software

I didn't get much help from my last thread so I would like to attack this a little differently.

I installed a JB in the bridge of my Strat, a Duck in the mid and Vintage rails in the neck. The guitar sounds horrible. The bridge is way to bright and the mid and neck sound muddy. I've got 500k pots in it now, if I put 250k in would that kill some of the brightness of the JB and bring the neck and middle where they should be?

250k pots will help the JB warm up quite a bit.

The problem with the VR and Duck may be related to height, try lowering them off of the strings a bit. I have never found the VR/Ducks to be muddy sounding and they usually hit my ear as being fairly bright.

Thanks Robert. One more question, I'm going to use an standard audio pot but the tone is an linear. Will that work or should I just get another standard pot? One tone, one volume setup.

I will play with the height more after I try the pots.

I'd recommend an audio taper pot. The linear pot will work, but the roll off won't be as smooth as you'd get from an audio taper pot. It's still just a matter of preference, though.

Honestly, I'd try adjusting the heights first - even the JB. It's cheaper and easier than buying new pots and resoldering. You still may not like the way the JB sounds, but it doesn't require you to break out the soldering iron to go back to the way it was. I think Robert's perscription is correct, though. The new pot will point you in the same direction.

Thanks JacksonMIA, I've already tried to tweak the height on the JB, besides I already have the pots or at least one of them.

Hey, did you see my thread in the shop?

With your new Jackson? I just looked it up - can't believe I missed it. WOW! I managed to reply after I regained consiousness. Welcome to the club. You have more than earned your membership, in my book.

Thanks, I can't wait till I get it back from the shop.

Well I stuck the 250k pots in and it did make a difference but unfortunately it is still too bright when clean, sounds ok when distorted. I would have thought that the Floyd Rose would of sucked up some of the brightness. Well maybe later I'll stick a CC in the bridge or just stick the DiMarzio back in.


Originally Posted by Sid ViciousWell I stuck the 250k pots in and it did make a difference but unfortunately it is still too bright when clean, sounds ok when distorted. I would have thought that the Floyd Rose would of sucked up some of the brightness. Well maybe later I'll stick a CC in the bridge or just stick the DiMarzio back in.

My Floyd actually makes the guitar brighter to the best of my knowledge. The guitar is simply too bright in some amps. I keep the tone rolled back a little more than on the Peavey. I can keep it under control pretty well.

try puting in a 022c capacitor for taming those HIGHS.worked beautifully on my strat.a disaster at first without it.mine has the 500 k pots.
just dont ask me how to put them,a tech took care of that for me.

I have a .022 cap in their. It's wire like this
Originally Posted by JacksonMIAMy Floyd actually makes the guitar brighter to the best of my knowledge. The guitar is simply too bright in some amps. I keep the tone rolled back a little more than on the Peavey. I can keep it under control pretty well.

I don't remember the Dimarzio being that bright. Maybe I just need to put the crack pipe down


Originally Posted by Sid ViciousI don't remember the Dimarzio being that bright. Maybe I just need to put the crack pipe down

No, I think it's just that each little thing - alder body, JB, Floyd Rose, El Nino - added to the brightness. You might have better luck with the DMZ, I just can't bring myself to recommend one.

This is my Strat, it has a basswood body. Actually the Dimarzio sounded pretty good.

Maybe I will sell the Jazz and the tb4(less then 3 weeks old) and buy something not quite so bright.

well i can only conclude that it is that floyde rose thats makin the soiund so bright,
if you cant live without it go and get an invader(basicly a JB with 3 ceramic mags from what ive bin told).
a hell lot a bass and a beautifull sound on a cort x custom(floyde,basswood body and bolt on).
could do wonders for your strat.

I got both the JB and the Invader in a couple of my guitars, and I'm not so sure about the invader being like a JB with three ceramic magnets...they're totally different beasts.

In my ESP H-207 the invader works fine, because that guitar is naturally a little bright anyways. The invader is dark, and extremely powerful. It can be heavy as hell, but I still prefer the Custom/'59 hybrid in my carvin.

I've got the JB in my music man, along with the 250K pots, and it sounds fantastic to me, though I've got a standard 2-post trem and an alder body.

If you're still not liking the JB too much, I'd suggest checkin out a Custom 5, which is similar to a JB in some respects, but has a little bigger bottom to it and isnt as bright.

Hey Sid, what amp are you playing into?

I have a JB with 500k pots in a Strat with a maple neck, Shaller Floyd, LSR nut and Sperzal locking tuners and I don't find it all that bright through my Mesa stuff and it rocks through my Marshall.

Just curious.


Originally Posted by Robert S.Hey Sid, what amp are you playing into?

I have a JB with 500k pots in a Strat with a maple neck, Shaller Floyd, LSR nut and Sperzal locking tuners and I don't find it all that bright through my Mesa stuff and it rocks through my Marshall.

Just curious.

Well I tweaked the amp some and it does sound much much better. I knew it was an amp setting when I plugged my brand new USA Jackson Soloist in with the same pickup and it sounded like crap too.

I quit playing for about 10 years and have just gotten back into playing, basically I forgot how to how to setup the amp I'm playing through an old Peavey bandit 112 solo series.

gonna just play it for a while and do some more amp tweaking before making any other changes. That Invader does look sweet thoough.