Bridge Pickup without the "acoustic honk"

[SimpleT]

I have a guitar that needs a bridge pickup and I never played it much anyway so I decided to do some work on it to make it more playable. It is a very lightweight poplar body guitar and one of the most striking things about it is that is very loud unplugged and this comes through even when playing through an amplifier, it sounds a little like I am playing an acoustic through an amplifier or hollow body but without as rich or deep of sound. There is a very over pronounced "honk" sound especially on the lower strings. My theory is that the guitar is overly resonant at some frequency in the lower mid range.

My ideal pickup for the bridge would be bright and good for really aggressive medium gain playing but able to clean up a little bit while also hiding the "honk". Leaning towards a Custom but I am not sure if this is a fools errand and I should just sell the thing.

Thanks!

 

[Mincer]

You might look into something with less mids and lows, like the Jazz or Full Shred. If you want to keep some low end, look at the Custom 5, which essentially sucks out all mids.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Agree with Mincer. I'd also check out the Custom. That one is pretty scoopy as well.

 

[jeremy]

i think the c5 might be a good choice, good bottom, good top, good output and not honky at all

 

[Seashore]

As an alternative, Bare Knuckle Rebel Yell is my favorite bridge pickup for this application. I currently have them in two of my most midrange-heavy guitars. Bright and lively, great pick attack, good for any gain level.

 

[BeKindRewind]

Agree with the comments suggesting a Custom. my SG is like that, it's really light and really loud acoustically, rings like a piano. And the Custom 5 sounds amazing in it.

 

[SimpleT]

Does the custom or the custom 5 have less low end?

 

[jeremy]

the custom id say

 

[Mincer]

It is almost hard to tell that, as the lack of mids in the Custom 5 make the treble and the bass seem loud, even though it might be the same amount as the Custom.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

The OG Custom has more of everything but IMO a more balanced response.
Custom 5 has lighter midrange, which as Mincer said, makes the lows and highs seem more prominent by contrast.
For me, the Custom 5 was the perfect match for a guitar with a pronounced midrange honk.

 

[Ascension]

Does the custom or the custom 5 have less low end?

The Custom will have less.
Another pickup that you might want to consider is the Dimarzio Gravity Storm. Big round and warm sounding pickup with a lot of touch sensitivity. I have owned a few Poplar body Carvins over the years, so know what you are talking about with the resonance. I used Dimarzio Tone Zones in a couple but would use the Gravity Storm today in a poplar body guitar. It doesn't fit with what I'm currently playing, but I really like that pickup!

 

[Mincer]

The OG Custom has more of everything but IMO a more balanced response.
Custom 5 has lighter midrange, which as Mincer said, makes the lows and highs seem more prominent by contrast.
For me, the Custom 5 was the perfect match for a guitar with a pronounced midrange honk.

That's what I use the Custom 5 for, as well. I have a Music Man that is really all mids. The C5 makes it seem sorta normal sounding to me.

 

[SimpleT]

Going for the Custom 5, thank for the input everyone!

 

[Aceman]

Consider a 59/Custom Hybrid as a less powerful alternative to the Custom.

 

[SimpleT]

So I got the Custom 5 and installed it, it definitely makes a big difference. Funny thing is the guitar is still very mid heavy even with the custom 5, but in a useable way. The really mid heavy aggressive tone is now less of a problem and more just the character of the guitar.

 

[Mincer]

So I got the Custom 5 and installed it, it definitely makes a big difference. Funny thing is the guitar is still very mid heavy even with the custom 5, but in a useable way. The really mid heavy aggressive tone is now less of a problem and more just the character of the guitar.

Awesome! The C5 was absolutely the solution for my mid-heavy Ernie Ball (made of heavy poplar, with a Jazz in the neck). I have another Ernie Ball, the same body shape, made out of alder, with none of those issues. I use a Custom Custom in the bridge.