SH-5 sounding a bit thin and annoyingly middy?

TattooedCarrot

TattooedCarrot

New member
Just put an SH-5/PGn in an old Les Paul Custom and the bridge in particular sounds really thin and annoyingly middy the higher up on the register you go. The low chords and such sound big and full, but soloing notes up high are kinda shrill and plinky. I have another LP Custom with an EMG 81 and it's bigger and rounder on the top notes without the middy focus and that doesn't seem like it should be the case. Is the SH-5 known for this? Also here's a shot of the wiring in case anyone can tell if it looks off. Thanks.

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Re: SH-5 sounding a bit thin and annoyingly middy?

Clint 55 said:
Vintage output bridge pups can be like that. If you want it fatter then go for something med or high.
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SH-5 is high output. And I have both lower and higher output pickups in other (thinner/brighter) guitars that do not do this. The JB this replaced didn't do it either, and that's saying something.

It's not just highs, it's the plinky middy thing going on in there that sounds like cr@p.
 
Re: SH-5 sounding a bit thin and annoyingly middy?

Hmm. Do you think it has to do with your set up or something like that? Or more the guitar.
 
Re: SH-5 sounding a bit thin and annoyingly middy?

You can wire it directly to your jack to hear the 'true' sound of the pickup. If it still sounds middy (which it can in certain guitars), you might just have to go with something more scooped, like a Custom 5. The first step is to make sure the pickup is working properly, though. If you have a meter, check the DCR to make sure you are getting the normal output.
 
Re: SH-5 sounding a bit thin and annoyingly middy?

Pickup should be fine, it's new out of the box. But you never know. I had a korina V that behaved similarly with a bunch of pickups and Antiquities did the trick. I might just have to mess around I guess.

And I think the cocked wah tone is kinda what I'm trying to describe.
 
Re: SH-5 sounding a bit thin and annoyingly middy?

If the set up and guitar are to your liking, it could just be the ceramic magnet. A4 or 8 will smooth it out but still give you a robust bridge tone.
 
Re: SH-5 sounding a bit thin and annoyingly middy?

I'm going to replace the (1979) pots and mess with some adjustments. If that doesn't work I'll try some different pickups and if I don't find what I'm looking for I'll flip the guitar and move on. I hope it works out though, it's a friggin' cool guitar.

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Re: SH-5 sounding a bit thin and annoyingly middy?

Sounds a little funky, I don't think I would accuse the custom as being particularly rich in the wah frequencies. If you were saying all of this about the tone zone, without a doubt, but the custom is sort of scooped in comparison. How do the notes sound acoustically in the area of concern?
 
Re: SH-5 sounding a bit thin and annoyingly middy?

I used the Custom and a PGn in one of my Strats for a while, and although I liked that combo I didn't love it.

I loved the PGn but the Custom, probably because of the ceramic magnet, had a less organic sounding voice than I was completely comfortable with. A little bit of a robot voice for lack of a better description.

All of my humbuckers use Alnico 2 or 5 now. I prefer that tonal quality.

I gotta say though that I didn't care for the Custom 5 either. Too bright and too mid scooped for my tastes.

I know others love it, and I believe Gearjoneser likes it but uses an Unoriented alnico 5 magnet in his. Probably roughcast too.
 
Re: SH-5 sounding a bit thin and annoyingly middy?

Lewguitar said:
I gotta say though that I didn't care for the Custom 5 either. Too bright and too mid scooped for my tastes.

I know others love it, and I believe Gearjoneser likes it but uses an Unoriented alnico 5 magnet in his. Probably roughcast too.
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Both the Custom & Custom 5 have a lot of high end. My favorite version of Customs is with a RC UOA5.
 
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