I've got one ball!

[sgmarshall3]

I just took the advice of several members and bought a Sub1! I've been playing it for hours and love the feel. The trem is awesome! I'm having a hard time getting the sound that I want out if, though. When I play unplugged it sounds great. I might have to change the bridge pickup. So far, I've got a cool clean tone, a good blues tone, but for metal it's just not right. I raised the bridge pickup some which helped a little, but I still haven't quite found "it". I'll keep looking for a few more hours tomorrow!

 

[bluebullet]

what kind of amp are you using,and if you need a little more gain using a overdrive as a boost might be a better option than changing pickups.

 

[Raz]

I just took the advice of several members and bought a Sub1! I've been playing it for hours and love the feel. The trem is awesome! I'm having a hard time getting the sound that I want out if, though. When I play unplugged it sounds great. I might have to change the bridge pickup. So far, I've got a cool clean tone, a good blues tone, but for metal it's just not right. I raised the bridge pickup some which helped a little, but I still haven't quite found "it". I'll keep looking for a few more hours tomorrow!

Hey, why wasn't I asked...just kidding...you made a fantastic purchase, I love my SUB's and the pickup thing...don't swap them they are hot, here is something I wrote for another member, thinking about getting a SUB (BTW I play everything from blues to metal):

"... I just played 4 guitars back to back, as a comparison...all just for you...and before I submit my review, I just want to say...OUCH!
OK so I started off with my original SUB1...and BTW all 4 guitars were played through a Behringer V-Amp 2.0 and a H&K Warp 7 212., sharing the exact same setting. I then picked up a 2001 Peavey USA Wolfie Special, with Duncan Dimebag PUPS. I then played my 2002 Silo Special and finally I ended with my other SUB1, the one you see in my avatar. As far as action goes, they are all sweet, and if I was to be honest and find a difference, that would be that the SUBs feel a little tighter...but in a good way...and I would bet that was because both are brand new, while the Silo and the Wolfie are both a few years old. As far as sound goes, I couldn't tell...maybe it was because the kids were singing along, or were they screaming? I don't know, but the bridge pups all sounded fairly similar, maybe they Subs had a slight brightness, but nothing that really jumped out.
Finally, and this is very important, or as the French say, Tres Importante, if I was to express some kind of lesson learned from this short experience, it would be that I LOVE MY SUBS, and I wouldn't part with them for anything...there, if you have a pipe, print this page and smoke it! Later!"

Just to add to this, I actually find the Sub's pups easier to work with...what I mean is the Dimegag in the Wolfie is a tad noisy, and the Silo leans on the more vintage side of things, as far as finding a crunchy tone with my Sub's humbuckers...it was a snap with the V-Amp 2.0

 

[sgmarshall3]

I played some more yesterday. I found some sounds I can live with. Maybe I've just been spoiled playing a guitar with EMG's for the last 6 years. It gets all the sounds I want straight into my JCM800 without much effort. Maybe I'm just not used to working at it! I'm not used to all of the hum, either. The pickups are very noisy. I've been playing long enough to know not to stand in front of my amp when not playing. These things are even noisy thru my V-amp2. A constant Strat-like buzz. It seems kind of weird to me...

 

[brentrocks]

let's see that bad boy

 

[kbaim]

I played some more yesterday. I found some sounds I can live with. Maybe I've just been spoiled playing a guitar with EMG's for the last 6 years. It gets all the sounds I want straight into my JCM800 without much effort. Maybe I'm just not used to working at it! I'm not used to all of the hum, either. The pickups are very noisy. I've been playing long enough to know not to stand in front of my amp when not playing. These things are even noisy thru my V-amp2. A constant Strat-like buzz. It seems kind of weird to me...

Have you tried hunting down a ebmm LUKE?

They come stock with emg's. (I love 'em too)
KEITH

 

[Raz]

I played some more yesterday. I found some sounds I can live with. Maybe I've just been spoiled playing a guitar with EMG's for the last 6 years. It gets all the sounds I want straight into my JCM800 without much effort. Maybe I'm just not used to working at it! I'm not used to all of the hum, either. The pickups are very noisy. I've been playing long enough to know not to stand in front of my amp when not playing. These things are even noisy thru my V-amp2. A constant Strat-like buzz. It seems kind of weird to me...

V-Amp 2.0 comes with a noise gate....there must be something wrong cause its my quietest pups out of all my babies...and I got gain up the wazzoo! My Wayne with EMG's is a radio transmitter compared to my SUB1

 

[sgmarshall3]

That's weird. Could something be wrong with the wiring on the pickups? I had it shipped to me from North Carolina, so something could have happened. I'm going to put my usual strings on it, too. That may help me get "my" sound, too. I'll let you know.

 

[Raz]

Like I said, I use my V-Amp with 4 different guitars and once I accidently used a preset with my Sub that was setup for one of my other guitars and it made noise, but once I was in SUB 1 mode, there was no noise...well there was noise, the kind my fingers make when they hit the strings...but no pup, nor guitar in the world can rid me of that...

 

[nobozos]

I know exactly what you are talking about with the pickups on the SUB 1. I play an Axis, and I'm really pleased with the sound I get from those pickups. I went to Flores Music and tried out a SUB 1 when it came in, and I didn't like the pickup sound either. I picked up one of the Axis' that they had in the store so that I could get a good sound I liked out of the amp, then plugged the SUB 1 back in. Still didn't like the sound. I came to the conclusion that I just don't care for the pickups in the SUB 1. I would recommend replacing the bridge pickup with a Seymour Duncan JB, and see where that takes you.

 

[Raz]

Sub1 bashers....Koog I need help here!

 

[Warg Master]

Hey, you forgot about me raz.


