Can an Ibanez sound like a Les Paul?!

dtrax · 02-23-2008, 01:29 AM

Ok, probably a completely ridiculous question, but here's my situation. I just scored a Mesa F-30 off eBay after lusting for one since I played it last spring. I tried several guitars through the F30 at the time (Jem, 7321, PRS, Les Paul) and the LP/F-30 was absolutely killer sounding. Quite honestly the best distortion tone I ever played. Anyways, seeing as though I own a 7321 I'm looking to replace the PU's to achieve that low-mid growl ala a LP. Obsurd, I know. The other option I'm entertaining is getting a replacement RG7 mahogany body made. I contacted Chris Woods and he said he could do it (3 week lead time) but I've yet to confirm an order with him. My budget is limited, so I think I'll try replacing the PU's first and go from there.

So, what I'm looking for are PU suggestings (mainly the bridge) that will give my basswood a tighter tone in the low end, and maybe add some high-end bite as basswood (to me) is a bit 'dull'. My style of music is hardcore/metal... I'm not looking for uber-tightness or anything, but for anyone who's played a LP into a mesa set to full on distortion - thats what I'm after. I could give a shit less about clean tone sounds at this point.

I'm thinking PAF7 or Duncan Custom...?

shadowgenesis · 02-23-2008, 01:33 AM

thick ass mahogany + maple cap > basswood.

dunno if pickups can get you what you're going for but PAFs are essentially the kind of pickup used in vintage-style Gibsons. I just dunno how they sound in basswood.

zimbloth · 02-23-2008, 01:34 AM

No, because a huge part of the Gibson tone is the mahogany neck. Simply getting a mahogany body with a bolt-on maple neck is not going to come close to that. The neck is just as much of a factor as the body.

Pickupwise, the PAF7 would not even come close to giving you what you're looking for. That pickup is dry and bright, better suited for mahogany. Also it's ceramic so it's nothing like a real PAF pickup. The Duncan Custom is a pretty good choice, and the DiMarzio Evolution sounds really great in basswood as well and has cool mids.

Nothing you do will make a cheap Ibanez sound like a Les Paul, but you can still try to get the best tone possible by using the right pickups

dtrax · 02-23-2008, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zimbloth

No, because a huge part of the Gibson tone is the mahogany neck. Simply getting a mahogany body with a bolt-on maple neck is not going to come close to that. The neck is just as much of a factor as the body.

No doubt. For a while I've been thinking about a Warmoth 7 with a mahogany neck/body and a maple cap - Basically a 7 string version of a LP. But alas, my rent is way too much and my GAS suffers...

Lucky Seven · 02-23-2008, 01:59 AM

Ibanez needs to go ahead and make a 7 string SZ.

Metal Ken · 02-23-2008, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky Seven

Ibanez needs to go ahead and make a 7 string SZ.

C7 Hellraiser. its like a LP with EMGs, 2 more frets and an extra string. Mahogany neck/body.

dtrax · 02-23-2008, 02:15 AM

I had a feeling this thread would ultimately end up with me having to buy a new guitar.

Jongpil Yun · 02-23-2008, 02:30 AM

Nope, but you can get other (IMO better, or at least as good) rhythm tones out of one, even with the shitty basswood.

zimbloth · 02-23-2008, 02:30 AM

yeah the Hellraiser is probably the closest you can get from a 7-string guitar under $700, but the biggest thing that makes a Gibson sound great is their pickups. An EMG 707 isn't really going to give you that fat, warm sound like Gibson 57 classics would (as an example).

I would just try to change the pickups in your existing guitar to start out. The Duncan Custom and Invader models have a lot of low mid growl, that's a good place to start. Upgrading to a new guitar wouldn't be a bad idea either though.

777timesgod · 02-23-2008, 04:05 AM

Why would you want your guitar to sound like a Gibson for god's sake?

