New here -need some help please....

[DEADBYDAWN]

I have a Jackson DK2M Dinky. The body is Adler and the neck is maple with maple fretboard. It came stock with a JB TB4 in the bridge position and a Jazz SH2N in the neck position.

I really loved the sound of both pickups on all of my amps and life was good. This guitar came with a Lic. Jackson Floyd and since I needed a setup done I decided to get a tech to put a Original Floyd I had in the guitar while he was at it.

So -I get the guitar back and notice immediately the low E string sounds muddy-lacking the bright chug it had- while all the other strings sound great just like before. It is most noticible with barre chords using E and A strings. I figured it must be the pickup height and tried adjusting it with hardly any improvement. I even tried adjusting the low E post with no luck. One thing I noticed was instead of having 3 springs like the Lic Jackson trem(which didnt have a spring hooked to the Low E part of the trems block- the Orig. Floyed the tech installed now has 4 springs-one of which is connected to the Low E part of the trem block. Could that have caused this problem?

I just don't know what to do or what happened. Could the pickup have a problem or could it be the new trem? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
-sorry for the long post!

 

[AlexR]

Re: New here -need some help please....

Could be that the action has changed a little, and the string is vibrating just enough on the frets to dull the sound without causing a buzz. Does the string sound dull unplugged too. Have a really good listen to each string, and also string combinations.

I don't own any Floyd's so can't comment on specifics of that trem setup - but try hooking up 3 springs again.

Note - do each change separately. If something does fix it you'll know what action was the fix

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: New here -need some help please....

sounds like the new bridge is the culprit
make sure that the knife edges are in the grooves of the posts
check the saddle of the low E

 

[Aceman]

Re: New here -need some help please....

Sounds like you spent money on fixing something that wasn't broke. Put the old bridge back on.

 

[BrockSamson]

Re: New here -need some help please....

I have a DK2T and love the thing.

 

[DEADBYDAWN]

Re: New here -need some help please....

Thank you everyone for the suggestions-will definately try those. Some good ideas here.

@ Aceman- Actually the Orig. Floyd is way easier to fine tune. I would like to try to solve the problem before just saying "O well" and puting the old trem back on but if all else fails -yeah.

 

[DEADBYDAWN]

Re: New here -need some help please....

I have a DK2T and love the thing.

Pretty much the same as the DK2M Dinky without the trem and larger inlays on the neck- cool. I love my DK2M and my DKMG (w/EMG's) but the 2M with Duncans is my favorite. Just need to fix whatever is going on with the low E. Sometimes I cause myself trouble by trying to make things better-then I wish I had just left them like they were...... :banghead:

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: New here -need some help please....

low E may be into the pickup field
a picture would help alot

can you raise one side of the trem just a bit
or lower the low E side of the pickup

raise the pole pieces to balance it out

 

[DEADBYDAWN]

Re: New here -need some help please....

low E may be into the pickup field
a picture would help alot

can you raise one side of the trem just a bit
or lower the low E side of the pickup

raise the pole pieces to balance it out

Yes- I have adjusted pickup height on the low E side at least 30 times as well as adjusted the pole on the low E. I have the low E side of the pup a good 1/4" to 5/16ths" away from the string with little results as far as reducing the mud. Adjusted out the low E pole at various heights with the pickup on the low e side at various heights. No dice.

The open E chord and barre chords on the first three frets sound great but as I move up the fretboard barre chords sound muddy and strange. When I chug the open E it sounds great as well. Even checked intonation-perfect.

Next- I took one of the springs off and put the three remaining in the same crossed pattern my stock Jackson lic. trem. had. Then I went back to adjusting the pup and pole like before. Still no dice.

I have concluded it must be the new Floyd Rose trem. I had installed when I got the guitar setup or a problem with the pickup itself. I guess I am going to get the original Jackson lic. trem put back on.

It's hard to believe a different trem could cause this but at this point I have tried everything else except the above or a new pup(which I don't think is the issue). :banghead: I figured the orig floyds trem block would resonate better for more sustain and overall better tone :eyecrazy:

 

[DEADBYDAWN]

Re: New here -need some help please....

I guess I will raise the action on the low E string (like suggested) first- just to be certain but the string had a long sustain when I tried it with no amp so......

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: New here -need some help please....

Doesn't sound like a pup problem at all.

Probably not the action either.

Sounds like a problem with the individual saddle on the low E string.

 

[DEADBYDAWN]

Re: New here -need some help please....

Doesn't sound like a pup problem at all.

Probably not the action either.

Sounds like a problem with the individual saddle on the low E string.

I looked at it and the string is seated properly- is there anything else to check for? I am going to change the low E string as well.

What is strange is the fact that E barre chords sound great on the first three frets and so does a open E.

I really appreciate everyones responses on this- thanks!

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: New here -need some help please....

You can check the condition of the frets. Does the string touch the frets when you fret it higher than the 3rd fret? Or when you play it fretted there?

Maybe the tech who made the setup could give an idea or two?

 

[DEADBYDAWN]

Re: New here -need some help please....

You can check the condition of the frets. Does the string touch the frets when you fret it higher than the 3rd fret? Or when you play it fretted there?

Maybe the tech who made the setup could give an idea or two?

The guitar is fairly new so no fretwear - but yeah is buzzes a little not much.

I called the tech and he said adjust the pickup height - which I tried alot :eyecrazy:

I am gonna change the low E string tomorrow (I fooled with it so long yesterday I didn't even mess with it today) and if that doesn't work- I am taking it back to the tech to see what he can do any possibly put the old trem back on.

O well- you live and learn..... Sometimes when you try to improve things you may wind up better off where you started.

I really like this guitar and figured while I was getting it setup- I would go ahead and get the tech to put the Orig. Floyd on too thinking the sustain, overall tone, and tune ability would be even better.

I failed.

 

[Kam]

Re: New here -need some help please....

Is the string spacing on the new bridge wider than the old one? If your pickup isn't trem-spaced then it could be that the string is sitting just outside the magnetic field. Check to see if the string lines up with the polepiece.

By the way, I didn't read the whole thread so if this has been mentioned already or it's just ****ing stupid then please ignore me. It's been a long night.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: New here -need some help please....

The guitar is fairly new so no fretwear - but yeah is buzzes a little not much.

Sounds like the saddle on the E string is a bit too low. Try raising it a bit to see if that helps. It should relieve the buzzing, that fret interference could also be muting that string a bit, reducing brightness and sustain.

 

[DEADBYDAWN]

Re: New here -need some help please....

@ Kam - yes sir- it lines up perfectly- thanks for the suggestion though.

@ Guitardoc- will give it a shot this evening- thanks for the reply!