Please lend your knowledge

jairic · #1 11-21-2007, 09:51 AM

I have an Ibanez SA160 HSS with Dimarzio Tone Zone-Fender Lace Silver-Fender Lace Red pick ups. It's a great guitar.. but for some reason (maybe the dimarzio?) it's just not rendering unto me a very metal sound. I can get amazing pinch harmonics on any strings but the Low E and the A, and the rest of the strings just sound very thin. I"m using 9's and have been doing so for a long time, so thats kinda why I'm blaming this on the Dimarzio. So if anyone can help me come up with a way to thicken it up and make it sound more like a humbucker equipped mahogany bodied guitar I'd really appreciate it. Otherwise I'm gonna trade it for a Jackson DXMGT

LonePhantom · #2 11-21-2007, 05:15 PM

Maybe if you are after a metal sound try a DiMarzio D-Activator in the bridge. Like an EMG 81, but will be compatible with your other passive pickups.

**jim777** · #3 11-22-2007, 12:30 AM

What are you playing into; what's you signal chain?

jb4674 · #4 11-22-2007, 12:35 AM

Maybe the pickup is positioned backwards?

Jimmy

David McCarroll · #5 11-22-2007, 01:49 AM

The Tone Zone is a great pickup, can't really see that being the issue - are you sure it's not something to do with amp settings, amp, speakers, pedals etc?

jairic · #6 11-22-2007, 07:11 AM

I got stright from the guitar into a Peavey Bandit 112 combo. I know we're not talking Mesa Triple here or anything. The dimazrio does appear to be in correctly.. It could just be to my ears sort of thing, my brother loves it, he doesn't think it sounds thin at all. Maybe it's just not the sound for me. I don't think the sound is a bad one, just not exactly what I"m looking for. I'm probably just being too picky.

Ibateur · #7 11-22-2007, 07:57 AM

How have you connected the wires? Maybe you've mis-soldered something and are only getting one coil or something.

rty13ibz98 · #8 11-27-2007, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibateur

How have you connected the wires? Maybe you've mis-soldered something and are only getting one coil or something.

this is what i would blame it on.

rich

jairic · #9 11-27-2007, 07:12 PM

I checked repeatedly, just to make sure I was seeing it right, and they are connected as per the Dimarzio wiring diagram, standard humbucker in series. It's not like single coil thin. I talked to a local guy that knows a lot about dimarzios, he educated me a bit, as did a fellow Ibanez lover. what I found out was that Dimarzio's are known for their clarity, so it's not that something is wrong, it's just that since i'm just to more self distortion pick ups, this sounds different to my ears. I've had lots of dunancs before, but this is only my second dimarzio, my other one was an EVO, and I felt the same way about it. So, given all these things, I'm thinking that it's just the clarity of the pick up, like I said before, it doesn't sound band, it gives phenomenal tone, just more trebley than I'm used to. I may try trading it on here for a duncan of some sort.

Dave67 · #10 11-27-2007, 11:14 PM

If the TZ is less than 30 days old, DiMarzio will swap it. I had the same guitar with a Super Distortion and I was able to get the metal sound. Did you get an F spaced pup? The SA need a F spaced bridge pup.

screamndemon69 · #11 11-28-2007, 12:15 AM

Try resetting the guitar for 10's and don't worry about an F spaced pickup, that is only cosmetic.

You might prefer an HH equiped guitar with maybe a pair of EMGs for the standard metal sound. I love HSS myself for the variety they yield.

jairic · #12 11-28-2007, 09:09 AM

I agree, an H-H would suit me much better, so the SA is now in the for sale/trade section, lol. I'm hesitant to do that because I really do like the guitar, but I miss having an RG, and I"m anxious to try out other things.

screamndemon69 · #13 11-28-2007, 11:51 AM

There are alot of choices for an HH guitar. I wouldn't say the HSS equiped guitar couldn't get metal tones but if you play mostly metal an HH would probably suit you better. Good luck and let us know what you end up getting.

BTW- Winter NAMM is right around the corner if you can hold off for a little longer and see what they bring out, they might offer something more suited for your playing.

jairic · #14 12-04-2007, 12:19 PM

So, if I keep this guitar, what would pick up would you guys recomend to give it a fatter LP/SG sort of sound? Or do I need to move this to the pickups and wiring section (mods)?

bdk · #15 12-04-2007, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jairic

I have an Ibanez SA160 HSS with Dimarzio Tone Zone-Fender Lace Silver-Fender Lace Red pick ups. It's a great guitar.. but for some reason (maybe the dimarzio?) it's just not rendering unto me a very metal sound. I can get amazing pinch harmonics on any strings but the Low E and the A, and the rest of the strings just sound very thin. I"m using 9's and have been doing so for a long time, so thats kinda why I'm blaming this on the Dimarzio. So if anyone can help me come up with a way to thicken it up and make it sound more like a humbucker equipped mahogany bodied guitar I'd really appreciate it. Otherwise I'm gonna trade it for a Jackson DXMGT

A bad switch can sometimes create theh problem you're experiencing, or, as other members have noted, a wiriing issue. If it's wired correctly, then you must presume it's a hardware issue. Either the pickups isn't working properly, the switch is bad, or double check that the grounds are actually grounded. If you aren't experiencing other sound issues like hiss, buzz or hum, the hardware is faulty, or maybe your ears!!!!

As far as other pickup solutions, duncan distortions are great, as are evolutions. I prefer lower output pickups like a JB, or a 59 Seymour duncan. To me, metal tone comes from your preamp more than anything else.