Best tone improvement for >$150

[ericbrowning]

Hey guys, thanks in advance for any help. *Im looking to improve my electric tone all around, the usual cliches (smoother, more sustain, more dynamic, etc. ) I often play classical guitar, but I've recently gotten back into electric, and I find my sound disappointing at times. *So, I would like to hear your suggestions on best use of about $150 to help out my rig, which is as follows:
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Ibanez S470- stock, .11 gauge strings, blocked trem
Crate GFX-65 amp
Real Tube Pedal w/ a 12AT7 tube instead of 12AX7
Boss DS-1
Standard Crybaby Wah
Quality Cables

As for style, I play most everything except real hard metal and real heavy stuff. *A little jazzy stuff, a little Tortoise-esque ambience, classic rock now and then; so I'm looking for just overall improvement.
P.S. Only serious responses please, buying a Jem and a Legacy are not even close to my price range, so please don't suggest it

[Redeye2]

Buy some pickups. I use DiMarzio and think they sound very good. They don't even the $150 limit you have.

[oooo]

Quote: from Redeye2 on 9:00 pm on Mar. 25, 2001
Buy some pickups. I use DiMarzio and think they sound very good.

I agree... considering the $$$ you have to spend, p-ups will make the biggest difference. *Of course I'm partial to evolutions and the Tone Zone... do some reserch as to what you want tone wise and go with the p-ups that best suit your taste. *You'll be surprised as to how differnt the 470 will be with the right double coil.
FYI- Dimarzio has a 30 day garantee, you can trade their p-ups in for other models if you're not happy with the way they sound in your guitar. *

[Kevan]

SansAmp GT-2. *Best less-than-$100 investment I've made in a LONG time.

www.tech21nyc.com

You can find them "pre-owned" for right around $100.

[jemsite]

I would take that $150 and tuck it away as you keep saving for a better amp. Pickups, pedals, etc. all boil down to the guitar amp. Sell all your equipment (except your axe) if necessary, to obtain one. Just my $0.02... glen

[gkelm]

I'm with Glen...sell your amp, add your $150, and find a tube combo. *Something inexpensive used like a Crate VC30 or PV C30 ($200-250) would be a step in the right direction.
Greg

[Noodles]

I agree with everything above but also for sustain try a fat finger.

[Hitman]

ARe you kidding with that Fat Finger business? There is a dilemma with that. Some people say that more mass on the headstock makes for better tone/sustain. Others (PRS) go out of their way to make 'low mass' tuning machines for better tone/sustain.

What is the deal here???

[lgascoig]

I suggest picking up what I just got, the Mesa Subway Rocket, especially if you're only playing at home. *The tone IMHO is excellent, I sat there for a few hours yesterday just turning knobs then playing for a couple minutes, turning knobs, etc... *So many variations. *Also the tone knob on my JEM works now all of the sudden, go figure. *The more I think about it, the more reasonable the price is. *I got mine for $549 which I think is $40 over list at a Guitar Center. *I would take the $150 and put it in the cookie jar, or trade in some of your old stuff towards it.

PS: *Of course you should try it in the store first, just because I like it doesn't mean you will...

PPS: *I agree with the pickup suggestion insofar as getting more sustain, but overall your rig will pretty much sound the same, so if you don't like your amp you're kind of hosed...

[jeff l]

It sounds as if your amp may be the culprit so I'm with Glen and the others who suggest an amp change down the road a bit. A good tube amp will be the biggest tonal improvement (gear-wise) you could possibly make.

* * I highly recommend the Crate Vintage Club series for an all-tube amp that won't break the bank and they sound great!

* *

[keith]

Hmm...wait. I have a radical idea which i'm sure you've not heard until now. Get a new amp:biggrin:.

I can't say for the crates, but i have a Laney LC30 [like Vai's LC15 but on steroids] which is great for melodic sweet stuff. However i maybe be substituting it with a Boogie MarkIV if money allows me too . I just want something with some more balls.

PS: Get to KNOW the amp before you buy it. Trying it won't be enough.

God Bless,
Keith

[tagg 7]

Some guys at my local dealer, and I tried out those fatfingers on quite a few guitars just to see what it would do. We tried a Gibson Les Paul, G'n'L strat, My PRS custom, and a number of Ibanez's.I wouldnt say it sustaind more, but it definatly gave it a different tone to say the least. The G'n'L probably came the closest to more sustain. The Les Paul the farthest for obvious reasons.
Anyway A new amp would be nice, but if your like me and you have 150 thats what your gonna spend. It jsut sits there burning in your pocket. Last time I had that I bought dimarzio PAF's. Everything is crystal clean on those babys, and you can always add more distortion. It works well for classical parts as well as shreading IMO.
But hey thats just me.
buzz

[Noodles]

Hitman, notice how I said try a fat finger instead of buy it, have you even tried one or are you just following prs's lead?

(Edited by Noodles at 4:21 pm on Mar. 26, 2001)