TB11 or TB4 for an Ibanez RG 320 Fm

[Danessz]

Hey Guys!

I'm new here, but I'm a true fan of the SD-s for long time. Every time I tried a guitar with a SD pickup, I felt that 'this is the tone'. Even the Duncan Design sounds great to me.

And now it's time to change the bridge pickup in my Ibanez RG320. But I'm stocked between the TB4 and the TB11 Custom. Both are at the same price. I don't like the brightness of the Infinity pickup, and overall it's a bright guitar. And SD say the TB11 is for bright guitars. But does it better than the TB4? What are the differences? I know the TB4 is maybe the best pickup (at least for me), with alder or mahogany body, i would definitly buy that one. But the Ibanez has Basswood body, so i'm not sure it would work really well. So, what's your opinion?

 

[Masta' C]

Re: TB11 or TB4 for an Ibanez RG 320 Fm

Can you give us a rundown of your rig (amp, pedals, etc)? What kind of music do you typically play? Do you play in a band?

The TB-4 sounds fine in most Basswood guitars, just as it does in most Mahogany guitars and most Alder and Ash guitars. However, it is known to be a somewhat "picky" pickup and when it finds a guitar it doesn't mesh with, the results can be disastrous. However, when it works with a particular guitar, the JB is absolutely brilliant and few others can touch its expressiveness and versatility. There are MANY factors other than the body wood that contribute to a particular guitar's overall tone, so don't let the "Basswood" thing scare you away from the TB-4. I can personally attest to having had an Ibanez RG that absolutely roared with a JB in it...I loved it!

The TB-11 Custom Custom still has a good amount of output, but isn't as upper-mid focused as the JB. Rather, it has a more balanced overall response with a prominent midrange and fairly smooth attack on the high notes. If I had to choose one of those 2 based on the very limited information we have about your setup and style of playing, I would say the TB-11 is probably the safer choice.

 

[Brian Griffin]

Re: TB11 or TB4 for an Ibanez RG 320 Fm

TB-4 for sure. I have on in a basswood Ibanez. It suits my needs for heavy rock. TB-11 maybe not, too low output. I have one in an Ash-bodied guitar. You'll probably end up cranking up the gain on your pedal to compensate for the lack of heaviness.

 

[Danessz]

Re: TB11 or TB4 for an Ibanez RG 320 Fm

Can you give us a rundown of your rig (amp, pedals, etc)? What kind of music do you typically play? Do you play in a band?

Yes, I play in a band. I've got a Peavey Valveking 112 with Celestion G12T Hot 100 Speaker (basically 100w version of G12T 75). Besides i have a CryBaby, but that's all... maybe i'll buy a delay pedal later, but I try make my rig as simple as possible.

 

[Danessz]

Re: TB11 or TB4 for an Ibanez RG 320 Fm

Oh, and I'm mostly a metal guy I play mostly Malmsteen, Hermann Frank, Megadeath kind of music. The sound i'm looking for is like Hermann Frank's/Andy James'.

 

[guitardeth3]

Re: TB11 or TB4 for an Ibanez RG 320 Fm

To be honest, I think it might be a little difficult to achieve a tone similar to Andy James or Herman Frank, with an RG 320 FM. The guitars they use are completely different.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: TB11 or TB4 for an Ibanez RG 320 Fm

To be honest, I think it might be a little difficult to achieve a tone similar to Andy James or Herman Frank, with an RG 320 FM. The guitars they use are completely different.

No offense, but that's fairly shortsighted...the model of guitar really isn't everything.

For example, Herman Frank has used a myriad of different guitars and pickups over the years, from super strats with Bill Lawrence pickups to stock Flying V's and even some custom models with EMG pickups most recently. His amps and playing style are the bigger part of his overall sound, not the type of guitar.

As for Andy James, he used MusicMan JP and Axis guitars a long time ago and has moved on to ESP Les Paul style guitars with EMG pickups these past few years.

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DANESSZ - I suggest giving the TB-4 a go. I think for the types of tones you are looking to pull off, it will get you closest. Megadeth is the TB-4 all the way. If you look outside of the Seymour Duncan line, you might want to consider EMGs for the tones you like.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: TB11 or TB4 for an Ibanez RG 320 Fm

Jb will work wonders for you, especially if you're trying to shy away from a tone that is too bright. Compared to models like the distortion, custom, black winter and dimebucker, the Jb is smooth and fuller sounding, very expressive with awesome harmonics. Jb loves basswood.

 

[jorge5150]

Re: TB11 or TB4 for an Ibanez RG 320 Fm

I have a TB-11 and it's great but is more a 70s/80s hard rock tone. For metal I suggest the JB or Distortion.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: TB11 or TB4 for an Ibanez RG 320 Fm

Basswood.

CC - nope

JB - yep

 

[guitardeth3]

Re: TB11 or TB4 for an Ibanez RG 320 Fm

No offense, but that's fairly shortsighted...the model of guitar really isn't everything.

For example, Herman Frank has used a myriad of different guitars and pickups over the years, from super strats with Bill Lawrence pickups to stock Flying V's and even some custom models with EMG pickups most recently. His amps and playing style are the bigger part of his overall sound, not the type of guitar.

As for Andy James, he used MusicMan JP and Axis guitars a long time ago and has moved on to ESP Les Paul style guitars with EMG pickups these past few years.

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DANESSZ - I suggest giving the TB-4 a go. I think for the types of tones you are looking to pull off, it will get you closest. Megadeth is the TB-4 all the way. If you look outside of the Seymour Duncan line, you might want to consider EMGs for the tones you like.

I'll confess I was a being a little bit short sighted. I don't know a whole lot about Herman Frank and when I looked him up I mostly saw him with Gibson styles and assumed he used them almost exclusively. I also forgot that Andy used Musicman in the past (I'm so used to seeing him with his ESP). So yeah, I kinda jumped the gun, sorry guys.

As far as the pickup goes, I agree that the JB is probably the best choice.

 

[Danessz]

Re: TB11 or TB4 for an Ibanez RG 320 Fm

Thanks guys for all the help, I really appreciate it. I'm between the Megadeath and the other guys tone, you know, I want my own sound, not everyone elses'.
Personally: I hate EMG's. Tried out several guitars with EMG's, and after a while the only thing was in my mind: "Damm, put Duncans in it, and would sound much better". And I had a Dimarzio DP151 PAF Pro in bridge position when i bought this Ibanez, but i doesn't really felt in love with the tone, so I changed it back to the stock pu.

And if the TB4 works well with Basswood too, than this will be my choice

 

[Danessz]

Re: TB11 or TB4 for an Ibanez RG 320 Fm

And the tone will be different, but hey, as I said I liked all the TB4 loaded guitars, no matter if they were in an alder or a mahogany body. In fact, even with a Laney Cub half-stack, and a Jackson DK2QM Dinky i could make some metal type of tone with the TB4. So they couldn't be bad in Basswood, too

 

[Jermo3178]

Re: TB11 or TB4 for an Ibanez RG 320 Fm

JB for sure

 

[Demanic]

Re: TB11 or TB4 for an Ibanez RG 320 Fm

You may also wish to consider the TB-14, it's the same pickup as the TB-11 but with an alnico V magnet like the JB. I have one in the bridge of my RG-!20 and have grown quite fond of it.

 

[Archer250]

Re: TB11 or TB4 for an Ibanez RG 320 Fm

Well, the iconic Megadeth tone came from two things: JB through a Marshall (Mustaine) and JB through an Orange stack (Friedman). Of course, they use Mahogany guitars, but you can EQ your amp to sound similar and try different picking approaches to approximate the sound, anyway.