SS Posse

[HELSTRUME]

I was also thinking of getting a Schecter Banshee. Don't you have one? I love the thin neck, and fixed bridge.

[Shask]

Damn, you have some nice stuff. I just have my Strat, a Aria Acoustic guitar and a banjo lol. I was given the banjo, so it just hangs on the wall. I mostly just practice on the acoustic. I sold everything else to get a new amp, but been too lazy to buy anything

I just got sick of selling stuff, so I just keep it, lol. My poor little office room is cluttered as can be.

[Shask]

I was also thinking of getting a Schecter Banshee. Don't you have one? I love the thin neck, and fixed bridge.

Yes, I have a Banshee with passive pickups and a Floyd. It is my favorite guitar along with my PRSs. I keep thinking about buying a second one with the hardtail bridge, just to have another before they get too hard to find.

Yes, they have a very thin neck, but it is also round, and very narrow. It is very comfortable. It is definitely the narrowest neck I have. I also have a Charvel So-Cal, Ibanez RG5EX1, and a Kiesel SCB6 that I play a lot. I also have the Ibanez RG7321 and Schecter Hellraiser 7 strings. Oh, and the PRS SE CU24s, one regular, one with a Floyd.

[HELSTRUME]

I also really like the EVH guitars. The standard is 600 like the banshee. I would just never use the trem lol.

[Shask]

I also really like the EVH guitars. The standard is 600 like the banshee. I would just never use the trem lol.

I have always liked the Wolfgang guitars, but just never enough to keep them for some reason.

I have always loved Floyds, but like having some hardtails also. I kind of want a Superstrat with a Hipshot now since I have more Floyds than anything else. That is why I thought about finding an old hardtail Banshee. However, the PRS has shown me how cool a vintage trem with locking tuners can be. They are pretty useful for most things less than Pantera squeals without the bulk of a Floyd.

[HELSTRUME]

I just couldn't get into locking trems like my friends. But as a kid I always played rhythm, while my buddy played lead. Thats why I always liked LPs. I just want to get a new guitar and amp. I like Schecter, cause they are C shaped necks. My Favs. I can not do the flat Ibanez necks. They feel too weird lol. I also liked the ESP EC1000s, they sound great. I just want to get something I really like, Cause i'm tired of flipping stuff. Just look at all the garbage we have had through the years lol. HC killed me with gas

[Shask]

I just couldn't get into locking trems like my friends. But as a kid I always played rhythm, while my buddy played lead. Thats why I always liked LPs. I just want to get a new guitar and amp. I like Schecter, cause they are C shaped necks. My Favs. I can not do the flat Ibanez necks. They feel too weird lol. I also liked the ESP EC1000s, they sound great. I just want to get something I really like, Cause i'm tired of flipping stuff. Just look at all the garbage we have had through the years lol. HC killed me with gas

You gotta learn more rhythms using the trem, lol. People hate on Limp Bizkit, but this is still one of my favorite riffs of all time, especially one using the trem heavily:

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ICeSlIcZTk[/video]

I love Schecter necks, but don't prefer the curved top and TOM bridge most of their guitars have. I wish they made more varieties of Banshee, and the Kieth Merrow II type bodies. I actually sanded down the necks on my two Ibanez guitars to be more round, so they are more comfortable than most. I also find their new Wizard III neck to be rounder than their past guitars.

Funny enough, I didn't buy anything for like 5 years. I was pretty happy after I got the Axe-FX II. I just started buying gear again in the last 2 years or so, and it has mostly just been cheaper pedals, and a few different guitars. And a bass setup.

[HELSTRUME]

I never liked them, but they had a decent guitarist.

[HELSTRUME]

So whats everybody favorite pickup now? I don't know what to try next.

[Shask]

So whats everybody favorite pickup now? I don't know what to try next.

I have several, but have been mostly on Duncan the last few years.

In different guitars, I currently have these installed: Duncan Distortion, Duncan Custom, Duncan Nazgul/Sentient, Duncan Black Winter set, Duncan Invader/Dimarzio Evolution Neck, Dimarzio Crunch Lab / Liquifier, EMG 707TW set, and my most recent set, the Fishman Modern set.

Of the passive pickups, I think the Black Winter are my favorite set. They are kind of bland, but that means there is nothing annoying about them. Chunky on the low end, no fizz on the high end, and enough mids to have pick definition. They remind me of a refined/clear Distortion mixed with an Invader. My favorite behind them is probably the Custom, but it can be too bright in brighter guitars.

I recently got the Fishman Modern set, and they are pretty cool also. They have that EMG thing going on, but more dynamic, and clearer. The voice options and such are pretty cool.

[HELSTRUME]

What do you think about the Nazgul? I have'nt tried it or the Black Winters yet.

[Shask]

What do you think about the Nazgul? I have'nt tried it or the Black Winters yet.

The Nazgul is cool. It is in my Banshee. I like it for Pantera or Fear Factory style playing. It has a pretty chunky low end, scooped lower mids, and then a big spike in the upper mids, so it has that clanky metalic type of sound to it when you pick. I think it is more aggressive sounding than the Black Winter. The Black Winter sounds fatter, and more even across the frequencies in general. I think the BW is a better overall general pickup for heavier styles, where the Nazgul kind of specializes in that aggressive upper mid pick attack type sounds.

I like the BW neck better than the Sentient also. The BW neck is mid boosted, so it kind of gets in that "I sound like a shredder" tone that Dimarzio neck pickups tend to get. The Sentient is more mid scooped. I do like it coil split though for that Rage Against the Machine Drop D tone he had going on.

[HELSTRUME]

So more bass like the invader, and mid spike like the JB? Is it tight? I always wanted to try the Dean Baker Act, because its suppose to be like a higher output JB thats tighter and fuller.

[HELSTRUME]

And how is it you can tell me how a pickup sounds, and nobody else can? Most pickup reviews never say how the EQ is

[Shask]

So more bass like the invader, and mid spike like the JB? Is it tight? I always wanted to try the Dean Baker Act, because its suppose to be like a higher output JB thats tighter and fuller.

Bass is not as dominating as an Invader. More like a Distortion or Custom, but tighter. Honestly, I find both newer designs (BW and Nazgul) to be much clearer and tighter than their older designs. It is like they learned how to refine their sounds.

The mid spike is at a higher frequency than the JB. It is at the metalic clank frequencies, which is about 1.4khz to 1.6khz. However, past that mid spike, I actually dont find it super bright. The overall high end is not as bright and fuzzy as a Distortion for example.

[Shask]

And how is it you can tell me how a pickup sounds, and nobody else can? Most pickup reviews never say how the EQ is

Most people dont neurotically analyze sounds as much as I do, lol.

It is easier to tell when you have a bunch of different ones also. I can easily switch back and forth and hear it pretty easily.

[HELSTRUME]

Maybe I should replace my distortion with one, and give it a try. Whats the overall brightness?

[Shask]

Maybe I should replace my distortion with one, and give it a try. Whats the overall brightness?

You know, It has a lot of upper mids, but I dont find it overly bright. I think the Distortion tends to have more of those fuzzy highs than the others. I don't like overly bright pickups that sound fuzzy, like they always have a fuzz pedal turned on with them. The Nazgul overall sounds more hi-fi and modern than the Distortion. I don't mind the Distortion, and I always have one around, but it is never my favorite. I always find it fuzzy sounding, like the sound is not tight and clear. I think if you want something more modern and aggressive sounding than the Distortion, but not dramatically different (it is still a Duncan), than you might as well give it a shot! Mine is in a Banshee, which is Alder with an Ebony fretboard, so a fairly bright guitar overall.

I like the BW and Nazgul better than most of their older designs, because, like I said, I find them clearer and tighter than the older designs. I think the BW is the better overall "generic" pickup that sounds good in more situations, and the Nazgul is more specific for that aggressive modern sound.

[HELSTRUME]

My Strat is Alder and rosewood, so close enough Plus I have stainless steel saddles and a big steel trem block, so its got some brightness also. my main thing about the Distortion is I want something clearer. Remember I played the EVO and EVO 2 for years. They are really clear. Guess i'll wait and see what amp I get before I get another pickup or guitar. There are a couple of SS amps I need to try out, but nobody seems to have them. I probably should have just kept my Peavey XXL lol.

[Statutory Gape]

I'm officially stuck. A few years ago, I was happy with my amps. Still am, but want some different solutions for low volume and headphone stuff. The Black Truck or Preamp Live? And there's like 50 new preamp pedals (Herbert, Revv, etc)...

I just spoke to Elan recently and he's currently working on a re-release of his Excalibur amp (which is basically Dino's Marshall). It's going to be the Excalibur preamp with a SS power section in a lunchbox sized head.

[HELSTRUME]

Victory also has their preamp line up now. I like their Kraken amps. Lots of options now.

