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Post by snappinnecks on Aug 27, 2008 21:19:18 GMT -5
I have been struggling to figure out why I could get good tone, but not the ideal tone I am looking for. I use PRS guitars ONLY so I am feeding the amp a pretty hot signal with stock dragons and even hotter with my Tremonti pups. I like the tone don't get me wrong, but recording it isn't as smooth a tone as I would like. I thought maybe a hotter pup would push the amp to more clarity. Hmmmmmm then I remembered how Scotts guitar sounded through my Nitro when I picked it up from the shop. He uses one of those BBQs that is similar to using a EVH pup (hot but clean really boosted). I'm thinking maybe that's it! Feed the amp a cleaner boosted signal instead of super hot distorted signal. The first pup that came to mind that not many people use that I had in an LP was a Duncan custom custom. Pretty hot pup with rolled off highs and solid mids and bass. Found a Pro Shop Custom Custom on the Squeeze bay brand new for $59 shipped sweet I'll take it. I installed it in my brighter PRS Standard, cranked up the beast, and presto. Almost if not the same tone I heard at Scotts shop. It lets the amp do the tone work instead of feeding it a distorted signal. I still have easy if not easier pinch harmonics since I can crank the gain up a bit more on the amp and still have articulation and swat. Every amp I have owned needed a hot distorted signal to kick it in the rear and get it singing. Nitro is just the opposite. I still have all the saturation and grind I had before, but just clearer with sweet palm mutes. Duncan says it has a looser bass character, but I don't think it does. A good pup for the Splawnese or Splawnerites to check out.
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Post by SonicExplorer on Aug 27, 2008 22:26:27 GMT -5
Interesting that you arrived at that pickup, it's the same one I narrowed things down to based on listening to clips on the Duncan site. But I hadn't been able to find anybody who used one with a Splawn. I felt it sounded like a cleaner alternative to the Distortion while still having a hot output. Glad to hear it worked out for you.
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Post by sbk on Aug 28, 2008 5:46:09 GMT -5
I have been struggling to figure out why I could get good tone, but not the ideal tone I am looking for. I use PRS guitars ONLY so I am feeding the amp a pretty hot signal with stock dragons and even hotter with my Tremonti pups. I like the tone don't get me wrong, but recording it isn't as smooth a tone as I would like. I thought maybe a hotter pup would push the amp to more clarity. Hmmmmmm then I remembered how Scotts guitar sounded through my Nitro when I picked it up from the shop. He uses one of those BBQs that is similar to using a EVH pup (hot but clean really boosted). I'm thinking maybe that's it! Feed the amp a cleaner boosted signal instead of super hot distorted signal. The first pup that came to mind that not many people use that I had in an LP was a Duncan custom custom. Pretty hot pup with rolled off highs and solid mids and bass. Found a Pro Shop Custom Custom on the Squeeze bay brand new for $59 shipped sweet I'll take it. I installed it in my brighter PRS Standard, cranked up the beast, and presto. Almost if not the same tone I heard at Scotts shop. It lets the amp do the tone work instead of feeding it a distorted signal. I still have easy if not easier pinch harmonics since I can crank the gain up a bit more on the amp and still have articulation and swat. Every amp I have owned needed a hot distorted signal to kick it in the rear and get it singing. Nitro is just the opposite. I still have all the saturation and grind I had before, but just clearer with sweet palm mutes. Duncan says it has a looser bass character, but I don't think it does. A good pup for the Splawnese or Splawnerites to check out. Hey Bro,I feel that lower output pickups are the only way to go with the Nitro.IMO...I have a guitar that has EMG`s in it,and the only way to get the tone to sound where I wanted it,was to lower the pickups real low.That actually gave me the tone I was looking for.I am getting ready to build a strat with a BBQ in the bridge,so we shall see. |
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Post by snappinnecks on Aug 28, 2008 8:15:57 GMT -5
I put a BBQ in a PRS singlecut I had and played it through my Quickrod. I liked the clean hot output of it, but it didn't grow on me like I thought it would. If it would have had just a tiny bit of bite added to it I think I would have stayed with it. The custom custom reminds me a lot of the BBQ though just more bite like I was looking for.
