Help with congested sounding guitars

[dystrust]

Re: Help with congested sounding guitars

The model 5 should be very poplar.

The MIJ Charvel Model 3B, 5, & 6 are maple neck-thru with poplar wings, just like USA Jacksons of the period.

thanks for the recommendations guys. I purchased a brass block for the floyd in the Model 5 which i know will help brighten things up. I believe its the pots though-wiring is a bit suspect as well on the Model 5. the pots on the 750xl look to be well used so to say-could be cooked inside.

IME a brass block will mellow and thicken a Floyd. If your Model 5 currently has a brass block, it may be worth putting the original block back. That being said I would look into electronics issues unless those guitars are clear outliers when played unplugged.

 

[dave74]

Re: Help with congested sounding guitars

Yea my old model 5 orange-crackle h/s was that as well. maple thru poplar,,,, and unplugged it was also very congested and deadened,,,,,definitely not open nor resonant.
Ended up really liking the 85 in that one at the bridge.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Help with congested sounding guitars

I have an incredibly mid-heavy poplar Music Man. I had to use pickups brighter/scoopier than I would ever use- a Jazz and a Custom 5 just to make it work. I like it now, for its-still-reedy character. If it had any more mids, I never would have kept it, despite how great it plays.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Help with congested sounding guitars

Do the guitars sound congested no matter what room/location you play them in? I'm having trouble understanding what 'congested' sounds like - my first thought would be hot pickups too close to strings dampening vibration. My second thought would be you are in a carpeted room with cloth upholstered furniture and if you took your rig to another location like a meeting hall / gym/ cafeteria they'd be screaming/screeching/piercing. Guess I'm not much help

 

[Mincer]

Re: Help with congested sounding guitars

Mine certainly sounded that way no matter what amp or room I was in. I solved mine through pickup swaps and slight amp EQ adjustments. In other guitars, it might not be that easy, though.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: Help with congested sounding guitars

Yes, both my 5150III and my Line 6 they still sound congested. I describe congested as like the output muffled and somewhat quack-y but not in a good way. I think that its either burnt up pots and/or low output pots.

The pots on the Model 5 are pretty much brand new but the ones in the 750xl look pretty over-used (lots of solder joints). I will swap the Model 5 to CTS and see if that clears things up, may even do a no-load pot as well. Same goes with the 750xl.

Yea, i am not giving up on these shred monsters. they are getting a bit rare, especially the 750 and I like the fact that the Model 5 doesnt have the original mid-boost stock jackson pickups.

Hmmm, i just thought of something. maybe the output jack on the Model 5 needs to be replaced? Would the original stock Jackson mid-boost pickups require a different jack than a passive one?

 

[dystrust]

Re: Help with congested sounding guitars

Yea, i am not giving up on these shred monsters. they are getting a bit rare, especially the 750 and I like the fact that the Model 5 doesnt have the original mid-boost stock jackson pickups.

Hmmm, i just thought of something. maybe the output jack on the Model 5 needs to be replaced? Would the original stock Jackson mid-boost pickups require a different jack than a passive one?

As long as the jack works properly you don't need to replace it. The ring connection in a TRS jack will short to the sleeve and effectively do nothing in a passive system. In fact it's that shorting that completes the circuit and powers the pickups on in an active system.

I also doubt that your Model 5 has a TRS jack; AFAIK they only installed the mid boost preamp in Model 4s and 6s.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Help with congested sounding guitars

Yes, both my 5150III and my Line 6 they still sound congested. I describe congested as like the output muffled and somewhat quack-y but not in a good way. I think that its either burnt up pots and/or low output pots.

The pots on the Model 5 are pretty much brand new but the ones in the 750xl look pretty over-used (lots of solder joints). I will swap the Model 5 to CTS and see if that clears things up, may even do a no-load pot as well. Same goes with the 750xl.

Yea, i am not giving up on these shred monsters. they are getting a bit rare, especially the 750 and I like the fact that the Model 5 doesnt have the original mid-boost stock jackson pickups.

Hmmm, i just thought of something. maybe the output jack on the Model 5 needs to be replaced? Would the original stock Jackson mid-boost pickups require a different jack than a passive one?

Have you checked the pots? If it originally had actives, that got switched to passives without changing pots as well, it will surely sound very congested.