Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

[GuitarGuy503]

a few monthes ago I upgraded from a Tom Delonge Signature Strat with an Invader bridge to a 2004 MIA (Maple Fretboard) JB bridge. I just got around to playing through My Mesa Rect-O-Verb tonight with my MIA and was quite disapponted that I wasn't getting nearly as much low end and crunch as I remember when I had the Tom Delonge with the Invader. Don't get me wrong, I was never expecting the JB to put out nearly as much lowend as the Invader but I figured I'd get a significant amount of lowend from it. The tubes seem to be working fine. The tubes are the originals that came with the amp when I bought it used and I havent come across any cutting out or any volume reduction, so I assume they are ok. Am I wrong in assuming that? Do tubes lose their sound quality with age? Could the lack of low end be due to the fact I'm not using an Invader anymore and the JB isn't chunky enough or would a fresh set of tubes help me out with my low end. It's odd because the JB sounds great through my Line 6 and provides a satisfying amount of lowend but it just doesn't seem to be cutting it through my Mesa. :yell: Any thoughts?

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

A JB in alder for me would never have enough low end. A good compromise of JB and Invader to me = Distortion.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

maybe mxr 10 band?

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

A JB in alder for me would never have enough low end. A good compromise of JB and Invader to me = Distortion. All 3 have the same coils, only different magnets. JB uses an A5, the DD uses a huge ceramic, and the Invader uses 3 smaller ceramics with those huge polepieces.

Well when I chose the JB I was going more for clarity. I guess I'd like a bridge pickup that is somewhere in between and that provides some clarity but some chunk and lowend as well. The Invader was just to overkill and muddy and had no clarity whatsoever, which is why I decided to go with the JB in my MIA instead.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

Clarity and chunk = DD IMO. Such a great pickup. Articulate as hell, screaming harmonics, everything just howls like a banshee out of it. Great chunk and low end, expecially in PM's.

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

Clarity and chunk = DD IMO. Such a great pickup. Articulate as hell, screaming harmonics, everything just howls like a banshee out of it. Great chunk and low end, expecially in PM's.

What about a Custom?

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

The custom is FAT and LOUD! Not as aggressive, but I love aggressive pickups...just suits my style perfectly. The Custom will give more of a PAF vibe, and will have better cleans.

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

damn you know alot about guitars for 13 bro! hehe... hmmm.... i have really had my eye on a custom and distortion..... i dunno what to get... decisions decisions... lol

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

Haha yeah...that's what happens when GAS sees more of your lunch money than your stomach does

With Duncans exchance program, you really have nothing to worry about, assuming you buy it new. Grind those salesmen!

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

Haha yeah...that's what happens when GAS sees more of your lunch money than your stomach does

With Duncans exchance program, you really have nothing to worry about, assuming you buy it new. Grind those salesmen!

Must be some lunch money.....

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

well eventually im planning on buying either a Gibby or another strat so maybe ill have a Custom bridge in one and a distortion in the other.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

If that be the case, I suggest the DD in mohogany, wherever you can. The custom seems like it would be better fit in Alder.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

Must be some lunch money.....

Working construction the whole summer helped a bit too

I'm sure as hell staying in school. 9 bucks an hour is not a good pay for digging ditches.

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

Working construction the whole summer helped a bit too

I'm sure as hell staying in school. 9 bucks an hour is not a good pay for digging ditches.

good attitude dude. Staying in school is good, you will appreciate it later on down the road.

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

I really want a Gibby LP....
not sure whether to go the studio route or standard.

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

I want to get a Jazz neck... which out of the custom or distortion do you think a jazz would go best with?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

Did you put 250k pots in the Strat when you put the JB in...if not, trust me and stick a 250k pot in that guitar first! If your still unhappe try a mew pup, for killer lowend I would go with the DD...thecustom is cool, but the DD will have a stronger/tighter bottom. Don't overlook the 59, it's good too. The Custom sounds like a big 59...first check your pot(s)...use a 250k with a JB...trust me, if that still does not fix the problem, go back to a 250k and try a new pup!

 

[some_dude]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

I played a friends LP with a Custom in it awhile ago. It had a very sweet, smooth distortion sound and was really nice clean.

I use a JB in a Strat w/250k pots into a Recto (on modern) and I get plenty of low end. On Vintage it screams in the midrange, but for muted chugs the modern voice kicks ass.

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

Did you put 250k pots in the Strat when you put the JB in...if not, trust me and stick a 250k pot in that guitar first! If your still unhappe try a mew pup, for killer lowend I would go with the DD...thecustom is cool, but the DD will have a stronger/tighter bottom. Don't overlook the 59, it's good too. The Custom sounds like a big 59...first check your pot(s)...use a 250k with a JB...trust me, if that still does not fix the problem, go back to a 250k and try a new pup!

Nah my strat was upgraded to 500K's when the JB/59' were installed...... :smack:

 

[mrid]

Re: Lack Of Low End...Do I need new tubes or a Beefier Pickup?

Honestly, everything sounds thin after using an Invader...I think they damage your hearing or something. :laugh2: