muddy pickup - need 500k pot?

Dru Edwards

Dru Edwards

New member
Hey, I've got a MiA Fender Strat (rosewood fretboard) and I've installed Hotrails in the bridge and neck. The volume is a 500k but the tone nobs are 250k. I love the bridge pu but the neck is muddy. I've also played the pickguard on a MiM strat (maple fretboard) and the same sound.

Would changing to a 500k tone pot help clean things up, generally speaking? Or perhaps the first and easiest step is to change the capacitor to a lower cap? ... Say from a .05 uf to a .02 uf (as opposed to going to a higher cap)?

Thanks!
 
Re: muddy pickup - need 500k pot?

Dru Edwards said:
Hey, I've got a MiA Fender Strat (rosewood fretboard) and I've installed Hotrails in the bridge and neck. The volume is a 500k but the tone nobs are 250k. I love the bridge pu but the neck is muddy. I've also played the pickguard on a MiM strat (maple fretboard) and the same sound.

Would changing to a 500k tone pot help clean things up, generally speaking? Or perhaps the first and easiest step is to change the capacitor to a lower cap? ... Say from a .05 uf to a .02 uf (as opposed to going to a higher cap)?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

You need to measure the pot, as they could be big differencies among'em. Use only the highest quality linear taper pot you can get, and check if the wiring is properly done. I'd put a 1 Meg Pot as tone with a .47 cap, but if I was you, I'd be redoing the whole wiring One volume one tone with all new components.

HTH,

Pepe aka Lt. Kojak
Milano, Italy
 
Re: muddy pickup - need 500k pot?

Well, it depends on whether the problem is insufficient treble, or excessive bass. With some bassy pickups like the C5, you could be using 1M pots and still not have the type of clarity you want...

FWIW, I think a 0.022uf tone cap is always best, because it preserves more treble/clarity when the knob is rolled back.
 
Re: muddy pickup - need 500k pot?

Hot rails are not quite my choice for the neck, its already uber phat in the bridge.
Try to parallel the coils and put off the tone pot. If that doesnt work, change the pickup with a Texas special - cool neck pup and also mighty fat.
 
Re: muddy pickup - need 500k pot?

hanumanlangur said:
Well, it depends on whether the problem is insufficient treble, or excessive bass. With some bassy pickups like the C5, you could be using 1M pots and still not have the type of clarity you want...

FWIW, I think a 0.022uf tone cap is always best, because it preserves more treble/clarity when the knob is rolled back.
Click to expand...

Thanks - I'm going to try a .022uf tone cap first and if I need more treble I'll go with a 500k pot.

hamerfan said:
Hot rails are not quite my choice for the neck, its already uber phat in the bridge.
Try to parallel the coils and put off the tone pot. If that doesnt work, change the pickup with a Texas special - cool neck pup and also mighty fat.
Click to expand...

Actually, I want the hotrails in the neck. I currently have a Texas special in the mid (which I seldom use between 2 hotrails).
 
Re: muddy pickup - need 500k pot?

Switching the caps and pots might help, but the Hot Rails may just be too hot for the neck. You could try wiring it up to a Spin-A-Split though.
 
Re: muddy pickup - need 500k pot?

Other guess: swap the hotrails neck with the TS in the middle. I love the TS in the neck, the middle is not better than nah. BTW the TS are sounding best with the neck/middle postion.
 
Re: muddy pickup - need 500k pot?

Dru Edwards said:
Hey, I've got a MiA Fender Strat (rosewood fretboard) and I've installed Hotrails in the bridge and neck. The volume is a 500k but the tone nobs are 250k. I love the bridge pu but the neck is muddy. I've also played the pickguard on a MiM strat (maple fretboard) and the same sound.

Would changing to a 500k tone pot help clean things up, generally speaking? Or perhaps the first and easiest step is to change the capacitor to a lower cap? ... Say from a .05 uf to a .02 uf (as opposed to going to a higher cap)?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

The Hotrails is NOT good in the neck. The hotrails neck in the Hotrails Squier Strat was horrible. The hotrails is a mids-strong pickup meant for the bridge (look at Iron Maiden's rig). I would recommend you find some other pickup for the neck. Sounds harsh, but that's what I'd recommend. Good pickup, but wrong application. I don't think it was meant at all for the neck position.
 
Re: muddy pickup - need 500k pot?

First question, did you put a Hotrails neck model in the neck position?

Second question, is the Strat still wired stock with no tone load on the bridge pickup and tone controls for the mid and neck?

If both answers are yes, a 500k tone pot will definately help things out.

I always use 500k pots with the Rails, lil, and Jr series pickups.
 
Re: muddy pickup - need 500k pot?

Dru Edwards said:
Spin-A-Split ... I'll have to look it up. Never heard of that.
Click to expand...

It's here on the Duncan site, a Duncan invention I think. The red and white wires get wired to a pot lug rather than a switch which lets you dial as much or as little of the second coil in or out as you want. There would likely a be a sweet spot in between full and single coil that would fit your ear's needs.
 
Re: muddy pickup - need 500k pot?

twinreverb said:
the Hotrails Is Not Good In The Neck. The Hotrails Is A Mids-strong Pickup Meant For The Bridge. I Would Recommend You Find Some Other Pickup For The Neck. Sounds Harsh, But That's What I'd Recommend. Good Pickup, But Wrong Application. I Don't Think It Was Meant At All For The Neck Position.
Click to expand...

+1
 
Re: muddy pickup - need 500k pot?

Robert S. said:
First question, did you put a Hotrails neck model in the neck position?

Second question, is the Strat still wired stock with no tone load on the bridge pickup and tone controls for the mid and neck?

If both answers are yes, a 500k tone pot will definately help things out.

I always use 500k pots with the Rails, lil, and Jr series pickups.
Click to expand...

1) Yes, it's a Hotrails neck model.
2) Yes - no tone load on bridge pu.

I'm going to try first a different cap and then a different pot (if i need it).
Thanks.
 
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