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Guitar Lounge / Which one is the best superstrat-style guitar? (Hamer, Suhr, Music Man, PRS)

« on: July 26, 2019, 05:12:00 PM »

Many of us love super strat style guitars, with thin neck, high output pickups and tremolo that allow to do some insane Dive-bombs. So I recorded some of my favourite guitars, to see how they hold up together. This is long video, because I was trying to show as many sounds as I could.  but below the video you can find timecodes for faster navigation.

[MEDIA=youtube]mMN37GIzLHA[/MEDIA]

Unfortunately I didn't have any Jackson, Kramer, Ibanez, ESP guitars at the moment, so there isn't a comprehensive superstrat battle, but I did my best. Maybe next time I'll have more guitars to try.

Obviously, every guitar makes you play differently; strings, pickups weren't the same, so take this review with a grain of salt. My playing is not the best but im not auditioning for you band anyway

As for me I'm big Hamer guitars fan, I feel that Hamer and some really good Gibson custom Shop reissues has that vintage mojo that everyone is looking for.
but I'm sure everyone there is guitar for everyone, they all good in their own way, and everybody has his own preferences so opinions will be all over the place.

Gear Used,
Guitars: 1989 Hamer Californian, 2013 Suhr Modern, 2016 Music Man Majesty, 1998 Music Man Axis, 2005 PRS Custom 22
Amps & Cabs: Diezel Herbert MK1, 4x12 Diezel Cabinet with Eminence Governor Speakers,
Effects and other stuff: Eventide H3000 for Delay and Modulation, UAD Apollo, Suhr Reactive Load, OwnHammer IR's, Logic Pro X

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Gear Closet / Re: Review: Diezel Herbert vs Universal Audio Herbert Plugin

« on: July 18, 2019, 06:36:05 PM »

I didn't even know there was a plug-in for that. Thanks for the quick comparison!

you welcome, but have to say that IR's that plugin come with, doesn't sound as good as Ownhammer.
first I was a bit disappointed with plugin, then I used my Own hammer IR's and it sounded great(for digital unit)

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The Pickup Place / Re: Gibson 490/498 vs boutique ThroBak Pickups on Gibson Les Paul Zakk Wylde

« on: July 18, 2019, 06:24:42 PM »

back then there wasn't such thing a boutique builders, and vintage gear was called Used gear.

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The Pickup Place / Re: Gibson 490/498 vs boutique ThroBak Pickups on Gibson Les Paul Zakk Wylde

« on: July 17, 2019, 06:23:49 PM »

If you want to keep this as a guitar more for rock and metal but have a very "gibsony" sound, the 500T/495R combo are pretty good for that. A decent bit hotter than the ones you've got though.

tried 500t, didn't like it, more mud, more low end, more dirt than 498.

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The Pickup Place / Re: Gibson 490/498 vs boutique ThroBak Pickups on Gibson Les Paul Zakk Wylde

« on: July 17, 2019, 06:23:03 PM »

Don’t get caught up with marketing words like boutique.  It’s just snake oil words.  Buy with your ears and not your eyes.

this is what im doing. for example BKP is considered to be boutique pickups, I tried quite few models, and didn't like any. Dimarzio, Duncan, Gibson makers great stuff.

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The Pickup Place / Re: Gibson 490/498 vs boutique ThroBak Pickups on Gibson Les Paul Zakk Wylde

« on: July 17, 2019, 06:21:28 PM »

Also companies like DiMarzio and Duncan allow  you to exchange  pickups, too. 

to bad im living in EU, so this policy doesnt really applies here.

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The Pickup Place / Re: Gibson 490/498 vs boutique ThroBak Pickups on Gibson Les Paul Zakk Wylde

« on: July 17, 2019, 05:00:31 PM »

What are your goals?

