A couple Tone Nerds and a couple Duncans walk into a bar..

  • Thread starter Thread starter GJgo
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What would you use for a live thrash metal guitar?

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    8
GJgo

GJgo

Well-known member
I've got a new LTD M1 that I'm looking for the PUP I like best in it- and this guitar's only job is to sound awesome in the live metal band mix. It needs to be tight & cutting. @Racerxrated was super cool and sent me a couple Tone Nerd PUPs to try, and I also had a couple Duncans to try. Decided to swap the PUPs in the axe and do a couple quick recordings to go back & reference. (Warning!) the riffing is junk and I still thought there was value in sharing for the sounds.

Blind test- PUPs NOT IN THIS ORDER
ToneNerd Psykes
ToneNerd Sunset Strip
Duncan Distortion
Duncan Dimebucker

Here's a link to the clip. Can you call out which is which?

First riff is IIC+
Second riff is IIC++
All straight in
Single track right down the center.
 
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Haven’t played a Duncan Dimebucker ever and it’s been decades since I tried a Duncan Distortion. I’ve also never played a Sunset Strip but I do have a Psykes.

So my guess is the Psykes is the second one. :loco:
 
They all sound pretty much the same in my phone.
 
Whatever it is, I liked the 2nd pickup above the others.
 
Scott's Roxy would be the one I'd suggest, followed real close by the Wicked 8.


Hard to tell on my phone, but I'd guess
Sunset
Psykes
Distortion
Dime

2 and 3 are close with 3 having more lows. Tbh, I've never played those SDs, so I could be way off.
 
Not familiar enough with all the PUP’s, but preferred #2
 
on my computer speakers and the wife having the tv in the background-plus my son and granddaughter running around-the only difference I noticed was 3 and 4 sounded punchier and more output.
edit-I think 3&4 are Scott's. None sound bad but the last two just have more punch to me so I'm thinking they are his.
 
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The Psykes isn’t going to be cutting. It going to add a bunch of low end and low mids. The Psykes also has a bounce to the feel. The Sunset would be clearer, have tighter lows and more and a more immediate attack compared to the DD and Psykes.
 
The first two examples of both styles seem to have less bass than the second two
 
scottosan said:
The Psykes isn’t going to be cutting. It going to add a bunch of low end and low mids. The Psykes also has a bounce to the feel. The Sunset would be clearer, have tighter lows and more and a more immediate attack compared to the DD and Psykes.
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I agree with the comments about the Psykes. It's definitely the bounciest of the bunch.

I also agree that the SS had a faster attack than the DD (though close) and the Psykes (way slower).

..and, the Dimebucker whoops them all by a good margin on fast attack. It's in a different league here. It's also the least musical of the bunch (where the Psykes is the most), however, I have a suspicion the DB will cut the best live- and that's the job of this particular guitar.
 
Oh and pic for attention. :)
IMG_2440.jpg
 
GJgo said:
I have a suspicion the DB will cut the best live- and that's the job of this particular guitar.
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Heavily depends on the guitar itself and how you EQ your amp (and the cab ofc). The Dimebucker is very scooped with piercing treble, which is something that might help you cut a lot, OR give you nightmares fighting cymbals and vocals at times.
 
I agree & that is certainly possible, we'll find out tonight at band practice!
 
GJgo said:
I agree with the comments about the Psykes. It's definitely the bounciest of the bunch.

I also agree that the SS had a faster attack than the DD (though close) and the Psykes (way slower).

..and, the Dimebucker whoops them all by a good margin on fast attack. It's in a different league here. It's also the least musical of the bunch (where the Psykes is the most), however, I have a suspicion the DB will cut the best live- and that's the job of this particular guitar.
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I’d expect that since it’s supposed to be like the Bill Lawrence’s. The vintage BL’s would win in musicality as well, although maybe not in warmth. For the criteria you described I’d probably use either a vintage 500L chromeback, 510L or L90
 
2 and 4 had the most clarity and cut in the mids, so I assume they are the ToneNerds? 2 has less bass = sunset strip
 
Alright guys we just had practice, so it's time for the reveal. FIRST let me lead with- this is so deep into personal preference and everyone hears things differently. Which is cool.

To @Zado 's point, even though playing solo I really liked how tight & cutting the Dimebucker was, in the band mix it was very fizzy on the top end. It was usable, but not ideal. Now I know.. If you like Dime's tone, this is definitely how to get there!

Ok for the reveal.
Pickup 1- ToneNerd Sunset Strip
Pickup 2- Duncan Dimebucker
Pickup 3- ToneNerd Psykes
Pickup 4- Duncan Distortion

I just can't do PUPs with a soft attack. The only passive PUP I've ever really liked (so far) was the Wagner Iron Man. My drummer says I should try an Invader next...
 
GJgo said:
Alright guys we just had practice, so it's time for the reveal. FIRST let me lead with- this is so deep into personal preference and everyone hears things differently. Which is cool.

To @Zado 's point, even though playing solo I really liked how tight & cutting the Dimebucker was, in the band mix it was very fizzy on the top end. It was usable, but not ideal. Now I know.. If you like Dime's tone, this is definitely how to get there!

Ok for the reveal.
Pickup 1- ToneNerd Sunset Strip
Pickup 2- Duncan Dimebucker
Pickup 3- ToneNerd Psykes
Pickup 4- Duncan Distortion

I just can't do PUPs with a soft attack. The only passive PUP I've ever really liked (so far) was the Wagner Iron Man. My drummer says I should try an Invader next...
Click to expand...
I don't predict you'd like a Invader much based on that criteria. For passive, I'd try a '70's/'80's Mighty Mite 1400, BL 500L or L90. The 1400 imo smoked the Iron Man compared in several of the same guitars. Made the IM come off tonally bland/sterile and actually less saturated and hot. I had like 4 or 5 IM's and listed them all after lol
 
GJgo said:
To @Zado 's point, even though playing solo I really liked how tight & cutting the Dimebucker was, in the band mix it was very fizzy on the top end. It was usable, but not ideal. Now I know.. If you like Dime's tone, this is definitely how to get there!
Click to expand...

I sorta had the same problem with the Screamin Demon, which is far less hot but similar EQ wise, especially in the treble department: in a dense mix you either don't cut, or get a thin fizzy sound when EQing to cut properly.
 
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