Best Prog Metal lead tone PUs?- Mahogany/Flamed Maple Body

guitarplayerone · 07-23-2007, 11:19 PM

Im going to get an RG 8427...

i would like to preface this by saying i know very little about pickups, even less about dimarzios (this is the first guitar im getting with them , and I have started to really like their tone recently)
most prog guitarists use basswood but IDK how close to that sound maple over mahogany is going to be so IDK if i can use a Blaze or something...

the guitars stock PUs are an Air Norton in the neck, and a Tone zone in the bridge...

the tone im trying to hit is Petruccis/Vai but definitely towards that higher output of Petrucci on the neck PU

i dont mind slightly higher output than him but i really want that articulation, warmth and roundness his tone has

for the bridge i really want to hit that Train of Though era Dream Theater heaviness... but even heavier in that direction wouldnt hurt...

would an X2N be too much for that

i was thinking an Evo in the neck would be balanced out by the guitars mahogany body...

also i hear wiring the pickups to be hum- canceling makes for a great clean scooped sound... idk too much about it though, but i do know i never use middle position so that wouldnt be a bad thing to do with it... can i do that with different pus and how do I?
any help on this would be greatly appreciated...

HamBungler · 07-24-2007, 12:13 AM

Personally, I really love the X2N, but I play mostly heavy stuff a-la Strapping Young Lad and In Flames, which it works perfectly for. I must say that its a very heavy pickup, but it has lots of articulation you need for fast lead playing, not exactly warm sounding but still very cool nonetheless. Perhaps a D-Sonic would be to your liking? That's what Petrucci uses nowadays, so I'd give that a try.

guitarplayerone · 07-24-2007, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HamBungler

Perhaps a D-Sonic would be to your liking? That's what Petrucci uses nowadays, so I'd give that a try.

supposedly he uses a custom pu of some sort (according to ikebe)

but i was considering either a D sonic or an X2N-7 but i think that the combo of an X2N-7 and something like a blaze may be too different..

anyway, im much more concerned what i should use for a lead PU

how much does wood affect the tone of dimarzios

MetalMike · 07-24-2007, 01:16 AM

If you want a tone similar to Vai and Petrucci, just get an Air Norton 7 and an Evo 7. You can't really go wrong with that combination. I think you should try out a JB7 and see how you like it. It works particularly well in mahogany bodied guitars.

technomancer · 07-24-2007, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarplayerone

supposedly he uses a custom pu of some sort (according to ikebe)

but i was considering either a D sonic or an X2N-7 but i think that the combo of an X2N-7 and something like a blaze may be too different..

anyway, im much more concerned what i should use for a lead PU

how much does wood affect the tone of dimarzios

Petrucci uses a D-Sonic in the bridge and a slightly modified Air Norton in the neck (slightly modified in that it is a little bit hotter than the standard Air Norton). Personally I'd put a D-Sonic in the bridge and leave the Air Norton in the neck position, as it's a killer combo in mahogany. The D-Sonic is really nice as it's uber crunchy while still remaining clear even with tons of gain. For leads the Air Norton is a great singing pup that also sounds great clean, especially if run in parallel.

6077dino · 07-24-2007, 02:38 AM

I´ve had a D-sonic and a JB on my JCRG7-1 and I think the JB was nicer. It´s more agressive sounding PU and it has nice warmth too.

guitarplayerone · 07-24-2007, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetalMike

If you want a tone similar to Vai and Petrucci, just get an Air Norton 7 and an Evo 7. You can't really go wrong with that combination. I think you should try out a JB7 and see how you like it. It works particularly well in mahogany bodied guitars.

very very stupid question but what is a JB7... i dont see it in the DiMarzio catalogue.. is it a Duncan?

ohio_eric · 07-24-2007, 12:20 PM

Yes, the JB7 is a Duncan.

Chellee Guitars · 07-24-2007, 12:23 PM

The Air Norton 7 is the way to go. Any of the others in the bridge will sound great, but I would stick w/ the Norton in the neck for sure. What are you playing through?

guitarplayerone · 07-24-2007, 04:10 PM

i just realized im NOT supposed to ask this question...

sorry all, thanks for the advice, and i guess no more on this thread

Chellee Guitars · 07-24-2007, 04:20 PM

The guitar he used to record Systematic Chaos is not basswood. He used a new guitar MM built for him that is alder with a mahogany neck and tone block (which I'm assuming is a decent size piece of wood in the body, but whether it is an extension of a set neck or a completely separate piece perhaps under the bridge I don't know) and a maple top. I don't know that a solid mahogany body would be that much darker. You can read about it here: Guitar Player - Dream Theaterâ€™s John Petrucci Carries the Torch of Prog-Shred guitar Into the New Millennium

Code001 · 07-24-2007, 04:28 PM

For the most part, yes. However, some parts were recorded with his old basswood guitars. An example of this would be The Dark Eternal Night with his old basswood 7 string.

