Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

[WILDSIDE001]

Howdy,

I'm new to humbuckers and the electronics, but I require to know if my ideas similar to the Majesty 7 will work for my new guitar design.
I desire;
- A set of Seymour Duncan Active Blackouts to be able to do humbucker and single coil sounds (split coil I believe)
- I'm not sure what would happen if I used more than one potentiometer to get more than a 20db boost
- With everything listed above would it be possible to add a piezo system for acoustic sounds as well

 

[bloughlin16]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

Unfortunately, as far as I'm aware, none of the production iterations of Blackouts can do coil splits. You'd have to contact the Custom Shop to see if they could do something like that for you.

 

[WILDSIDE001]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

What about the other questions?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

You might be able to use passive pickups along with a preamp, which would allow you to split the pickups. I am curious to why you would need a more than 20dB boost- I'd just use a Pickup Booster pedal.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

1) Can't coil-split Blackouts. Some Blackouts models have a jumper you can wire to a switch to change output settings, but it's nothing like a coil split, much closer to a volume boost than anything. If you want splittable actives, check out the Fishman Fluence line

2) The Majesty uses passive pickups and an active boost circuit. This is an ideal setup with the most options for creative wiring and onboard control over the output compared to actives. Hardest part is picking a boost circuit

3) Mincer's suggestion of a Pickup Booster pedal is a good one. It's like taking the internal boost circuit of the Majesty and making it a pedal you can use with any guitar.

4) You don't need more than 20db of onboard boost. If you do, you should look for shortcomings elsewhere in your signal chain/amp setup.

 

[WILDSIDE001]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

I just like my guitar and amps to have high output, that's why I chose Blackouts

 

[WILDSIDE001]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

Thank you guys for your time and help, it's very much appreciated.

 

[allstarrme]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

You want more sounds and versatility in an active look at the fishman fluence classics or moderns. 2 different voicings, coil splittable, high frequency cut and great tones.

 

[WILDSIDE001]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

Would you happen to know if Fishman Fluence classics or moderns would be better than Seymour Duncan AHB-2B?

 

[allstarrme]

Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

That depends what you want? The classics start with a paf voicing and go to a hot rodded set feel for voice 2, like a better jb. I have 2 sets of these and didn’t think I would use the paf voice much, but I love the paf voicing with more output.

The moderns have something close to the custom for the passive voice and close to the blackouts for the active voice. I have a set of these in D standard for tighter modern tones.

The open coil versions have a third single coil voicing instead of the high frequency cut. If you
Add a wire to coil cut to the regular versions you can use both voices with the coil split taps though. So inside coil, outside coil, voicing 1 or 2, HFT. Tons of options and they all sound good.

Either way they have plenty of output and sound like better versions of anything else out there. They are really good. There’s no compromise with the tones, ones not really good and the others are passible. I have tried all the blackouts sets. I used the live wires metal before they became the blackouts metal for a longtime, those are so hot they don’t have a usable clean tone. Anymore I use a boost before or after the preamp for those levels. The blackouts do one thing well, these do many.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

I'm thinking you need to reassess your perceptions/requirements of "high output" pickups

The Blackouts are heavy hitters, as are the Fluence Moderns. I can't imaging needing to boost either one for any reason, to be honest.

If you want Majesty flexibility, then the Blackouts are out from the start. You either need to follow Petrucci's formula (passives with active boost) or get the Fishmans

What are you playing through (amp, pedals, etc)? What type of music?

 

[BlueStrings]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

I guess I will agree with the others.
Blackouts are already ridiculously strong, and by going with a boost pedal you have more control than a built in system.
Them about output, that kinda personal, but if you even think about splitting, blackouts would again be a bad idea. Go Fluence, or go with Passives.


Oh, an idea:
You could keep blackouts and have split if you go HSH. Then wire it so it either goes to a 3 way, or to the single coil. There, you got humbucker blackouts and single coil sound.

 

[WILDSIDE001]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

I'm thinking you need to reassess your perceptions/requirements of "high output" pickups

The Blackouts are heavy hitters, as are the Fluence Moderns. I can't imaging needing to boost either one for any reason, to be honest.

