Tame a very bright guitar.
- Thread starter GHWelles
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TheArchitect
Guest
Re: Tame a very bright guitar.
The CC would be a great choice. A 250k pot if you need more
The CC would be a great choice. A 250k pot if you need more
gripweed
Jolvisologist
Re: Tame a very bright guitar.
Anything a2 should tame highs a bit. If you want something on the hotter side -- I agree with Architect about the CC and change of pots. In fact you could try the change of pots to 250k as the first cheap way of taming the highs. You could also try a magnet swap on the Virtual Hot.
Anything a2 should tame highs a bit. If you want something on the hotter side -- I agree with Architect about the CC and change of pots. In fact you could try the change of pots to 250k as the first cheap way of taming the highs. You could also try a magnet swap on the Virtual Hot.
mindbender
New member
Re: Tame a very bright guitar.
Try an Air Zone. Less highs than a Tone Zone, but not overly squishy in the low end like a CC.
Try an Air Zone. Less highs than a Tone Zone, but not overly squishy in the low end like a CC.
SpiderVenom
New member
Re: Tame a very bright guitar.
Turn to face amp. Place fingers on knob labelled "Treble". Turn knob anti-clockwise. Play.
Also, if you have that piercing edge to the highs, place some tape on the grill so that it covers where the speaker cone is.
Turn to face amp. Place fingers on knob labelled "Treble". Turn knob anti-clockwise. Play.
Also, if you have that piercing edge to the highs, place some tape on the grill so that it covers where the speaker cone is.
hamerfan
Well-known member
Re: Tame a very bright guitar.
You should first try an 300k pot or a 750k (or less down to 500k) resistor in parallel to the existing volume pot. This should tame a lot. Do you have a tone control with the VPAF? Simply connecting a tone control to a pup shaves off some highs.
You should first try an 300k pot or a 750k (or less down to 500k) resistor in parallel to the existing volume pot. This should tame a lot. Do you have a tone control with the VPAF? Simply connecting a tone control to a pup shaves off some highs.
T
theodie
Guest
Re: Tame a very bright guitar.
If too bright, tweak the amps EQ, change pots to a lower value, if those dont work, get a warm pickup. BTW, I have a Dimarzio VHPAF and find it one the warm side. Play with your EQ then change your pots. If that dont work, come back and talk to us.
If too bright, tweak the amps EQ, change pots to a lower value, if those dont work, get a warm pickup. BTW, I have a Dimarzio VHPAF and find it one the warm side. Play with your EQ then change your pots. If that dont work, come back and talk to us.
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: Tame a very bright guitar.
Poplar is soft like Basswood, and shaves off some top end sparkle and attack. (vs Swamp Ash or Alder anyway) So I imagine you're talking about the high upper mids, and it sounds harsh and whiney, but not the really high treble "acoustic piezo" type of plinkiness. So a Custom Custom type pickup, that also shaves off the extreme high end, for a smoother attack and upper treble would probably be good, but not truly warm up that Poplar because it's still got a fat upper midrange bell curve. Ash, Maple, yes, but Poplar maybe the frequencies aren't really compatible. Or if you do try the CC, stick with 500k pots to leave some of the attack in there for the sake of note clarity, which Poplar can lack.
The Dimarzio line has trouble with high end articulation, too, so the warmth of the VPAF series comes more from a general smoothing of the highs that Dimarzio's tend to have, vs. Duncan's signature "punch in the face" attack. And Airbuckering does that to an extent, too. A Dimarzio might be okay, but I'd stay with the Tone Zone over the Air Zone, because it has more punch in the lower mids. I'd also consider the Super 3, which compresses and mutes out the upper mids a little.
From Duncan, I'd try the PATB Distortion, even though it still has great highs. It has more compressed upper mids too. It's so hot, that if you did put it with 250k pots, you'd taper off the super highs, AND leave the smooth lower mids intact. So if it were too bright with 500k, you have an ace in the hole. And the Custom Custom with 500k pots should be good, too, but if your problem is really in the upper mids, you might even consider the C5 with 250k pots.
Poplar is soft like Basswood, and shaves off some top end sparkle and attack. (vs Swamp Ash or Alder anyway) So I imagine you're talking about the high upper mids, and it sounds harsh and whiney, but not the really high treble "acoustic piezo" type of plinkiness. So a Custom Custom type pickup, that also shaves off the extreme high end, for a smoother attack and upper treble would probably be good, but not truly warm up that Poplar because it's still got a fat upper midrange bell curve. Ash, Maple, yes, but Poplar maybe the frequencies aren't really compatible. Or if you do try the CC, stick with 500k pots to leave some of the attack in there for the sake of note clarity, which Poplar can lack.
