JB/Jazz is in but EQ isn't good

[neosadist]

All,

Got my pickups installed: JB/Jazz combo in ESP LTD EC-1000QM (dual humbuck, maple veneer top with agathis behind that, etc). However, once I got the height to the recommended setting in the manual that came with the pickups, I ran into EQ trouble. I have 1972 fender twin reverb and Boss ME-50 doing this:

Amp EQ: 3/4/8 (bass/mid/treble)
Amp Bright switch: on (more brightness)
Tone Modify on pedal: Enhance (boosts treble)

And this starts sounding half-way decent. The chord work sounds muddy due to all the bass. I've been trying to get pickups closer/farther to get them to not sound muddy. Also, I've had to run amp and pedal higher volume for the same loudness. The original capacitor is still installed, and you can hear it when you roll down and up the treble, but still....

So the best sound is when I flat-line the EQ (5's) for everything, then switch tone modify on pedal to presence (which adds high-mids and highs). I don't know what to do other than try to make what I have usable. I just dropped the pickups down to their mounting rings and then put JB up until it was same volume as neck pickup, but still the muddiness seems to persist. I mainly hear it on chord work. I also dropped all screws on all pickups (except high E) to be flush with pickup body, then left E where it was, and now there's less of a sound drop when picking runs from G/B to E string (high). I'm totally confused, as I can't seem to isolate the problem. Granted, the technician who did the soldering took the military's High Reliability Soldering class, and is a friend of mine, but still....

Robert

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: JB/Jazz is in but EQ isn't good

Drop the pickups lower than normal and raise the pickups above the bobbins. This should give you a bit more highs and sparkle.

Check all the solder joints and the values of the pots.

Also, keep in mind you switched pickups. All pickups have a different voicing and EQ adjustments will be necessary.

 

[Curly]

Re: JB/Jazz is in but EQ isn't good

I don't really have an idea what's wrong, but I'd remove the Boss from the chain in order to concentrate on your basic guitar/ amp tone .... you should be able to get great tone this way, then use the Boss to enhance that afterwards

also, did you feel you had enough highs before?

it's a bit of a puzzle, since clarity with the Jazz should be no problem

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: JB/Jazz is in but EQ isn't good

I have to be honest and say that I always hear more bass than I need from most humbucking pickups...especially the neck pickup. That's why I play mostly Strats and Teles with single coil pickups. You might want to do the 50's mod on your guitar to retain highs when you turn the volume control down. What you do is attach the tone control to the middle terminal of the volume pot. Or if you have a single tone control you'd attach it to the output jack or the terminal on the volume control that leads to the output jack. That'll help give you more clarity and highs when you turn down the volume control and play ryhtym. Lew

 

[neosadist]

Re: JB/Jazz is in but EQ isn't good

I don't really have an idea what's wrong, but I'd remove the Boss from the chain in order to concentrate on your basic guitar/ amp tone .... you should be able to get great tone this way, then use the Boss to enhance that afterwards
also, did you feel you had enough highs before?
it's a bit of a puzzle, since clarity with the Jazz should be no problem

I tried removing Boss from chain, and yes, still muddy, not enough highs, too much mids and lows. This combination was recommended by the support guy I emailed at Seymour Duncan. Anyways, my tone control does roll off highs, but in this case I need the highs. Pickups are at their recommended height. Had to extend high E string screws on both to get more volume from that string. Also, neck pickup is still too close, so I'll back it off (it's louder than bridge). Somehow I feel that this has been a downgrade. My other pickups (ESP LH100s) had enough highs, just lacked clarity. I'll post a recording of me playing through them in a bit.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: JB/Jazz is in but EQ isn't good

I tried removing Boss from chain, and yes, still muddy, not enough highs, too much mids and lows. This combination was recommended by the support guy I emailed at Seymour Duncan. Anyways, my tone control does roll off highs, but in this case I need the highs. Pickups are at their recommended height. Had to extend high E string screws on both to get more volume from that string. Also, neck pickup is still too close, so I'll back it off (it's louder than bridge). Somehow I feel that this has been a downgrade. My other pickups (ESP LH100s) had enough highs, just lacked clarity. I'll post a recording of me playing through them in a bit.

Do the 50's mod I described...

 

[neosadist]

Re: JB/Jazz is in but EQ isn't good

Ok, here's a link that you can listen to a one minute clip of me playing directly into the mic jack of my laptop. Not the best method, sure, but I've done it before. Here you go:

Link

Tell me what you think

 

[Telesexual]

Re: JB/Jazz is in but EQ isn't good

Congrats, i have the JB/Jazz in my squier strat/stagemaster. I put my pickups a little lower than normal and the tone sounded better. They are pretty bright pickups IMO so I am not sure what the problem would be. My brother has a fender twin blackface and If I play the guitar on his i have similar problem with it sounding muddy. But I dont have this problem on my Crate212 or friends marshall and mesa.