Y2D & Morse Signature differences in tone?

[Rockyd77]

Hi,

I just got a Morse Y2D a few month ago. I just love everything about that guitar!!! The sound, the neck, everything is perfect! And for once a guitar design that is original and not a Strat or LesPaul copy. That being said, I want more...

I am planning on buying the Morse Signature and I am just wondering if there is a difference in tone. The Y2D got the maple top but not the Signature. Then the sound should be darker. Anyone who's got both instrument (lucky you) who wants to shed the light on this.

Thanks in advance.

 

[petruccirocks02]

I have played both the regular Morse and the Y2D. The regular Morse sounded a bit darker to my ears. And the Y2D a bit brighter cuz of the maple top. I actually preferred the sound of the Regular Morse over the Y2D, mainly cuz of the many more tone options.

-Phil

 

[Rockyd77]

I can easily envision that guitar being a bit darker except for the neck pick-up which I find a bit dark already... It is great for lead but border line muddy for rythm... How is this pick-up on the Signature..

Thanks

Rock

 

[Beth]

Welcome Rockyd!

Both instruments are signature guitars, built after the specs of what Steve Morse wanted a guitar to be. These guitars are all built so that Steve could go into any music store, pick one up off the shelf, and it would be ready for him to play. Both the Steve Morse and the Steve Morse Y2D guitars are signature guitars, so don't let that deter you from the Y2D. Both are beautiful instruments and have aspects of their own. The Y2D has one less switch and pickup, which kinda simplifies it for people who still want lots of tone but not too many options as to confuse.

I'm sure Beej could elaborate... Beej?

-Beth

 

[beej]

Hi Rock- congrats on the Y2D. I have both and love 'em. (Thanks Beth)

They're pretty darn similar. Especially now that the new Morses have the same neck profile as the Y2D (the old ones have a thicker neck, before they re-scanned Steve's #1).

I think they're very close tonally (except for the extra strat pickup on the standard Morse). I've heard people say the Y2D is brighter, as indeed it should be with the maple cap. But that's very hard to hear. Also the Y2D's pickups are a tad hotter so they can sit further away from the strings. I do find my Y2D is a tad hotter, but I'm sure if I raised the pickups on my standard Morse it would be hard to tell.

The neck pickup is a bit darker that your standard neck pickup, that's just Steve's preference. But combine it with the bridge pickup and you have a great rhythm tone. Here's another great tone- split the bridge pickup, it sounds excellent on it's own. I use the split bridge + single coil together for clean sounds all the time. Killer!

In any case, they're both excellent and very similar tonally.

 

[Rockyd77]

Thanks Beej for your comments... I think every of the 5 switch positions on this guitar bring a totally different sonic picture. So far I have been using the neck and bridge pick-up for lead and the combination of any of these with the single coil for rythm. The single coil by itself is amazing, for as long as you can plan for the drop in volume. Minor inconvieneint really...

I am still amazed by the harmonics content of this guitar especially when played hard... Harmonics starts puping here and there which makes me smile everytime. See that didn't happen on my Les Paul.

 

[Colin]

both are great and you won't be disappointed with either choice. Looking forward to seeing what you decide. Until then, here's mine...

 

[Ripper]

both are great and you won't be disappointed with either choice. Looking forward to seeing what you decide. Until then, here's mine...

Now this IS the standard of all premium quilt top (for a Y2D)!!

 

[Rockyd77]

Just an amazing top!!! I played guitar for a long time (as a hobby) and completely overlooked the MusicMan guitars till now. Well not anymore. Is a review in Guitarist Magazine that got my attention. Let me tell you I am glad it did.

 

[beej]

Music Man is the best kept guitar secret out there. Killer instruments at a very reasonable price. I can't say enough good things about the instruments or the people behind the brand.

I've been recording lately (clips to come soon), but people are still floored by the range of textures I can get from the Y2D. I was planning to use a bunch of guitars, but in the end it's been 90% Y2D (with split bridge p'up) - almost everything. Just a phenomenal sounding guitar.

 

[Rockyd77]

Hi Beej,

I totally agree with you. These guitars are amazing for the price you pay.

What do you mean by "Split Bridge Pup's"?? Did you modified your Y2D in order to get single coil at the bridge??