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02-23-2008, 01:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
dtrax ss.org Regular Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chesterbrook, PA Posts: 174 Real Name: Danny Main Seven: RG7321 Rig: Mesa F-30 Thanked: 2	Can an Ibanez sound like a Les Paul?! Ok, probably a completely ridiculous question, but here's my situation. I just scored a Mesa F-30 off eBay after lusting for one since I played it last spring. I tried several guitars through the F30 at the time (Jem, 7321, PRS, Les Paul) and the LP/F-30 was absolutely killer sounding. Quite honestly the best distortion tone I ever played. Anyways, seeing as though I own a 7321 I'm looking to replace the PU's to achieve that low-mid growl ala a LP. Obsurd, I know. The other option I'm entertaining is getting a replacement RG7 mahogany body made. I contacted Chris Woods and he said he could do it (3 week lead time) but I've yet to confirm an order with him. My budget is limited, so I think I'll try replacing the PU's first and go from there. So, what I'm looking for are PU suggestings (mainly the bridge) that will give my basswood a tighter tone in the low end, and maybe add some high-end bite as basswood (to me) is a bit 'dull'. My style of music is hardcore/metal... I'm not looking for uber-tightness or anything, but for anyone who's played a LP into a mesa set to full on distortion - thats what I'm after. I could give a shit less about clean tone sounds at this point. I'm thinking PAF7 or Duncan Custom...?

02-23-2008, 01:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
shadowgenesis Yarrrrrr Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bed Sty, Brooklyn, Ny Posts: 1,291 Real Name: dAN Rig: ? Thanked: 14	thick ass mahogany + maple cap > basswood. dunno if pickups can get you what you're going for but PAFs are essentially the kind of pickup used in vintage-style Gibsons. I just dunno how they sound in basswood. "I have a koala bear infestation in my apartment. It's the cutest infestation ever. Way better than cockroaches..."

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02-23-2008, 01:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
zimbloth Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 10,741 Real Name: Nick Main Seven: Rico Jr Customs Rig: VHT Pittbull UL Thanked: 56	No, because a huge part of the Gibson tone is the mahogany neck. Simply getting a mahogany body with a bolt-on maple neck is not going to come close to that. The neck is just as much of a factor as the body. Pickupwise, the PAF7 would not even come close to giving you what you're looking for. That pickup is dry and bright, better suited for mahogany. Also it's ceramic so it's nothing like a real PAF pickup. The Duncan Custom is a pretty good choice, and the DiMarzio Evolution sounds really great in basswood as well and has cool mids. Nothing you do will make a cheap Ibanez sound like a Les Paul, but you can still try to get the best tone possible by using the right pickups

02-23-2008, 01:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
Lucky Seven Lucky☆Seven Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 1,930 Real Name: Kyle O. Main Seven: RG7620 Rig: Peavey XXX Thanked: 52	Ibanez needs to go ahead and make a 7 string SZ.

02-23-2008, 02:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
dtrax ss.org Regular Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chesterbrook, PA Posts: 174 Real Name: Danny Main Seven: RG7321 Rig: Mesa F-30 Thanked: 2	I had a feeling this thread would ultimately end up with me having to buy a new guitar.

02-23-2008, 02:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
Jongpil Yun Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 2,079 Real Name: JP Main Seven: RG 7620 (VK) Thanked: 22	Nope, but you can get other (IMO better, or at least as good) rhythm tones out of one, even with the shitty basswood.

02-23-2008, 02:30 AM	#9 (permalink)
zimbloth Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 10,741 Real Name: Nick Main Seven: Rico Jr Customs Rig: VHT Pittbull UL Thanked: 56	yeah the Hellraiser is probably the closest you can get from a 7-string guitar under $700, but the biggest thing that makes a Gibson sound great is their pickups. An EMG 707 isn't really going to give you that fat, warm sound like Gibson 57 classics would (as an example). I would just try to change the pickups in your existing guitar to start out. The Duncan Custom and Invader models have a lot of low mid growl, that's a good place to start. Upgrading to a new guitar wouldn't be a bad idea either though.

02-23-2008, 04:05 AM	#10 (permalink)
777timesgod ss.org Regular Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Europe Posts: 112 Main Seven: Washburn Wg-587V Thanked: 2 / 1	Why would you want your guitar to sound like a Gibson for god's sake?


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Can an Ibanez sound like a Les Paul?!