Spikey Highs... Clean only

[BrianS.]

Re: Spikey Highs... Clean only

FuseG4 mentioned something that I just learned not too long ago...the tonal affect of picks.

For years I used a .73mm tortex. Recently have been trying a bunch of stuff and found that the red Jazz picks really "mellow out" the high end...almost like playing with your fingers. I've been using the Jazz II, but I think the red Jazz IIIs would give a similar result. The red ones are softer than the black ones and of course they are thick, too.

I've found that those 3 and 4 note chords on the treble strings sound a lot smoother and less "clicky/thin" when I use the red Jazz IIs vs. the thin tortex.

Just one more piece of the puzzle to think about I guess...

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Spikey Highs... Clean only

well that is for sure an affordable option to try... I currently use a .73 mm Nylon max grip dunlop pick so I could try the Jazz II or III picks...

 

[Baltar]

Re: Spikey Highs... Clean only

cold biased power tubes may be part of the harsh sound

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Spikey Highs... Clean only

cold biased power tubes may be part of the harsh sound

But it is a Mesa, aren't they self biasing ?

 

[Baltar]

Re: Spikey Highs... Clean only

did you change your power tubes and not use the mesa-ones? i don't know your specific amp model, but i think they are pre-selected and use color codes

 

[JeffB]

Re: Spikey Highs... Clean only

Yeah, compression from gain smooths out highs. Not a fan of compressor pedals myself, so....


Any number of things could help. Different/warmer strings, warmer tubes, pup heights, nylon pcks are the easiest and cheapest first steps.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Spikey Highs... Clean only

did you change your power tubes and not use the mesa-ones? i don't know your specific amp model, but i think they are pre-selected and use color codes

Still the stock tubes from factory... I'm goanna try duct tape tonight and report back I put some on already but have been out all day.. if it works I may take off the grill and attach it to the back so its not as ugly or get a beam blocker

 

[tubecrunch]

Re: Spikey Highs... Clean only

Wow. Are we over complicating this?

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: Spikey Highs... Clean only

I think its just the combination of the tele into the mesa

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Spikey Highs... Clean only

Shelving off those highs with an EQ pedal or limiter of some sort sounds like what you need. Do you know anyone who builds pedals? It'd be an easy pedal build to do a high-shelf EQ limiter.
May also just solder in a bigger resistor in your guitar. A Compressor would make the most of the headroom while limiting well as well.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Spikey Highs... Clean only

Wow. Are we over complicating this?

Possibly... but how many threads do we need about NGDs and Ultimate Axes

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: Spikey Highs... Clean only

Possibly... but how many threads do we need about NGDs and Ultimate Axes

lots and lots and lots. NGDs are one of the main fuels that drives this forum. I personally love seeing NGDs, and the ultimate axes are a lot of fun

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Spikey Highs... Clean only

:thumbsdow

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Spikey Highs... Clean only

well thanks for all the help guys I found that I can just roll down my volume on the guitar with the distortion on and get clean but less spikey highs.. more muffly but suits my style perfectly so I'm just goanna do that for songs. Might get a decent compressor down the road to try though

 

[T.M.A.]

Re: Spikey Highs... Clean only

So I'm getting alot of spikey highs on the higher strings mostly on the cleans..With my fuzz or dirt pedals on its much smoother and not as piercing...Its so spikey that my bandmates girlfriend actually brought it up.

Just curious as to how to fix this, I've tried EQ on the amp and the only way to smooth it out is taking the mids out significantly but then I can't cut through or have that great distortion sound I have now with my pedals..

Any ideas fellas ?

I seem to have this problem with both my guitars.

Dude, Let me tell you something:

I had a similar experience lately with an all maple/ rosewood fretboard guitar. I thought for the longest time it was the guitar and that's what everyone in the world kept on saying as well (maple= bright, blah, blah, blah). Long story short, it turned out to be the pickup selector. Terrible piercing highs -just unbearable. As soon as I took out that pickup selector and just wired my bridge pup straight to the volume pot, it was like HEAVEN! I'm talking night and day difference. I just use one bridge pup that goes straight to my volume pot now and I just can't believe the difference it made. Sometimes those stock components are just crap... I also switched to JJ's in V1 and V2, but it was all about the pickup selector in my case... Good luck!

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Spikey Highs... Clean only

Dude, Let me tell you something:

I had a similar experience lately with an all maple/ rosewood fretboard guitar. I thought for the longest time it was the guitar and that's what everyone in the world kept on saying as well (maple= bright, blah, blah, blah). Long story short, it turned out to be the pickup selector. Terrible piercing highs -just unbearable. As soon as I took out that pickup selector and just wired my bridge pup straight to the volume pot, it was like HEAVEN! I'm talking night and day difference. I just use one bridge pup that goes straight to my volume pot now and I just can't believe the difference it made. Sometimes those stock components are just crap... I also switched to JJ's in V1 and V2, but it was all about the pickup selector in my case... Good luck!

really?? interesting, I'm not opposed to doing that to one of my 2 guitars. I recently bought a mxr Super Comp for 40 bucks and so far it has helped with the spikeyness and seems to add mids and overall balances my signal out which I like.. never thought I would say this but I'm a fan of compressors!