If you want Majesty flexibility, then the Blackouts are out from the start. You either need to follow Petrucci's formula (passives with active boost) or get the Fishmans

What are you playing through (amp, pedals, etc)? What type of music?

I don't have much money for nice equipment. I love Heavy Metal like my favourite bands Megadeth, Slipknot, & Slayer. I currently play a crappy Blue Jackson Soloist X Series, some cheap Academy amp with a Fender speaker inside, and a Donner Giant Metal pedal.

I like the sound of the Fluence modern with all the available options.
I think I should go with some Fluence 7 string Passive with a Active Blackout sound so I can get clean tones while playing even if the battery dies.

What Fluence Passive Modern 7 string pickup will give me; a Blackout boost when active, gives me a couple voice options, and can be split coiled?

 

[Diego]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

I'll give you my honest opinion since I've got some time to spare:

I'm all for modding guitars at least once in your lifetime, but I'll save you the pain: Take that precious cash of yours and get yourself a good amp to begin with.
Whether it's tube or digital or something like an old solid state Peavey which do kick righteous amounts of ass, it doesn't matter but it's gotta have good speakers and be purpose built for the styles you prefer.

I have no idea what a "cheap Academy amp" is and I'm guessing I don't know about them for several worthy reasons. I've also never heard of a Fender speaker as a good choice for Metal tones and I bet even an actual Ernie Ball Majesty wouldn't sound so good into your current rig.

You're doing yourself a disservice by focusing so much on a extremely specialized mod like active pickups and onboard boosts, instead of looking at the broader picture. I already did what you did back in 2003 or so and ended up with a great guitar that sounded like ass through my crappy amp. Bought a Roland Cube 60 and it's like the heavens opened for me. I realized what a dumbass I'd been.

A good amplifier is the basic starting point, man. You'll see pros using Mexican Fender and Epiphones here and there, but a great amp will always be a part of their stage. You'll get more bang for your buck, and you'll find that most modern, well built pickups sound great through a good rig.

Hope this helps.

 

[WILDSIDE001]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

I honestly just bought cheap stuff at first before I moved up on my guitar choices. I really desire a Marshall 1960A cabinet and a Marshall JVM410H. For Pedals I'm going towards the Killing Floor. I don't like tube amps I rather digital. I'm still very young with a lot of learning to learn along the way, I'm searching for Amps, Guitars, Pickups and Pedals for me to sound very heavy metal. I desire to build my own guitar my way for my own satisfaction, with pickups that will sound beyond amazing through any amp, while having a piezo system for acoustic sounds built in.

I really think some Fluence 7 string pickups will meet my requirements... I'm just having trouble finding which one will do everything I said before;
- Passive with Active boost (like Blackouts)
- A couple voice options
- And can be split coiled

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

I get the desire to build yourself something cool and custom, but you are literally wasting your money worrying about pickups at this point.

You need a better amp first, be it digital or otherwise. A custom guitar is still going to be incredibly restricted through that horrible Academy amp!

For the price of the Fishman pickups alone, you can get a Boss Katana 50 new or maybe even a Katana 100 used.

Either one would up your sound game and tonal options (including effects) 1000X from where you are now. Heavy metal is a breeze with all of the options available on that amp!

Seriously...AMP FIRST, then we can discuss pickups, pedals and custom guitars!

 

[WILDSIDE001]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

You've sold me on the boss katana 100, is there a Marshall amp thats better than that?

I'm not a fan of Dimarzio's ceramic magnets. I'm going to stick with the Fluence Modern 7 string humbuckers. I'll use the Killing Floor pedal for better control.

 

[Diego]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

You've sold me on the boss katana 100, is there a Marshall amp thats better than that?

Marshall amps at the price range of the Katana 100 are a joke. Absolutely terrible in comparison.
Go with the Katana, thank us later. That's a great choice actually.

 

[WILDSIDE001]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

I know the katana 100 is better for the sound effects and prices, I've always loved the sound of a Marshall amp that's why I asked. I thank you guys very much for your time and knowledge.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Recreating The Majesty 7 (2019) By John Petrucci

You're welcome! Don't be a stranger. Get that Katana and report back!