Any suggestions for a H-S-S combination

[big h]

I was advised to have a Dimarzio Super Distortion, Blue velvet, and a Pro track combination, what about alternate suggetions? Which pickups have you chosen? Why? info most apreciated.

[Champagne Mist]

I would say thats a good place to start, but what kind of guitar will these be going in?

These are all great pickups. i'm not a Super Dist. fan myself, rather go with maybe a tone zone... blue velvets are awesome! i'm thinkin of putting one in my 550, when i actually have money. And a pro track would give you some good tonal options in a single coil position.

It all boils down to what kind of sound you are goin for, but that combo sounds cool to me.

[big h]

It's to go in my Ibanez Frank Gambale sig. Why do you prefer the Tone Zone to the Super Distortion?

[Champagne Mist]

Just a personal preference. I have played neither very much, as i have evolutions, so others might be able to direct you a little better in the bridge pickup area. But the tone zone feels a little more "modern" to me. I think it is a little tighter and more aggressive sounding than the more "classic" super distortion, when distorted, IMO. Clean, the tone zone seems a little warmer...

The other thing is, if you are trying to balance the output of your pickups, the tone zone is not as powerful as super dist.

Not to say that the super distortion isn't a really great pickup--its still around for a reason. Any other opinions?

[_FR0D0]

big h: what kind of music are you going to play with that guitar? what kind of sound/tone are you looking for?

[big h]

I play metal, funk, blues, rock, anything really. I've got a Jem and a Js1000, the Jem has PAF PRO'S and the JS has a FRED and a PAF PRO. I really like the PAF PRO in the neck position, but for lead in the bridge I find them slightly too brash and the same goes with the FRED. So I'm searching for the PAF PRO tone in the neck, but the FGM400 only has a single coil space in the neck so I was told by DIMARZIO tech a PRO TRACK is the closest to this. I like a single coil in the middle for nice sweet clen tones in position 2 and 4 similiar to Jems but want more output than the single coil JEM pickup. DIMARZIO tech suggested a reverse polarity BLUE VELVET bridge pickup to go in the middle slot. In the bridge I want something different in tone to what I have already, so I thought a Tone Zone or a Super Distortion. DIMARZIO tech suggested a TONE ZONE in the bridge. But I've seen a site for the FGM400 and this guy said he put in a SUPER DISTORTON.

[gtrcollectr]

I have the hotrails SHR-1n in the neck of my USCG and it smokes. Very loud becasuse it is a humbucker. It balances well with the FRED I have in the bridge. If you want an actual single coil sound the blue velvet is a good choice.

Todd

[stratoskier]

Here's another thought. Andy Timmons plays H-S-S Ibanez and he has some of the most diverse tones around: everything from vintage SRV to very Satriani-like. No telling how many guitars he's using in the studio, but I believe his main guitar has a custom wound Dimarzio that is supposed to be close to a Duncan JB, and the two singles are either Fast Tracks or Cruisers (I have this written down somewhere but can't find it at the moment). I'm planning on loading one of my H-S-S guitars with this setup. Any one have thoughts about these singles?
Bert

[Champagne Mist]

Yeah, i've played with them a couple of times. A friend with an H-S-S setup had a chopper in the middle, fast track in the neck and a Norton in the bridge. The chopper was nice, but i didn't play it that much. The fast track just smokes. It blended so well with the norton.

[LGMT]

I like the Hot Rails in the bridge. Smokes alot in my strat.

[shred4Him]

Originally Posted by stratoskier

Here's another thought. Andy Timmons plays H-S-S Ibanez and he has some of the most diverse tones around: everything from vintage SRV to very Satriani-like. No telling how many guitars he's using in the studio, but I believe his main guitar has a custom wound Dimarzio that is supposed to be close to a Duncan JB, and the two singles are either Fast Tracks or Cruisers (I have this written down somewhere but can't find it at the moment). I'm planning on loading one of my H-S-S guitars with this setup. Any one have thoughts about these singles?
Bert

I think he uses Cruisers in the middle and neck. I think both are the bridge versions. I am pretty sure that the neck is, the middle might be a neck/middle version.

Anybody ever compare a Fast Track to a Cruiser?

[JESTER700]

I like a JB in the bridge and HS2s in middle & neck. A SC size bucker like a lil 59 is nice if you need that neck bucker tone. I've also had great results with a Tone Zone in the bridge - more bass, less mids.