How Do I Get This Sound?

ExplorersRock

ExplorersRock

X-Files Duckbucker
To be more specific, how can I get a two guitars to sound similar. Here's my problem. I have a guitar that plays better than anything else I've played and a guitar that sounds better than anything else I've heard. Sadly not the same guitar :guilty:. So how do I get my amazing player to sound like my amazing tone-creator? They're very different, so this isn't a straight-forward, "buy the same pickups," answer. I'm happy with each guitar's neck pickup, but it's the bridge pickup that needs a change. Here's the amazing tone-creator specs:

Gibson Traditional Pro Explorer
- Mahogany body
- Mahogany set-neck
- Rosewood fretboard,
- 24.75" scale
- Tune-O-Matic bridge, stop tail piece
- Burstbucker 3 bridge HB (stock, so it's potted), Classic '57 neck HB - both are uncovered

And here are the specs for my amazing player:

Custom-made, set-neck strat
- Alder Strat-shape body, rear-routed with no pickguard
- Maple set-neck
- Rosewood fretboard
- 25.5" Scale
- Fender American Deluxe Strat 2-point floating trem
- Custom 5 bridge HB, Custom-Shop Hot '59 (9.5k) neck HB - both w/nickel covers

So there's the challenge. I'm happy with the CS Hot '59 neck HB, but I really want the bridge position to sound like the BB3 in my Trad Pro Explorer. I'd just drop the BB3 in there but with all the differences (wood, scale, bridge) it might not be the best choice to get in the same ballpark. I realize that it won't sound the same, so I'm just looking to get close to it. The C5 just isn't doing what I want. What do you guys suggest?
 
Re: How Do I Get This Sound?

I suggest Science!

Seriously. Borrow a professional quality multi-band graphic equaliser. Cut and boost the frequency bands until your Custom Five is sounding the way that you would wish.

Once you have quantified the correction that needs to be made, find out which pickup will offer that tonal change.

Alternatively, just buy the equaliser.
 
Re: How Do I Get This Sound?

Funkfingers said:
I suggest Science!

Seriously. Borrow a professional quality multi-band graphic equaliser. Cut and boost the frequency bands until your Custom Five is sounding the way that you would wish.

Once you have quantified the correction that needs to be made, find out which pickup will offer that tonal change.

Alternatively, just buy the equaliser.
Click to expand...

Well... Ok, I guess f-ing with the EQ (or getting an EQ pedal) is an option. I'm admitting some laziness, but wanted to see if there was a better bridge pup choice. I just LOVE the way that Trad Pro Explorer sounds! It will never leave my hands, that's for sure!
 
Re: How Do I Get This Sound?

How can I make my hamburger taste just like a hotdog,.without turning it into a hotdog?


No pickup swap is ever going to do what you want.
 
Re: How Do I Get This Sound?

JeffB said:
How can I make my hamburger taste just like a hotdog,.without turning it into a hotdog?


No pickup swap is ever going to do what you want.
Click to expand...

Hey! Quik Trip sells Cheeseburger Dogs! I hear what you're saying and I know I'm not going to get exactly the same sound. Like I said in the OP, I'm looking to get in the same ballpark. That should be doable. The reason I wanted to ask about it rather than just drop in a BB3 is knowing that a lot of people here who love the JB in a strat or tele say it doesn't sound good in mahogany. So will the BB3 sound good in alder?

In fairness, let me break it down in more specifics. I love the vintage-like character of the C5, but the bass is kinda heavy and not tight. The highs are clear but can get a little sharp at times. The gobs of output is good, but a little less might be a good thing.

The BB3 has great character and the EQ seems pretty balanced. Great overall rock tone. Plus it sounds incredibly vibrant and full. So that's what I'm going for. I have not tried a C/59 hybrid, but maybe that might be a good idea? It seems like a semi-hot PAF which is kinda what the BB3 is.

I appreciate the input so far guys, and myabe I should just throw in a BB# and EQ it like GuitarDoc and FunkFingers are suggesting.
 
Re: How Do I Get This Sound?

you could probably get a warmoth strat made out of mahogany.

OR get a prs/prs style guitar...those tend to be the best of both worlds
 
Re: How Do I Get This Sound?

0v3nm4n said:
you could probably get a warmoth strat made out of mahogany.

OR get a prs/prs style guitar...those tend to be the best of both worlds
Click to expand...

My custom job is set-neck, so replacing the body is not possible. The thing plays far better than anything else I've ever played, I just want to get the tone closer to what I'm looking for.
 
Re: How Do I Get This Sound?

Since you already have C5, how about trying PG/Custom hybrid? Just a shot in the dark.
 
Re: How Do I Get This Sound?

How about coming at it from a different angle and trying to make your Explorer a better player? I know Strats and Explorers are very different guitars and it makes sense that you would prefer the feel of one over the other, but what is it about the Strat that you prefer, in terms of playability? Is it something that tweaking the setup on your Explorer could get you closer to? Or is it just the general body shape, scale length, bridge arrangement, etc that you prefer? IE; are you just more of a Strat guy than an Explorer guy?

How, specifically, do you want to change the tone of your Strat? I'm not familiar with BB3s in Gibsons, but I am familiar with humbuckers in Strats; especially the Custom family.
 
Re: How Do I Get This Sound?

Kam said:
How about coming at it from a different angle and trying to make your Explorer a better player? I know Strats and Explorers are very different guitars and it makes sense that you would prefer the feel of one over the other, but what is it about the Strat that you prefer, in terms of playability? Is it something that tweaking the setup on your Explorer could get you closer to? Or is it just the general body shape, scale length, bridge arrangement, etc that you prefer? IE; are you just more of a Strat guy than an Explorer guy?

How, specifically, do you want to change the tone of your Strat? I'm not familiar with BB3s in Gibsons, but I am familiar with humbuckers in Strats; especially the Custom family.
Click to expand...

Good questions here. It's not that my Explorer isn't a good player, it's just that the Custom Strat plays stupid-good! Part of it I think is the fretboard set-up. It's a 12"-14" compound radius with 6105 frets. Perfect feel.

Here's what I would like to change tonewise. The Custom 5 sounds more compressed, more sharp highs, more boomy bass, and less mids than the BB3. Plus it doesn't sound as full as the BB3. I think BrianS might be right, and putting a lower-output PAF might be the right ticket. I think a C/'59 Hybrid might just be the ticket.
 
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