LP... Real "muddy" sound.

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neckcutta

New member
Hey,

I'm having problems with all of my guitar cables I get. I first bought a Monster brand cable and the guitar sounded great until a few days later. All of the sudden, it started sounding real muddy and deep. A guy at Guitar Center told me that I had probably messed up the cable by stepping on it, etc. and since I don't roll it up after I'm done with it, I probably did step on it a few times.

So, after that I thought I had the problem solved... but I didn't.
I bought another Monster brand cable and once again the guitar sounded great.
Until... yep, a few days later. Then the muddy and deep sound came back.
And I took EXTRA care of the cable to make sure it didn't get damaged.
So now, I'm totally clueless as to what the problem is.
Everytime I purchase a new cable it sounds fine until it suddenly changes for no apparent reason.

I suspect a cable would not go out on me that quick. The only two things I can think of would be the pickups to close to the strings (which I haven't messed with the stock height) and the wiring of the guitar. I've heard the Epi's aren't too great at that.

For the record, I have an Epiphone Les Paul Custom with a Marshall MG-100 DFX. Please let me know what you suspect is happening.


Thanks in advance.
 
Re: LP... Real "muddy" sound.

I think the new cable thing might be a placebo that wears off, I'd change pickups and see if it happens, and definitally mess with hte pickup height.
 
Re: LP... Real "muddy" sound.

you could also try bypassing your tone knobs, maybe they somehow got messed up and are resisting too much
 
Re: LP... Real "muddy" sound.

Something in your story doesn't sound right.

I'm assuming that there actually is a difference as you described it.

How big is the difference? Does anything else happen? What happens when you keep using one of the worn cables over a long period of time?

Les Pauls sound muddy when you dial in too much bass. Really I think guitars need very little bass, unless you're scooping your mids.

To get more brightness and clarity, better tonepots would help. Or you can just bypass them as someone else has already suggested.
 
Re: LP... Real "muddy" sound.

Hmmm, doesn't really sond like a cable thing to me, I have a cheapo crappy cable I use quite alot, it doesn't suck tone, just buzzes like mad...

How is your amp set & your vol/tone, all normal?
 
Re: LP... Real "muddy" sound.

Can someone describe how you would make the pickup lower on the low E?
That's where the deep sound seems to be the most problem.
 
Re: LP... Real "muddy" sound.

DeadSkinSlayer3 said:
I think the new cable thing might be a placebo that wears off, I'd change pickups and see if it happens, and definitally mess with hte pickup height.
Click to expand...


Hmm, a placebo cable?
I've never heard of that...
 
Re: LP... Real "muddy" sound.

Sounds really wierd, i can't think of how it can go from good to muddy, then you change the cable and it goes good again, then muddy again, unless you are messing around with setting and pickup heights etc.
 
Re: LP... Real "muddy" sound.

neckcutta said:
Can someone describe how you would make the pickup lower on the low E?
That's where the deep sound seems to be the most problem.
Click to expand...

There's six screws through the mounting ring...one in each corner (four total)that attach the pickup to the top of the guitar: Don't touch those!

That leaves the two screws that are for ht. adjustment.

Turn the screw on the low E side counter clockwise to lower the pickup and clockwise to raise the pickup.

Lew
 
Re: LP... Real "muddy" sound.

neckcutta said:
Can someone describe how you would make the pickup lower on the low E?
That's where the deep sound seems to be the most problem.
Click to expand...



Use a screwdriver on the big screw that goes through the pickup ring and holds the pickup.

Lowering the pickup will make it both bassier and brighter.
 
Re: LP... Real "muddy" sound.

Forbes said:
Sounds really wierd, i can't think of how it can go from good to muddy, then you change the cable and it goes good again, then muddy again, unless you are messing around with setting and pickup heights etc.
Click to expand...


Yeah, it's really weird. And the thing is, I haven't even touched the pickups or anything...
 
Re: LP... Real "muddy" sound.

Hmm, I'd check your jack out if I were you. Or even better have a tech look at the guitar's internal wiring.
 
Re: LP... Real "muddy" sound.

I'm getting a new output jack and toggle switch installed.
I guess I should ask them to look around for any loose wires, etc. while they're in there.
 
Re: LP... Real "muddy" sound.

I would suggest new strings, and to go tell the dumbass at Guitar Center that stepping on a Monster Cable shouldn't really hurt it.
 
Re: LP... Real "muddy" sound.

Also, you shouldn't have had to buy another Monster Cable, those are warrantied for life aren't they? If you say it's not working, they check it and if it's not you get a new one free? I could be wrong, please correct me if so.
 
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