AWESOME NGD - ESP Mirage '87 Rainbow Crackle!

[napalmdeath]

This thing is beautifully built, and after putting .010's on and doing a set-up it plays like butter. Amazing guitar! However, the Duncan Distortion is muddy, which caught me by surprise. Almost like a JB. Farty, muffled, and undefined. I love the guitar, but that Distortion's gotta go, ASAP. I have a TB-5, which is typically a tighter pickup, (IMO), but is there something else I should consider? It's gotta be the alder. Maybe it's the midrange character of the Distortion that's just not a good match...Love the guitar though.

 

[Fret-Shredder]

Congratulations man. That sure is a beauty. Someday when the planets align just right I want the Charvel 3DR Lava crackle with the reverse headstock. That Rainbow crackle is really something though.

 

[japetus]

This thing is beautifully built, and after putting .010's on and doing a set-up it plays like butter. Amazing guitar! However, the Duncan Distortion is muddy, which caught me by surprise. Almost like a JB. Farty, muffled, and undefined. I love the guitar, but that Distortion's gotta go, ASAP. I have a TB-5, which is typically a tighter pickup, (IMO), but is there something else I should consider? It's gotta be the alder. Maybe it's the midrange character of the Distortion that's just not a good match...Love the guitar though.

View attachment 93147

What trem is that

 

[napalmdeath]

What trem is that

Floyd Rose 1000

 

[JerEvil]

These look great as do the Tele style ones.

 

[Tone Junkie]

Sweet guitar.

 

[GOHOINC]

That's pretty rad.

 

[glpg80]

I had the same problem on my M-II, the cocked mids of an all-alder-body make it hard to find a pickup that fits.

Ironically the first pickup that comes to mind that is scooped is an Aldrich pickup.

You could also stuff an over wound Dimarzio PAF.

I ended up sticking a tonezone and an X2N in mine.

 

[napalmdeath]

I had the same problem on my M-II, the cocked mids of an all-alder-body make it hard to find a pickup that fits.

Ironically the first pickup that comes to mind that is scooped is an Aldrich pickup.

You could also stuff an over wound Dimarzio PAF.

I ended up sticking a tonezone and an X2N in mine.

The Hot Rail single coil sounds killer. I think the Duncan Custom TB-5 I have will take away some of that thick honk and get me better string clarity. Should look killer too, since its a zebra..?

X2N's are nasty pickups. I had an old BC Rich with one. Punishing. A Crunch Lab crossed my mind too. I loved it in the JP I had.

 

[japetus]

Floyd Rose 1000

Looks fuckin rippin!!

 

[stratjacket]

Man that looks killer, congrats

 

[Beyond Black]

Nice score!

 

[Gitfiddler]

Looks great! Maybe a super distortion in the bridge? I have one in an alder strat and love it

 

[cardinal]

Nice looking guitar!

 

[SoooRad]

Based on your description of how the Distortion sounds in there, I would go with a Full Shred

 

[Racerxrated]

Congrats!

I think a Duncan Custom is a good choice.

 

[Dave L]

Almost like a JB. Farty, muffled, and undefined.

As far as I´ve understood, the Distortion is a JB with a ceramic magnet so it´s not entirely surprising you don´t like it if you´re not a fan of the JB.

 

[Rock Bodom]

Congrats! I just picked up this exact same model late last week, and killer quality. The higher end LTD "W" serial number MIK models continue to have pretty consistent build quality. Much better fretwork and overall attention to detail than some other shred guitars in this price range that are MII or MIC. The crackle looks killer as well.

The DD has always been a go to bridge pickup for me in alder body shred guitars, and it sounds as good as ever to me in this one, but I like those upper mids and dialing in classic Lynch tones. From what you're describing, lots of ways to go about this, but from Duncan a Black Winter might be better suited for you. Or if you wanted to go A5, I'm not big on the JB but love a Custom 5 for metal.

 

[napalmdeath]

Congrats! I just picked up this exact same model late last week, and killer quality. The higher end LTD "W" serial number MIK models continue to have pretty consistent build quality. Much better fretwork and overall attention to detail than some other shred guitars in this price range that are MII or MIC. The crackle looks killer as well.

The DD has always been a go to bridge pickup for me in alder body shred guitars, and it sounds as good as ever to me in this one, but I like those upper mids and dialing in classic Lynch tones. From what you're describing, lots of ways to go about this, but from Duncan a Black Winter might be better suited for you. Or if you wanted to go A5, I'm not big on the JB but love a Custom 5 for metal.

I've owned many LTD's, including the '87 Mirage in Turquoise that was initially Korean, (first run before going to Indonesia), and this one is miles better. The ebony board is beautifully done, fretwork, fit/finish across the board. It's the absolute best/highest quality LTD I've owned, aside from the Skolnick models, (also World Music).

 

[Rock Bodom]

I've owned many LTD's, including the '87 Mirage in Turquoise that was initially Korean, (first run before going to Indonesia), and this one is miles better. The ebony board is beautifully done, fretwork, fit/finish across the board. It's the absolute best/highest quality LTD I've owned, aside from the Skolnick models, (also World Music).

Totally same experience here, I've owned many as well and pretty much every price point of ESP. Hands down my best LTD yet though I've had a number of other really good 1000 series/comparable level over the years as well. In the current gear market and general inflation environment, these are one of the best values out there price-wise IMO.

The World Musical Instrument Co. is on top of their game, I just got a Schecter E-1 a couple of weeks ago as well, also W serial, and similarly it was particularly over the top quality (another great ebony board, excellent fretwork, etc.)