Welcome to the board thembones101.  Those Jackson Dinkys are pretty good guitars.  A friend of mine has a couple Soloists and Dinkys and they are very shred worthy axes.

Now keep posting and bring the musician's section to life!

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I went out and bought a SansAmp GT2 amp mod. stop box... it was like $190 and I think I'm taking it back... I was looking for something to give me that extra metal like edge... this really just does what my amp can already do... It would be a great buy if I had an amp without so many different amp mods... but what you gonna do... does anyone have any idea what a good pedal with lots of metal sound would be? 

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So Your Sickness Weighs A Ton And God's Name Is Smack For Some

I've got a Johnson guitar and amp, as cheap as you get... I want a G&L Rampage (I'd want one even if Cantrell didn't play one) or Invader once I get enough money, but I have a question. I'm teaching myself to play, and I listen to everything from Nirvana, Three Days Grace, Queensryche, Foo Fighters, AiC, RHCP, Metallica... Are either of these, factory, versatile enough where I can get a good sound on all of these bands? If not, what would I have to change to have a metal sound and still be able to pull off 'grunge'?

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HiP QWNS

Smacked:

I went out and bought a SansAmp GT2 amp mod. stop box... it was like $190 and I think I'm taking it back... I was looking for something to give me that extra metal like edge... this really just does what my amp can already do... It would be a great buy if I had an amp without so many different amp mods... but what you gonna do... does anyone have any idea what a good pedal with lots of metal sound would be? 

Take back the SansAmp and get one of the following:

Damage Control Demonizer tube preamp
Mesa/Boogie V-Twin tube rackmount preamp or stomp box

If you are getting your distortion primarily from a pedal, then I highly suggest getting something with organic 12AX7 distortion such as one of the above pedals.  The problem is that they are usually expensive for a pedal so most of the time I would recommend buying an amp that has a natural level of distortion that would accomodate most of your needs.  Thats why I sold off my Mesa.  Sure I could invest in pedals to run infront of it, but I would much rather just have an amp do it all for me.

 

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thenegativecreep:

I've got a Johnson guitar and amp, as cheap as you get... I want a G&L Rampage (I'd want one even if Cantrell didn't play one) or Invader once I get enough money, but I have a question. I'm teaching myself to play, and I listen to everything from Nirvana, Three Days Grace, Queensryche, Foo Fighters, AiC, RHCP, Metallica... Are either of these, factory, versatile enough where I can get a good sound on all of these bands? If not, what would I have to change to have a metal sound and still be able to pull off 'grunge'?

Both G&Ls are good guitars.  You may want to look into the Superhawk as well.  I would say that stock the Rampage is the least versatile of the bunch and the Superhawk is the most versatile primarily due to controls and pickup configuration.  The Invader is going to probably be your best bet though so you are looking in the right direction.  Definitely try to pick up one that was built in the '80s that is equipped with a Kahler tremolo bridge. 

I would say swap the pickups out when you get whatever guitar you select.  Perhaps some DiMarzios or Duncans.  I wouldn't suggest EMGs because they are a bit sterile and I also wouldn't suggest anything boutique because the price would not be a wise investment for you.  The thing is though that your guitar isn't where most of your versatility comes from, what you really need to look for in an amplifier that can do each genre justice.

As far as amplifiers go I would suggest something with tubes and something that can be cost effective.  I think a loaded Mesa Mark III would be best for you as they can be purchased for $800 or less.  There are also the 5150 IIs and 6505 +s which will both provide good versatility in both directions and these are also about $600-800 depending on your luck.

Speakers are also a large part of your tone.  For your style I would suggest Celestion Vintage 30s or G12H30s.  Maybe even the G12T-75s found in most Marshall cabinets although they have a scooped tone.  I would suggest buying a cabinet built by Mesa/Boogie (Rectifier series), Marshall (Vintage or Lead series), or Avatar.  I also would suggest a 2x12 enclosure rather than a 4x12.  4x12s are big and heavy, and are not really "better" than a 2x12.  The main reason you see musicians with walls of 4x12s behind them is because they have endorsements, they want to look cool, and they have roadies to do all the lifting for them.  Meanwhile what you hear at a venue is usually one or two of the speakers mic'd into a PA system which is then broadcast throughout the venue.  A 2x12 will be more cost effective, have a tighter tone, and allow you to push your amp a little more than with a 4x12.  Plus if you aren't comfortable lifting 100 pounds and carrying it for distance then a 2x12 weighing in around 50 pounds would be more applicable.

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aw, what the heck, I haven't posted this in awhile:

 

G&L Rampage of course.  I was looking at several different models, but it's sorta hard to buy a guitar when you can barely play, it's hard to say what you like.  But I figured this would hold it's value and it was great quality for the price.  It's an 88 that was essentially new when I bought it.   Still pretty much new because I sort of dead ended with my self taught playing and got a little busier and hadn't picked it up in awhile.  But I just took a beginning guitar class and I'm ready to play a little more. 

