707 & 81-7

Well it seems to be the protocol for most people. However there's been plenty of really tight ass guitar tones achieved without a tube screamer. Try it and see if it works for you.
 
got the guitar today, had our first rehearsal before our northern gig (and after my vacation). man, why didn't I do this sooner? You can really hear everything I play now(for better and "worse") and the tone is soooo much tighter, less unwanted feedback too.
 
I'm actually thinking about getting a Platinum Beast and putting EMGs in - I know this is a 7 thread, it'll be the first EMG guitar I actually own and I'm not sure if the Beast will be (1) thick enough to get a really good sound (I just can't take a $1500 Ibanez that's an inch thick at the bridge and shaved down everywhere else and compare it to a Les Paul or my Schecter, I just need big chunks of guitar and not a few pieces of paper with frets and wires) or (2) be too mid-heavy for a bridge 85 (I prefer more midrange, but with some guitars an 85 in the bridge is overkill). I really want to see how it'll affect my sound and playing, but guitar stuff is getting to be pretty expensive (considering I have no job) and I can't really plunk down $600 and have it not work out well. Any thoughts?

Jeff