GodBlessTexas

I have a marshall and a few boss distortion pedals. I wana know if the top players use only a distortion pedal or just their amp overdrive or BOTH? I was just wondering because any top end amps are expensive just to use the clean channel and a boss distortion.

Which genre? A lot of the modern medal players are using overdrive pedals, usually Tubescreamer based, in front of their amp's gain stages. Usually the drive is set to 0, with the Tone set at noon and the gain set to noon or higher.

The EMG81-7 is gone pending payment. The 60-7 is still available.

Pics of the EMGS:

In the Boxes

Box Labels

Price drop to $575 shipped in the continental US for the S7420.

Also, shipping on the EMG's is priority mail. A couple of bights, but no takers yet.

But alas, I can't justify it to my fiancee.

That's what you think now....wait until she's your wife!

My wife said I will walk with a permanent limp if I buy another guitar without getting rid of some of them. She doesn't like having 20 guitars taking up the closet.

Ibanez S7420. Made in Japan. Flamed maple top. As mint in plush UV1000c case. Just setup with new D'Addario 7 string set. $600 shipped.

Front

Body closeup

Back

Case closed

EMG 81-7 and 60-7, BNIB, though opened to verify when they were delivered. Comes complete with boxes, controls, battery connector, quick connects, etc.

$85 each shipped, or $160 shipped for the pair. - The 81-7 is SOLD pending payment

I love the finish. Very nice.

i do not ground anything with my actives...most of the time i don't even sheild them....it just isn't necessary with emg.

and i play at insane volume within about 5 feet of my amp at all times

Well, you do have to ground the battery circuit, otherwise they don't work.

I always ground the shielding on the quick connect wires, but I bought an RG760 a while back that came with EMG's pre-installed, and they don't have anything grounded except the battery circuit, and it sounds fine. Needs a new 5-way though.

Yep, the custom shop is the only part of Jackson that remains. Everything else is made by Fender now. They're not bad, I'm just not a big fan of FMIC.

Ya but i figured id see whats out there

You can do a refret (practice makes perfect!) for less than $100 if you are inclined to buy the tools and do it yourself.

Yep, had an awesome time meeting up Mike. Definitely want to do it again. I'm practicing some songs now so I'm better prepared for jamming instead of just wanking on the three runs I know.

Here's the link to Lovekraft's buffer:

http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.ph...mp;#entry257121

I just realized that his webpage is gone. I'll post the images to that thread tonight.

OK, a week late, but here are the pics. Here's the tutorial, in Lovekraft's own words.

NOTE: This tutorial assumes a familiarity with basic soldering practice, component identification and orientation, and electronics construction technique - furthermore, no warranty, explicit or implied, is given regarding the suitability of this project for any given purpose, nor does the poster accept any responsibility for any damages pursuant to the assembly or use of this circuit. Proceed at your own risk.

OK, having gotten that out of the way, here's a relatively simple, inexpensive buffer circuit suitable for using to mix passive pickups with EMG active pickups, or buffering piezo pickups to mix with magnetics. Frequency response is pretty much flat, and noise is fairly comparable to passive pickups if built correctly. The circuit will easily drive a load of 10K or lower, so even long cable runs shouldn't be an issue. Here is the schematic:

The following are also available for download:

1. A Vero board layout

2. A Bill of Materials (including Mouser part numbers)

Part  QTY  Mouser #

C1	1	581-BF014D0224J

C2	1	581-BF074D0684J

R1,R2 2	660-MF1/4DC1004F

R3,R4 2	660-MF1/4DC1002F

Q1	1	512-2N5457

Q2	1	512-2N5087TA

misc		vero board, solder, hookup wire, etc.

3. A construction diagram

Finally, here's a photo of an earlier build of this circuit, thrown together hastily with "found" components a while back for "proof-of-concept" - the newer layout posted above is both smaller and cleaner, but at least this will give you a rough idea of the size (that's a US nickle in the pic, for scale).