Mine has a "Leo" tremolo bridge...kinda interesting, guess he was fiddling with his own version that year.  I don't play well enough to tell you much about it, but it seems to work just peachy keen. 

 Chem, was that second pick up added to yours when you bought it?

 

 

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In the end we are what we pretend to be...

Very nice Rampage dobegrrrl I have always liked the red Rampages quite a bit.  I still want to play around with one of those tremolos but I haven't seen any around before.  Pretty cool that you have a completely stock Rampage.  Most I have seen are loaded with an aftermarket humbucker at least but you still have the Schaller humbucker and pickup ring, even the other Leo Fender invention:  The "Guitar-Tech locking nut."  Make sure if you ever decide to change any electronics that you completely clean the solder off of them, place them in air tight bags, and store them somewhere that you will remember.  It will always be cool to have all of the original parts.

 

As far as mine went here is the story:

Someone bought the guitar in 1985 and had it professionally routed for a neck pickup, a tone pot, and a three-way toggle switch.  The route is clean and cut precisely so it lines up perfectly with the neck and Kahler.  Apparently they swapped out the original "Guitar-Tech locking nut" for a Kahler behind the nut lock, as well as the original pickup rings and pickups (which were changed to DiMarzio Super Distortions).  When I received the guitar I got it for just over $400 from a shop in Texas and it included the original hardshell case as well as the original owner's manual with intonation guides and other information.  The guitar is in very good shape for being over 20 years old.  I swapped out some of the electronics outside of the toggle in I believe 2005 for the Seymour Duncan Hot Rodded humbucker set, some 500K DiMarzio pots, and a new capacitor.  This year I swapped the pickups with a DiMarzio D-Sonic and Air Norton as well as some 500K CTS pots and a stereo switchcraft output jack.  I am thinking about changing the pickups yet again to some Bare Knuckle pickups which are custom boutique pickups that are handwound in North Devon, UK.  I am looking at a custom wound rendition of the Miracle Man calibrated humbucker set, but the pricetag is about $350 US for two pickups.

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thenegativecreep:

I've got a Johnson guitar and amp, as cheap as you get... I want a G&L Rampage (I'd want one even if Cantrell didn't play one) or Invader once I get enough money, but I have a question. I'm teaching myself to play, and I listen to everything from Nirvana, Three Days Grace, Queensryche, Foo Fighters, AiC, RHCP, Metallica... Are either of these, factory, versatile enough where I can get a good sound on all of these bands? If not, what would I have to change to have a metal sound and still be able to pull off 'grunge'?

 

A Johnson guitar AND amp? :( I used to work for a music store sold those. We sold them to beginners basically because they were so inexpensive. I'll be honest you'll be hard pressed to get a good sound out of those guitars and amps. They're almost more twangy than actual strats. To get that harder sound you're looking for you want to go for something with humbickers. Maybe try out an epiphone. They have some real low end Les Paul's and SG's that don't sound bad at all.
-matt

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'...And My Words Will Be Here When I'm Gone...'
www.myspace.com/scatteredlight
www.seetherville.com

solacematt:

thenegativecreep:

I've got a Johnson guitar and amp, as cheap as you get... I want a G&L Rampage (I'd want one even if Cantrell didn't play one) or Invader once I get enough money, but I have a question. I'm teaching myself to play, and I listen to everything from Nirvana, Three Days Grace, Queensryche, Foo Fighters, AiC, RHCP, Metallica... Are either of these, factory, versatile enough where I can get a good sound on all of these bands? If not, what would I have to change to have a metal sound and still be able to pull off 'grunge'?

 

A Johnson guitar AND amp? :( I used to work for a music store sold those. We sold them to beginners basically because they were so inexpensive. I'll be honest you'll be hard pressed to get a good sound out of those guitars and amps. They're almost more twangy than actual strats. To get that harder sound you're looking for you want to go for something with humbickers. Maybe try out an epiphone. They have some real low end Les Paul's and SG's that don't sound bad at all.
-matt

Yeah... It took forever to convince my parents to loan me the money for a guitar though, and I had $300, the only way I could have gotten one is with Johnson, and it was a set so the amp came too... I don't want to improve the guitar. I want to learn to play on it, buy a Rampage or Invader, and SMASH the Johnson. It sucks, the low e vibrates like crazy, and the amp absolutely loves that... I have the bass turned down to a one to keep it all in proportion. The one part (I was told it was called a nut, I don't know, and that sounds really wierd on a Johnson , but it's what the strings go over where the neck meets the head) fell apart, so the store after a two month battle where I had no guitar (which sucked) they replaced it... And it's too big so the high e likes to slide off the guitar neck while I'm playing... I just want a new one...

