I love the classic John Petrucci setup...I'm not really an Ibanez guy, but the DiMarzio Steve's Special bridge and Air Norton neck pickups in a basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard guitar, into a Mesa Mark IIC+ or Mark IV is just simply awesome...heavy rhythm + creamiest and articulate lead tone ever!
Steve’s Specials don’t seem to get a lot of love these days but I think they are underrated. It’s true they’re not hottest pickups around but there’s just something “pure” about them; great note clarity and they seem to let the natural sound of the guitar and amp come through and not color the sound too much.
I've been using DiMarzios since the 80s but started using the Steve's Special a couple years ago. I absolutely love it. The pickup has so much clarity and great tone, so much great response. It's much more my kind of pickup that a Tone Zone, Crunch Lab or some of the other models Petrucci has used which are more attuned to his ears and his rig. I play more of a 70s and early 80s style of instrumental prog and the Special just works best for me. I get all the gain I need from my Boss GT-1 through a Roland, going direct and bypassing the preamp. I go for clarity first and I get it. It's a great, big rock tone with an edge to it. The Special pairs with with the Air Norton. I use this set in a couple strats and my main guitar, a stop tail Schecter Deluxe.
I bought a cheap squier strat affinity series in about 1999. My friend, who has since passed away replaced all my pickups and scratch plate and the Dimarzio Steve's special was one of the pickups... alongside a Fender Jaguar pickup on it's own in the middle position and a Seymour Duncan humbucker of some description I forget in the neck position (a warm humbucker).
JPM has the greatest neck profile, fretboard radius+wire combo of all time. The guitar that most fit me like a glove when I picked it up...I wish to hell that I had bought one at some point before the original primary color version shot up to $6,000-7,000.
Just ordered a Steve's special. I have a Korina semi hollow but so far I've gone through about 20 different pickups no joke. Beautiful guitar the most annoying guitar to get the best sound out of it.
Hi, I have a question in this expert round. The JPM has only the inner coils of the PUS in operation in the center position. This is only possible with the special switch that is in there. Has anyone had experience with a normal switch. Where the PUs in the center position are simply paralell ? there are differences in the sound? Would be happy to get a feedback there. Great video. Thanks Uli \m/
Hey bro, you know what orientation is the "standard" Steves Special? I just bought one and i see the orientation affect in brightness Thanks for your help 🙏🏻
I know this is an older video, but your playing and tone are stellar! I certainly don't have your skill, and don't even play Petrucci's stuff, but I LOVE your tone. I can't justify the cost of a real Mesa. But, the Positive Grid Spark has several Mesa models, including the JP-2C. Do you think this might get close to your tone?
It's a 2011 'Reborn' series Rectifier, multiwatt. It was on the orange channel, pretty much everything at 12 o'clock, bass rolled off a bit, tubescreamer out front. Diode rectification, bold setting. I hope that helps!
I love the classic John Petrucci setup...I'm not really an Ibanez guy, but the DiMarzio Steve's Special bridge and Air Norton neck pickups in a basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard guitar, into a Mesa Mark IIC+ or Mark IV is just simply awesome...heavy rhythm + creamiest and articulate lead tone ever!
Steve’s Specials don’t seem to get a lot of love these days but I think they are underrated. It’s true they’re not hottest pickups around but there’s just something “pure” about them; great note clarity and they seem to let the natural sound of the guitar and amp come through and not color the sound too much.
I've been using DiMarzios since the 80s but started using the Steve's Special a couple years ago. I absolutely love it. The pickup has so much clarity and great tone, so much great response. It's much more my kind of pickup that a Tone Zone, Crunch Lab or some of the other models Petrucci has used which are more attuned to his ears and his rig. I play more of a 70s and early 80s style of instrumental prog and the Special just works best for me. I get all the gain I need from my Boss GT-1 through a Roland, going direct and bypassing the preamp. I go for clarity first and I get it. It's a great, big rock tone with an edge to it. The Special pairs with with the Air Norton. I use this set in a couple strats and my main guitar, a stop tail Schecter Deluxe.
I bought a cheap squier strat affinity series in about 1999. My friend, who has since passed away replaced all my pickups and scratch plate and the Dimarzio Steve's special was one of the pickups... alongside a Fender Jaguar pickup on it's own in the middle position and a Seymour Duncan humbucker of some description I forget in the neck position (a warm humbucker).
JPM has the greatest neck profile, fretboard radius+wire combo of all time. The guitar that most fit me like a glove when I picked it up...I wish to hell that I had bought one at some point before the original primary color version shot up to $6,000-7,000.
You always have so awesome riffs!
damn. I been looking for a replacement bridge to go in my basswood Ibanez to pair with the Air Norton....guess who's sold now?
Dimarzio Steve's Special??? :D:D:D:D
best sample! cool music! symphony X style
Just ordered a Steve's special. I have a Korina semi hollow but so far I've gone through about 20 different pickups no joke. Beautiful guitar the most annoying guitar to get the best sound out of it.
Hi, I have a question in this expert round. The JPM has only the inner coils of the PUS in operation in the center position. This is only possible with the special switch that is in there. Has anyone had experience with a normal switch. Where the PUs in the center position are simply paralell
? there are differences in the sound? Would be happy to get a feedback there. Great video. Thanks Uli \m/
What are some differences between this pickup configuration and JP's Tone Zone/Humbucker from Hell setup?
Hey bro, you know what orientation is the "standard" Steves Special? I just bought one and i see the orientation affect in brightness
Thanks for your help 🙏🏻
Standard position is wires towards the control.
Hey man, great sound!. Where can i find this backing track?
Do you have the DI tracks for this? I love mixing your other DI tracks lol
i love JPM!!
I know this is an older video, but your playing and tone are stellar! I certainly don't have your skill, and don't even play Petrucci's stuff, but I LOVE your tone.
I can't justify the cost of a real Mesa. But, the Positive Grid Spark has several Mesa models, including the JP-2C. Do you think this might get close to your tone?
Check out ML Sound Lab ML5. That thing is THE Mesa Mark sound.
Can you please do Gibson Dirty Fingers VS SD Invader's, or try do each of those P-Ups at some point? Just a suggestion. Thanks!
Hi James. I'm aiming to do as many pickups as I get my hands on, so they may come up in the future! Cheers.
Is this a dream theater track? Sounds rlly sick!
Thanks man! No it's not, but it's done "in the style of" Dream Theater, due to it being John Petrucci's signature gear. Cheers!
what year is your dual rectifier, anyway you can remember the settings? Tuber or Modern rectifier in the rear?
It's a 2011 'Reborn' series Rectifier, multiwatt. It was on the orange channel, pretty much everything at 12 o'clock, bass rolled off a bit, tubescreamer out front. Diode rectification, bold setting. I hope that helps!
Great video, subbed!
What song he is playing?
@@floggymosco13 Hi there, this is my own composition. Thanks 😊
Do you always match your shirt's color with the guitar you play? 🤣🤘
great tone, will have to try the Steve's Special out some time.
is it versatile?
Absolutely, sounded fantastic with lower gain tones. It still retains a fatness, when most pickups get a little weedy when you roll off the volume.
awesome, thanks!
0:32 was one of the best chanteuse overs I heard. Dang.
Awesome\,,/*_*\,,/