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Post by shreder75 on Aug 28, 2008 8:33:43 GMT -5
you like the custom custom huh? I had one in my old ESP Mirage...I fookin' hated it..lol..kinda found it lacking character and had sh!tty low end..but that was through the QR
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Post by snappinnecks on Aug 28, 2008 8:57:57 GMT -5
Guitars are weird though Shred. A pup in one guitar may sing and in the other sound like poo. Depends on pots, wiring, and material. I think I may try another BBQ in my PRS CE22 since it isn't as bright as my Standard. My Singlecut was a thick dark guitar and the BBQ didn't sound good. Trial and error bro is all we can do. On another note a pup with "character" does not do well with the Nitro I have found. The Nitro prefers a pup that sounds like the guy that says, "Bueller Bueller anyone Bueller" over one that sounds like Rob Halford getting corn holed. My opinon of course.  |
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Post by shreder75 on Aug 28, 2008 9:04:23 GMT -5
true true
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Post by porkchops on Aug 28, 2008 10:27:13 GMT -5
On an earlier thread I had posted my praises for Duncan Blackouts and after many weeks of use I still find them to be my favorite. I agree with the need to lower the high output pickups though. The Blackouts are very versatile and have plenty of character through the Nitro. They clean up very well yet the pinch harmonics are effortless.
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Post by snappinnecks on Aug 28, 2008 13:05:23 GMT -5
cool I haven't tried blackouts. Active? Correct?
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Post by ldm on Aug 28, 2008 13:59:51 GMT -5
I personally like EMG85's with my Nitro's. I also cranked them a bit closer to the strings instead of lower with the Nitro.
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Post by sbk on Aug 28, 2008 15:05:55 GMT -5
I personally like EMG85's with my Nitro's. I also cranked them a bit closer to the strings instead of lower with the Nitro. Really??I try to get as far from the strings as I can with EMG`s.They have too much trill for me when up to where they suggest and all these so-called metal bands put them.For me when the EMG`s are lower it seems to add more meat and potatoes.What tubes are you running in your Nitro?I run JJKT88`s,so maybe that is the difference. |
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Post by ldm on Aug 28, 2008 17:31:53 GMT -5
KT88's in one and Ruby EL34B's in the other. I tried it lower but I like the tone a bit closer to the strings. I put my resonance around 10:00, presence off, lows around 2-3:00, mids around 12-1:00, treble at 3:00 and gain at 1-2:00. I also use a CMATMOD's tubeslammer with and ISP decimator in the loop. It is the best metal tone that I have ever had.
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Post by sbk on Aug 29, 2008 6:25:03 GMT -5
KT88's in one and Ruby EL34B's in the other. I tried it lower but I like the tone a bit closer to the strings. I put my resonance around 10:00, presence off, lows around 2-3:00, mids around 12-1:00, treble at 3:00 and gain at 1-2:00. I also use a CMATMOD's tubeslammer with and ISP decimator in the loop. It is the best metal tone that I have ever had. I definately agree with your last statement here.Just like the rest of us on this forum,we have all been through tons of amps and have finally found the one!I get new sounds and discover new things with my amp everytime I play.Can you explain the differences in the two different Nitro`s you have?Like,what you like about the 88`s as opposed to the EL34b`s and vice versa?I would love to hear that. |
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Post by ldm on Aug 29, 2008 7:36:05 GMT -5
KT88's in one and Ruby EL34B's in the other. I tried it lower but I like the tone a bit closer to the strings. I put my resonance around 10:00, presence off, lows around 2-3:00, mids around 12-1:00, treble at 3:00 and gain at 1-2:00. I also use a CMATMOD's tubeslammer with and ISP decimator in the loop. It is the best metal tone that I have ever had. I definately agree with your last statement here.Just like the rest of us on this forum,we have all been through tons of amps and have finally found the one!I get new sounds and discover new things with my amp everytime I play.Can you explain the differences in the two different Nitro`s you have?Like,what you like about the 88`s as opposed to the EL34b`s and vice versa?I would love to hear that. I have the same pre's in both amps (mullard in V1, pent in V2, JJ in V3 and a Penta in V4). The difference between the EL34's and the KT88's is very noticable especially with the Ruby EL34's. I have some Ruby Kt88's coming this weekend so I will give you more later. The JJKT88's are very crunchy with a nice creamy distortion and break-up. More old skool Marshall style tone with lot's more balls. Very open and full with a tight low end. The EL34's are thick and a little boomy. They have tons and tons of low end and a bit more rumble. Nice mid range snarl too. |
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Post by sbk on Aug 29, 2008 7:42:17 GMT -5
Thanks for the info.I would love to maybe switch my pre-amp tubes,but for right now I am pretty happy with everything.I am so glad that I didnt get my amp with KT-77`s.
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