donalddemon
New member
Re: Brighter than a JB? Saving a Dark/Mid-Scooped Guitar...
Yes, I did. Many moons ago, when it was alive!
Yes, I did. Many moons ago, when it was alive!
Brighter than a JB? Saving a Dark/Mid-Scooped Guitar...
- Thread starter donalddemon
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Gtrjunior
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Re: Brighter than a JB? Saving a Dark/Mid-Scooped Guitar...
Yeah, I was late to that party. There's literally about 5 people that post there still.
Still playing a Splawn?
Yeah, I was late to that party. There's literally about 5 people that post there still.
Still playing a Splawn?
donalddemon
New member
Re: Brighter than a JB? Saving a Dark/Mid-Scooped Guitar...
Sad how it's become now, that place used to be so much fun. I've met many of those guys at the Splawn conventions Scott used to host, all great guys. I'm still playing Splawns exclusively! I've been using my 2005 Pro Mod for over 10 years. I also have a Quick Rod I use for cover shows. Killer amps.
Sad how it's become now, that place used to be so much fun. I've met many of those guys at the Splawn conventions Scott used to host, all great guys. I'm still playing Splawns exclusively! I've been using my 2005 Pro Mod for over 10 years. I also have a Quick Rod I use for cover shows. Killer amps.
Mr. B
New member
Re: Brighter than a JB? Saving a Dark/Mid-Scooped Guitar...
I'm trying to dissect what you may be hearing so I can tell what you are looking for. You say the guitar is mid scooped and say you are looking for "strong mid content", but then you put a mid scooped neck pickup in it (jazz) and say it "Solved the problem" for the neck. You then put the JB which has one of the highest mid contents in the bridge and say it wasn't enough. The only other thing I can think of with more mids is the CustomCustom, but you also say you need it brighter, which the CustomCustom will not give you. I would suggest the Custom, but you already said the Custom59 hybrid was not bright enough, and did not have enough mids. The Seth bridge is the only thing that comes to mind. It may be close to what you want, but it is lower output.
I'm trying to dissect what you may be hearing so I can tell what you are looking for. You say the guitar is mid scooped and say you are looking for "strong mid content", but then you put a mid scooped neck pickup in it (jazz) and say it "Solved the problem" for the neck. You then put the JB which has one of the highest mid contents in the bridge and say it wasn't enough. The only other thing I can think of with more mids is the CustomCustom, but you also say you need it brighter, which the CustomCustom will not give you. I would suggest the Custom, but you already said the Custom59 hybrid was not bright enough, and did not have enough mids. The Seth bridge is the only thing that comes to mind. It may be close to what you want, but it is lower output.
donalddemon
New member
Re: Brighter than a JB? Saving a Dark/Mid-Scooped Guitar...
Close. The mid content in the JB is fine but not enough treble and presence. The Jazz in the neck is still scooped but that's fine for the neck tones, sorry I didn't clarify that part. I don't mind a little scoop in the neck, but I need the mids in the bridge pickup since that's where I mostly play the more aggressive parts.
The Custom Hybrid 59 had more brightness and may be the better pickup so far, maybe I felt the mids resonant frequency could have been shifted higher, to more of a 2k-4k area (just guessing here).
The real problem is the guitar is dark and somewhat dull, with a lack of bite and that's what I've been trying to correct.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Close. The mid content in the JB is fine but not enough treble and presence. The Jazz in the neck is still scooped but that's fine for the neck tones, sorry I didn't clarify that part. I don't mind a little scoop in the neck, but I need the mids in the bridge pickup since that's where I mostly play the more aggressive parts.
The Custom Hybrid 59 had more brightness and may be the better pickup so far, maybe I felt the mids resonant frequency could have been shifted higher, to more of a 2k-4k area (just guessing here).
The real problem is the guitar is dark and somewhat dull, with a lack of bite and that's what I've been trying to correct.
Thanks for the suggestions.
jep1210
New member
Re: Brighter than a JB? Saving a Dark/Mid-Scooped Guitar...
I don't mean to be slow here but, everyone is using terms like "Custom" and "Distortion", are you talking about a Custom Custom, Duncan Custom or Custom 5? I assume "Distotion" refers to Duncan Distortion?
I don't mean to be slow here but, everyone is using terms like "Custom" and "Distortion", are you talking about a Custom Custom, Duncan Custom or Custom 5? I assume "Distotion" refers to Duncan Distortion?
gregory
New member
Re: Brighter than a JB? Saving a Dark/Mid-Scooped Guitar...
SH-5 and SH-6, respectively.
Otherwise you will see Custom 5 for the SH-14 or Custom Custom (same thing as Custom 2) for the SH-11. 59/Custom Hybrid is the SH-16, sometimes you see 59/C5 to specify the default polished A5 magnet.
SH-5 and SH-6, respectively.
Otherwise you will see Custom 5 for the SH-14 or Custom Custom (same thing as Custom 2) for the SH-11. 59/Custom Hybrid is the SH-16, sometimes you see 59/C5 to specify the default polished A5 magnet.
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Mr. B
New member
Re: Brighter than a JB? Saving a Dark/Mid-Scooped Guitar...
The difficulty is that increased mid content, and bright present treble do not often go together. The CustomCustom has the aggressive mids that you are talking about, but the trade off is that the bass and treble is rolled off. The Custom5 has tight bass and bright treble, but is very scooped in the mids. The Custom is the closest I can think of to being the balance you are describing in a higher output pickup, and the Seth would be the one in a lower output pickup.