The Dimarzio line has trouble with high end articulation, too, so the warmth of the VPAF series comes more from a general smoothing of the highs that Dimarzio's tend to have, vs. Duncan's signature "punch in the face" attack. And Airbuckering does that to an extent, too. A Dimarzio might be okay, but I'd stay with the Tone Zone over the Air Zone, because it has more punch in the lower mids. I'd also consider the Super 3, which compresses and mutes out the upper mids a little.
From Duncan, I'd try the PATB Distortion, even though it still has great highs. It has more compressed upper mids too. It's so hot, that if you did put it with 250k pots, you'd taper off the super highs, AND leave the smooth lower mids intact. So if it were too bright with 500k, you have an ace in the hole. And the Custom Custom with 500k pots should be good, too, but if your problem is really in the upper mids, you might even consider the C5 with 250k pots.
JacksonMIA
Lemur-buckerologist
Re: Tame a very bright guitar.
The Custom Custom sounds amazing in my poplar bodied strat, FWIW.
The Custom Custom sounds amazing in my poplar bodied strat, FWIW.
GHWelles
New member
Re: Tame a very bright guitar.
Could do that, but would like to leave the settings the same so I can swap guitars without changing settings.
Turn to face amp. Place fingers on knob labelled "Treble". Turn knob anti-clockwise. Play.
Also, if you have that piercing edge to the highs, place some tape on the grill so that it covers where the speaker cone is.
Could do that, but would like to leave the settings the same so I can swap guitars without changing settings.
GHWelles
New member
roadstar II
New member
Re: Tame a very bright guitar.
i use the V hot paf and what i did was use a 500K volume and a 250K tone pot
this worked great.
if you go to another pup take my advise and get the air zone not the tone zone
the air zone is so much more pleasing to the ears and sounds a lot more natural
i use the V hot paf and what i did was use a 500K volume and a 250K tone pot
this worked great.
if you go to another pup take my advise and get the air zone not the tone zone
the air zone is so much more pleasing to the ears and sounds a lot more natural
roadstar II
New member
Re: Tame a very bright guitar.
I disagree frank, the tone zone has a "HARSHER" high end and he is trying to solve that:chairfall
the air zone has plenty of punch and is much warmer(read as more rounded top end) and more organic sounding than the tone zone, i think many will agree with this
also consider a breed neck model(DP 165) in the bridge
this is basically a V hot paf with more punch and warmth
i have one of these in another guitar and it is great for a fatter warmer paf tone
it is also quite a bit louder than the V hot paf but still maintains a vintage vibe
here this sums the breed neck in the bridge up pretty well,
Tech Talk: The Breed neck model™ is a bit louder and fatter-sounding than the PAF Pro®s that Steve used on his earliest Jems. As a neck pickup, it has more than enough power to balance with high-output bridge pickups: it will work with the Tone Zone®, Super Distortion® and Evolution® as well as The Breed™ bridge model. In the bridge position, it has a very warm, hot PAF® tone--really smooth, with nice harmonics.
I disagree frank, the tone zone has a "HARSHER" high end and he is trying to solve that:chairfall
the air zone has plenty of punch and is much warmer(read as more rounded top end) and more organic sounding than the tone zone, i think many will agree with this
also consider a breed neck model(DP 165) in the bridge
this is basically a V hot paf with more punch and warmth
i have one of these in another guitar and it is great for a fatter warmer paf tone
it is also quite a bit louder than the V hot paf but still maintains a vintage vibe
here this sums the breed neck in the bridge up pretty well,
Tech Talk: The Breed neck model™ is a bit louder and fatter-sounding than the PAF Pro®s that Steve used on his earliest Jems. As a neck pickup, it has more than enough power to balance with high-output bridge pickups: it will work with the Tone Zone®, Super Distortion® and Evolution® as well as The Breed™ bridge model. In the bridge position, it has a very warm, hot PAF® tone--really smooth, with nice harmonics.
roadstar II
New member
Re: Tame a very bright guitar.
IMHO, the duncans sound best in gibson type guitars since they are very bright
and do not have the warmth of dimarzios
not that the duncan DONT WORK in strats or similar guitars but it is a bit harder to get that real fat, warm tone with them compared to dimarzios
IMHO, the duncans sound best in gibson type guitars since they are very bright
and do not have the warmth of dimarzios
not that the duncan DONT WORK in strats or similar guitars but it is a bit harder to get that real fat, warm tone with them compared to dimarzios
Re: Tame a very bright guitar.
