Ok...something must be wrong...

T

TheAbomb12

New member
If you read my last post, I was having trouble getting tone out of my Ibanez SZ (which I'm selling btw), and threw in my new Duncan Distortion into my Basswood body RG...

After reading through the forum, I'm kind of puzzled because people are repeatedly saying that the DD has great clarity and is one of the brightest pickups they have used.

I just don't get it...







I'm still getting OK distortion (its not horrible, but very far from being great) from the DD... but I would by no means describe it as having clarity, nor would I describe it as being bright; actually, I have to turn the Treble AND Presense to at least 3 o'clock to get a somewhat decent tone; by that time the high end sounds brittle and overly harsh. If I leave the EQ on my Stack (or even my Practice amp) Flat (all at 12oclock)-- the tone I get sounds like there is a Blanket over the speakers. Its muddy, not very clear, and simply lacks punch. Another way I would describe the tone currently, is "Rounded", imprecise, dull attack-- especially on the two lowest strings (I play in Drop C#), although its less of a problem in the upper register.


I still think my screaming demon sounds "heavier" (although there is less volume/output) and that it has more "punch".

...



Something MUST be wrong-- the DD can't be this lame, especially if so many of you like this pickup.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what is going on?
 
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Re: Ok...something must be wrong...

Tone shock! The Demon is a bright, articulate pup - and you like it. Then you put in a DD and it doesn't seem as bright and it has more mids, you don't like it. Simple.

You like really bright pups. Turn down the low end and turn up the treble.

Otherwise you just may need to replace some electronics in the guitar. The DD is bright, but has more going on in the mids and low mids than the Demon. It is not lame by any means.
 
Re: Ok...something must be wrong...

Also, basswood has more mids than normal, at least to my ears. I would never put a mids-heavy pickup like a JB or DD in a basswood body guitar.
 
Re: Ok...something must be wrong...

I'm going to be getting an RGT42DX next week... its made from mahogany... Perhaps I should save the DD for that?
 
Re: Ok...something must be wrong...

ok... I was playing around with the EQ on my practice amp (Cube 60) and was presently surprised.

were I usually set all the settings like this

Bass: 1 (o'clock)
Mids: 10 - 2 (o'clock) ;changes depending on how much "scoop" I want
Treble: 1 (o'clock)
Presence: 2 (o'clock)


I changed it to this...

Bass: 9 (o'clock)
Mids: 8 - 10 (o'clock)
Treble: 3 (o'clock)
Presence: 3 (o'clock)

That definitely cleaned things up. Although, that's such a drastic change from where my Previous "sweet spot" was, that I would have never though about it without Binnerscot's suggestion.


Now I need to try it with my Powerball-- I may have to back it down even further, because that amp has a ton of Low end.
 
Re: Ok...something must be wrong...

TheAbomb12 said:
ok... I was playing around with the EQ on my practice amp (Cube 60) and was presently surprised.

were I usually set all the settings like this

Bass: 1 (o'clock)
Mids: 10 - 2 (o'clock) ;changes depending on how much "scoop" I want
Treble: 3 (o'clock)
Presence: 3 (o'clock)


I changed it to this...

Bass: 9 (o'clock)
Mids: 8 - 10 (o'clock)
Treble: 1 (o'clock)
Presence: 2 (o'clock)

That definitely cleaned things up. Although, that's such a drastic change from where my Previous "sweet spot" was, that I would have never though about it without Binnerscot's suggestion.


Now I need to try it with my Powerball-- I may have to back it down even further, because that amp has a ton of Low end.
Click to expand...

It is funny, but it is hard to break that habit of EQ'ing with your eyes instead of your ears. Mesa broke me of that real quick.
 
Re: Ok...something must be wrong...

TheAbomb12 said:
ok... I was playing around with the EQ on my practice amp (Cube 60) and was presently surprised. were I usually set all the settings like this

Bass: 1 (o'clock)
Mids: 10 - 2 (o'clock) ;changes depending on how much "scoop" I want
Treble: 1 (o'clock)
Presence: 2 (o'clock)

I changed it to this...

Bass: 9 (o'clock)
Mids: 8 - 10 (o'clock)
Treble: 3 (o'clock)
Presence: 3 (o'clock)

That definitely cleaned things up.
Click to expand...

Dang no wonder dude :D
 
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