Musatine Live Wires?

screamndemon69 · #1 04-11-2007, 10:34 AM

these are closely compared to the passive JB/Jazz set (which is my goto set for mahogany and mahogany/maple topped guitars) on the Seymour site. anyone try these?

they are $55 more than a JB/Jazz set so i'm wondering if they are worth the extra dough. they would be going in a mahogany set neck and bodied IC400. thanks in advance.

i'm not a big fan of Dave's tone by any stretch but i know the JB/Jazz set are always a great bet for what i like in pups.

frankfalbo · #2 04-11-2007, 02:02 PM

I'm getting ready to install a set in an Ibanez Saber HH. But that's not for a good several weeks. They are very cool pickups, and I think within the next week or so we should have some new sound clips on the website.

Also they basically match the Ibanez Cosmo hardware, which is totally sweet if you have Cosmo, but it also looks really good against black hardware too.

dannymills · #3 04-11-2007, 02:18 PM

Dave Mustaine is a wa'nker.

Clydefrog · #4 04-11-2007, 11:21 PM

Good contribution to the subject at hand.

**Ayrton** · #5 04-12-2007, 12:52 AM

For what it is worth, Duncan has a new set of actives coming out called "Blackouts". You may want to give those a thought as well.

dannymills · #6 04-12-2007, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clydefrog

Good contribution to the subject at hand.

.

screamndemon69 · #7 04-12-2007, 08:43 AM

thanks Frank. besides the cool matching Cosmo covers, what would be the reason for me to spend the extra $ over the JB/Jazz set?
it will be a few weeks before i make a move since i'm getting ready for the arrival of the RG550's, which will lock me up a little on the fundage side temporarily.

i'll look into the Blackout's too. what do you know about them Ayrton?

(yeah, Dave is a wa'nker)

**Ayrton** · #8 04-12-2007, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by screamndemon69

i'll look into the Blackout's too. what do you know about them Ayrton?

Just what I have read on the Duncan forums, but the opinion of those who have tried them is that it is an EMG killer.

screamndemon69 · #9 04-12-2007, 03:59 PM

interesting, very interesting.

Dee · #10 04-12-2007, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannymills

Dave Mustaine is a wa'nker.

I agree.

**jim777** · #11 04-12-2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

I agree.

That's what happens when you take a mortal man and put him in control

frankfalbo · #12 04-12-2007, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by screamndemon69

thanks Frank. besides the cool matching Cosmo covers, what would be the reason for me to spend the extra $ over the JB/Jazz set?
it will be a few weeks before i make a move since i'm getting ready for the arrival of the RG550's, which will lock me up a little on the fundage side temporarily.

i'll look into the Blackout's too. what do you know about them Ayrton?

The biggest benefit is the ultra low noise, low impedance preamp. Any time you buffer the signal right at the source you are basically eliminating the guitar cable from the equation. Whether you're using a 2-foot Mogami or 25-foot budget cable the sound makes it to the amp intact. Also with an active, your tone will not drastically change as you reduce your volume knob on the guitar.

Tonally if you like the JB/Jazz you'll like the Mustaines. To me they are a "high performance" version. The pro-gigger using some high gain tones needs to absolutely maximize his tone transfer and noise everywhere in the signal chain. So these take care of the pickup-to-amp segment. From a noise/signal strength standpoint these are foolproof. High performance in any situation.

If you play in a lot of different places, some with high RF interference, long cables, etc. or if you do a lot of recording, they're worth the few extra bucks. It's a small price to pay when you consider what you're actually getting-two discreet preamps, battery clip, pots, etc. You're getting more than just the pickups, although you might not use all of our hardware.

Also the Saber I'm putting them in will have Cosmo hardware, so that was the deciding factor for me.

The Blackouts are a different animal. They are phenominal, but in no way cross over into the Mustaine territory. Like you, Dave always liked the JB/Jazz combo, not the EMG 81/85 combo. Players should look at the Blackouts if they like the 81/85. It sounds to me like you should only be deciding between the JB/Jazz and the Mustaines. And to me, if you already have JB/Jazz guitars, then try the Mustaines, because at least it's something different.

screamndemon69 · #13 04-12-2007, 11:56 PM

you rock Frank! you always bestow mucho info on my little brain

not to mention ALWAYS steer me in the right direction.
now i need to decide if it is worth it for the IC400 or just swap the stock set from my SZ4020 (IBZ/Duncan modeled after JB/Jazz set) into the IC400 and ass the Mustaine's into the SZ.....hmmmmm, decisions, decisions.