EBMM Petrucci Users: Help With Pickups!

[gibson5413]

Hey guys! I have been a EBMM Petrucci player since 2001 and absolutely love the guitar. I have owned two 6 string versions and one 7 string. I love the feel of the body and neck and adore the playability. I love the way they sound as well. One thing I have noticed is that I get a lot of comments about my tone (majority of them being compliments). A lot of people say that no matter what I play that my tone sounds like Petrucci. I take that as a compliment!

My question is who here has switched out the pickups and have liked what they heard? My Petrucci has the original stock pickups. I used a D-Sonic for a few months and preferred the original bridge modeled after the Steve's Special. I like the neck (essentially an Air Norton) but my leads end up sounding like Petrucci's for the most part.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a hotter bridge pickup and a complimentary neck? I use a Mesa Mark IV amp and Bogner oversized 2x12. My settings are not similar to Petrucci's. I love the amp and prefer to not change that. Is the tone in the character of the guitar or will a pickup change help a bit?

I have heard great things about Bare Knuckle (Bare Knuckle Pickups, North Devon, UK - Hand Wound Guitar Pickups) and Motor City pickups (Motor City Pickups). I am looking for a hot, modern sounding bridge with a neck that compliments it. Would it be a horrible thing to try actives? The Seymour Duncan Blackouts sound interesting. I already have another guitar with EMGs and like them. Has anyone tried their Petrucci with actives? I know it requires routing the guitar and I would prefer to not go that route but think it may sound good.

Thoughts? Opinions? Thanks!

[whitestrat]

X2N? Heh... Seriously, the Steve's Special is a great pickup. But it doesn't break up as easily. It stays smooth even at high gain. I think what you want is something with more grunt and growl, which the D Sonic was better suited for. Alternatively, a Super Distortion or a Tonezone might be good for you.

When all else fails, there's always the X2N. (not kidding this time.)

[Mon_AM_lunatic]

When all else fails, there's always the X2N. (not kidding this time.)

+1

If you're looking for screamin pickups, pair the X2N with the Super 2.

Another alternate could be a matched pair of Evolutions.

[wolfbone07]

Seymour Duncan Distortion pickups, both neck and bridge.

[Bassey]

This answer might not help a lot but here goes...

I guess the old-time cliché of "Tone is in the fingers" really matters in this case.

You've got a Petrucci guitar AND a Mark IV....this is a combination that screams "Petrucci!"

I don't know about your playing but if you have been influenced (perhaps heavily?) by Petrucci, and add this up to the gear you are using...chances are that people will compare you to the man himself.

I have experimented with different pick-ups in in several guitars and allthough sounds did change...I always hear a same basic tone...my tone. (not saying that it's unique..but it's my tone)

The tone comes from the way you phrase certain licks and how you implement different techniques in your playing.

Of course gear does matter...but it's more the icing on the cake (is that a correct term?)

I find the stock pickups on a Pet killer because of the diversity in sound that you can get...so to keep all doors open to new sounds I would not change them.
I would look at my own playing to find my own "voice"
And hey...a company that builds high quality guitars that have been engineered to perfection can't be wrong with pickup choices right?

Just my 2 cents...

If you are still thinking about changing the pickups i wish you best of luck finding your tone!

[D.K.]

You can get hotter with the Evolutions - but, as Bassey has just said, having his guitar AND his amp does hint that You tend to like John very much and, probably, sound too much like him.

Have You ever considered buying a non-signature EBMM (silo)? That has surely cured me. I used to have 3 Petruccis before - now I'm not as totally "Petrucci-like" as I have been a year ago...

[gibson5413]

This answer might not help a lot but here goes...

I guess the old-time cliché of "Tone is in the fingers" really matters in this case.

You've got a Petrucci guitar AND a Mark IV....this is a combination that screams "Petrucci!"

I don't know about your playing but if you have been influenced (perhaps heavily?) by Petrucci, and add this up to the gear you are using...chances are that people will compare you to the man himself.

I have experimented with different pick-ups in in several guitars and allthough sounds did change...I always hear a same basic tone...my tone. (not saying that it's unique..but it's my tone)

The tone comes from the way you phrase certain licks and how you implement different techniques in your playing.

Of course gear does matter...but it's more the icing on the cake (is that a correct term?)

I find the stock pickups on a Pet killer because of the diversity in sound that you can get...so to keep all doors open to new sounds I would not change them.
I would look at my own playing to find my own "voice"
And hey...a company that builds high quality guitars that have been engineered to perfection can't be wrong with pickup choices right?

Just my 2 cents...

If you are still thinking about changing the pickups i wish you best of luck finding your tone!

You can get hotter with the Evolutions - but, as Bassey has just said, having his guitar AND his amp does hint that You tend to like John very much and, probably, sound too much like him.

Have You ever considered buying a non-signature EBMM (silo)? That has surely cured me. I used to have 3 Petruccis before - now I'm not as totally "Petrucci-like" as I have been a year ago...

Thanks guys! I may have some of his gear but I assure you I play nothing like him. Here are a few of my clips for reference: netmusicians.org - the guitar gear mp3 database

I guess I would like to break away a bit. I don't want to change guitars at all. I love the way the guitar plays and feels. Just looking to switch things up a bit in terms of tone. I have heard really good things about the Suhr Aldrich pickups too.

I am considering moving the Mark IV and going with a Splawn Quick Rod.

[RocketRalf]

Frm what I've heard from others clips and other guitars with similar pickups, both the Steve's Special and the Air Norton have a very unique and discernible tone. Pair that with a Mark IV and you'll undoubtedly get tones somewhat similar to Petrucci's. From listening to your clips I don't think you have a Petrucci tone or similar playing, but I can hear some resemblance (in the tone not the playing) and I guess the difference would appear less in a live situation. I would like to try the Di-Marzio De-activators-X sometime, you might be interested in those. Or maybe a more traditional pickup like the Super Distortion. I don't think you need a hotter pickup, just something different. Or just try your JP on some other amp at a store and see if it still sounds "like" Petrucci.

[73h Nils]

I personally would like to know what Breeds would sound like in a JP. That would be something!

[Progdude]

I would got with a Dimarzio Tone Zone and here is why........

The Dimarzio Steve's Special's Specs are.......


Output Rating 390
Treble 6.5
Mids 4.5
Bass 7.5


The Dimarzio Tone Zone's Specs are........

Output Rating 375
Treble 5
Mids 8.5
Bass 8.5



I know you said you wanted hotter but I think much over 400 could be too over powering for the Dimarzio Air Norton which has an output rating of 270. The Tone Zone is an AWEOME Pickup! If you insist on hotter but like the looks of the EQ of the Tone Zone my second suggestion would be the Dimarzio Super 3. Its the hotter out of the 3 pickups, same treble and almost the same mids and slightly less bass than the Dimarzio Tone Zone.


Dimarzio Super 3

Output Rating 435
Treble 5
Mids 8
Bass 6.5