Brightening a dark sounding humbucker with equalizer

[Wayne27]

I have a humbucker that sounds pretty dark due to being a hot pickup and I was wondering if an equalizer would add some clarity to it. I know there are other ways to brightening up a pickup but I don't want to make any physical changes like adjusting height. I still want to keep the pickup the way it is because I like the sound, I just want it to be brighter some times when played with distortion.

I know it won't sound exactly like low output humbucker but will it work to a good extent?

 

[jeremy]

sure, start with cutting the low frequencies before you boost anything

 

[Mincer]

Is it a graphic EQ or a parametric one? For years, guitarists have used either (or both) to 'fix' issues they have with guitars and/or pickups. The fun thing about EQs is that you can always go back to 0 easily. I say, play with it and see how the different frequencies affect the tone.

 

[zionstrat]

EQ is a ton of fun.. multiple eqs can be even more fun.. if you're interested in that one look at Tom Schultz's effect chain.

And a big second to jeremy.. a lot of times darkness is too much mud.. that's why I love bass roll
off knobs on thick guitars so that you can get the best of everything.

 

[Wayne27]

Is it a graphic EQ or a parametric one? For years, guitarists have used either (or both) to 'fix' issues they have with guitars and/or pickups. The fun thing about EQs is that you can always go back to 0 easily. I say, play with it and see how the different frequencies affect the tone.

I haven't bought one yet but which one do you think is better? Will the equalizer from the amp be just as good?

 

[Artie]

Treble boosters, like the old Dallas Rangemaster can be fun. I kinda wish I hadn't sold my BBE Bohemian.

General Guitar Gadgets has a kit.

https://store.generalguitargadgets.com/collections/kits/products/dallas-arbiter™-rangmaster™-replica-complete-kit

 

[Securb]

Will the equalizer from the amp be just as good?

Yes, but a decent EQ is inexpensive andd powerful. It can be used for tone shaping or a boost. I would suggest a graphic EQ over a parametric EQ if you are not familiar with EQs.

 

[Chistopher]

Is the gain coming from the amp or a stompbox?

 

[Wayne27]

Is the gain coming from the amp or a stompbox?

Both

 

[Mincer]

A simple graphic EQ would be fine. It will also boost your overall output if you want it to.

 

[weepingminotaur]

EQ will do it. As has been said, cut out some of the low-end frequencies first and see what the result is. Graphic or parametric is fine. One amp in and one amp out works well if you have any kind of modelling amp, but even a simple EQ pedal will do.

 

[NotDemanic]

Just remember, eq's can boost or cut what's there. But they can't add something that's not there.

 

[Wayne27]

How come it's easier to reduce the bass of a highout humbucker when using distortion but it's harder to reduce the bass when it's a clean tone?

 

[beaubrummels]

How come it's easier to reduce the bass of a highout humbucker when using distortion but it's harder to reduce the bass when it's a clean tone?

Because distortion is a form of compression, which reduces the peaks.

 

[nienturi]

This is why i don't fancy with dark pickups. If you have a balanced (to your guitar and setup) pickup you can get your tone needs simply with the tone and volume knob. Moreover the cure for brightness is easier to find than the dark&dull one

 

[Chistopher]

Because distortion is a form of compression, which reduces the peaks.

Right, but for some it also may be useful to think of it inversely. Once the midrange/treble peaks hit their maximum volume, adding gain allows the quieter parts of the signal (usually bass) to catch back up.

It's also important to consider two other things:

1 - Distorted guitar has more harmonics. When you cut the bass on a clean signal, your killing the fundamental harmonic, with a dirty signal its not so big an issue
2 - Cutting bass pre-distortion alters the character of the distortion hugely. Cutting no bass before clipping gives you fuzz, cutting a lot of bass turns it closer to an OD. The more bass you cut, the more gain is also required to get the signal to be heavily distorted. Most stomp boxes handle this internally, either intentionally (TS) or unintentionally (Rat)

 

[Binnerscot]

Not sure what guitar you are using, but I've always run no load tone controls, or no tone control to remove the wooly blanket... and eq from there.

 

[GuitarStv]

Not sure what guitar you are using, but I've always run no load tone controls, or no tone control to remove the wooly blanket... and eq from there.

I kinda do the opposite. Usually I EQ my amp so that I need to back off the tone and volume controls on my guitar to knock off upper frequencies. Then if I'm playing and want it darker I can use more tone knob, and if I want it brighter I can use less . . . never need to touch the amp controls once I start playing.

 

[Binnerscot]

I kinda do the opposite. Usually I EQ my amp so that I need to back off the tone and volume controls on my guitar to knock off upper frequencies. Then if I'm playing and want it darker I can use more tone knob, and if I want it brighter I can use less . . . never need to touch the amp controls once I start playing.

If that works for you, good call. I try to make sure the guitar is a lively as possible, and go from there. Different styles require different approaches, comparing notes is the fun part.

 

[donaldr]

I kinda do the opposite. Usually I EQ my amp so that I need to back off the tone and volume controls on my guitar to knock off upper frequencies. Then if I'm playing and want it darker I can use more tone knob, and if I want it brighter I can use less . . . never need to touch the amp controls once I start playing.

+1 for me