Are those the only 2 options you are considering?

basically something in between these two pickups tightness and clarity of ThroBack and big tone of 498, but I kind of happy with both, just though to share video, maybe somebody will have some input, or having same question as I did

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The Pickup Place / Gibson 490/498 vs boutique ThroBak Pickups on Gibson Les Paul Zakk Wylde

« on: July 17, 2019, 06:16:09 AM »

https://youtu.be/DlvlTfCtF3Y

Trying some other pickups for my Zakk Wylde Les Paul, still can't decide which I like more, gibson or ThroBak.
basically I'm very happy with 490/498, but as far as Clarity and openness ThroBak Is whole other league, but because it's PAF repro, im not sure if it's right fit for my Gibson Les Paul Zakk Wylde, this guitar intended to be most for metal and hard rock.
which one do you like more?
Gibson 490R, 498T – were taken from old Les Paul Custom from 90's
Neck – A2 magnet, 7.8K
Bridge – A5 magnet, 13.8K
ThroBak Diсk Wagner Signature Set
Neck – 8.3K (long A5 Unoriented),
Bridge 9.2K (short A5)

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Gear Closet / Review: Diezel Herbert vs Universal Audio Herbert Plugin

« on: July 14, 2019, 07:13:48 PM »

I've been playing Diezel amps for several years, Herbert is my main amp of choice, and I never looked back to anything to replace it. I Had Diezel VH4, Mesa Mark IV, Mark V, Rectifier, also tried Mesa JP2C, Soldano SLO100, Friedman BE100, Bogner Ecstasy, and couple old JCM800 – Herbert is still the king, at least for me.

The main reason why I bought this plugin, was to have some little travel/practice rig, so I can play through similar setup when I don't have amp available, and the other reason is not to burn tubes for nothing, when I just need to practice some licks.

After hearing some demos I was very sceptical, for me personally, none of amp modellers will ever completely replace tube head. But after testing it extensively for couple weeks, I have to admit UAD Herbert sounds pretty good, behaves more or less same way, as real Diezel Herbert. off course there are some digital artefacts, and less 3D comparing to real amp, but for what it does I think this UAD simulation is pretty good.

Other reason why I find this plugin appealing is because it looks like real amp, approved by Diezel himself, so the is no silly made-up name ala DZL, Benzin or violation of intellectual property etc.

I wasn't crazy about build in IR's of Diezel cab, I think they OK, but to my taste OwnHammer IR's of the same Diezel cab sounds better. It would be great if UAD will make some kind of external IR loader, so everybody can use their own IR's with low latency Apollo interface.

Also have to say that, there are many other plugins that sounds as good as UAD Herbert(for example Poulin Lepou makes some great and free stuff, Nembrini SLO100 and others.

So here is my quick comparison, Amp and Plugin recorded at the same time, guitar(Hamer Californian) goes to Fractal FX8(which is only for splitting signal) then one part of signal goes directly to UAD and Herbert Plugin, the other one goes to amp, then Suhr reactive load and UAD card. I didn't use Stock IR, because I think that IR of Diezel cab loade with Eminence Governor (OwnHammer) sounds way better. Some delay, and modulation done by Eventide H3000


https://youtu.be/g97mYJnYNB8

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The Pickup Place / Re: Turning Dimarzio Mud Lab into real Crunch Lab 7

« on: July 13, 2019, 02:47:03 PM »

well I hear and feel difference, it's not so obvious on YouTube video, but it's definitely notable in person.   

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The Pickup Place / Turning Dimarzio Mud Lab into real Crunch Lab 7

« on: July 13, 2019, 02:24:33 PM »

7 sting version of Dimarzio pickups often uses base plate made of fibreglass with layer of cooper.
I'm not really good with physics but fibreglass and copper creates some kind if magnetic interference that makes pickup to sound a bit more muddy than 6 stings versions of the same pickup(that uses nickel silver base plate)
So by recommendation of my good friend, I decided to upgrade my Crunch Lab 7 and Liquefier7 with Nickel Silver Bass plates.
Now pickups have a bit more clarity and top end. I hope it helps some of you. It's very easy upgrade.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JdK8R5AXUc