What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

M

milkandmeat

New member
Alright so I have a Flextone II 212. It has the typical combo problem of sometime sounding muffled/dull/lifeless. I get good tones out of it, it just seems very unbright. I remember a long time ago someone describing it as sounding like there was a wet towl over the speakers, and that's exactly right. My latest guitar came with an EMG 81, and as expected, it didn't react well with the solid state, so I'd like to change it. I had a JB previously, and it sounded better than the 81. Brighter, with more presence, but it still had the same problem. I know this amp, will always have this problem to an extentt, but I'm trying to choose the pickup that will minimize it as much as possible. Looking at the tone chart, the Distortion (5/8/9) seems like it might be a good choice.....or do I not want that much mids? What do you guys think would be my best option? I've heard good things about Dimarzio passives also but don't know much about them. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

here's a clip to give you an idea of what i'm talking about. i just let a few power chords ring out (and no, this isnt my real playing, im not that bad)

http://media.putfile.com/Untitled13830

thanks
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

Dimarzio Virtual PAFs give you the CLARITY that people with your type of concern tend to need. VERRRRY HARMONICALLY RICH!
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

milkandmeat said:
I know this amp, will always have this problem to an extentt, but I'm trying to choose the pickup that will minimize it as much as possible.
Click to expand...

If you Know the amp is the Problem. Why not Stop wasteing your money on trying new pickups, and BUY A BETTER AMP!!!!! It seems like the obvious solution to me. But what do I know.

-edward
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

I can't afford a new amp (go to school full time).

The JB was tolerable, so I'm just wondering which pickup would give me equal or better results than the JB. The Distortion seems like it may be a bit better than the JB for my problem, which would be good enough.
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

Save your pennies and start looking for a new amp. If you don't want to go that far, a speaker change would also be something to look at.
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

haha ive posted this on 3 different boards and nobody answers whati asked. im aware that there are many solutions to my problem, but i can't afford any of them now. i get pickups dirt cheap, and just want to now which one you'd pick if you were in my situation. the jb was almost fine, im just wondering if maybe the DD or something else might be even better.
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

I can't listen to your clip now when I'm at work but I thought I could write this anyways in case it would help you.

I don't know where you play, band rehearsal space, livingroom, bedroom etc... But be sure to lift the combo amps up on something or angle it....especially if you have a room that's crowded with stuff. That changes the sound alot, makes it more open and takes a bit of the dullness away.

Haven't tried alot of pups so I won't tell you anything about that ;) Good luck!
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

You can afford speakers too. You get a 90ies made Celestion G12H100 for instance for around 100 bucks on fleabay.
Your motor is making trouble and you try to get new tires for cheap.
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

Honestly, if I were in your situation, I'd look for some speakers. You can get a pair of Eminence drivers for about the price of two pickups.

If you don't want to do that, tweak your settings. It doesn't cost anything.

A new pickup will give you instant gratification, but it will not solve your problem.
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

Hey Milk/Meat,
First of all it doesn't sound THAT bad...need to tweak your EQ a little more or find some other patches on the Line 6 website. As far as pickups? The 2 I've had most success using Line 6 software are with the Duncan Custom and the Screamin' Demon. You want p'ups with modest output & lots of clarity. The amp's doing all of the work. For heavy rock I found the '59 to be good but not excel like it does with tube amps. George Lynch used PODs and Screamin Demons in superstrats for years. If you found the JB to be almost there , then you'll probably like the SDemon'. But if you can get them dirt cheap...then try both the SH-5 Duncan Custom and the SD. The DD might be a little too much for the flextone. My opinion? I give the edge to the Duncan Custom.
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

PS...be careful changing speakers in those modeling amps. I've heard GT75s and Vintage 30s sound like garbage in Line 6 amps. Your best bet would be to get the Celestion Designed ones found in the Vetta amps. You'll see a difference there.
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

I often hear this in modelling amps (or non-amp modelling units). I *think* it has a lot to do with the fact that the sound coming out of them is often designed to sound like a recording of an amp (guitar + effects +amp + room + microphone...), which tends to sound less immediate and clear than that actual amp would sound sitting in front of you. It's a sound that works great with recording, because ultimately, that's what recorded electric guitar usually sounds like on record and the sound often sits better in a mix with other instruments because of it, but it can seem a bit off-putting when you're trying to make it sound like you're just playing the amp right then and there. You don't WANT all that extra simulated room and mic stuff because you're in an ACTUAL room, etc.

While I'm not sure exactly what control options are on the Flextone, I've found with other modellers that turning off the cabinet and/or mic and/or room simulations helps bring back that immediacy when I'm running it into an actual amp in an actual room. You lose some authenticity, I suppose, because instead of a modelled 4X12 (or whatever) you've now got the modelled sound of a particular head playing through a real 1X10 (or whatever) but you regain a bit of that clarity and I've never reagrded modellers as super-authentic replacements for the things they model but rather very wide palettes offering a number of very different tone options -- many of which I find useful.
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

Try a Custom 5. Out of all the Customs, it has the nice vintage clarity, but also enough punch and tight low end to make modelers sound their best.
My Valvetronix amp seems to like that pickup more than others.
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

With a modeller you can dial in tons of gain, so you could go for a brighter sounding vintage 'bucker. How about a pair of '59s? Or if you want hotter at the bridge try Custom / '59. Nothing wet towel about those! The Custom rocks and has plenty of everything.
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

Cheapest ways to brighten/clarify your tone are:

-stainless strings
-raise action
-lower pup height
-cut screws flush with bottom of baseplate
-grab a 59' or throw a ceramic in you JB or go direct to jack
-go to a 1 meg pot or raise the value of your pot by scraping away some its resistive element. Here's how:

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/pots.htm
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

Drop an evolution in your guitar and turn the presence and volume on your amp up alot.
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

milkandmeat said:
lower pickup height? i thought it was the other way..
Click to expand...

I've noticed when the string is closer to the pup you get more crunch and a more in your face sound. But when you back the pup off a bit the notes don't bleed together as much and you hear more of the string itself. Sometimes it helps, other times it ok @1/16.

It adds a little articulation. I backed off a neck 59' from 1/16 to 3/32 and the sound cleared up and sounded more "stringy" if that makes any sense. Made a world of difference.
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

You lose bass response the further from the strings you adjust your p'up. As a general rule it's 5/32 for AL 5 and 3/32 for AL 2(distance from poles to string with your finger depressed at the 12th fret...do this on both E strings). I dont think you'll go wrong with the Screamin Demon'...that p'up was made to react with high gain and cabinets. The old descrip said "plenty of cabinet THUMP". BTW...what kind of guitar do you have?
 
Re: What pickup to combat the "wet-towl" sound in combo

EMG's lose presence when you pull them away from the strings. Jack them up as high as you can without hitting the strings. Also, don't mess with the pot values on EMG's. They were designed to work specifically with those that came with the pickup.
 
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