1986 Charvel Model 2 with DD in it...all muddy.

S

Shinobi

New member
I picked up an 86 Model 2 Charvel...pointy head stock. I took out the EMG and put it in my ESP and put in a Duncan Distortion. It has a really muddy low end sound down past the 9th fret on the low e-b strings all the way to the bottom of the neck. Could a volume pot that is going bad effect the tone? I don't know what to think as my amp on the exact same settings sounds different with my ESP/EMG and my 84 Baretta/JB...which sound different too but have way more clarity on those strings than the Charvel/DD setup...or even when the Charvel had the EMG in it.

I can't figure it out, its like its all muddy sounding.
 
Re: 1986 Charvel Model 2 with DD in it...all muddy.

When you say EMG, do you mean a passive EMG? I assume the Charvel doesnt have pots for an ACTIVE pickup, right?

Does it sound muddy no matter how high or low you screw it away from strings?
 
Re: 1986 Charvel Model 2 with DD in it...all muddy.

Khriss Bliss said:
When you say EMG, do you mean a passive EMG? I assume the Charvel doesnt have pots for an ACTIVE pickup, right?

Does it sound muddy no matter how high or low you screw it away from strings?
Click to expand...

Yeah that was my first thought. You're not using the emg 25k pot as opposed to 500k pots are you?
 
Re: 1986 Charvel Model 2 with DD in it...all muddy.

I use 500k pots for the DD (in mahogany), and all I can say is that it's MUD free.
 
Re: 1986 Charvel Model 2 with DD in it...all muddy.

Khriss Bliss said:
When you say EMG, do you mean a passive EMG? I assume the Charvel doesnt have pots for an ACTIVE pickup, right?

Does it sound muddy no matter how high or low you screw it away from strings?
Click to expand...

pandroid said:
Yeah that was my first thought. You're not using the emg 25k pot as opposed to 500k pots are you?
Click to expand...

Sodom616 said:
I use 500k pots for the DD (in mahogany), and all I can say is that it's MUD free.
Click to expand...

Maybe that is it. The Charvel I picked up had an EMG 81 in it (9v). I didn't switch the volume pot. For a single PUP no tone knob what Volume Pot do I use for the DD, a 250 or 500 volume pot? I think the first year import Charvels have Basswood bodies...but the wood seems pretty hard and heavy...not as heavy as my all Maple 84 Baretta though.

I replaced on in my Kramer before, but I can't recall what it was for a single volume no tone knob setup.

Interestingly I swapped the EMG into my ESP, which has two PUPs, 1 volume, 1 tone, and it sounds pretty damn good.
 
Re: 1986 Charvel Model 2 with DD in it...all muddy.

Get that 25K pot out of there for a DD!:argh: use a 500K!:headbang:
 
Re: 1986 Charvel Model 2 with DD in it...all muddy.

The DD is an excellent replacement for the emg 81.It has similar tightness,output,and clarity, but with a warmer and less sterile sound than the emg 81.
 
Re: 1986 Charvel Model 2 with DD in it...all muddy.

get 2 short shaft 500k pots and and .047 cap and you'll love the sound of that guitar.
 
Re: 1986 Charvel Model 2 with DD in it...all muddy.

He is in for a surprise when that thing gets wired right!


250k, sure - it's a preference. 25k? WTF?
 
Re: 1986 Charvel Model 2 with DD in it...all muddy.

That's a common value for pots made for active pups, Ace.
So not much of a WTF situation here, really.
 
Re: 1986 Charvel Model 2 with DD in it...all muddy.

grumptruck said:
if ya got a volume pedal run it straight to the jack till you get a new pot.

at least you'll have something cool to play for right now.
Click to expand...

I pulled the POT and sure as **** it is a 25K, the only 500K I had was a long shaft nad it was too big for the hole...hahha...that's what she said.

Anyway I followed your advice and wired it directly to the input jack for now.....everything is beautiful now....a DD and a Charvel sound like George Lynch lol.

Now should I have that EMG in my ESP POT replaced...I currently have a 1 volume 1 tone and it is wired with a regular HB PUP. It sounds pretty brutal in there as as.
 
Re: 1986 Charvel Model 2 with DD in it...all muddy.

Hi guys, been away for a while very good information on the pots.
 
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