Bridge PU with more low end?

T

tab

New member
Hey guys -
I've been lurking for a while and love this board - Tons of info to soak up.

I have a Schecter C1 Artist with a 59 in the neck and a JB in the bridge. The 59 is one of the best pickups I've ever owned. The JB is nice, but seems a bit too hot for my use. I rarely switch over to use it, and would like something installed that I would use. I've played with the pup height to try and tone the JB down a bit with no luck, so I'm thinking I'll just replace the pickup.

What do you guys suggest for a lower output bridge pup that may have less high end and more growl?

I play mostly blues and don't need anything super hot - just something that will work well with the 59.

I emailed SD support inquiring about the PG and they thought I might lose too much output...

Anyone have a similar situation that they found a good solution to?
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

So many options to choose from! I've got a Schecter C1 with a JB/'59 coil-splitted.......yet it's not as hot as my LP with the Distortion and AIIP. Seems my route may be too hot for you, since I'm looking for "hotter" in the Schecter now.........

Have you considered volume and tone capacitors? Maybe a resistor thrown in the mix?
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

First thing to do is to switch the volume pot to a 250k. This will reduce the output and tame the highs quite a bit. Afterward, you could always add a series resistor in order to dampen the pickup and decrease output even more.
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

Swapping out a pot sounds like a great start -
I'll source one tomorrow and get the ball rolling. The tone pot is flakey too so I'll take care of both at the same time.

If this doesn't require me to spend a hundred bucks to solve the issue I may be upset :1:

I'll keep you posted!
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

tab said:
Hey guys -
I've been lurking for a while and love this board - Tons of info to soak up.

I have a Schecter C1 Artist with a 59 in the neck and a JB in the bridge. The 59 is one of the best pickups I've ever owned. The JB is nice, but seems a bit too hot for my use. I rarely switch over to use it, and would like something installed that I would use. I've played with the pup height to try and tone the JB down a bit with no luck, so I'm thinking I'll just replace the pickup.

What do you guys suggest for a lower output bridge pup that may have less high end and more growl?

I play mostly blues and don't need anything super hot - just something that will work well with the 59.

I emailed SD support inquiring about the PG and they thought I might lose too much output...

Anyone have a similar situation that they found a good solution to?
Click to expand...

Jeez, I dunno, I hate to go against SD support but the PG sounds like exactly what you need. A PG/59 combo has rocked many guitars on this forum. Let's wait for some others to chime in, but I hold steadfast to my first inclination.

Peace,

Darrin
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

Wouldn't a 250K pot excaberate what he's looking to get away from? He want's less treble and more bottom end. Wouldn't a .47-.22 cap on a 500k pot do what the man's looking for....besides new PUs?
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

L.W. Badger said:
Wouldn't a 250K pot excaberate what he's looking to get away from? He want's less treble and more bottom end. Wouldn't a .47-.22 cap on a 500k pot do what the man's looking for....besides new PUs?
Click to expand...

Well... now I'm not sure if I should look into a new cap or a new pot - ?
Can anyone let me know which suggestion applies best to my situation?
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

L.W. Badger said:
Wouldn't a 250K pot excaberate what he's looking to get away from? He want's less treble and more bottom end. Wouldn't a .47-.22 cap on a 500k pot do what the man's looking for....besides new PUs?
Click to expand...

250K's reduce treble, and make the mids & lows stand out more. He's on the right track.

I'm a blues player myself, and found the JB to be harsh & bright for my style. I gave up on them, but recently tried putting an A2 in one. Big difference. That notorious 'ice pick' spike is gone. Now it's got mids & growl. Nice & full. Output's a little lower too. Much better than the stock JB with an A5 magnet.

If you want to try it, PM me & I'll send you an A2.
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

New pots, caps, magnets....
My wife is going to love me when all this stuff comes in and I start testing out these changes.

:cussing:

Thanks for the offer Blueman - PM sent off!
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

tab said:
New pots, caps, magnets....
My wife is going to love me when all this stuff comes in and I start testing out these changes.

:cussing:

Thanks for the offer Blueman - PM sent off!
Click to expand...

Wives are surprisingly adaptable. You wouldn't believe what mine's lived with. Guitar parts all over the house is pretty tame stuff. I used to collect tarantulas & venomous snakes.
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

tab said:
I emailed SD support inquiring about the PG and they thought I might lose too much output...
Click to expand...

