A Tale of Three Guitars:

Which Sounds Better Overall

  • Gibson SG 2016 (490T Pickups)

    Votes: 5 50.0%

  • Schecter 2005 (EMG 81)

    Votes: 3 30.0%

  • Squire 1987 (GFS Double Slug)

    Votes: 2 20.0%
  • Total voters
    10
gball said:
I thought the SG sounded the best - particularly in the last clip with the tone rolled back.

Why? It sounds more harmonically rich and detailed than the other two. Thing is, part of that may be the unpotted pickups. They undoubtedly sound different than potted ones and that may be one of the reasons. I personally prefer unpotted pickups, and if they start to get microphonic or squeal at volume its usually easy to dial out with the vol knob unless I have some ridiculous amount of gain dialed in on the amp.

Nice playing BTW. Really like your phrasing.
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I appreciate your input!
 
OK, the clean trio really shows the differences. I definitely preferred the sound of the Schecter here. The SG came next and finally the Squier, which I found rather strident.
 
DonP said:
OK, the clean trio really shows the differences. I definitely preferred the sound of the Schecter here. The SG came next and finally the Squier, which I found rather strident.
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The Fender's 13.9k GFS double slug bridge humbucker is very thin and bright clean. I don't like it.

The Fender is getting a pair of Gibson 57 Classic nickel covered PAF's with around 7.5k.....I am wiring them single volume/single tone and starting off with a .022uf capacitor....hopefully it will make the Fender more useful....
 
The '57 in the Fender should to a lot to smooth out that tone. Good god, 13.9k is awfully hot, and I think that is what I was hearing.
 
gball said:
The '57 in the Fender should to a lot to smooth out that tone. Good god, 13.9k is awfully hot, and I think that is what I was hearing.
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Yes indeed....it was a free pickup from a buddy....I was recording tracks for hire for a metal band and needed the punch for some drop D work....
 
The EMG 81 gets a bad rap. Its an extremely versatile pickup. It has been used extensively by Steve Lukather, the world's most recorded guitarist.

You can hear the 81 on the rythym tracks for "Beat It" and all of Toto's songs. (The record company asked Lukather to play a Les Paul in the video for "Rosanna," but it was recorded on his Valley Arts Strat-style Tremolo model)

If I could only have one guitar, the Schecter would be it - the ultimately reliable studio guitar...neck-through/string-through, rock solid intonation and tuning and was studio-ready right out of the box.

Now, I have always liked SG's and they have a very organic tonal signature, but mine is also plagued by static, hum, and squeal, so I cannot rely on it.

The Fender was a 1987 gift from bandmates, which I kept for that reason only...

I bought this SG brand new (4) months ago so I would have a "Gibson voiced" H-H guitar for session work....funny, I spent a $1,000 and still have to build a H-H guitar!!!!!
 
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I only run my gain halfway, but when not mic'ing the amp, the feedback kills you at stage volume. Bonamassa has to put plexiglass shields in front of his amps to use the unpotted Gibson's.

Watch Gary Moore Cold Day In Hell Live on You Tube. He almost wears out the volume pot in that one song. I don't like messing with my controls.

I don't fiddle with my amp or effects and I never turn my back on, or shift my focus away from the audience.

I watched a band a few weeks back....casino band and quite good, but the guitarist spent half the set kneeling down to adjust effects...stop mid song to tune...turn his back to the crowd to adjust his amp....and I see this all the time.

With my Schecter, I tune it and that's it. No matter what I do, its in pitch....and that, to me, is more vital than PAF tone...notwithstanding, I love PAF tone and Doug Aldrich has phenomenal Les Paul tone, but reliability is what makes me money.....:-)
 
Robert Herndon said:
Watch Gary Moore Cold Day In Hell Live on You Tube. He almost wears out the volume pot in that one song. I don't like messing with my controls.
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Gotta say, I find most of the great tones in any of my guitars come from fiddling with the knobs. I am pretty much constantly adjusting them while I play.

Check this vid out. I ain't no Joe B, but I agree with what he is saying 100%

 
On the clean samples (though there were still some effects in use) I prefered the SG, followed by the Strat. I really liked the tone of the Schecter, but it was a close call.

In a way, I liked the ~type~ of tone with the Stratocaster the best on your clean work. But, it sounded a little too biting. But, think that's more as settings issue. I would have made a few adjustments to your settings. I play clean a lot and find melodic work on a Strat really requires the tone controls to be dialed back. The neck pickup is often the best for melodies, too.

Which pickup were you using on the Strat?

Then again, it may have sounded fine in person. You used your iPad to record this, right? You're bound to have lost a lot of fullness in the sound that way.

(BTW, does your iPad allow you to record in landscape vs. portrait?)
 
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gball said:
Gotta say, I find most of the great tones in any of my guitars come from fiddling with the knobs. I am pretty much constantly adjusting them while I play.

Check this vid out. I ain't no Joe B, but I agree with what he is saying 100%

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Love that video ---have seen before but ALWAYS good to watch again---- thanks Gball. :)
 
Sp8ctre said:
I assume by your description it's the C-1 String Through Hardtail...
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Sorry...yes...that's the one...totally stock, 100% mahogany, carved, quilted mapel top, abalone inlay/binding, Tone Pros locking bridge, Grover tuners, EMG 81/85. I paid $1,145.00 for it brand new in 2005 and never had to do anything to it....
 
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smitty_p said:
On the clean samples (though there were still some effects in use) I prefered the SG, followed by the Strat. I really liked the tone of the Schecter, but it was a close call.

In a way, I liked the ~type~ of tone with the Stratocaster the best on your clean work. But, it sounded a little too bitjng. But, think that's more as settings issue. I would have made a few adjustments to your settings. I play clean a lot and find melodic work on a Strat really requires the tone controls to be dialed back. The neck pickup is often the best for melodies, too.

Which pickup were you using on the Strat?

Then again, it may have sounded fine in person. You used your iPad to record this, right? You're bound to have lost a lot of fullness in the sound that way.

(BTW, does your iPad allow you to record in landscape vs. portrait?)
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The Stratocaster has a GFS Double Slug 13.9k Humbucker. I installed it for some drop-d metal band session work. It's way too bright clean, that's for sure. It was free from a buddy...part of a GFS loaded pickguard...LOL

The tone wasn't really showcasing these instrument's best, but the purpose of the shootout was to keep everything equal.

Yes, I-Pad...I'm terrible with the I-pad...I only use it right now until I get my recording software set back up...
 
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