SD STR-1 (neck) too dark/muffled for SD STL-1b (Broadcaster bridge) in Mex Tele

[Numerov]

Upgraded Fender Mex Telecaster (2001 or 2002) from stock pickups to SD STR-1 (neck) and STL-1b (Bridge - Broadcaster) in 2014. These are recommended by the SD site to be used together as a pair. Upgrade job was done by very reputable guy in London (Charlie Chandler).

STR-1 sounds muffled/too dark with little attack.
STL-1b is great.
If turn up treble on amp a lot the STR-1 sound improves but then STL-2 is too trebly.
There is a problem.
Pickups don't sound matched.

I don't remember the original stock pickups having this tonal mismatch.
But as I did not like the stock pickups I upgraded them to the SD pups.
Please give suggestions about what I should do.

Suggestions I have heard already which I am happy to be suggested again if they are known to work.......

1. Re-wire tele so tone control only affects the bridge pickup
(would this make any difference to the brightness of the STR-1 neck pickup as I have tone on 100% all the
time)

2. Replace STR-1 brass cover with a nickel cover.

3. Replace the STR-1 pickup if 1 and/or 2 above don't make
enough difference.
If I do this - PLEASE SUGGEST REPLACEMENT
The replacement must be tonal match for STL-1b
AND also a good output match.

Here are the tech details for the STR-1 and STL-1b for reference:-

STR-1 (potentially want to replace this)
OUTPUT DCR:7.6
MAGNET:ALNICO 5
CABLE:CLOTH PUSH-BACK

STL-1b - Broadcaster (Want to keep this!)
OUTPUT
DCR:8
MAGNET:ALNICO 5
CABLE:CLOTH PUSH-BACK

ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS??

 

[Blille]

Re: SD STR-1 (neck) too dark/muffled for SD STL-1b (Broadcaster bridge) in Mex Tele

From TDPRI
http://www.tdpri.com/threads/sd-str-1.181544/


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[vinnie1971]

SD STR-1 (neck) too dark/muffled for SD STL-1b (Broadcaster bridge) in Mex Tele

Have you tried raising the pickup height on the neck? On my tele the neck with the strings fretted at highest fret brings the strings to less than 2mm from the neck pickup - but it least it sounds good, bright and balanced with the bridge. Anything approaching 2mm or more and it's muffled.
It's the curse of the tele neck pickup.
Got to remember the tele neck pickup is a favourite among jazz players who like single coils and in the old days selecting the neck went straight through a .1 uF cap to emulate a bass!
You could try removing the cover or fitting either and open face cover (more like a surround than a cover) or a plastic cover.
Or just desolder the cover but leave it in place but insulate it from the base plate with electrical tape so it won't interfere with the Eddy currents do much.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: SD STR-1 (neck) too dark/muffled for SD STL-1b (Broadcaster bridge) in Mex Tele

Many neck/bridge pickup guitars have that issue. It has to do with the placement of the pickups, it's not really the pickups' fault. Close to the fretboard is bassy and dark and close to the bridge is bright and tinny. It usually helps to select a neck pickup that has treble to cut and a bridge pickup with output and bass that will sound good in that position. If you don't want to change your pickups I would recommed going to a 500k or 1 meg volume pot so you can get the most treble and detail out of your neck pickup. Then use a 250k no load tone pot and either wire it only to the bridge pickup, or wire it to both pickups and have it high when you're on the neck and have it low when you're on the bridge. Make sense?

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: SD STR-1 (neck) too dark/muffled for SD STL-1b (Broadcaster bridge) in Mex Tele

I nearly forgot, on my tele I also swapped the pots for 500k. Raising the pickup and swapping the pots sorted my issue. I still don't find the bridge too bright either at that.


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[GuitarDoc]

Re: SD STR-1 (neck) too dark/muffled for SD STL-1b (Broadcaster bridge) in Mex Tele

I would do a couple very simple things.

After you have adjusted the pup heights to get it as good as you can:
Change the vol pot to 500k,
Wire the tone pot to the bridge pup only,
Adjust your amp settings to give you the best neck pup sound, then turn down your tone pot (on bridge pup only) to dial in your desired bridge tone.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: SD STR-1 (neck) too dark/muffled for SD STL-1b (Broadcaster bridge) in Mex Tele

Why have you posted this twice?!

I just noticed your other post.