I've got a project guitar I've been working on for a few months, and I can't get a bridge tone out of it that I like. It's a carved maple top over alder (maybe swamp ash) body, HSH configuration and hardtail, with a maple/rosewood neck. It's mostly for rock/hard rock/blues.
I first got a set of "Mo Joe/PAF Joe" pups for a b-day present and tossed them in. The PAF Joe in the neck isn't bad, but the Mo Joe in the bridge was way too brittle and harsh. Even with mild gain, there is an annoying "breakup" or clipping to the sound, rather than smoothness. It happens on different amps, at different volumes, etc...so I know it's a function of the pickup and how it acts in this guitar.
I yanked the Mo Joe and replaced it with a PAF Pro I had laying around. Much better, but it still sounds a little harsh and brittle to me. I was able to tame it a bit with a strategically placed resistor and cap, but it's still not quite right.
So.... I need some recommendations on where to go from here. I'm looking for something with punch, but most importantly a nice smooth sustain when run at low to medium gain. I'll also use it at higher gain, something like a cranked Marshal with a lead boost.... but not "dual rectifier with a metal distortion pedal" levels of gain. I don't care about high output... I want TONE. I'm looking for a "buttery crunch"... not a "raspy scream".
FWIW, I have a "Lil' 59" in the bridge of my "Tele" and it sounds fantastic when A/B'd with the problem child guitar. Nice and tight crunch, but buttery-smooth sustain. If it's big brother would sound like that in this guitar, that would be a leading candidate. I also like the tone of the PG on several videos I've seen, but from what I gather it's hit or miss and needs the right guitar to sound smooth. Given my history with this one, I'm not willing to bet on that happening.
One other thought is a Dimarzio Super Distortion. I used to play a ton of them way back in the day, and I seem to remember them being very smooth and tight... but it's been several years since I had one. I would probably prefer something that cleans up a little better with the volume knob though, now that I think about it.
Other than that, I'm clueless. Been too long since I've experimented and swapped around pups.
I first got a set of "Mo Joe/PAF Joe" pups for a b-day present and tossed them in. The PAF Joe in the neck isn't bad, but the Mo Joe in the bridge was way too brittle and harsh. Even with mild gain, there is an annoying "breakup" or clipping to the sound, rather than smoothness. It happens on different amps, at different volumes, etc...so I know it's a function of the pickup and how it acts in this guitar.
I yanked the Mo Joe and replaced it with a PAF Pro I had laying around. Much better, but it still sounds a little harsh and brittle to me. I was able to tame it a bit with a strategically placed resistor and cap, but it's still not quite right.
So.... I need some recommendations on where to go from here. I'm looking for something with punch, but most importantly a nice smooth sustain when run at low to medium gain. I'll also use it at higher gain, something like a cranked Marshal with a lead boost.... but not "dual rectifier with a metal distortion pedal" levels of gain. I don't care about high output... I want TONE. I'm looking for a "buttery crunch"... not a "raspy scream".
FWIW, I have a "Lil' 59" in the bridge of my "Tele" and it sounds fantastic when A/B'd with the problem child guitar. Nice and tight crunch, but buttery-smooth sustain. If it's big brother would sound like that in this guitar, that would be a leading candidate. I also like the tone of the PG on several videos I've seen, but from what I gather it's hit or miss and needs the right guitar to sound smooth. Given my history with this one, I'm not willing to bet on that happening.
One other thought is a Dimarzio Super Distortion. I used to play a ton of them way back in the day, and I seem to remember them being very smooth and tight... but it's been several years since I had one. I would probably prefer something that cleans up a little better with the volume knob though, now that I think about it.
Other than that, I'm clueless. Been too long since I've experimented and swapped around pups.
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