Wow, people now change speakers to change the EQ on their amps(that question gets asked at Weber all the time......"how do I tame a bright amp...which speaker?"), people change pickups they seem to be basically ok with on guitars to change the EQ, whats next...changing the air density in the room to allow bass frequencies to pass more freely.
Yes, I know...I'm being a _________(fill in blank) but, Ive always thought thats why I had a tone control on the guitar and tone controls on the amp!! I thought that must be why Leo and Ted and the pioneers put them there, to adjust the Q to tailor to the room.
Im fine with changing stuff, its half the fun!! But if I liked the pickup and I was going to keep playing the poplar guitar(which from my experience are usually darkish and a bit muted rather than bright to begin with) I think I'd be tweaking knobs....its so much cheaper.!!!(not nearly as much fun tho.) I bet in some rooms/venues that "too bright guitar or amp" would be just the ticket, in others, they would be icepick in the ears. Thats why we got knobs. good luck, eric b
Wow, people now change speakers to change the EQ on their amps(that question gets asked at Weber all the time......"how do I tame a bright amp...which speaker?"), people change pickups they seem to be basically ok with on guitars to change the EQ, whats next...changing the air density in the room to allow bass frequencies to pass more freely.
Yes, I know...I'm being a _________(fill in blank) but, Ive always thought thats why I had a tone control on the guitar and tone controls on the amp!! I thought that must be why Leo and Ted and the pioneers put them there, to adjust the Q to tailor to the room.
Im fine with changing stuff, its half the fun!! But if I liked the pickup and I was going to keep playing the poplar guitar(which from my experience are usually darkish and a bit muted rather than bright to begin with) I think I'd be tweaking knobs....its so much cheaper.!!!(not nearly as much fun tho.) I bet in some rooms/venues that "too bright guitar or amp" would be just the ticket, in others, they would be icepick in the ears. Thats why we got knobs. good luck, eric b
daemon barbeque
Zuhahahaologist
Re: Tame a very bright guitar.
The PATB-1 has alnico 5 magnet ,it is way darker than the PATB-2 and it has a medium otput!It screams when you really hurt ,but mostly sings!
+1 on PATB ,but the original trembucker.Not the distortion!
The PATB-1 has alnico 5 magnet ,it is way darker than the PATB-2 and it has a medium otput!It screams when you really hurt ,but mostly sings!
Robert Delahunt
Showmasterologist
Re: Tame a very bright guitar.
+1
I definitely agree, try Alnico II pickups (alnico II pro, CC, PG, etc.) if you can, and also you can use lower resistance pots. They even make 100k pots but those roll off a LOT of the highs. Me, I prefer 500k for humbuckers, and as high as I can tolerate for single coils (usually 250k but there have been exceptions)
What I would do to tame the highs:
1) Screw in the pole screws so that they're not sticking out from the top surface of the pickup (usually the first thing I do with a new pickup anyways, personal preference).
2) Check pickup height and your wiring (make sure they're not out of phase, etc, or whatever it is, I forgot lol)
3) See if you can leave tone knob at a set position and it not make the other pickup(s) sound krappy (usually it's one pickup that is the culprit with brightness, not all of them, but you never know...)
4) Change strings (some are brighter than others)
5) Swap potentiometers (500k -> 300k -> 250k -> 100k etc)
6) Swap pickups (and pots: back to 500k or whatever)
But yeah, look at the pickup descriptions: some are made specifically for bright guitars (usually pickups built around an Alnico II magnet).
+1
I definitely agree, try Alnico II pickups (alnico II pro, CC, PG, etc.) if you can, and also you can use lower resistance pots. They even make 100k pots but those roll off a LOT of the highs. Me, I prefer 500k for humbuckers, and as high as I can tolerate for single coils (usually 250k but there have been exceptions
)What I would do to tame the highs:
1) Screw in the pole screws so that they're not sticking out from the top surface of the pickup (usually the first thing I do with a new pickup anyways, personal preference).
2) Check pickup height and your wiring (make sure they're not out of phase, etc, or whatever it is, I forgot lol)
3) See if you can leave tone knob at a set position and it not make the other pickup(s) sound krappy (usually it's one pickup that is the culprit with brightness, not all of them, but you never know...)
4) Change strings (some are brighter than others)
5) Swap potentiometers (500k -> 300k -> 250k -> 100k etc)
6) Swap pickups (and pots: back to 500k or whatever)
But yeah, look at the pickup descriptions: some are made specifically for bright guitars (usually pickups built around an Alnico II magnet).