Why is my guitar so dark?

Funky P

Funky P

New member
So initially the stock pups in my guitar where very dark and muddy. So i went ahead and got some of the brightest SD's and put em in, much improvement. But I've always thought they were not right, i figure its just my amp.

So i plug into a Stiletto, a bright amp. They sound real nice sweet and warm, but still pretty dark. Then i take an Epi Standard and plug into the same amp, wow this thing is soo many times brighter then my guitar with the APH's. It should've been darker b/c of more mahogony mass and high resistance pickups.

What gives? Is there something about the wiring scheme?(2vol 1 tone) I know i use 11's but it shouldn't make it soo muddy. And i know these pickups are perfectly fine, i dont want to change them. Or are LP's just extremely bright in nature?

edit: I also have done the no load pot mod and use 500k audio taper pots
 
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Re: Why is my guitar so dark?

D'addarios XL's were a little on the dark side, so i switched to Ernie Ball PowerSlinkies they are indeed brighter than XL's
 
Re: Why is my guitar so dark?

...but they'll be dead next week! I don't think it's your strings though. You have weaked your amp settings right?
 
Re: Why is my guitar so dark?

big_black said:
...but they'll be dead next week! I don't think it's your strings though. You have weaked your amp settings right?
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About five different amps, its has that dark character that is mainly just the guitar.
 
Re: Why is my guitar so dark?

aleclee said:
Have you tried adjusting the pickup height?
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THey were initially lower than recommended, then i raised them, now they're not too much brighter.
 
Re: Why is my guitar so dark?

I assume the guitar you are talking about is an Ibanez? I am not familiar with the Ibanez SZ520. I know the S520 has a mahogany body. How much does your guitar weigh? It could be a very dense piece of mahogany, and depending on how it was cut, you could just have a dark sounding body. I have seen many Gibson's of the same model side by side and every one sounded a bit different than the other. I guess thats why all guitar players are always searching for that one guitar that has that perfect feel and sound. That is the great thing about guitars....no two are the same. Jam on !!!! :banana:
 
Re: Why is my guitar so dark?

Nine pounds with hardware is a hefty guitar. However, Not as heavy as some Les Pauls. I have seen some Pauls of the same model vary between 1 and 4 pounds of each other. That's mahogany.
 
Re: Why is my guitar so dark?

What are the pot values in that guitar?
 
Re: Why is my guitar so dark?

you might want to try pups with A5 magnets like a JB. they are brighter than ones with A2 and sound good on mahogany guitars. Or also ones with ceramic mags like the Custom.
 
Re: Why is my guitar so dark?

Well i already have a no load pot, so i dont know how much a 1000k pot would do.

I guess i could buy a new piece of wood, this one isnt perfect and leaves something to be desired.

My local PRS dealer gets all the SE models i might get the Custom or hold out for the Single Cut. I'm gonna have to play the SC though. I'm not an Epi person and if i'm gonna shell 2,300 its gonna be on an amp.
 
Re: Why is my guitar so dark?

It's the guitar.

Thick mahogany body + beefy Mahogany set neck + Rosewood board = Dark guitar.

I also have one of those SZ's and while they are good quality guitars, I'm getting rid of it soon for that reason. Sound is too thick & dark. I'm going with a Strat w/a humb in the bridge this time. No more mahogany set neck guitars for me.
 
Re: Why is my guitar so dark?

Alnico 2 magnets have sodter lows and softer highs.Get an Alnico 5 or Ceramic pickup.I have a mahogany body guitar which sounded like poo with a custom custom(A2).Changing the pickup to a ceramic custom was like night and day. If you like hot get a custom,otherwise something similar sounding but less output.I am sure it will work
 
Re: Why is my guitar so dark?

Try changing the pots to some CTS 500K or 1 meg pots. It's a cheap way to go and may solve your problem.

On the amp end, you could try a BBE Sonic Maximizer in the effects loop
 
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