Distortion first impressions: HOLY BATMAN TONE JESUS!!!

[JeffB]

Ah Jeff! Aparently the model 7 trans colors were NOT Basswood. The model 88 also was Mahogany but that's a very rare model now. I'm still curious about your 4 though, no one had heard of it over there on the JCF.

Well, I bought the thing used during the day...so it could have been a diff body someone slapped a Charvel neck on. However he went to the trouble of putting in the Jackson active pups & electronics/switches, a Kahler, and even the same exact blue color they used then on the model 4s...so I kinda doubt it.

[big_black]

Glad to hear you like it.

The cleans were not clear enough for me (top end). It could have been the mahogany my SG is made out of. It's probably the best high-gain pickup I've ever used. Certainly one of the best out there.

[Mr Wolf]

My guitar has a licensed floyd rose, is bolt on, and has a maple neck. Typical Jackson super strat style. Not to say that the Distortion isn't overly bright by itself however it doesn't exactly match up well with a guitar that has a bright/thin sound.

What kind of wood is your Kramer copy made of? I think the Distortion would be perfectly suited for an explorer type guitar with a big body and tune-o-matic bridge. If I ever got a Les Paul or Explorer an SH-6 would be at very the top of my list to try out in the bridge position.

The Parallel Axis model will only fit correctly in a guitar with tremspacing used.
One of the main purposes of the Parallel Axis design is to add meat and sustain to a Floyd-rose equipped guitar that lacks in those tonal departments due to loss of resonance.

I'm not too sure if this design would be beneficial to non-trem equipped guitars which could possibly be one of SD's reasons for only making them available as trembuckers. If most fixed bridge guitars don't suffer the same sort of resonance deficiency that a lot of trem guitars do then there probably isn't much of a market for a regular spaced Parallel Axis.

Thanks for the response. My explorer is alder bodied, bolt-on maple neck with rosewood board. I guess ill see how the DD sounds in it. There is that 28day return policy if it doesn't sound amazing.

Thanks again

Jeff

[Pierre]

Still not Alder Jeff. I asked on the JCF. Eh it doesn't prove they're right though, but catalogue scans I saw all said basswood. You may have had a very rare breed indeed.

[JeffB]

Still not Alder Jeff. I asked on the JCF. Eh it doesn't prove they're right though, but catalogue scans I saw all said basswood. You may have had a very rare breed indeed.

Too bad I couldn't stand the thing..might have been worth some money these days, cos it was def not basswood...nor was it poplar or maple...plus the grain was just like any other alder I've seen.

:shrug:

No matter. Glad ya like the DD!

[Pierre]

Woa you didn't like it. Shame. My model 4 and 1a are both very fine instrument, easily equal to modern day USA Strats for instance. VERY loud accoustically and play gorgeous.
Anyone who ever compares my model 4 to a basswood RG gets a beating for instance

[JeffB]

Woa you didn't like it. Shame. My model 4 and 1a are both very fine instrument, easily equal to modern day USA Strats for instance. VERY loud accoustically and play gorgeous.
Anyone who ever compares my model 4 to a basswood RG gets a beating for instance

More of an issue with me generally not comfortable with bolt on necks, 25.5" scales, and trems moreso than it was a poor quality. It was actually a very high quality axe, like all the Jacksons and Charvels I've owned (USA or import).

[Pierre]

Haha fair enough... I love bolt ons now, but it may just be due to this guitar being so kickbutt

[Rainmaker]

I've got all the Queensryche albums... I love exploring Mindcrime and Empire... but I got just as much out of The Warning.

Don't miss out on that gem.

[Rand-O-Monium]

After deliberation,& scoring 1 on eBay,I think the guitar it would be best-suited for would be my Dean '79 r/i V.
I've got a DiM SD in it now,but I think the DD will give more cut.
I'm the only guitarist IMB,I've heard it's not as "great" as the JB for solo tones(whatever),but my MIDI rig has a mid-boost for solos.
REALLY looking forward to it!!!

[Duke of Metal]

The Duncan distortion is sure an EVIL sounding pickup. Thats all i use in my Lespauls

[daemon barbeque]

Duncan Distortion is Raw and really "full" i think.
My guitar is 24.3/4 scale tunamatic but f spaced.string and neck tru.so i hav just the problem that the output is always to high for my toneport hehehe.
DD is amazing ,i asked yester MJ to make a custom Parallel Axis that sounds more like A DD for me.we will see..i am waiting!!!

[Jackson Distortion]

Distortion begets distortion and distortion 'til death!

[baritone]

How much consideration do you guys give to that "Tone Wizard"? I'm looking for pickup upgrades for my Epi, and I am interested in the Dist, but I'm not sure if it would be appropriate with my guitar.