Thickening up tone on a superstrat

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wayniac3
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Wayniac3

Well-known member
Hi Guys..
I'm down to very few guitars, but have a huge tonal difference with one compared to 3 other superstrats and an LP. I'd like to get it at least close in sound (less cutting, more beef).

I have 2 maple topped guitars - one is flamed maple over a 3 piece alder body, the other is a quilt maple over 3 piece alder. Both maple necks, bolt
on, Floyd.
The Quilt is way thinner sounding than the flame maple, which has a newer DiMarzio Super D in it. :gethim:
Same amp, cables, pedals, etc... EVH 5153 100 watt into matching cab (or Peavey 5150 straight cab for that matter)

Looking for recomendations to fatten my tone up. For reference... Aldrich in the LP, Vintage JB in the solid maple strat (which weighs a ton and sounds beefier - almost the same as the LP, shockingly), and a vintage Distortion in the other main strat I use. Not sure which Duncan is in the quilt.
Thanks for any help :rock:
 
If the thin sounding guitar has the Dimarzio Super D I'd try the Super 3.. That thing is so crunchy and beefy without being boomy or too loose on the low end. Hard to explain, but I think it adds some crunch and bottom end without sacrificing anything else..
Just a thought!
 
The Super 3 is thinner than the Super Distortion. Try the Breed or Tone Zone. Or a Warpig if you're willing to spend a bit more.
 
brass big block on the floyd. That will thicken it right up. Had a thin sound problem on a mahogany guitar with a floyd and BKP warpigs and a big block fixed it. I put one on all my floyd guitars after that. amazing!
 

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bananaladonpcp":jd6yaw2u said:
brass big block on the floyd. That will thicken it right up. Had a thin sound problem on a mahogany guitar with a floyd and BKP warpigs and a big block fixed it. I put one on all my floyd guitars after that. amazing!
Click to expand...

this .... cheaper than messing around with pick ups and will have a much bigger impact
 
sytharnia1560":2etqyzg2 said:
bananaladonpcp":2etqyzg2 said:
brass big block on the floyd. That will thicken it right up. Had a thin sound problem on a mahogany guitar with a floyd and BKP warpigs and a big block fixed it. I put one on all my floyd guitars after that. amazing!
Click to expand...

this .... cheaper than messing around with pick ups and will have a much bigger impact
Click to expand...


32 USD at wdmusic :rock:
 
Brass block, block the floyd with wood, and throw a tone zone in there...
 
+1 on the block
It thickened my Peavey HOP so much that I wonder if I should get an edgier pickup like a BK Juggernaut. The thickness and sustain is intoxicating!
 
Just from my experience.

I absolutely love what the Tone Zone did for me however my issue was the guitar was way too bright.

I put one in a 1993 S540 maple neck, It darkened it up quite a bit. If you are not looking for heavy on the lows and mids that might not be the best choice.
 
Order a SD PATB-3 for it. Specifically designed to fatten up super-strats. I had one in a bolt-on Jackson...and it did just that.
 
You might consider going to a heavier string gauge as well.
 
jsp":3irsv03x said:
The Super 3 is thinner than the Super Distortion. Try the Breed or Tone Zone. Or a Warpig if you're willing to spend a bit more.
Click to expand...

The Super 3 has less bass, but it has more mids and less treble, but more output.. I thought that this may solve his problem and still stay close to what he's trying to do.

The Tone Zone is a better solution for sure though and I'm sure the breed is good too, I've just never used it.

I assumed he wanted something with the same output or more.. hence the reason for the Super 3 pup..

I've got to try the Breed.. I hear it's great! I know the Tone Zone has great response and harmonics and loads of thickness so to speak! Great recommendations man!

T
 
I tried the Super 3 before in a bright sounding guitar that I was also trying to make sound more full, and it ended up sounding spikey in a weird way, that's hard to describe. The Breed has a nice growl to it that sounds full but not too overly bloated in lower mids; it's actually my go-to bridge pickup for bright sounding superstrats, unless the guitar sounds extremely thin, then Tone Zone.
 
rcm78":2swxgsam said:
Brass block, block the floyd with wood, and throw a tone zone in there...
Click to expand...

This my friend. I've done it with amazing results.
 
Wanna ask something about the brass block:

Is there any changes in the overall feel of the floyd i.e. to become harder, heavier...as a ''negative'' feel?

Are there any "dive'' restrictions / since the block is thicker /?

Is it needed the floyd springs to be added / changed?

Also I suppose it's better to put the same size brass block as the original one /specs/.

Thanks in advance!
 
Petrucci":e8uksu7r said:
Wanna ask something about the brass block:

Is there any changes in the overall feel of the floyd i.e. to become harder, heavier...as a ''negative'' feel?

Are there any "dive'' restrictions / since the block is thicker /?

Is it needed the floyd springs to be added / changed?

Also I suppose it's better to put the same size brass block as the original one /specs/.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...


I haven't noticed a changed in feel... 2 of my guitars need to be routed out just a tad so i could still use the floyd to its full potential. I did it myself with a dremel. same springs on mine though you can change them if you want. and yes you want to get the same length block as the stock one.
 
250k volume pot with a .47pf cap on it. It's the best answer. Keep the pickups you have and keep your $$$ in your pocket.
 
I have 2 charvels...one with a super d and one with a mcp afwayu. The difference is huge...I have to re-eq when I switch to the super d charvel...love the super d but afwayu is THICK.
 
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