astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Never had a guitar with humbuckers that sounded like this before. The middle position is nasal and honky sounding. not thin though. it's kind of stratty.
Why does the middle position on my Les Paul sound so honky?
- Thread starter astrozombie
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chris effect
New member
Re: Why does the middle position on my Les Paul sound so honky?
Is it possibly out of phase? I use my middle position for cleans only, and it sounds kind of stratty I guess. Sort of twangy / 'plonky' sounding.
Is it possibly out of phase? I use my middle position for cleans only, and it sounds kind of stratty I guess. Sort of twangy / 'plonky' sounding.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Why does the middle position on my Les Paul sound so honky?
Possibility #1 - Peter Green style magnet inversion resulting in signal phase reversal.
Possibility #2 - Coil failure in one of yo' humbuckers.
Possibility #3 - Incorrect connection of 4-con + shield output cabling.
Possibility #1 - Peter Green style magnet inversion resulting in signal phase reversal.
Possibility #2 - Coil failure in one of yo' humbuckers.
Possibility #3 - Incorrect connection of 4-con + shield output cabling.
Shooter.556
New member
Re: Why does the middle position on my Les Paul sound so honky?
The middle dialed in on all my Les Pauls will go from the Woman tone to the Joe Walsh ping kinda tone to kinda honky sounding depending on how your amp is dialed in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKSQIlNKW-A
Watch this, with PAFs the Les Paul is very honky and fat kinda like a Tele strat cross. Especially a Strat or Tele with blender pots.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STeHgXlnh1c
There are 6 of these in the series and Joe Walsh goes into dialing in pickups in this one.
I think your Les Paul sounds like a Les Paul, I personally love that tone.
Billy Gibbons is kinda famous for use of the middle position on a Les Paul..
It's kinda honky and swampy with some overdrive on it..
The middle dialed in on all my Les Pauls will go from the Woman tone to the Joe Walsh ping kinda tone to kinda honky sounding depending on how your amp is dialed in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKSQIlNKW-A
Watch this, with PAFs the Les Paul is very honky and fat kinda like a Tele strat cross. Especially a Strat or Tele with blender pots.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STeHgXlnh1c
There are 6 of these in the series and Joe Walsh goes into dialing in pickups in this one.
I think your Les Paul sounds like a Les Paul, I personally love that tone.
Billy Gibbons is kinda famous for use of the middle position on a Les Paul..
It's kinda honky and swampy with some overdrive on it..
VinceT
New member
Re: Why does the middle position on my Les Paul sound so honky?
Sounds like phase to me. Quickest way to test - does it fatten up when you lower either volume while in the middle position? I modified my LP so I have the option for this sound - and it's surprisingly usable, particularly if you really want to slice through a mix (the things it can do to an already driven lead tone!)
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Sounds like phase to me. Quickest way to test - does it fatten up when you lower either volume while in the middle position? I modified my LP so I have the option for this sound - and it's surprisingly usable, particularly if you really want to slice through a mix (the things it can do to an already driven lead tone!)
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
ScottieB
New member
Re: Why does the middle position on my Les Paul sound so honky?
That their my friend is a Les Paul Traditional Tea Burst isn't it? It should have 57 classic in it.
Never had a guitar with humbuckers that sounded like this before. The middle position is nasal and honky sounding. not thin though. it's kind of stratty.
That their my friend is a Les Paul Traditional Tea Burst isn't it? It should have 57 classic in it.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Why does the middle position on my Les Paul sound so honky?
Im guessing a flipped magnet giving you that honky peter green out of phase tone.
Im guessing a flipped magnet giving you that honky peter green out of phase tone.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Why does the middle position on my Les Paul sound so honky?
It does have the 57 classics, although my guitar is finished in HoneyBurst
It does have the 57 classics, although my guitar is finished in HoneyBurst
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Why does the middle position on my Les Paul sound so honky?
No, the guitar doesn't sound weak. I had a telecaster with an out of phase middle position and that was very noticeable, this is just a less "humbucker" tone and something closer to a jazzmaster.
No, the guitar doesn't sound weak. I had a telecaster with an out of phase middle position and that was very noticeable, this is just a less "humbucker" tone and something closer to a jazzmaster.
Christopher Caruana
New member
Re: Why does the middle position on my Les Paul sound so honky?
When you turn one of volumes down, does the sound thicken up and the honk go away?
When you turn one of volumes down, does the sound thicken up and the honk go away?
Wattage
High Voltologist
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Why does the middle position on my Les Paul sound so honky?
Sometimes really mismatched coils can give you that sound, but I don't know if that is the case. Do you like the sound? Do you want to change it? I would check that the wiring is right first, with all of the correct parts, then determine if something isn't working correctly. If both pickups sound fine on their own, and don't when together, it is some sort of phase thing usually, but who knows until you get in there and check it out.
Sometimes really mismatched coils can give you that sound, but I don't know if that is the case. Do you like the sound? Do you want to change it? I would check that the wiring is right first, with all of the correct parts, then determine if something isn't working correctly. If both pickups sound fine on their own, and don't when together, it is some sort of phase thing usually, but who knows until you get in there and check it out.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Why does the middle position on my Les Paul sound so honky?
If you switch wires/lugs on the volume pots, that'll give independent volumes controls, and you can blend how much you want of each PU. With dependent volume controls, you don't get much flexibility.
If you switch wires/lugs on the volume pots, that'll give independent volumes controls, and you can blend how much you want of each PU. With dependent volume controls, you don't get much flexibility.
Last edited:
Deteroblix
New member
Re: Why does the middle position on my Les Paul sound so honky?
I know this is an old post, but I have the same issue with my LP. I have a Seth Lover in the Bridge and a Stewmac golden age in the Neck and the nasal/out of phase sound has definitely taken over the middle switch position. I'm guessing it's b/c these two pickups are pretty mis-matched. But not entirely too sure.
I know this is an old post, but I have the same issue with my LP. I have a Seth Lover in the Bridge and a Stewmac golden age in the Neck and the nasal/out of phase sound has definitely taken over the middle switch position. I'm guessing it's b/c these two pickups are pretty mis-matched. But not entirely too sure.
David Garner
New member
Re: Why does the middle position on my Les Paul sound so honky?
What pickups? It sounds like a normal PAF middle position to me. The honk is half the point.
What pickups? It sounds like a normal PAF middle position to me. The honk is half the point.
Re: Why does the middle position on my Les Paul sound so honky?
Welcome to the forum!
Most likely, they are out of phase. Pick one pickup (try the Stew Mac) and flip the hot and ground. Let us know if this works.
Welcome to the forum!
Most likely, they are out of phase. Pick one pickup (try the Stew Mac) and flip the hot and ground. Let us know if this works.
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