I have a G&L S 500 that I just installed some Hot Rails in. My concern is that they don't sound just right for some reason. Maybe my ear just needs to adjust but the pickups sound a little muted to me. Could it be the PTB tone pot (whatever that is) that is causing this? Also, the bridge Hot Rail doesn't seem to be quite as loud as the neck. Anything I can or should check for this? Thanks a bunch for your help and suggestions!
G&L PTB system??
- Thread starter dzrati
- Start date
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: G&L PTB system??
I didn't care too much for that circuit in my G&L Legacy Deluxe either, so I rewired it like a Fender HSS. It cleaned up the sound a little. Hot Rails are overly hot IMO, and if you end up not liking them, just move to some different ones, like JB Jr, lil Screamin Demon, lil 59 or Cool Rails. Personally, I think the HR/CR/CR would be better.
One of these days, I need to rip out everything, including the G&L pots, and rewire it with CTS pots and then listen to my Custom/stock/Cool Rails.
I didn't care too much for that circuit in my G&L Legacy Deluxe either, so I rewired it like a Fender HSS. It cleaned up the sound a little. Hot Rails are overly hot IMO, and if you end up not liking them, just move to some different ones, like JB Jr, lil Screamin Demon, lil 59 or Cool Rails. Personally, I think the HR/CR/CR would be better.
One of these days, I need to rip out everything, including the G&L pots, and rewire it with CTS pots and then listen to my Custom/stock/Cool Rails.
stevie_bees
Cat In The Hatministrator
Re: G&L PTB system??
It might be that you need to up your pots to 500K.
It might be that you need to up your pots to 500K.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: G&L PTB system??
i'm pretty sure G&L uses 500K pots for their guitars with humbuckers...and a 1meg tone pot for the Bass knob.
Adjust the height, make sure you wired it correctly, and all of that. One thing I noticed when I had a Hot Rails in my Strat was that the tone is almost alllll MIDS. So if you have tone knobs for cutting the bass and treble it's gonna make your midsy tone midsier, if you follow me...maybe a pickup with a more 'scooped' midrange would better suite that circuit?
-X
i'm pretty sure G&L uses 500K pots for their guitars with humbuckers...and a 1meg tone pot for the Bass knob.
Adjust the height, make sure you wired it correctly, and all of that. One thing I noticed when I had a Hot Rails in my Strat was that the tone is almost alllll MIDS. So if you have tone knobs for cutting the bass and treble it's gonna make your midsy tone midsier, if you follow me...maybe a pickup with a more 'scooped' midrange would better suite that circuit?
-X
stevie_bees
Cat In The Hatministrator
Re: G&L PTB system??
For vintage type singles the PTB is great, very versatile. Never heard it with Hot Rails. Might be better to wire it more traditionally.
For vintage type singles the PTB is great, very versatile. Never heard it with Hot Rails. Might be better to wire it more traditionally.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: G&L PTB system??
The PTB isn't a pot. PTB stands for Passive Treble and Bass. Leo Fender designed this circuit back in the early 1980s. The Legacy, S-500, Comanche, and Legacy Special models have controls that look like a standard Strat, but they have much more shaping power. The controls are global, meaning that they work in all switch positions. That's pretty radical change from the standard Strat wiring, where the bridge pickup is unusable for most people.
The PTB alllows you to go rapidly from a bright jangly rhythm, to a darker jazz tone, or subtlely dial in feedback harmonics, or add bass and PUNCH to a solo without losing clarity. It does take a little experimentation to get the best out of the PTB--but once most people adapt, they find the vintage controls very limiting.
If you left the S-500's MFD single coils in the neck, you'll have a hard time setting up the gutiar to match the hot output of this pickup. I had one S-500 that the original owner installed a JB jr. in the bridge. It really couldn't compete with the high output MFD pickups, and I've taken it out and re-installed the original pickup. This guitar has a very aggressive tone that's great for hard rock and blues--it really sings!
Without more information, that's about all I can offer.
Bill
The PTB isn't a pot. PTB stands for Passive Treble and Bass. Leo Fender designed this circuit back in the early 1980s. The Legacy, S-500, Comanche, and Legacy Special models have controls that look like a standard Strat, but they have much more shaping power. The controls are global, meaning that they work in all switch positions. That's pretty radical change from the standard Strat wiring, where the bridge pickup is unusable for most people.
The PTB alllows you to go rapidly from a bright jangly rhythm, to a darker jazz tone, or subtlely dial in feedback harmonics, or add bass and PUNCH to a solo without losing clarity. It does take a little experimentation to get the best out of the PTB--but once most people adapt, they find the vintage controls very limiting.
If you left the S-500's MFD single coils in the neck, you'll have a hard time setting up the gutiar to match the hot output of this pickup. I had one S-500 that the original owner installed a JB jr. in the bridge. It really couldn't compete with the high output MFD pickups, and I've taken it out and re-installed the original pickup. This guitar has a very aggressive tone that's great for hard rock and blues--it really sings!
Without more information, that's about all I can offer.
Bill
Re: G&L PTB system??
you put a neck version in the neck position right? if you put a bridge version in the neck i doubt youll ever get the volumes to balance.
lower the neck pup away from the strings and it should balance better with the bridge. closer = more volume, further = less volume
as far as the passive treble and bass controls, like others have mentioned they might not work as well with such a mid heavy pup
you put a neck version in the neck position right? if you put a bridge version in the neck i doubt youll ever get the volumes to balance.
lower the neck pup away from the strings and it should balance better with the bridge. closer = more volume, further = less volume
as far as the passive treble and bass controls, like others have mentioned they might not work as well with such a mid heavy pup
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