Hey! Spring, TX is my old stomping grounds before I moved up to DFW.

As for pickups, Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio both make great passive pickups. But pickups are only part of the equation. Using a high output pickup to drive a high gain amp like a Peavey 5150/6505 is going to sound like crap, while using a moderately powered pickup through the same amp will sound better. It really all depends on what you plan to have in your signal chain.

I find the Duncan JB/Jazz combo to be a very versatile set of humbuckers, and they are probably the most used upgraded pickups in the world.

On the Dimarzio side, I like the Super Distortion in the bridge and the Paf Pro in the neck. Unless you have impeccable technique, I'd stay away from the Evolution and opt for the Evo 2 instead. A lot of people who like actives are supposedly raving about the DiMarzio D-Activator pickups, but I haven't tried them.

For high gain stuff, EMGs will provide a lot of clarity with high gain, but at the risk of losing 'organic' sounding tone. Some people say the clean sound is "sterile," but I like the clean sound with a touch of reverb.

I haven't tried the Q-tuner pickups, and they won't post a distorted clip on their website. I e-mailed them to suggest it, and the owner replied that he hadn't met a player good enough to play his pickups with a high gain amp.

Bare Knuckles seem to also have a really decent following, both from pros and regular joes for a "new" pickup manufacturer. I believe they are based in the UK.

Hey nepugo90! Greetings from Texas! That's a very catchy track you have there, and some great playing on your part. Well done.

Here's the link to Lovekraft's buffer:

http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.ph...mp;#entry257121

I just realized that his webpage is gone. I'll post the images to that thread tonight.

Lovekraft (RIP) had a simple circuit for turning passives into a low impedence load so you could use them with actives. I have the diagram at home if it's not in the archives here.

i guess you're right, but its a pretty lame effect if that is the case, i want my tubes to glow !

And your tubes will glow in a power amp, but I'd be concerned about the soundness of a Mic preamp pushing enough current to make a 12AX7 glow visibly.

i was lookin around for effects pedals with tubes in them and came across this rack device with a tube in it, when i decided to google it i found this page :

http://www.record-producer.com/learn.cfm?a=2838

im pretty shocked that they would add Led's behind the tube to make it look like its glowing... im wondering if anyone else employs this tactic in their valvey effects :S

I can't really blame them. Most musicians are idiots when it comes to what is good and what isn't good in equipment. If they put a tube in it, but ran it at low enough current to not have it glow like a lightbulb, people would be disappointed because we've been taught that tubes glow when in use. The tube in the Behringer is still in the signal path. They just decided to add LED's to make up for it's lack of visual oompf.

Another vote for the Spider III 75. Tons of presets, very versatile, and about the best practice amp you can buy.

That mahogany is beautiful! Excellent choice on natural finish. If you had to guess, about how much do you think it weighs? I know my RG520QS is a heavyweight.

Finally got around to weighing this today: 10.5 pounds. I think that's almost Les Paul territory.

Yeah, that's a monster. Again, a very beautiful guitar.

perhaps I could remove the saddle, fill it with some spare wood I have, and re route the slot for the saddle at a different angle..

opinions?

Bingo.

Hey Wes, doesnt Jason McMasters work over at MusicMakers in Austin?

Jason "the lead singer of Dangerous Toys" McMasters? Man, I loved those guys. I still play their first album.

Yeah, I guess muting with my picking hand is just something I never practiced. Time to start I guess, but after 20 years of not doing it, I think it might be hard to break that habit.

Very nice stand. I like the idea. I need to build space for all my guitars in cases. My wife says if I don't tidy up our closet she's going to rent a wood chipper. Of course, I'm not sure if she's talking about for the guitars, or what's left of my body when she's done with me.

Nice guitars Mike. I can't wait to see them done.

My on-hold project is a sized-down 335. If I become unemployed, I should finish it before getting a new job.

A man's gotta have his priorities straight!