SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

[tobster]

Hello,

I've a Framus Panthera Custom solid body guitar with a Dimarzio Super Distortion in the bridge (13,4KOhm, from an Ibanez RG Prestige) and a SH-2 in the neck.

I wired the pickups and switching according to http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=2h_2v_3w_ssp

One volume for each pickup, no tone control and both pickups can be switched to parallel using the push-pulls (and yes, I made sure that the Super Distortion is wired correctly).

I compared the Dimarzio in the Bridge with an SH-4 from my Framus Tennessee and I would say it sounds quite good!

When I switch the humbuckers into parallel, I can hear that both pickups get more highs and the sound is a little low compared to series wiring.

The Problem is that the SH-2 is very muddy, bassy with almost NO highs. In parallel there're a bit more highs but sounds very bad and I've no idea why? I checked the wiring and couldn't find any mistakes.

I don't think that the SH-2 is broken, because in general everything works find and the SH-2 is almost brand new. Could it be the poti?

Thanks for any help!


Tobias

 

[blueman335]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

Welcome aboard!

JazzN's are widely considered to be bright, clear PU's, so if yours is dark and muddy, the problem is somewhere else. Are you using a 500K pot with it? You could try a 1-meg. Maybe your guitar is naturally dark-toned. If so, P-90's are brighter and have less mids than HB's; there are a number of HB-sized P-90's available. BTW, you're not going to be happy with Phat Cats, as they have A2 magnets and are much darker than what you have now.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

Can't tell you where you went wrong, it could be anything! But you've made some kind of error in your wiring. The Jazz is a very bright pickup. You've just got to check and recheck your soldering and wiring until you locate the error.

 

[Rodney Gene]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

Hello,

I've a Framus Panthera Custom solid body guitar with a Dimarzio Super Distortion in the bridge (13,4KOhm, from an Ibanez RG Prestige) and a SH-2 in the neck.

I wired the pickups and switching according to http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=2h_2v_3w_ssp

One volume for each pickup, no tone control and both pickups can be switched to parallel using the push-pulls (and yes, I made sure that the Super Distortion is wired correctly).

I compared the Dimarzio in the Bridge with an SH-4 from my Framus Tennessee and I would say it sounds quite good!

When I switch the humbuckers into parallel, I can hear that both pickups get more highs and the sound is a little low compared to series wiring.

The Problem is that the SH-2 is very muddy, bassy with almost NO highs. In parallel there're a bit more highs but sounds very bad and I've no idea why? I checked the wiring and couldn't find any mistakes.

I don't think that the SH-2 is broken, because in general everything works find and the SH-2 is almost brand new. Could it be the poti?

Thanks for any help!


Tobias

Yes Tobias, it is possible the pot is bad (based on the description it sounds like something is too much of a load on the pickup). If each pickup has its own independent vol, try switching volume pots and checking the SH-2 that way. (or switch it at the toggle if you have one). Sh-2 is a great open sounding neck pickup. 500k pots should be fine for it if they sound good with the JB to you also.

Have fun!

Much Respect,

Rodney Gene, Austin Texas

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

Rather than going to all the trouble of switching pots, just connect the Jazz's black lead to the middle lug on the pot (essentially bypassing the pot and the push/pull). If it sounds bright and loud and all your other wiring is correct, you have a bad pot.

 

[orpheo]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

Or wire it directly to the jack to make sure its nothing else, and then work your way up the rest of the guitar.

 

[CTN]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

I used to have a Jazz in the neck position of my mahogany body set neck ibanez, and I too found it way too dark and muddy, even with 500k pots.

I had some success bringing back more articulation by lowering the entire pickup and raising the polepieces quite a bit, but it didn't solve the problem completely.

I ended up taking it out. Just wasn't the right pickup for that guitar.

 

[Rodney Gene]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

Rather than going to all the trouble of switching pots, just connect the Jazz's black lead to the middle lug on the pot (essentially bypassing the pot and the push/pull). If it sounds bright and loud and all your other wiring is correct, you have a bad pot.

When I said 'switching pots' I was referring to the hot lead of the pickup to another pot. Not replacing the pots. Poor grammar.

Much Respect,

Rodney Gene, Austin Texas

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

You can try a number of things such as turning the pickup 180 degrees, try an A3 magnet and use hex poles instead of fillisters.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

Or, hooking up with idsnowdog's avatar can cure a bucket load of problems.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

Did you double-check the SH-2's wiring against the Seymour Duncan color code for humbuckers? It's not the same as DiMarzio's.

 

[Chuck_Norris]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

Had the same problem with other pickups. It's always the wiring. Recheck it using a solid wiring diagram or ask your guitar tech if you're not sure.

 

[tobster]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

Thanks to all of you for the many answers!

I'll check the wiring and the 500k pots again and let you know, when it's working!

Sorry for the second post, I wasn't sure if the first one got lost (now I know, that it has to be approved)

Thanks a lot!

 

[tobster]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

PROBLEM SOLVED

I changed the pot and now it works - great sound - fuc**** loud - and indeed, very bright and clear!

The SH-2 has no problem in competing with the loudness of the bridge pickup (which I thought before is very loud).

Thanks a lot!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

Any idea what was wrong with the pot? Or was it a wiring error?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

I had a feeling it was just the pot (or p/p or wiring associated with it), that's why I originally suggested just to bypass the pot to test it.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

PROBLEM SOLVED

I changed the pot and now it works - great sound - fuc**** loud - and indeed, very bright and clear!

The SH-2 has no problem in competing with the loudness of the bridge pickup (which I thought before is very loud).

Thanks a lot!

As a wise man once said, "I love it when a plan comes together". Enjoy the hell out of that thing now!

 

[tobster]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

Any idea what was wrong with the pot? Or was it a wiring error?

It must be a wiring error, because I'm using the pot I replaced for the SH-2 now for the pickup in the bridge and it works fine. Maybe one of the four wires wasn't soldered proberly...

Next time I'll be more careful!

 

[Ste]

Re: SH-2 Jazz muddy, dark, bassy

Gave my jazz neck a test run Sunday night at rehearsal. super clear and bright even at c standard with beefy slinks on. great pick up.

glad you got it sorted.