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HiP QWNS

johnson guitars aren't all that bad actually. Maybe you bought a lemon? I've never had any problems with mine.

 
 but, johnson amps suck big time.that's probably the majority of your problem.

 

 

 

 

I have the cheapest piece of shit there is. I must admit it has some upgrades. No pics yet but I will describe it. Said geetar is a sunburst squire 51 that you can buy for about $99. I sanded down the head stock and put a Fender stratocaster water slide decal on it and junked the pickguard and the pickup cover on the neck pickup. Next I installed a Seymour Humbucker, black tunning pegs, black dome knobs, and gold strap locks. I changed all of the screws on it from chrome to black and slapped a nude devil girl sticker on it. I do not carry this geetar in a case and it is rough looking. Pics soon

May be this comes up - i dunno

 http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x243/deceiver_01/DSC00073_edited.jpg 

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I am all the days that you choose to ignore.

ChemicalParasite:

Smacked:

I went out and bought a SansAmp GT2 amp mod. stop box... it was like $190 and I think I'm taking it back... I was looking for something to give me that extra metal like edge... this really just does what my amp can already do... It would be a great buy if I had an amp without so many different amp mods... but what you gonna do... does anyone have any idea what a good pedal with lots of metal sound would be? 

Take back the SansAmp and get one of the following:

Damage Control Demonizer tube preamp
Mesa/Boogie V-Twin tube rackmount preamp or stomp box

If you are getting your distortion primarily from a pedal, then I highly suggest getting something with organic 12AX7 distortion such as one of the above pedals.  The problem is that they are usually expensive for a pedal so most of the time I would recommend buying an amp that has a natural level of distortion that would accomodate most of your needs.  Thats why I sold off my Mesa.  Sure I could invest in pedals to run infront of it, but I would much rather just have an amp do it all for me.

 

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So Your Sickness Weighs A Ton And God's Name Is Smack For Some

groucho:

johnson guitars aren't all that bad actually. Maybe you bought a lemon? I've never had any problems with mine.

 but, johnson amps suck big time.that's probably the majority of your problem.

 

 

 

 

It's not a lemon- unless I got 4. I bought one, didn't work, brought it in, gave us a new one, no problem. That one broke, they sent it to get fixed (it actually wasn't that easy... I had a Yamaha Pacifica for a few minutes and I refuse to ever own one again...) and I got one until it came back, that didn't work, another replacement, after that I just went without until the one I have was finished...

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HiP QWNS

Yeah, you can tell the extra pick up on yours was a clean, good job...I've seen pix of others where they've added an extra pick-up (can't remember where, probably eBay) that didn't look as nice.

I really like that mine is stock so yeah, if I ever mod it, I'll hang on to parts. But I'm going to have to learn to play a lot better before I determine whether or not I like what it came with, you know?  Plus this one is so clean that it would be a shame to do anything to it that can't be reversed...so I'll probably play it real safe.
 

 

ChemicalParasite:

Very nice Rampage dobegrrrl I have always liked the red Rampages quite a bit.  I still want to play around with one of those tremolos but I haven't seen any around before.  Pretty cool that you have a completely stock Rampage.  Most I have seen are loaded with an aftermarket humbucker at least but you still have the Schaller humbucker and pickup ring, even the other Leo Fender invention:  The "Guitar-Tech locking nut."  Make sure if you ever decide to change any electronics that you completely clean the solder off of them, place them in air tight bags, and store them somewhere that you will remember.  It will always be cool to have all of the original parts.

 

As far as mine went here is the story:

Someone bought the guitar in 1985 and had it professionally routed for a neck pickup, a tone pot, and a three-way toggle switch.  The route is clean and cut precisely so it lines up perfectly with the neck and Kahler.  Apparently they swapped out the original "Guitar-Tech locking nut" for a Kahler behind the nut lock, as well as the original pickup rings and pickups (which were changed to DiMarzio Super Distortions).  When I received the guitar I got it for just over $400 from a shop in Texas and it included the original hardshell case as well as the original owner's manual with intonation guides and other information.  The guitar is in very good shape for being over 20 years old.  I swapped out some of the electronics outside of the toggle in I believe 2005 for the Seymour Duncan Hot Rodded humbucker set, some 500K DiMarzio pots, and a new capacitor.  This year I swapped the pickups with a DiMarzio D-Sonic and Air Norton as well as some 500K CTS pots and a stereo switchcraft output jack.  I am thinking about changing the pickups yet again to some Bare Knuckle pickups which are custom boutique pickups that are handwound in North Devon, UK.  I am looking at a custom wound rendition of the Miracle Man calibrated humbucker set, but the pricetag is about $350 US for two pickups.

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In the end we are what we pretend to be...