ZeroSignal · 07-27-2007, 02:58 PM

Don't buy that guitar...

I hear it's crap...

Ahem...

07-23-2007, 11:19 PM	#1
guitarplayerone Needs NYC prog vox Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New York Posts: 2,687 Thanked: 27	Best Prog Metal lead tone PUs?- Mahogany/Flamed Maple Body Im going to get an RG 8427... i would like to preface this by saying i know very little about pickups, even less about dimarzios (this is the first guitar im getting with them , and I have started to really like their tone recently) most prog guitarists use basswood but IDK how close to that sound maple over mahogany is going to be so IDK if i can use a Blaze or something... the guitars stock PUs are an Air Norton in the neck, and a Tone zone in the bridge... the tone im trying to hit is Petruccis/Vai but definitely towards that higher output of Petrucci on the neck PU i dont mind slightly higher output than him but i really want that articulation, warmth and roundness his tone has for the bridge i really want to hit that Train of Though era Dream Theater heaviness... but even heavier in that direction wouldnt hurt... would an X2N be too much for that i was thinking an Evo in the neck would be balanced out by the guitars mahogany body... also i hear wiring the pickups to be hum- canceling makes for a great clean scooped sound... idk too much about it though, but i do know i never use middle position so that wouldnt be a bad thing to do with it... can i do that with different pus and how do I? any help on this would be greatly appreciated...

07-24-2007, 12:13 AM	#2
HamBungler Lord Zorgatron Join Date: May 2007 Location: Woodville, OH Posts: 1,847 Thanked: 34	Personally, I really love the X2N, but I play mostly heavy stuff a-la Strapping Young Lad and In Flames, which it works perfectly for. I must say that its a very heavy pickup, but it has lots of articulation you need for fast lead playing, not exactly warm sounding but still very cool nonetheless. Perhaps a D-Sonic would be to your liking? That's what Petrucci uses nowadays, so I'd give that a try. __________________ I'm assuming he's going to want to mass produce these rack pies, and why not? I love racks, I love pies, so put them together and you have pie covered titties. - JJ Don't thank me, thank the wombat rapist. - Jamie And Now, a song about Zombies.-some metalcore vocalist Yeah the axe Devries made me automatically transforms into firewood! But it doesn't transform back. - udaz Mah Deviantart Myspace The Many Faces of Egoraptor

07-24-2007, 01:16 AM	#4
MetalMike IKILLUWITHMYBALDHEAD Join Date: May 2006 Location: New York Posts: 1,103 Thanked: 7 $MetalMike is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $MetalMike is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $MetalMike is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $MetalMike is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $MetalMike is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $MetalMike is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $MetalMike is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$	If you want a tone similar to Vai and Petrucci, just get an Air Norton 7 and an Evo 7. You can't really go wrong with that combination. I think you should try out a JB7 and see how you like it. It works particularly well in mahogany bodied guitars. __________________ -Mike My Recordings

07-24-2007, 04:10 PM	#10
guitarplayerone Needs NYC prog vox Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New York Posts: 2,687 Thanked: 27	i just realized im NOT supposed to ask this question... sorry all, thanks for the advice, and i guess no more on this thread Last edited by guitarplayerone; 07-24-2007 at 04:29 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

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07-24-2007, 02:38 AM	#6
6077dino ss.org Regular Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Finland Posts: 53 Thanked: 0	I´ve had a D-sonic and a JB on my JCRG7-1 and I think the JB was nicer. It´s more agressive sounding PU and it has nice warmth too.

07-24-2007, 12:20 PM	#8
ohio_eric Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 9,251 Thanked: 189	Yes, the JB7 is a Duncan.

07-24-2007, 12:23 PM	#9
Chellee Guitars Luthier Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: DeBary, FL Posts: 142 Thanked: 3	The Air Norton 7 is the way to go. Any of the others in the bridge will sound great, but I would stick w/ the Norton in the neck for sure. What are you playing through?

07-24-2007, 04:20 PM	#11
Chellee Guitars Luthier Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: DeBary, FL Posts: 142 Thanked: 3	The guitar he used to record Systematic Chaos is not basswood. He used a new guitar MM built for him that is alder with a mahogany neck and tone block (which I'm assuming is a decent size piece of wood in the body, but whether it is an extension of a set neck or a completely separate piece perhaps under the bridge I don't know) and a maple top. I don't know that a solid mahogany body would be that much darker. You can read about it here: Guitar Player - Dream Theaterâ€™s John Petrucci Carries the Torch of Prog-Shred guitar Into the New Millennium

07-24-2007, 04:28 PM	#12
Code001 Mac OS X Junkie Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 213 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	For the most part, yes. However, some parts were recorded with his old basswood guitars. An example of this would be The Dark Eternal Night with his old basswood 7 string.