DiMarzio Virtual Solo (DP420) & VV '54 Pro (DP408) + 500k YJM Speed pot - too bright

[Anficht]

DiMarzio Virtual Solo (DP420) & VV '54 Pro (DP408) + 500k YJM Speed pot - too bright

Ok, I put those 2 pickups in the neck and bridge position of my Strat using a 500k Seymour Duncan YJM speed volume pot.
(DiMarzio recommends 500k pots with their high-output hum cancelling singles)
I did not have other 500k pots around so I disconnected the tone knobs and both pickups are just connected to the 500k volume pot.

The '54 Pro turned out just a tad bright but overall pretty good - but the Solo turned out waaaayyyy too bright - to be honest I was expecting the total opposite with the Solo sounding good and the '54 being too bright.

Would connecting the 2 (currently disconnected) 250k pots be the solution or would that be too dark as the tone pots are just 250k?

 

[gregory]

Re: DiMarzio Virtual Solo (DP420) & VV '54 Pro (DP408) + 500k YJM Speed pot - too bri

Re: DiMarzio Virtual Solo (DP420) & VV '54 Pro (DP408) + 500k YJM Speed pot - too bri

You need a tone control if you're going to use a 500k pot.

The reason the VV54Pro didn't seem so bright is because you put it in the neck position.

I would see what you get with the 250k pots you have, though I imagine you'll want a 500k tone pot for at least the neck pickup. A 500k audio taper pot will give you 250k when it's around 8.

How do you plan on doing with the middle regarding the tone controls? What's in the middle?

 

[mystique1]

Re: DiMarzio Virtual Solo (DP420) & VV '54 Pro (DP408) + 500k YJM Speed pot - too bri

Re: DiMarzio Virtual Solo (DP420) & VV '54 Pro (DP408) + 500k YJM Speed pot - too bri

Used the Virtual Solo for 6 years in my Strat bridge position, with stock 250k pots. To my ears it sounded perfect. I have a DM Chopper there now with the same pot' set up and love it even more. I should add that the tone control for the bridge pup is a no-load that I use on 10 all the time, which is the same as having no tone control at all. Never felt the need to change the volume value though. A simple solution for you is to run a 750k resistor across the 2 outside lugs of the volume control. That should bring a 500k pot' down to around the 300k mark.

 

[Anficht]

Re: DiMarzio Virtual Solo (DP420) & VV '54 Pro (DP408) + 500k YJM Speed pot - too bri

Re: DiMarzio Virtual Solo (DP420) & VV '54 Pro (DP408) + 500k YJM Speed pot - too bri

Thanks for the input so far guys!

@gregory: I'm not using a middle singlecoil - actually I do have one in for the classic look, but it's disconnected as I only use neck or bridge sounds. I'm using a 3-way switch.

@mystique1: ah thanks. Maybe I should try wiring that resistor to the volume first, before buying more pots.
I kind of try to keep the classic look to this Strat, as I have several already with rails, or little buckers (JBJR's etc.). Thanks very much for the suggestion!