What type of music do you play? Anything we can listen to that you recorded with the Y2D?

Have a good day!

 

[beej]

I wired up the tone control (which I don't use) to be a variable split for the bridge pickup. Schematic here.

Tommy, another forumite here (and helluva player) suggested it and it's a great mod. So I roll down the tone control and it splits the bridge pickup. Sounds very tele-like and twangy on it's own and blends well with the other single coil too.

I play rock mostly, with some jazz and funk influences mixed in. There are some older tunes here.

"Life Begins Tomorrow" has the Y2D on it in a bunch of places, including the solo. I'll have some newer stuff soon.

 

[Colin]

"Life Begins Tomorrow" has the Y2D on it in a bunch of places, including the solo. I'll have some newer stuff soon.

I love that tune

 

[banjoplayer]

I can easily envision that guitar being a bit darker except for the neck pick-up which I find a bit dark already... It is great for lead but border line muddy for rythm... How is this pick-up on the Signature..

Thanks

Rock

During the last rehearsals I played a lot rhythm with the neck or the bridge/neck position with a crunch setting through my crate vc30. crunch is a thing you will not really hear from mr. morse. He plays clean or high gain But it sounded also spectacular with this guitar !

 

[Rockyd77]

Hi Beej,

Thanks for the modification schematic... It sounds like a great idea and I'll definitely look into it.

By the way, excellent, excellent, excellent music. Loved it!! That's a great band you got going up there. Do you come to Montreal sometimes, if yes please let me know... The solo on "Life begins tomorrow" is amazing. Sustain... and feedback... the volume must have been to the roof to get that kind of feedback going! The one on "Everybody knows" is excellent as well... Also, I was impressed by all the different guitar textures in your songs...

Hummm... Guytron amps.... Never heard of them... Funny I actually am shopping for an amp (aren't we always..) to bring the potential of this baby out... I rapidly check the reviews on Harmony Central and there are raving... Perfect ten on sound... To what would you compare this amp?

Rock

 

[Rockyd77]

Hi Banjoplayer...

I'll give it a try... and pay attention to my settings to get the mud out... I heard good things about that Crate VC30... alot og bang for the buck as I'm told... What's your thought on it... Is it a good match to the Y2D?

Rock

 

[beej]

Hey- thanks! We usually just play around the GTA but if we ever play in Montreal I will definitely letcha know (I love Montreal ... such an amazing city.)

Guytron is a small company in Detroit. That particular amp has a unique design. It's basically 2 channels into a 20W EL84 section which is then loaded and re-amped by a 100W EL34 section (basically a Plexi output section). You get the richness & chime of the EL84s but the output envelope of the Plexi section and you can shape the sound in a lot of interesting ways. That extra output section also allows you to get a saturated, harmonically rich sound at all volumes. You can get Fender, Vox, Marshall and some higher gain tones from that amp- it's very versatile. I would never have heard about them, but Tommy here ("tommyindelaware") turned me onto them. In his words ... "best 3D clean sound I've played". And it's true. Also built like a tank (and weigh about as much).

I did indeed have it cranked up during that solo ... lots of fun.

 

[Rockyd77]

See... That's exactly what I like... People thinking outside the box a little... and for some reason not easy to find in the wonderful guitar world... Spec wise, most guitar manufacturers are either copying a Strat or a LesPaul... I had been looking for sometimes to find something different... with the easiest neck possible... and when I read a review on the Y2D I just couldn't believe it... and ran to bought one... which I congragulate myself for doing...

I noticed that you got quiet a MusicMan collection yourself... Any other gems like the Y2d I should be aware of?

What do you mean by "3D clean sound"?? and I'll check out the Guytron web site right now...

 

[paranoid70]

These guitars are all built so that Steve could go into any music store, pick one up off the shelf, and it would be ready for him to play.
-Beth

So, can this be said of all the signature guitars? Is the JP one can pick up at the Guitar Center the same instrument that he uses on tour with Dream Theater? I was discussing guitars with a musician friend and he laughed at me when I told him that.

 

[paranoid70]

I noticed that you got quiet a MusicMan collection yourself... Any other gems like the Y2d I should be aware of?

Absolutely, check out the Silhouette Special!