Muddy Gretsch neck, part 2

B

BlueMoose

New member
A few months ago, I posted looking for suggestions on PUs to bring my Gretsch 7609 (335-style) to life. The problem was major muddiness in the neck position (full size humbucker).

I decided on Phat Cats. The bridge pickup is absolutely killer, as is the middle position. However the neck is STILL muddy. I can pour on the treble at the amp and get a great, crisp sound on the neck, but then the bridge is an icepick. All in all, I love the 'Cats but can't get a balance between neck and bridge.

Soooo...this is indicating to me that the problem lies in something other than the pickups. Should I look at replacing caps???

One important thing: the tone controls on this guitar are absolutely useless, which tells me the other electronics are probably for crap too.

Suggestions?

Thanks!
 
Re: Muddy Gretsch neck, part 2

BM:

if it's like a 335-style, and you're adept with turning metric holes to 3/8" holes, I'd go and get a set of pots and caps from RS Guitarworks. You can find their 335-style kit here.

RSGuitarworks 335 Vintage Caps, Pot, Jack, and Swich kit.

$182 is a bit steep, but I use RSGW on my strat, with luxe caps, and they are incredibly nuanced, they have a nice tight turning feel, and they are quite robust (brass shafts, heavy carbon tracks, etc.) Also, for the price, all the pots and caps are calibrated to each other to maximize their ability to work together within the guitar. I usually find that with many guitars, the pots are the problem, they're mass produced and they lack the robustness to properly do their jobs. Also, with caps, the same applies; cheap and mass produced is favored, sadly.

Give the kit a look. It may save you a pup swap job, they have EXCELLENT customer service, and on their youtube site, they have video on how to facilitate wiring a 335-style guitar

RSGW's youtube page, 335 is in 5 parts, start at part 1 (near the bottom) and work up

Jason
 
Re: Muddy Gretsch neck, part 2

Thanks, Jason. The only hitch is that mine has the typical Gretsch master volume, plus the selector is up top (like a Les Paul). But I like the idea of replacing everything with a pre-wired harness...I'd probably just bypass the master and extend the wiring for the selector switch.
 
Re: Muddy Gretsch neck, part 2

BlueMoose said:
Thanks, Jason. The only hitch is that mine has the typical Gretsch master volume, plus the selector is up top (like a Les Paul). But I like the idea of replacing everything with a pre-wired harness...I'd probably just bypass the master and extend the wiring for the selector switch.
Click to expand...

if you can find the wiring diagram for your gretsch and send it to RSGW, they'll be able to make a wiring up for your guitar.

Jason
 
Re: Muddy Gretsch neck, part 2

Any thoughts on a lower budget approach? I'm willing to gut it, but would love to avoid the cost if possible. Thanks again for the input.
 
Re: Muddy Gretsch neck, part 2

Pots are a good idea...measure to make sure they are reasonably within spec. What spec are they? 500k?
 
Re: Muddy Gretsch neck, part 2

Well, I'm really diggin' the Phat Cats.

Should I try switching the mags on the neck PU before dropping a lot of dough on a total replacement of the electronics? Might be worth the time to try it.
 
Re: Muddy Gretsch neck, part 2

^ tv jones makes awesome pickups, but they ain't low-budget

start by raising the poles a little and trying lowering and maybe even raising the pickup; if that doesn't fix the problem, 2 A5 mags in your neck phat cat should.
 
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