Muddy neck pickups on archtops

[vinnie1971]

Why is it that the pickup rings for archtops are designed so that the neck pickup is not parallel to the string? the slugs are so much closer to the strings (2mm closer on mine) than the screws makes for a muddy pickup. I just adjusted the lugs on my neck pickup so it's parallel and now it's nice and clear, bright even. No hint of mud.
So tweaking the lugs means I can lower the pickup, taisevthe poles and it's not cancelled out by the slugs still overpowering the screws by being so much closer.
Anyone else experience this?



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[Chris Pile]

Re: Muddy neck pickups on archtops

Yes, lots. Especially on high end archtop Gibsons. I usually mod the pickup ring, or make new ones.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Muddy neck pickups on archtops

There are very few guitars I've found that are carved/arched where the pickups sit level with the strings. I've also got plenty of guitars where the pickup sits more crooked than the ring. None of these in my guitars have been muddy because of it.
Technically the slug coil being stronger should mean less mud as that coil senses the string closer to the bridge. I think whats more likely is that you got the overall height dialed in. A small amount of tilt doesn't take a pickup from mud city to clarity.

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: Muddy neck pickups on archtops

There are very few guitars I've found that are carved/arched where the pickups sit level with the strings. I've also got plenty of guitars where the pickup sits more crooked than the ring. None of these in my guitars have been muddy because of it.
Technically the slug coil being stronger should mean less mud as that coil senses the string closer to the bridge. I think whats more likely is that you got the overall height dialed in. A small amount of tilt doesn't take a pickup from mud city to clarity.

True I got a very slight tilt now so the slug and top of the screw poles are parallel to the string and that's worked out really well rather than the screws being closer to the strings. I also set the screws so the are wound out one full turn and the pickups wee set using the neck to get clarity and the bridge to balance.

But it was muddy to start with.


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[daenius]

Re: Muddy neck pickups on archtops

Hopefully the adjustments resolved your issues! If not, try putting in an EJ Custom Neck in there. I have one and that thing is the most balanced and clear sounding pickup I've ever heard, while not being too bright nor brittle nor harsh! The Dimarzio EQ chart says it has a treble of 9, but I really don't think so. I wouldn't call it a "trebly" pickup at all, instead, it has the clear properties that you'd expect from a trebly pickup without the piercing sizzly treble.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Muddy neck pickups on archtops

I had always modified mine, too. I wonder why this was acceptable in the first place? I mean, lots of great music was recorded with pickups like that, but it doesn't make any sense to me.

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: Muddy neck pickups on archtops

I had always modified mine, too. I wonder why this was acceptable in the first place? I mean, lots of great music was recorded with pickups like that, but it doesn't make any sense to me.

Bending the tabs cured it then fine tuned it by lowering the pickup and raising the poles then bending the tabs again ever so slightly so that the top of the slug side and top of the screw poles are the same distance from the string fretted at the top fret. Both these adjustments got rid of the mud and I am surprised how bright the neck sounds now. I blame the rings they are poorly angled.


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[thebowl]

Re: Muddy neck pickups on archtops

Unless I missed it, you haven't identified the guitar. Sometimes the ring gets installed backwards, when its dimensions are not dramatically different on the two sides. Ask me how I know this. :doh:

 

[vinnie1971]

Muddy neck pickups on archtops

Unless I missed it, you haven't identified the guitar. Sometimes the ring gets installed backwards, when its dimensions are not dramatically different on the two sides. Ask me how I know this. :doh:

It's the archetypal archtop problem, the rings are designed high at the bridge end. Often because they are just reusing rings from LPs. But arch tops slope away toward the neck and while the rings are fine on a Les Paul or or SG, on an archtop the ring at the neck needs to be flat. But on mine it's a Cort YorkTown BV they are special Archtop pickups but it's seems the bridge is a taller than normal pickup ring and the neck is just a bridge pickup ring.
Some people rotate the ring 180 degrees but then it sits high the other end.


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