Seeking Info about possible build???

[slashgnr88]

ok so I already have a project goin (with older body) (1st build) and it will be complete when my neck comes from warmoth. Buttt....

if i were to order a new body at some point I am wondering what wood I should get for the desired result


soloist body with recessed orig floyd, 720 mod, recessed heal
EMG 81 in bridge
vintage style single coil in neck????
volume, tone, toggle

what I am after is a shred style guitar (emg 81 sound in bridge) that I could get a decent vintage clean strat type sound by switching to the neck pickup


what wood should I have the body made with? is this too hopeful of a concept to have both the shred and blues world in one guitar?

everyone  please give me ideas and wisdom

 

[Mor Paul]

The wood in the body isn't extremely important. Korina, ash, alder, poplar, mahogany... plenty of things will work there.
I don't know how bright an 81 is, though. Some compensation might be needed. Also, the neck wood needs to be known. It's more important than the body wood.

 

[slashgnr88]

neck is birdseye maple all the way around. warmoth pro. 6100 frets. wizard.

I have never used EMGs before so idk how bright it is but i picked it out due to its rep as a shred type PU so im thinking it will be pretty bright and hot.

how much does the orig Floyd come into play on the tone of the guitar?

I know maple is supposed to be a brighter neck wood???? so I was thinking a body wood on more of the nonbright side to even out the tone somewhat.

 

[m4rk0]

Basswood/Maple is perfect for Shredders!
make sure to add either a solid color or a fancy top!

 

[slashgnr88]

if I end up getting the body I will get highgrade quilt top.


my biggest question is what kind of tone I could get out of a single coil at the neck of this guitar. im worried that using the floyd with maple neck will make anything sound shred toned.

if that is the case I would prob just keep the body I have right now (single Hum)

the ideal would be 80's shred tone in the bridge and warm round blues tone in the neck all at a flip of a switch

I posted pics of the body im using at this point in work in progress but ill put it here as well

 

[Mor Paul]

Don't tell anyone...
But the shred tone is the amp and style you're playing in.
Cut down the gain (or switch pedals to a bluesier one) and don't go harmonic/whammy crazy. Try it with another guitar.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

The EMG 81 is an active pickup.  The vintage single coil you mention is what brand?  What I'm getting at, and I've seen it done but know how they did it, is I don't think you can mix active and passive pickups like that.  Perhaps with the use of a 2 way switch where both systems were isolated (instead of a 3-way switch).  You might consider using the 85 in the bridge.  It's everyone's recomendation (except EMG's) that this is the best pickup for it.  If you're going to get the 85, get the 89.  It's a split coil version of the 85, and can be used with a push/pull pot or mini toggle.  Also, for neck pickups, check out EMG's Tele neck pickup.  They claim that thing is lightning in a bottle, their best pickup in other words.

As far as mixing EMGs with passive pickups, which I don't know how it's done, one of Kid Rock's guitarists, Adam Jones (Tool), and Johnny Cooper's former guitar player all have guitars with an EMG and passive pickup in the same guitar.   

 

[slashgnr88]

I am not for sure on the neck pickup yet. I was thinking fender lace or tx special. I had also looked into the EMG singles (S, SA, SX????) so as to stay with active pickups across the board like you mentioned. I just want something to sound as close to a strat (using neck single) as possible.


if I went with the fender lace I could go for the 2way switch i dont have prob with that. I already have a EMG 81 so if I got the body I would just move all of my existing hardware over to the new body that way all I would need was a neck single coil.