My pickups sound... flat?

[Sprocket]

Hello all,
First off, I did a search using "flat tone" and it was as I suspected, to unspecific to hone in on my specific problem, so I apologize if this has been discussed before.
I'm using a Jackson Performer series, great little guitar, with a '59 in the neck and a JB in the bridge strung with D'addario bright wound 10's. I use a Vox nightrain tube amp and a series of pedals, mainly an OCD with a compressor and wah. While my tone sounds alright, I just am starting to wonder if maybe they were installed wrong or there was something that I could do to get a little bit more juice out of these pickups. Every other video I've seen with a JB in the bridge sounds powerful, and yet I'm having trouble getting to that same overdriven classic rock/metal sound, mainly in the lows. Even adjusting the settings on my amp/pedal settings higher or lower doesn't seem to give it that extra punch others have. I have just started to learn to solder and wire, but this is a bit out of my league I think to try to fix myself, at least for the moment.
I've invested in some shielded livewire cables, use a humx ground on the direct power supply, tried a multitude of different pedals and settings to try and get that last bit of juice out of these pickups, and they don't seem to want to get there. Any suggestions welcome, including asking to open up the guitar and check the wiring. Thanks in advance,
-Sprox

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: My pickups sound... flat?

3 things you can do before you break out the soldering iron.

1. unplug all your pedals (especially the wah)
2. Put on new strings
3. Replace your amp tubes

if none of that works, then check your guitar wiring.

welcome aboard. i hope you get the sounds you are after.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: My pickups sound... flat?

Another thing to consider is the hardware on the guitar. The Jackson Performers did have a few greats right out of the box, but also had a few that "needed work". I've even had a couple of USA Jacksons that "needed work" and sounded as you describe - dull and lifeless.

From what I discovered in each case, the hardware was to blame. It was the locking nut of the Jackson-logoed Schaller licensed Floyd that was at fault on one, and the bridge itself on another.

If the acoustic tone of the guitar (unplugged, not just clean tone) lacks resonance and sounds kinda plinky, you might want to look at hardware upgrades.

 

[surface54]

Re: My pickups sound... flat?

maybe your using too much midrange on your amp. that is a tone killer imo if the amp has bland bulky mids past 5 on the dial.

 

[Sprocket]

Re: My pickups sound... flat?

Thanks for the suggestions.
The strings have been changed recently, so I doubt they are to blame.
I do have new amp tubes coming in since they are the ones that came with the amp. Maybe those are to blame.
Acoustically, the guitar sounds fine on it's own, and the only thing I could see hardware wise affecting it is maybe the pots or the input jack, since those are both still stock.
If I did open the guitar to check the wiring, I know that I am looking to see if the solder isn't balled up like it was dripped on. Anything else I should check while I'm in there, provided changing my amp tubes doesn't help?

 

[Masta' C]

Re: My pickups sound... flat?

Sell off the pedals and Vox, get a Marshall and crank it up

ha ha...j/k

Amp settings could really be a big one. I'd also review your overall signal chain and pedal settings. Also check the patch cables...if they're old, replace them.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: My pickups sound... flat?

3 things you can do before you break out the soldering iron.

1. unplug all your pedals (especially the wah)
2. Put on new strings
3. Replace your amp tubes

if none of that works, then check your guitar wiring.

welcome aboard. i hope you get the sounds you are after.

#1
+1

Loose the pedals. Plug the guitar right into the amp and make sure everything is working correctly first. Your pedals, and the way you arrange them in your signal change, can rob you of tone!

 

[El Supremo]

Re: My pickups sound... flat?

I assume you've already tried raising the JB?

Are you using all true bypass or hardwired bypass pedals? Might consider using one with a buffered bypass to restore the high end.
Plug straight into the amp and then compare the sound when plugging in through all your fx with the fx turned off. If the sound is noticebly duller, get a buffer or buffered pedal.

 

[Sprocket]

Re: My pickups sound... flat?

Sorry, I suppose I didn't state this, but yes, I have tried the guitar without the pedals to see what the straight tone is like.
It isn't just with this amp either, I have two others that are older practice amps, one solid and one tube, and I get the same outcome, low ends are dull.
As for pedals, they should be true bypass. The buffer pedal idea sounds like a good option and I will look into it.
I tried raising the JB but didn't help much. Anyways, thanks for the suggestions guys.

 

[glepko]

Re: My pickups sound... flat?

Is this a "NEW" issue??? i.e. was everything awesome and perfect then fell flat? That amp and that pedal and that guitar and those pickups and those strings together would induce ear splitting discomfort in my environment - and I'd reckon that's a fantastic sounding combination most anywhere!

 

[Sprocket]

Re: My pickups sound... flat?

Is this a "NEW" issue??? i.e. was everything awesome and perfect then fell flat? That amp and that pedal and that guitar and those pickups and those strings together would induce ear splitting discomfort in my environment - and I'd reckon that's a fantastic sounding combination most anywhere!

Negative, it's been an issue since I replaced the pickups. The original pickups were beyond awful and were not in comparison to these. Let me be clear to, this combination does ROCK It's a pretty great sound altogether, but I was looking for a way to push it to the next level and fix what I consider a problem, which is the lows not being powerful enough.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: My pickups sound... flat?

Night trains are not exactly renowned for their bottom end. No voxes are.
Could also be your speaker... What speaker are you running?

Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk


Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk

 

[El Supremo]

Re: My pickups sound... flat?

For more thump, I would do away with the compressor. You could try an eq pedal in the loop instead and scoop out some mids to taste if you want to stay with this setup.
Or, it may well be a speaker issue as Gibson175 suggested. It doesn't matter what else you play, if the speaker ain't right for you, you'll end up tinkering forever.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: My pickups sound... flat?

The JB is not what I would consider a "flat" sounding pup. But if you have played with the height of the JB and played through different amps all with the same result, then those are not your problems. However, if you played through different amp heads, but through the same speaker cab, then the speakers would definitely be the first thing to work on.

But when you say "flat" you may have a totally different definition than what I think of, which is lack of presence, treble, and definition...the "wet blanket" syndrome. But you say..."what I consider a problem, which is the lows not being powerful enough". Get rid of the JB and try an Alt8 (or Distortion).

 

[uOpt]

Re: My pickups sound... flat?

Obviously trying a different amp is the first step, unless your rig sounds better with a different guitar.

 

[glepko]

Re: My pickups sound... flat?

What they said ^^^^ That combination of gear would be REALLY saturated with high mids and treble. Reducing those frequencies and enhancing lows would prove a challenge. (assuming you are using the combo model, or the Vox or similar small cab).


Downtuning and using a hybrid set of strings (Skinny top/Fat bottom) "COULD" allow more lows to come through - Your rig into a Mesa 4x12 would enhance the low end to a degree.

Do you have access to modelling devices and decent headphones? If your reference of what you think a pickup should sound like is clips on a computer, you will have a real challenge making even a reasonable close comparison to a live amp.

Lastly, remember the 6string electric guitar is an instrument which resides directly in the midrange frequencies, which also happens to be where our hearing is most sensitive. This is why the smiley face EQ structure came to be for enhancing perceived lows and highs (generalization yes I know)

 

[vinta9e]

Re: My pickups sound... flat?

what I consider a problem, which is the lows not being powerful enough.

You'll hate to read that but paint-peeling gut-shaking chugga-chugs ain't gonna happen without a big amp.