Sweetening a pickup's high-end?

[rivera213]

Are there any DIY mods which sweeten the high-end of a pickup without completely changing it's character?

I'm not sure if "sweetening" is the correct term, but I mean smoothing the treble out so it is no longer harsh/ice-picky WITHOUT lowering the amount of treble the pickup has and without altering the low-end and midrange?

Thanks

- Steve

PS- Not for a specific pickup in a specific guitar, I'm just curious.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Sweetening a pickup's high-end?

first i'd say try lowering the adjustable coil's screws. if that doesn't work, try a magnet with smoother highs, like a4 or a2.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Sweetening a pickup's high-end?

I'll sound like a total axehole but: the tone-knob's a great way to do that too... Too many folk disregard the tone knob thinking it should be on 10 all the time.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Sweetening a pickup's high-end?

A LCR network will do that. It's what Richtie Blackmore does.

The most common commercial version is Bill Lawrence's Q-Filter. I think there's a somebody in our forsale section offering one.

 

[rivera213]

Re: Sweetening a pickup's high-end?

first i'd say try lowering the adjustable coil's screws. if that doesn't work, try a magnet with smoother highs, like a4 or a2.

Ah ok, so changing the magnet doesn't actually change much of the pickup's "personality"?

I've read on here a few times about an A2 in a JB, for example, which has a pretty harsh high-end (IMO).

I assumed, probably wrongly, that an A2 (bar) pickup would give more of a "vintage" vibe to a pickup because they are used in moderate output with vintage tone pickups for the most part (Duncans at least).

I'll sound like a total axehole but: the tone-knob's a great way to do that too... Too many folk disregard the tone knob thinking it should be on 10 all the time.

You don't sound like an axehole at all. It's a valid comment, but how about for guitars with just a volume knob?

Again, not a specific pickup in a specific guitar, just curious

A LCR network will do that. It's what Richtie Blackmore does.

The most common commercial version is Bill Lawrence's Q-Filter. I think there's a somebody in our forsale section offering one.

I must admit I didn't even know that existed until you mentioned it.

Thanks, I'll try to gather more info on it!

- Steve

 

[Aceman]

Re: Sweetening a pickup's high-end?

#1 Tone knob. Been done for decades very effectively!
#2 Lower the poles a touch. Remember - this won't do a ton. And at some point they will be too low.
#3 Change the mags. Unfortunately, this may change the entire character of the pup.

I will say that finding a pups 'sweet' spot regarding height and pole adjustment is a great thing. Not too high, not too low - just right!

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Sweetening a pickup's high-end?

the magnet swaps will definitely change the character of a pickup, depending on what magnet is already in there. if you're only going from a5 to a4 for ex, you won't change it much but it will be less scooped with less highs/lows and more even mids. or from a3 to a2, you're just fattening up the tone while smoothing out the highs.

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Sweetening a pickup's high-end?

You can fatten the highs by rolling them off somewhere in the chain or by adding back missing mids. Using less distortion and changing your picking technique can make a difference as well.