom to about 13 and still get a pretty monstruos roar from it.
I've no idea what pickup it is, I've just read that it's of the brand Alnico?? Has there existed such a brand? I thought there was only a type of magnet called that?
Could it be an old SD??

Oh, by the way, some says EMG's are real quiet, that's a HUGE advantage recording by the computer at home...

 

[FretFire]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

In my experience, the POD is fairly dark sounding, so you'll probably want to stay away from overly bassy pickups (like the Invader for example). The pickup in your Peavey guitar is probably just a stock Peavey job, and Alnico is just referring to the type of magnet inside it. As far as recording near a computer, if buzz is an issue simply turn away from the monitor or turn it off during your take.

 

[metaled]

Re: Question about the Tone wiz?

I think the DD will go great with mahogany cause the wood will beef up the lack of bass from that pickup!