I have come to the conclusion that the SD suppost email guys think one of 2 things:
1. That everybody plays into a vintage Bassman and the only way to get any overdrive at all is to use high output pickups
2. everybody is a member of a thrash metal band

I have emailed them twice, both times, all they were concerned with was output. The forum is much, much more helpful
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

Bridge Pickup placement on a guitar has a huge effect on bass responce... i had a strat once that i hated as the bridge humbucker sounded awful thin... after a while i finally noticed the pickguard was routed out with the Bridge PU 3/16ths of an inch closer to the bridge then some of my other pickguards... changed the pickguard and the same electronics and PU's sounded so much better!!!! hard to believe such a little difference made such a huge sound difference!

now with some rear routed guitars you are stuck as to where the PU is... not much you can do but find the right PU for that guitar like you are trying to do...

I can't imagine a JB not giving you the low end.... i use a bunch of them... good luck...
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

i've heard that a8 and ceramic tighten up a JB, though those are both slightly higher output than the stock a5 magnet. also, while the a2 JB is pretty cool, it has a very, very loose and fat low end, not very tight or extended into the lows.
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

tab, if you can get closer to the sound you want by rolling the tone back a bit that's a good indicator that a 250K pot will fix the problem;
if not the C5 will definitely have less high end and sound less hot while still having a bark to it. see also the demon for something less hot with less high-end that's still capable of some serious dirty tones
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

dr. ad said:
tab, if you can get closer to the sound you want by rolling the tone back a bit that's a good indicator that a 250K pot will fix the problem;
Click to expand...

+1. This is the first thing to try (it's simple, easy, quick, no cost).
If that doesn't quite do it, the next thing to try is a capacitor change and then the mag swap as suggested by blueman. If the A2 swap sounds too spongy, mushy, muddy, etc, then try another mag swap...A3 or A4.

Mag swaps are very easy to do, pretty quick (5-10 min), and only cost about $5/mag and can make a huge difference in the sound and response of your JB.

ps: the guys on this forum don't always agree, but you can be assured that they all have a lot of experience and knowledge and very good ideas. When making any changes in your setup just remember to start with the easiest (and usually the most obvious) things first. Buying new P/Us or guitars should be at the bottom of the list of solutions since they are the most expensive. But also keep in mind that a new P/U may end up being the best solution. In other words...just keep an open mind and be willing to experiment up to what you can afford to do.
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

GuitarDoc said:
ps: the guys on this forum don't always agree, but you can be assured that they all have a lot of experience and knowledge and very good ideas. When making any changes in your setup just remember to start with the easiest (and usually the most obvious) things first. Buying new P/Us or guitars should be at the bottom of the list of solutions since they are the most expensive. But also keep in mind that a new P/U may end up being the best solution. In other words...just keep an open mind and be willing to experiment up to what you can afford to do.
Click to expand...

Excellent advice that applies to everyone.
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

I appreciate the multiple options.

Just looking at all the equipment on the market makes it painfully obvious to me that what works for one musician isn't the best option for another.

I enjoy swapping parts and trying new things so I'm looking forward to trying a few items that have been suggested. I'll keep you posted on what I find out and end up with. Since I'm looking forward to a few days off between now and New Years I think I'll have time to start in soon!
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

PFDarkside said:
Seems like the C5 might fit the bill?
Click to expand...

How everyone here didnt reply this way astounds me.
I have a C5, PG, P-Rails, Demon, Invader, and Jazz as my bridge pickups.

The C5 is easily the ballsiest one. The Invader has balls, but IMO, it's not too versatile. Early 90's Voiced Metal Rhythm Guitar is what the Invader does best. You said you played Blues, and that's not Invader territory.

The C5, IMO, sounds like a really hot Les Paul and it tackles Classic Rock tones like AC/DC and Sabbath with ease. It has lots of bottom but remains clear and rich at lower volumes/gains. I'd go with the C5.
 
Re: Bridge PU with more low end?

Since my guitar has a 5-way switch I decided to wait on swapping out the pot for a 300k - The 59 in the neck sounds great so I want to make sure that stays as-is.

Blueman was kind enough to send over a A2 magnet and I swapped that out in the JB today. This is a much better match than before - the highs are rolled-off quite a bit and the low end is just where I want it. Overall, not as harsh, not as loud, and warmer.

I think this guitar will be good for a while -
Hard to believe a magnet swap was an option that worked and I had no idea it was an option.
 
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