Got a "wavering" in my tone.

[Mike M.]

This is hard to describe, but I've noticed whenever I use OD or distortion I get this "wavering" effect in my sound. Try to image using an OD pedal thru your amp along with a tremelo effect with it's volume set to where you can just start to hear it. That's the best I can describe it. It's really noticable the higher I go up the neck. This is not an intonation problem either because I can hear when I play just ONE note at a time. And it's not like I'm using a ton of gain either. I heard it today while playing thru one amp so I plugged it all into another amp and heard the same thing.

I'm not sure but maybe my pickup heigth isn't right? (I'm at work right now so I can't exactley experiment with things right now). I got my pickups heigth set app 1/4" from the strings. Too high or too low? I'm really not sure what is causing this wavering so if you guys have any ideas I'm all ears. Thanks.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Got a "wavering" in my tone.

It is whats called strat-itis. It is because of the magnetic pull of the pickups which chokes vibration. You can lower the pickups but that changes the tone and volume. Although you can compensate for it slightly by using a clean boost and lowering the pickups.

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: Got a "wavering" in my tone.

What amp is it? Old tubes, bad filter caps may be at play.

 

[suislidE03]

Re: Got a "wavering" in my tone.

Its a pickup thing from what i have experienced. When i bought a new JB/jazz set a while back i noticed they didnt have it at all. My custom was used when i got it, and it showed minor symptoms of it. On the EMG 89/81 set, the 81 is good but the 89 has it kinda bad. I noticed lowering the pickup makes it diminish or sometimes disappear. Sometimes you can hit a sweet spot in the pickup height and it will go away, so i would mess with the height first. If it really bothers you, get a new pickup.

 

[Mike M.]

Re: Got a "wavering" in my tone.

Thanks guys. The amps are a Peavey Classic 30 (bought new 3 years ago) and a Fender DRRI, bought new about 1 year ago.

The guitar is a Swamp Ash Les Paul Studio with Dimarzio's. Air Classic in the bridge and a Virtual PAF in the neck. (Low output pickups).

I too tend to think it might be a pickup thing. Does'nt matter if I'm using an amps natural distortion, with a pedal added or when using a pedal in the clean channel, I always hear that wavering to one degree or another. The worst part about is not only does it sound bad when playing one note, but imagine how it sounds when playing two! It makes things sound out of tune. I've got tomorrow off (vacation day!!) so I'll have some time to experiment with things. In the meantime if anybody else has any other suggestions let me know. Thanks again for your time.

Mike

 

[Erlend_G]

Re: Got a "wavering" in my tone.

Dimarzio's, you said?

Thats the problem! :smack:

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Got a "wavering" in my tone.

It is possible that you have too high action. Then your fretted notes will be sharp and they will warble. I thought you were describing a strat.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Got a "wavering" in my tone.

Dimarzio's, you said?

Thats the problem! :smack:

Oh behave!!!!!

 

[Mike M.]

Re: Got a "wavering" in my tone.

Dimarzio's, you said?

Thats the problem! :smack:

Yeah, I just knew I was setting myself up for the kill!! :blackeye:


But hopefully I'll be getting my DUNCAN equipt guitar back from a re-fret job either Friday or Saturday. We'll see what happens then.

 

[suislidE03]

Re: Got a "wavering" in my tone.

Yea, try just giving the pickup a swap and see what happens. If it clears, thats your answer for sure.