SUB1 RULEZ!!!! DEATH TO SUB 1 NAYSAYERS!!!! DEEEEAAAAAAAAAAATTHHHH

I like the pickups in the sub just fine, personally. I get a damn good tone with it on my amp.

If you were to change the pickups out, I'd say put in some DiMarzios... but I'm rather fanatical about the pickups I like if the stock pickups don't cut it.

That doesn't matter though cause the Sub1 pickups do cut it... My opinion of course

Oh, and PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCCCSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Raz]

Hey, you forgot about me raz.


SUB1 RULEZ!!!! DEATH TO SUB 1 NAYSAYERS!!!! DEEEEAAAAAAAAAAATTHHHH

I like the pickups in the sub just fine, personally. I get a damn good tone with it on my amp.

If you were to change the pickups out, I'd say put in some DiMarzios... but I'm rather fanatical about the pickups I like if the stock pickups don't cut it.

That doesn't matter though cause the Sub1 pickups do cut it... My opinion of course

Oh, and PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCCCSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dang, sorry Warg...if you haven't figured it out yet, my memory sucks bad...

 

[sgmarshall3]

Okaaaaaaaaay. I've finally got the pics here! I was only able to post one, and only then after reducing it to a tiny file. After that one, I got an error message about using too much space. Is there a way I can post bigger photos? If not, email me at [email protected] for the full-size pics you can actually see. The one pic has all 3 of my electrics-my Sub, OLP Axis, and my SG(with decorations courtesy of my stepson )I haven't had much time to put the pics up, since I've been playing the sub1 alot! It sounds great unplugged, which I actually need since I don't get much time that I can plug in. It allows me to just play 10-20 minutes here and there, without waiting on the Marshall to get all warmed up. Odd, but it seems to have a wonderful natural "reverb" acoustically that none of my other guitars have (and I've had many over the years). I was playing along with Godsmack's acoustic cd and got really similar tones unplugged which really impressed me. I recorded some sound samples with my v-amp too, so I'll have to post a link to those when I get the chance. The clean tones are very warm, and quite nice. I'll probably be too busy shoveling snow and scraping ice here in Ohio to get sound files uploaded any time soon though.

 

[bluebullet]

nice lookin guitar i like the color

 

[koogie2k]

I'm right here Raz.....

Pick ups on the Sub1. This, of course, is all a matter of opinion like most things. I will agree that the Axis pick ups sound better to me than the Sub1. However, pound for pound, the SUB1, will kick the crap out of most guitars in its price range and the sound, playability and tone can't be beat. Stock pick up on the Sub are not top of the line for sure, but, it is not keeping the basement warm either. I happen to like the Sub. I just happen to like my JP's more. But, let's not forget, a new Axis or JP will buy you two to three Sub guitars. So, the Axis and JP's had better have top of the line pups in 'em!

Now, if you switch out the Sub pup with one of your liking, you have done nothing but improve an already awesome product. How could you go wrong? Like I said before, tone and style and what not are all a matter of opinion and what fits you. I changed out the pups on one of my JP's just to make it more ferocious (this one has 12" fangs ) but kept the others stock. My personal taste. Personally, I like to keep things stock and build my sound around it. Of course, with sound, I consult my tone sensei.....OC in that dept. But, I got my sound dialed in with each guitar to my liking. So, I say, the SUB1 is a kick a$$ axe!

 

[sgmarshall3]

nice lookin guitar i like the color

Me too. I love green. I wanted to ask yet another question of everyone. It seems I might have more of a problem than what I thought was a noisy pickup. I actually compared my Sub1 to my OLP Axis with the exact same settings, both with my Marshall and with the V amp2, and found it had the same noise. Any time I take my hand off the guitar-loud hum! What scares me is, when I touch the metal parts of the bridge or pickup selector the buzz goes away! I have only lived in my house for a couple of months-do I have some kind of wiring problem? Is it dangerous to me or my equipment?

 

[dwf1004]

If this is happening with a single guitar, then one could look at a grounding issue with the guitar. Since this is happening with multiple guitars, we could more than likely take them out of the equation.

I would suspect:

1. Cable from guitar to amp.
(Obviously a new cable in its place would be suggested to try)
2. Power issue at that outlet.
(Try adding a surge suppressor or power conditioner, or try relocating amp for troubleshooting.)
3. Possible issues with wiring in house, not grounded properly.
(I stress possible because I'm not an electrician, so I can't make a true judgment on that...but it can't be ruled out)
4. It's you.
(No, it's really not...that just seemed like it needed to go there. )

Overall, I wouldn't say that this is an immediate danger to anything, but it's something that you want to address ASAP before it worsens, and maybe does something to your gear, or zaps you and gives you a permanent Young Einstein fro (if not worse! )

My 2 pennies...

 

[OrangeChannel]

60 cycle hum....if your home has less than stellar power you can be picking up a ton of artifact from that. Also do you sit near your computer or a tv when you play, the pickups will pick up the radiation emitted from the picture tube....hence why I have to shut off the monitor everytime I track something. God I need a flat panel.

 

[Raz]

Me too. I love green. I wanted to ask yet another question of everyone. It seems I might have more of a problem than what I thought was a noisy pickup. I actually compared my Sub1 to my OLP Axis with the exact same settings, both with my Marshall and with the V amp2, and found it had the same noise. Any time I take my hand off the guitar-loud hum! What scares me is, when I touch the metal parts of the bridge or pickup selector the buzz goes away! I have only lived in my house for a couple of months-do I have some kind of wiring problem? Is it dangerous to me or my equipment?

Wear a pair of wet socks while you play and that will narrow the problem down quickly ...just kidding(no your not) Yes, I am....(no)...Yes, who's talking...stop it!