SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

[Gerr]

I recently gave my 2014 SGJ an overhaul and put in a Jazz pickup in the neck and a Custom8 in the bridge. I like how the C8 sounds and do like how the Jazz sounds on cleans, but once I turn on the gain, the Jazz pickup gets real muddy real fast and I don't like that.

As-is I don't like it, so was wondering what options I have. I could swap out the A5 magnet with something else, but which magnet would get rid of the mud? I have it on a 500K Bourns pot, so might a swap back to a 300K pot work better? I have .022 Orange Drop caps in the guitar, would going to .047 make it sound any better? Any other ideas?

If I can't get that pickup to sound better, I will have to replace it. I am working on another project, giving my 2007 Vintage Mahogany Studio an overhaul and I could easily put it in there, but am worried it will sound as bad or worse there, dunno. Thoughts?

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

No to the 300k pots and no to the .047 cap. I think you might need to adjust the height or maybe mess with the amp EQ because a Jazz is FAR from muddy.

 

[Archer250]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

How did you manage to make a Jazz muddy anyway?

 

[CTN]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

I had problems with a Jazz being too warm and a bit muddy in the neck position of a mahogany ibanez.

I lowered the pickup and raised the polepieces... that helped add a bit more treble response but didn't really cure the insane warmth i was hearing. As it turns out that was more the fault of the guitar than the pickup. It was a ridiculously warm sounding guitar.

In terms of magnet swaps, you could try an Alnico 2, 3 or 4. All those will lower the output though, compared to the stock A5.

 

[Gerr]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

How did you manage to make a Jazz muddy anyway?

That's why I am surprised, I didn't think SG's were warm guitars, even if they are all Mahogany. I will try playing with the height of the pup and its screws to see if that helps any.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

do you have the Jazz too close to the strings? Since you maybe trying to match the output of the Distortion, it could be way too close. Try backing it down and raising the Polls. if that still doesn't help, flip it so the polls are facing the bridge.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

You could lower the pickup, and raise the polepieces. That helps.
Also you could turn the pickup around in it's pickup slot (to where the screw coils are toward the bridge) That brightens SOME pickups.
Going to an A2 or UOA5 magnet is only going to produce more mud. So will lowering the pot value.
Neck pickups are a little muddy by nature when you throw a gob of gain at them.
Neck pickups like the Full Shred retain note separation a little better under high gain, but they are still going to be warmer than the bridge.

 

[925SS]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

A .01 cap, or a treble bleed might be the answer, if pup,& pole adjustments don't pan out.
I have an sg standard, & have always had a bit of a mud problem at the neck spot, the treble bleed is working for now, with a no name pup that Ks at 7.03, one of these days I'll try a Humbucker from Hell, I think the sg does better with lower output pups, probably why so many people lie the hum sized p90s

 

[Masta' C]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

I'm going to go against the grain a bit...

The solution: Ceramic magnet

It'll keep the stock output (and increase it a bit, which might also help), but also boost the definition in the mids and highs. It keeps all of the good qualities of the regular Jazz (great cleans, articulation, etc) and enhances them. If you like the EMG 60, which is already fairly similar to the Jazz tonally (minus the extra "hair" and push from the active circuitry), you'll love the Ceramic Jazz. It still retains that vintage chime and will match with the C8 perfectly.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

Swap it for 59.

 

[Archer250]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

Swap it for 59.

I fail to see how that would make things better.

 

[Ryan84]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

Long story short....

I put the Jazz/JB in a Mahogany Gibson SG Faded

HATED it sooooo much. It didn't work for me cause it's like throwing tons of mids on top of mids.

But....

Then I put a Jazz/JB in my Fender Jaguar CP HH

LOVED IT MORE THAN ANYTHING I'VE EVER HAD IN THAT JAG (Coil Split & Hum tone)

The Jazz and also the JB love alder bodies/maple necks.

 

[AlexR]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

The PGn works quite well to my ears, maybe as the peak is more upper mids where it will cut through.

 

[EET_FUK]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

My vote goes to a 1 meg pot.

 

[Archer250]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

Long story short....

I put the Jazz/JB in a Mahogany Gibson SG Faded

HATED it sooooo much. It didn't work for me cause it's like throwing tons of mids on top of mids.

But....

Then I put a Jazz/JB in my Fender Jaguar CP HH

LOVED IT MORE THAN ANYTHING I'VE EVER HAD IN THAT JAG (Coil Split & Hum tone)

The Jazz and also the JB love alder bodies/maple necks.

They work well with basswood, too.

 

[SJ318]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

Turn the pick up 180 degrees so the screws are closer to the bridge, keep the whole pup medium low and screws high. That WILL lessen the muddiness you have. Takes 5 minutes, all my neck HB's face the bridge and they are all SH-2 Jazz necks.
My 2 cents
Steve B

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

I lowered the pickup and raised the polepieces... that helped add a bit more treble response but didn't really cure the insane warmth i was hearing.

CNT has a good suggestion. Also you may actually try not using a tone pot, if it helps then you may wanna try a no-load tone pot.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

Maybe try turning down your bass a bit.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

+1, Always fine-tune your pickup height and pole pieces...both of those adjustments make more difference than many players realize.

Then try a Ceramic

 

[Archer250]

Re: SD Jazz neck pickup muddy on distortion in my SG?

+1, Always fine-tune your pickup height and pole pieces...both of those adjustments make more difference than many players realize.

Then try a Ceramic

True that. I have my PUs moderately far away from my strings (I ain't getting strings caught under them again), and raised a few pole pieces. Worked for the JB (Which now does great rhythm AND leads with a lot of mids). I did the same to the Jazz, and cleans became warm and distortion became honky :9: