Being my first post, ill explain who i am alittle bit and what i like in a guitar tone, because i would like some help getting something that sounds good for small shows/practice.

I am 17; which means i am a poor fucker keep that in mind

I have played for about 2 years... I am really dedicated to what i do so i am willing to plug cash into this, but i am poor.

Alright my band: Myrmidon - Brutal Death with Thrash/Jazz/Psychedlia Influences: Death, Pestilence, Gorguts, Atrocity, Immolation, Mortal Decay, Disinter, Mangled, Monstrosity, Merlin (Russia), Massacra, Morgoth, Malevolent Creation, Kreator, Possessed, Minotaur, Poison/RU Dead (the Deathrash versions not the faggy ones), Slaughter (Canada), Repulsion, Terrorizer, Alchemist, etc

What i play now:
- BC Rich Ironbird (stock pick ups)
- I have a 100watt amp (combo 1x12, shitty distortion)

My drummer is really loud (lots of blasts, hyper blasts, etc) and i was wondering if the following pieces of gear would work for a tone similar to Gorguts/Immolation with alittle more crunch

Heads
- Peavey VTM 120
- Crate Blue Voodoo
- Marshall Valvestate 8100 (the same one Chuck used)
- Something by Mesa Boogie (Immolation uses these so i am somewhat interested)

Pick Ups
- Duncan Invader
- Dimarzio X2N
- Dimarzio Dropsonic
- Dimarzio Super Distortion

Note on Pickups: Please dont suggest EMG 81's or 85's or 89's, i am for the most part against using EMG's as everyone and their sister has them, but i am not against active pick ups totally, just prefer passive, but if you know of a better active please suggest it.

Figure i have somewhere between 500 - 700 and i would need a Cabinet too most likely... If you can make any suggestions besides these like if i would need something else thanks in advance...

looks like youve been reading the other posts in here. anyway, the 8100 is a good head for death metal, and can cover most brutal stuff unless your playing napalm death stuff, in which case its best to put a metal zone in front of the lead channel, but your not so why am i saying this? anyway, the x2n is a great pickup, but keep in mind that passive pickups work better with better built guitars, which an iron bird is not unless its an old nj, a neckthrough series or a US. Ive never heard of a drop sonic but that doesnt mean its a bad pickup. I have an evo in my ibanez right now, its got pretty good tone. the invader is affected by the woods in your guitar adversely, so you might want to try that in different guitars to see what you like. Back to amps again, the crate bv series gets recommended alot here, but i only like the new ones, the new ones are based on an old lee jackson amp, and some say zakk wyld used em for one of his cds. immoliation probably uses either a dual rectifier or a triaxis 2/90/2 setup or something like that. hope this helped.

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You say your willing to spend around 500-700

Well if you shop aroudn and buy used you can porbably pick up a used 5150 for around 400ish and then find a cab.

Your best bet it too goto your local guitar store and play their used shit, you might find something you like. As for the pickups, i think you would want a pickup with more clarity. I personally LOVE the JB. It has a fair ammount of gain but not more than you need, has a night warm all around tone. Leave the distortion to your amp, high gain pickups are usually muddy.. exspecially the invader.

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not sure about those heads,never played any of em
as for the pickups get the x2n! and paif it up with a seymour 59

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BLS what did you play an invader in? i have one in my omen 6 and its pretty clear, although too bassy for me.

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Tom delong strat

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HAHA loser

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that peavey wouldnt be my first suggestion to you. maybe a 5150 or xxx?
i highly reccomend the bv120h.... they're like $300-$400 on ebay... 120w of tube power(loud) and they have pretty good cleans... but the distortion is great... so no pedal would be required.
i'm not a huge fan of the 8100, but if tha's your thing.
with your budget mesa is a bit out of the picture...

i'd also suggest something rack wise for you... and ada mp-1 preamp(like $50-$200 used) + peavey classic 50/50(like $200-350 used) or similar poweramp....
the ada mp-1 has loads of usable gain... very good for deathy goregrind-ish music and super for leads. plus they're such good boards for mods that you;d think they were made to be modded.



looking nice.... i'd also suggest the dimarzio tone zone and multibucker. as well as the gibson dirty fingers & burst buckers....


whatever makes your guitar sound best.... don't worry about being trendy. but my favorite active bridge pu is the duncan livewire metal.


you can grab a pretty good cab for $200-400 used... like a 1960a or something....
the cheapest good cab imo is the peavey ms412... my first 4x12 was one of them... i paid $200... that thinhg is super well built and sounded great. my friend that i sold it to is still giggin with it all the time.

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Like xDx said, The livewire is a good active pickup. It is alot less sterile but still has the EMG high output. Its way better overall.

it actually has higher output... i like em' cuz they sound more "alive".... but it's all personal preference.

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You American guys are so lucky!!! most secondhand amps over here in england are real expensive. a second hand crate bv is about £500. Although i just bought a marshall 8100 for £275 with a cab and it rocks big time. Very nice, unusual distortion and each note is very clear.

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