Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

[panamang]

Have built a fat strat using a squier strat body for my son but this guitar is way too bright. Problem is the tone coming from the bridge pickup. I have put the best quaility pups out there in this thing and they still sound poor (a Duncan Distortion and a DiMarzio Evolution). The same pickups sound great in our Epi Les Paul. I do have a Duncan Design Detonator (Invader) in the house and was wondering if the dark sound of that pup would help solve the problem? It's probably not the best solution out there but am hoping it might help. He plays mostly heavy metal Metallica stuff. What you guys think?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

If you're using 500K pots try 250K pots instead. They'll remove some of the bright brittle tone...a cheap fix too!

Lew

 

[St-Jimmy]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

You may need a darker pickup. I believe the Squier strat (well mine is) is made of an alder body... and the duncan distortion (being a bright pickup with its searing highs) will make it even brighter. I had a JB in mine at that thing peirced my bandmates ears.. even with the eq setting on my amp were adjust for more bass. Try maybe an Invader.

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

I think the Invader would probably work. It's worth a try, eh? If that doesn't work, maybe something with A2 magnets would work, like a Custom Custom. James Hetfield used to use an Invader, too. If it darkens up the guitar enough to be useful, I'm sure your son would probably enjoy it.

I believe James used the Invader during the "...And Justice For All" days.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

Yeah the pickups you've described ARE very bright. There are tons of other choices that would tone down the screechiness. The Dimarzio Tone Zone/Air Zone, the Duncan Custom Custom/Custom5, etc.

 

[Diego]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

I think the Invader would probably work. It's worth a try, eh? If that doesn't work, maybe something with A2 magnets would work, like a Custom Custom. James Hetfield used to use an Invader, too. If it darkens up the guitar enough to be useful, I'm sure your son would probably enjoy it.

I believe James used the Invader during the "...And Justice For All" days.

Actually, Hetfield used the Invader on the recording of Master of Puppets. In "...And Justice for All" it was all EMGs. :fingersx:

 

[panamang]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

If you're using 500K pots try 250K pots instead. They'll remove some of the bright brittle tone...a cheap fix too!

Lew

Bridge pup is runs off of a 250k volume pot with the .001 pf capacitor mod and also a 500k tone pot

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

Bridge pup is runs off of a 250k volume pot with the .001 pf capacitor mod and also a 500k tone pot

Is that a bleeder cap to retain highs when the volume control is turned down? Remove it. If it's still to bright try a 250K tone pot.

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

Actually, Hetfield used the Invader on the recording of Master of Puppets. In "...And Justice for All" it was all EMGs. :fingersx:

My mistake.

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

Is that a bleeder cap to retain highs when the volume control is turned down? Remove it. If it's still to bright try a 250K tone pot.

That is a treble bleed cap. No wonder it's too bright.

 

[panamang]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

Is that a bleeder cap to retain highs when the volume control is turned down? Remove it. If it's still to bright try a 250K tone pot.

Yes. It's the bleed cap to retain highs at low volume. Will remove. He plays through a half stack that I obviously make him play at low volumes when around the house. Will removing this cap make a BIG difference?

I'm thinking, based on a lot of the responses here, that I should try the Invader pickup as well as removing the bleeder cap.

Hey, Hetfield is a rhythm guitarist and that's what I think the Invader is best at. It will be lousy as a lead I'm afraid.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

Yes. It's the bleed cap to retain highs at low volume. Will remove. He plays through a half stack that I obviously make him play at low volumes when around the house. Will removing this cap make a BIG difference?

Yes. Basically your treble frequencies are on "10" even when your guitars volume is set to a much lower level.

That'll probably fix it right there...

Lew

 

[david kornblatt]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

Get Rid Of All Squiers Here All The Problems
1neck Too Thin ...not Normal
Cheap Harware ...not Worth The Ffortof Better Hardware
Chep Electronics...not Worth Better Electronics
Cheap Wood Not Worth Getting Better Wood....
Chaulk It Up To Experience And Give Your Boy A Real Les Paul
Or An American Strat

 

[david kornblatt]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

excuse my god awfull spelling

 

[iekobrid]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

Hey, Hetfield is a rhythm guitarist and that's what I think the Invader is best at. It will be lousy as a lead I'm afraid.

My two favourite Metallica leads were by Hetfield. :guilty:

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

Rubbish...most of my favorite Strats are Fender Japan 80's Squier Strats.

First rate throughout...except for the pickups and electronics.

Lew

 

[ES350]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

...run a 100-250 pF cap (whatever value to taste) in parallel with the pu hot lead to ground; dumps all the high end you don't want to ground...let's call it the 'unbright mod'.

 

[Diego]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

:bsflag:

 

[david kornblatt]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

if its nonsense then let the market deiside why do most pros play real strats and real teles and stevie played and loved his all american

 

[david kornblatt]

Re: Franken Fat strat too bright! What to do.

Originally Posted by david kornblatt
things wrong with squiers
1.bad necks
2. bad hardware
3. bad electronics
4. bad pickups
5. bad wood