[HELSTRUME]

I Looked at some guitars, and it looks like my best bet is ESP or Schecter. Most leftys either have a big neck, or the volume knob right at my fingers. Or cost a ton. I don't want crap just to have another guitar, but don't want to pay a lot when I don't play out. Thats the reason I've had my strat for years. I just want a thinner neck then my Strat, with a flatter radius. Thats what I like about the banshee. I played some DV mark amps, and the EVO 1 and little 250M sound great. I also like the Blackstar metal, and Jetcity JCA 50. But I have not gotten to play a Randall RG1003 or Diavlo yet.

[HELSTRUME]

I'm gonna get some hate for this, but I tried a new Line 6 Spider V, and at low volumes it sounds pretty decent. By Spider X, they should be rocking

[Statutory Gape]

Holy fuck.





[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=254&v=w15ylzohMS0[/video]

St. Wendel, Germany (September 6, 2018) -- Hughes & Kettner is opening a new chapter in the story of guitar amplification with the release of the pioneering new Black Spirit 200 amplifier.

Blessed with incredible practicality and an exhilarating range of sounds and features, immense power, and weighing in at just 8 lbs., Black Spirit 200 is truly like no amp before.

Black Spirit 200 is the first amplifier to feature Hughes & Kettner’s revolutionary new "bionic" Spirit technology. Made in Germany and housed on a sealed PCB, the Spirit Tone Generator faithfully recreates the vivid interactions of traditional tube amp circuits in a strictly analog way, delivering world class tone and responsiveness.

The amp features four channels – Clean, Crunch, Lead, and Ultra – which cover all the iconic guitar sounds of the last 60 years, plus a comprehensive range of built-in reverb, delay and modulation effects. Black Spirit 200 is also the world’s first analog amp to feature a power amp sagging control, letting players adjust the amount of power amp sag regardless of the volume level.

In addition, the amp can be played through any kind of speaker – from standard guitar cabinets to active and passive PA speakers, studio monitors and even hi-fi systems – and the new generation Red Box DI output now offers eight ultra-realistic cabinet simulations, making it the perfect mic-free solution for stage and studio.

Thanks to Hughes & Kettner’s Smart Rotary Control technology, every pot setting (including EQs and gain, and sagging) on Black Spirit 200 can be saved and recalled in up to 128 presets using any compatible MIDI footswitch, and unlimited tonal presets are possible when using the amp’s free App for iPad via Bluetooth.

Black Spirit 200 packs a massive 200 watts of power, making it loud enough for the biggest of stages. The amp can also be reduced to 20, 2, or even 0 zero watts for silent recording and bedroom practice. With a headphone out and an Aux in – or using Bluetooth – players can jam along to their favorite tunes any time inspiration strikes.

Rüdiger Forse, Hughes & Kettner’s Senior Product Manager, said: “Black Spirit 200 is like no amp before. With the Spirit Tone Generator, guitarists can enjoy the best tone of their lives, at any volume, and the amp has all the features you need to make it perfect for anywhere from your bedroom to the world’s biggest arenas. Black Spirit 200 might weigh just 8 lbs. and fir in your carry-on luggage, but this amp has the power to change your life!”

Black Spirit 200 is out now. For more information, visit the Hughes & Kettner website and watch the Black Spirit 200 video teaser

Hughes & Kettner Black Spirit 200 – key facts and technical specifications:

Pioneering bionic Spirit Tone Generator faithfully recreates the vivid interactions of traditional tube amp circuits in a strictly analog way
4 channels: Clean, Crunch, Lead, Ultra, which offer all the iconic amp sounds
The world’s first analog amp with true power amp sagging control, adds creaminess at any volume
Output power switchable from 200 to 20 and 2 watts without sacrificing your tone
All new Red Box AE+ with eight ultra-realistic cabinet emulations
Enjoy great tone through any kind of loudspeaker: guitar cabinets, active or passive full range PA speakers, studio or hi-fi speakers
Digital on-board effects: Reverb, Delay (with Tap function), Flanger, Phaser, Chorus, Tremolo
All controls except Master Volume are fully programmable thanks to Hughes Kettner’s proprietary Smart Rotary Control technology
Save your favorite sound settings in up to 128 presets
MIDI In and Thru lets you connect the Hughes & Kettner FSM-432 MK III MIDI board or other MIDI controllers
Wireless remote control and unlimited presets with the free App for iPad
Bluetooth streaming or stereo mini jack for jamming to playalongs
Headphones out that also serves as a stereo line out
Full range automatic switching power supply for worldwide use (100 V to 240 V)
Just 3.6 kg / 7.8 lbs.
Dimensions (W x H x D): 410 x 155 x 150 mm

[linthat22]

Damn that H&K looks nice!