SD RTM

I'm wanting to try this and the Exciter. The Exciter seems like it will be slightly darker with lower output. That said it's ceramic vs. the RTM's Alnico II.

Both are something to consider in one of my super Strats, although for me 16k+ is pushing it in terms of output if it isn't EQ'ed how I like.

I like the RTM's EQ curve, but in the video it sounds a little boxy in the low mids like the JB.

Based on the sound samples, the Exciter sounds brighter than the RTM, and I will probably be going there first.
 
I've been curious about the RTM since it came out (2012, I think?). It was a Custom Shop offering only until this year. I'm a huge Warren DeMartini fan since I first heard Ratt.
 
I've been curious about the RTM since it came out (2012, I think?). It was a Custom Shop offering only until this year. I'm a huge Warren DeMartini fan since I first heard Ratt.

His playing is a lot like George Lynch's. I would think a Demon would get you in the ballpark for Warren's tone.
 
His playing is a lot like George Lynch's. I would think a Demon would get you in the ballpark for Warren's tone.

Kinda but not really. The Demon's output is so much lower. With some tweaks on the amp, sure, it can work. George doesn't use the Demon these days, maybe in the studio. He's been using Arcane pickups for quite a while.

But yeah, the two have a similar style.
 
Kinda but not really. The Demon's output is so much lower. With some tweaks on the amp, sure, it can work. George doesn't use the Demon these days, maybe in the studio. He's been using Arcane pickups for quite a while.

But yeah, the two have a similar style.

I'm thinking of the similarity between "Under Lock and Key" and "Invasion of Your Privacy"'s tones. That said I'm pretty sure Lynch was in Eb.

I'd rather have an underpowered pickup juiced by a boosted amp than an overly hot pickup. But if I go below 12k or so it's much harder for me to be happy with it because it feels underpowered on palm mutes.

A GIT classmate of mine called DeMartini and Lynch's playing "compartmentalized," and I can cleanly hear licks and repetitions of ideas almost as if they are in boxes.
 
I'm thinking of the similarity between "Under Lock and Key" and "Invasion of Your Privacy"'s tones. That said I'm pretty sure Lynch was in Eb.

Yup, George was definitely tuned to Eb on that record. Some of Invasion is standard tuning with drop D (You're in Love, Lay It Down). Some is in Eb.
 
Yeah, but neither the Screamin Demon or the RTM would have been on "Under Lock and Key" or "Invasion of Your Privacy." Lynch was likely still using a DD then, and DeMartini a JB. I've not played an RTM, but on paper it looks more to the task of creating the vintage Ratt sound than can be said about the Screaming Demon recreating the early Dokken sound.

I've been tempted by the RTM ever since it was offered outside of the custom shop. Ironically, it would be replacing a Screamin Demon as I'm looking to boost output and fill out the mids.
 
Yeah, but neither the Screamin Demon or the RTM would have been on "Under Lock and Key" or "Invasion of Your Privacy." Lynch was likely still using a DD then, and DeMartini a JB. I've not played an RTM, but on paper it looks more to the task of creating the vintage Ratt sound than can be said about the Screaming Demon recreating the early Dokken sound.

I've been tempted by the RTM ever since it was offered outside of the custom shop. Ironically, it would be replacing a Screamin Demon as I'm looking to boost output and fill out the mids.

I thought the SD was designed in the 80s. Thanks for the correction.

If he used a DD on that, he had a very clean, articulate sound for that pickup. I thought he might have been using a SD boosted through a pedal and then amp.

I have the same issue with the SD. Love the low end, but the rest of the pickup needs help. Low end of SD + mids and upper end of a Full Shred would be my pickup, I think.
 
I'm thinking of the similarity between "Under Lock and Key" and "Invasion of Your Privacy"'s tones. That said I'm pretty sure Lynch was in Eb.

I'd rather have an underpowered pickup juiced by a boosted amp than an overly hot pickup. But if I go below 12k or so it's much harder for me to be happy with it because it feels underpowered on palm mutes.

A GIT classmate of mine called DeMartini and Lynch's playing "compartmentalized," and I can cleanly hear licks and repetitions of ideas almost as if they are in boxes.

GL used a Duncan Distortion back then.
 
warrenamps.jpg
.

WD set his bass on his Marshalls to :0:00 in early Ratt days.
I know the JB can sound good under certain applications but i find the top end harsh and the bottom spongy.
Not a fan.
Frank Levi was Ratts amp tech on the road in the early years. Frank has a huge part of WD & RC's sound.
Frank ended up reworking the famous amps @ SIR rentals LA as Frank had worked for SIR east coast for many years.
Lots going on besides pickups.
WD recorded the lead solos on the first few albums on a Fender Princeton. zz0.3e2euldijmzz
 
I vividly remember GL talking about SD making him a Distortion/PG hybrid that he used off&on for a while. Always liked.his tone, but can be tough to sort thru when certain gear was used
 
I thought the SD was designed in the 80s. Thanks for the correction.

If he used a DD on that, he had a very clean, articulate sound for that pickup. I thought he might have been using a SD boosted through a pedal and then amp.

I have the same issue with the SD. Love the low end, but the rest of the pickup needs help. Low end of SD + mids and upper end of a Full Shred would be my pickup, I think.

The SD design started well after he left Dokken and in the early stages of Lynch Mob. He didn't start using it until the second LM album. The first LM album is all JB and maybe Distortion. From what I recall, he was working with Seymour on a sig pickup and Seymour convinced him to go with something lower output that was better suited for what he was looking and would work better with the amps he used at the time (Soldano SLO's and hot-rodded Marshalls). The SD shines in high gain situations. I have 3 or 4 myself but one guitar has one now...lol.
 
WD recorded the lead solos on the first few albums on a Fender Princeton. zz0.3e2euldijmzz

That's interesting. I seem to recall reading an article that Vitto Bratta recorded some of his well-known solos on a Fender Princeton; or maybe it was some other Fender 1x12 combo?
 
Warren's, and Robbin's, was a Princeton through an Orange 1x12.
 
Last edited:
The Rattus sounds rad. Cool that he likes hot pickups, has a QP in the neck. Everything doesn't have to be vintage to be delux. I like the metallic mid grind of very hot pickups. Also cool that his personal pup is double screw. How come they don't come stock that way? :P
 
Back
Top