Thanks! I like the CrunchLab a lot. It's got a great bassy profile that works very well for heavy riffs and is awesome for playing DT songs from 2011 and before. I like the Dreamcatcher a tiny little bit more because it has a bit more clarity as far as I can tell, but both pickups are really great. You can't go wrong with either one.
Damn, did not expect the CrunchLab to kill so well in the heavy rhythm section. I have an Illuminator set, and this demo made me realize that the sort of 'mushy/Fat' low end I have been trying to dial out is just the way they kind of sound.
Yeah, you have to work to get a thick bassy rhythm sound out of the Illuminators whereas the CrunchLabs just sound that way without having to mess a lot with the EQ. On the other hand, I found it more difficult to dial in a clear sound that cuts through the mix with the CrunchLabs, something that the Illuminators do very well.
Another advantage of the Illuminators is that they help the guitar and the bass have their own space in the mix, without the guitars overpowering the bass.
Thanks for your video, it certifies everything gathered for a decision on my current guitar build. That decision is for the illuminator, because of the aggression they provide under enormous gain that i am using without going cocked wah mode. Thanks again for your work and end opinions, it sums it all up perfectly. Even my bareknuckle aftermaths go cocked wah and harmonic with all my gain levels.
Thanks a lot for this great comparison and the huge work it represents. My choice has been made 3 days ago and can't wait to receive the Dreamcatcher & Rainmaker set. They are not far better than the others. Just a subtle detail to me with more definition from a string to another. Odd remark: the clean sound of the DC & RM made my choice. Well balanced with not too much shrill bt enough to "stratify" my 7 string axe.
@@CarlosFloresLN wow that's super cool, I can never achieve such a spanky DIs even with high quantity interfaces. I guess this has something to do with the electronics insade JP guitars
I agree, the CrunchLab sounds best in this comparison. I found, however, that tweaking the settings in Archetype Petrucci allows me to get very nice sounds out of the Illuminators and the DreamCatcher. I think the rhythm setting I used here was biased in favor of the CrunchLab.
Thank you for making this comparison, it is very useful and well-made.
I love the Dreamcatcher. Clearly an evolution over the years.
Thank you for the comparison!
CrunchLab is my favorite. Great comparison!!!
Thanks! I like the CrunchLab a lot. It's got a great bassy profile that works very well for heavy riffs and is awesome for playing DT songs from 2011 and before. I like the Dreamcatcher a tiny little bit more because it has a bit more clarity as far as I can tell, but both pickups are really great. You can't go wrong with either one.
Damn, did not expect the CrunchLab to kill so well in the heavy rhythm section. I have an Illuminator set, and this demo made me realize that the sort of 'mushy/Fat' low end I have been trying to dial out is just the way they kind of sound.
Yeah, you have to work to get a thick bassy rhythm sound out of the Illuminators whereas the CrunchLabs just sound that way without having to mess a lot with the EQ. On the other hand, I found it more difficult to dial in a clear sound that cuts through the mix with the CrunchLabs, something that the Illuminators do very well.
Another advantage of the Illuminators is that they help the guitar and the bass have their own space in the mix, without the guitars overpowering the bass.
Thanks for your video, it certifies everything gathered for a decision on my current guitar build. That decision is for the illuminator, because of the aggression they provide under enormous gain that i am using without going cocked wah mode. Thanks again for your work and end opinions, it sums it all up perfectly. Even my bareknuckle aftermaths go cocked wah and harmonic with all my gain levels.
I'm glad the video helped you with your decision!
Great comparison, thanks. For my taste I prefer the distorted part on crunch lab. I find them more badass (for my taste)
Thanks a lot for this great comparison and the huge work it represents. My choice has been made 3 days ago and can't wait to receive the Dreamcatcher & Rainmaker set. They are not far better than the others. Just a subtle detail to me with more definition from a string to another. Odd remark: the clean sound of the DC & RM made my choice. Well balanced with not too much shrill bt enough to "stratify" my 7 string axe.
Buen demo, me gustó la Illuminator
that crunchlab is amazing
His best set has always been the Steve Special and Air Norton :)
and ibanez with Daddario's
Try out the Steve's Special and Tone Zone as well.
Thanks Angus. I don't have a guitar with those pickups so I can't do a comparison, though I've heard great things about those pickups.
the ibanez jpm100 has the steves special in the bridge but those are hard to come by. if you manage to find one they go for a pretty penny.
Good job! Thanks!
Can you a comparison with the Dreamcatcher and steves special???
If you send me a guitar with Steve's Special pickup, sure!
Thanks for this comparison, especially the raw tones. What audio interfase were you using to record these tracks?
I use a PreSonus Studio 24c
@@CarlosFloresLN wow that's super cool, I can never achieve such a spanky DIs even with high quantity interfaces. I guess this has something to do with the electronics insade JP guitars
@@Alek_Archer I think it might be the plugin too. I've recorded bass using Neural's Parallax plugin and it also sounds great.
Hardly a straight pickup comparison if you are mixing the piezo in with the Illuminator and not the Crunch Lab.
I mixed it in for all of the pickups
What didn't you like about the Illuminator?
It sounded too thin, tinny, harsh, lacking low end and too much high end for my taste.
why no Ecstasy?
I do not own a guitar with a Sonic Ecstasy pickup set, alas
@CarlosFloresLN okay. I have it at my Solar E1.6FBB (which has mahagony body), fantastic fat, deep sounding and super clear on notes.
I bet if blind test, no one can identify
Definitely Dreamcatcher, it's cleaner - thanks
Crunch lab for me. Fat and thunderous sound
I agree, the CrunchLab sounds best in this comparison. I found, however, that tweaking the settings in Archetype Petrucci allows me to get very nice sounds out of the Illuminators and the DreamCatcher. I think the rhythm setting I used here was biased in favor of the CrunchLab.
Crunch lab is too thin. Specially on D chord. Only for lower tunning. Tone Zone, D Sonic and Steve kill it. I have more than 30 pickups.