Sunday, February 20, 2011

Upgrading my screaming machine!

Hi there!... It’s been a while i didn’t enter the world of blogging. Well my fingers nowadays more on running through my guitar fretboard rather than writing a blog.. in other word, a bit procrastinating on posting a new entry.

This time around i’m gonna tell you about my recent activities especially onto my musical instrument. I bought a new stompbox- BOSS Super Chorus CH-1 to replace my previous BEHRINGER Chorus Orchestra C0600.


BOSS Super Chorus CH-1


This is due to dissatisfaction towards the Behringer C0600 in terms of tonal characteristic. I’m not saying that Behringer C0600 is not good.. It is a good stompbox for beginner and also can be use for pro. and it is much cheaper than BOSS CH-1. But in term of tonal characteristic you can find that BOSS CH-1 gives a wide range of chorus tone compare to Behringer C0600.


After playing guitar for many years, i’ve intended to explore some of the popular guitar pickups like Dimarzio, EMG and Seymour Duncan. Those are 3 popular brands and most desired types of pickups by our local musician/guitarist in upgrading their guitars.


I’ve chosen Dimarzio pickups merely because Dimarzio got a wide variety of tones in each individual pickups from high output, medium output to vintage output. For my tonal arrangement i installed a high output pickup at the bridge and medium output on the neck. This arrangement is usually preferred by most guitarist that endorsed by the guitar maker for their signature series guitar. For example; Paul Gilbert of Mr. Big use Dimarzio pickups for all his signature series guitars (endorsed by Ibanez for his PGM series guitar).


Paul Gibert with his Ibanez PGM300


I’ve installed 2 of my favourite guitars that is Ibanez PGM3 and Ibanez RG320FM with Dimarzio pickups. My PGM3 is installed with Dimarzio Evo 2 (bridge), Super Distortion S(mid) and PAF pro(neck) and the RG320FM is equipped with Dimarzio Crunch Lab(bridge) and Liquifire(neck).


Ibanez PGM3 and Ibanez RG320FM


Before this I don't really care about upgrading my guitars as for me there is not much different in tones compare to high quality pickups. But I was wrong.. there are much different in tones and sustains if u change the stock pickups to high quality pickups. And now it is never feel the same if i play the guitar with stock pickups compare to upgraded pickups.


Of course, in terms of pickups selection, one must look into what type of woods of their guitar because this affects a lot in terms of tonal characteristic and sustain. Types of strings also affect the tones of guitars. I use the string gauge 0.09 – 0.42 and my favourite brand of guitar strings is ERNIE BALL and ELIXIR.


PGM3 - Dimarzio Evo 2, Super Distortion S n PAF pro.


RG320FM - Dimarzio Crunch Lab(bridge) and Liquifire(neck).


Ok guys, i guess that is all for now.. till we meet again in my next entry..

Have a blissful day wherever you are ;-)