The difficulty is that increased mid content, and bright present treble do not often go together. The CustomCustom has the aggressive mids that you are talking about, but the trade off is that the bass and treble is rolled off. The Custom5 has tight bass and bright treble, but is very scooped in the mids. The Custom is the closest I can think of to being the balance you are describing in a higher output pickup, and the Seth would be the one in a lower output pickup.
Synapsys
New member
Re: Brighter than a JB? Saving a Dark/Mid-Scooped Guitar...
Custom=TB/SH-5
Distortion=TB/SH-6
Custom=TB/SH-5
Distortion=TB/SH-6
Re: Brighter than a JB? Saving a Dark/Mid-Scooped Guitar...
Put a RCA5 in the Seth. I did and it works, very we'll, more output and highs, tighter low end. Just ordered another in double white for my HSS Strat.
Or - turn the C/Hybrid 180 degrees so the very strong slugs are closest the bridge, lower the screws. The slug is so strong on the Hybrid it really boosts the high end when closer to the bridge.
My 2 cents
Steve Buffington
Put a RCA5 in the Seth. I did and it works, very we'll, more output and highs, tighter low end. Just ordered another in double white for my HSS Strat.
Or - turn the C/Hybrid 180 degrees so the very strong slugs are closest the bridge, lower the screws. The slug is so strong on the Hybrid it really boosts the high end when closer to the bridge.
My 2 cents
Steve Buffington
Bodeanicus
New member
Re: Brighter than a JB? Saving a Dark/Mid-Scooped Guitar...
Sent from my KFGIWI using Tapatalk
Check the pots with a multimeter. I've seen plenty labeled 500k that were really in the 330k range. Or you could put some 1megs in there.
Sent from my KFGIWI using Tapatalk
donalddemon
New member
Re: Brighter than a JB? Saving a Dark/Mid-Scooped Guitar...
I'll have to recheck but I thought I did that already and they measured around 500k. I did consider 1M, maybe just for the bridge. The more I play it the more I like the aggressiveness of the JB but I can also see why that mid honk would put people off.
I'll have to recheck but I thought I did that already and they measured around 500k. I did consider 1M, maybe just for the bridge. The more I play it the more I like the aggressiveness of the JB but I can also see why that mid honk would put people off.
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Re: Brighter than a JB? Saving a Dark/Mid-Scooped Guitar...
Couple ideas that haven't been suggested yet- you might consider trying a ceramic mag in the Hybrid that you liked. Should give it quite a bit more bite, and maybe more of the high mids that you say you're looking for.
Also, you mentioned you don't need super high output: the Distortion Neck is also an excellent medium output pickup for at the bridge. Bright and tight- nice present mids, neither nasal nor honky. Great in mahogany, very good choice for a dark sounding guitar. I have an old one from when it was called the SH-7 Seymourizer.
Couple ideas that haven't been suggested yet- you might consider trying a ceramic mag in the Hybrid that you liked. Should give it quite a bit more bite, and maybe more of the high mids that you say you're looking for.
Also, you mentioned you don't need super high output: the Distortion Neck is also an excellent medium output pickup for at the bridge. Bright and tight- nice present mids, neither nasal nor honky. Great in mahogany, very good choice for a dark sounding guitar. I have an old one from when it was called the SH-7 Seymourizer.
BleedingFingertips
New member
Re: Brighter than a JB? Saving a Dark/Mid-Scooped Guitar...
I would disagree on Nazgul. Yes, it sounds bright in this particular guitar which features an ash body. In my basswood Jackson it sounds rather balanced and if you dial in more bass even warm. Not muddy, but it could sound rather dull in mahogany.
I would disagree on Nazgul. Yes, it sounds bright in this particular guitar which features an ash body. In my basswood Jackson it sounds rather balanced and if you dial in more bass even warm. Not muddy, but it could sound rather dull in mahogany.
BleedingFingertips
New member
Re: Brighter than a JB? Saving a Dark/Mid-Scooped Guitar...
Donalddemon, does your guitar really have a maple cap? I checked it out and it seems that it has none. Only solid mahogany with an arched top. If so, I figured that it has basically the same characteristics as my Charvel Desolation DS-3 ST other than mine features a rosewood fingerboard and is bolt-on 25.5 scale. I wouldn't call it very dark, a bit warm yes. But the stock pickups have enough treble, the problem is that they sound really muddy under high-gain. I will swap them in a couple of weeks and I think I'll grab a Jazz Neck and a Custom bridge. Might also work for you.
Donalddemon, does your guitar really have a maple cap? I checked it out and it seems that it has none. Only solid mahogany with an arched top. If so, I figured that it has basically the same characteristics as my Charvel Desolation DS-3 ST other than mine features a rosewood fingerboard and is bolt-on 25.5 scale. I wouldn't call it very dark, a bit warm yes. But the stock pickups have enough treble, the problem is that they sound really muddy under high-gain. I will swap them in a couple of weeks and I think I'll grab a Jazz Neck and a Custom bridge. Might also work for you.
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Re: Brighter than a JB? Saving a Dark/Mid-Scooped Guitar...
An A8 in a Custom gives the highs and the tight bass that the CC lacks. A C8 also gives the highs and bass of the C5 but gives some mids which the C5 lacks.
An A8 in a Custom gives the highs and the tight bass that the CC lacks. A C8 also gives the highs and bass of the C5 but gives some mids which the C5 lacks.
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