Hex Screws in the Custom 8

[Franknfilms]

Okay, it is time to do some more tone experimenting for the hell of it. I bought these on ebay today. I'm going to do the "bass hex" mod...I think that is what it's called? 3 nickel hex screws under the low/wound strings in my Custom 8. I got the idea from Despair, not sure if anyone else has tried it?

The Custom 8 is pretty incredible, heavy warm tones, but why not try to get some more crunch out of the low strings? I'll record an a/b when I get the screws, I'm thinking for the 3 low strings Lamb of God will provide some good demo riffs.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

look forward to hearing how it turns out. LOVE the C8 and any thing that may improve it would greatly excite me.

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

I like the mod. it tightens up the low strings a teeny bit. The bass is till there, but if you find there to be any muddy low mids with standard screws, allens can help with that.

I should think it would be an imrovement on the C8.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

I just tried the mod and I like it. I have the C8 in a Squire strat with a rosewood fretboard and it was just too fat and sweet. Even with shortened fillister screws it was too dark. After putting short hex screws in the treble became sharper and the midrange dipped out, which accentuates initial pick attack and definition.

 

[surface54]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

have some of you just put the hex poles on just the 3 lower strings?
i find the top three really really smooth and crunchy for leads, just perfect.
the low end is really fat and organic, its missing a tad bit of a sharp accurate edge.
franknfilms im highly looking forward to this.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

have some of you just put the hex poles on just the 3 lower strings?
i find the top three really really smooth and crunchy for leads, just perfect.
the low end is really fat and organic, its missing a tad bit of a sharp accurate edge.
franknfilms im highly looking forward to this.

I started with 3x3 but I liked it better with all 6 hex's.

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

Shoot. I could hardly tell a difference on the high strings, but allens do certainly seem to tighten up the lower strings and make them more articulate.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

I think that a c8 with just a slight hex tone-sharpening will finally put the tone chasing to rest...for a month or two. I'm going to let the sound clips do the talking, much easier to control the recording variables if I just have to put in a few screws vs. magnet swapping so I'm looking forward to seeing how this sounds in an a/b.

 

[cheameup]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

I tried it when I had a C8. Made it much more focussed . bit thinner for chugs which I didnt like

 

[surface54]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

i wonder what it would sound like just on the low E string. would that make a weird sounding power chord if the two strings are different poles?

 

[Despair]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

i wonder what it would sound like just on the low E string. would that make a weird sounding power chord if the two strings are different poles?

Depends, if just the low E is too fat, it's worth a try. It will make for a different bite on the string than on the others, but you get some differences even with identical polepieces just from string gauge/tension and lack of surrounding polepiece on the outside of the low/high E, anyways.

Will depend on the guitar's resonant behavior as well. Even if it sounds different, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Try it and see if you like it, is the only real way to tell. (=

 

[Maynardo]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

When will you record these demos?

 

[surface54]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

When will you record these demos?

dont rush the man its coming!!

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

They are actually being delivered tomorrow, so I just have to find one day this week to "work" from home, probably wed, thurs, or worst case friday for the sound clips.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

I did this with a regular (ceramic) SH5 on one of my Dean 79s- in that guitar the Sh5 had the muddiest tone I have ever heard. No string clarity whatsoever. 59 in the neck sounded normal, but.I even re-did my wiring thinking I had screwed something up. Didn't help.

The hex poles in the SH5 only seemed to make the overall tone brighter and did nothing for clarity. Just a bad match for that particular guitar I guess. The Stock dean pups were far better.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

I have the screws, but no free time this week. I expect to attempt sound clips this weekend or early next week.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

Sound clip time. I'm not sure this is really helpful. In my rush to get the hex screws in I didn't really record much heavy gain stuff with the filisters. Damn it! I really meant to a/b some lamb of god or something, oh well. My amp is making terrible noises due to the my new room with is getting electrical interference so bear with. However, this is my first recording with the new 2x12 cabinet and I am thrilled about all of the thumping bass that I couldn't be from my open back combo. I try to record some more clips with just the hex screws.

Sound clips:
http://netmusicians.org/index.php?section=id&value=11110

Each riff played twice, first with stock fillister screws, then with hex screws. Check out the pics, I expected the fillisters to be longer for some reason. I think there is a clear tone difference myself, more noticeable with gain, how about you?

 

[surface54]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

i can totally hear a slight reduction in bass with the hex poles adding clarity for those low strings.
a success imo. =D

 

[surface54]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

i also noticed when the gain was higher, the palm mutes couldnt accent as much bass as the stock C8. that should be exactly what you were after for tight palm mute performances. for heavy power chords action the Hex poles might not be as thunderous, but your cab will make up for that now. so it should all be in great alignment for what you need now.

 

[surface54]

Re: Hex Screws in the Custom 8

hey everyone ive never really been into adjusting the stock fillister screws, do you think a nickle size height adjustment up higher would give the low E more treble detail?