How do you deal with icepick via amp settings?

[surfoverb]

My Esquire has Fralin stock tele PUP and when playing through my twin reverb I set the amps settings to the bridge only selection on the guitar. It seems like an almost endless way to do this and I was wondering how you guys do it. I just have my treble on 5, mid on 5, and adjust the bass on +/-1. This keeps all those glorious trebles around but at the same time harness' the icepick beast.
What do you guys do? I know every setting is different, but are you more prone to messing with the bass, mid, or treble?

Also isnt a bright switch on a Fender amp kind of rendundant? Does anyone use it?

[randysmojo]

I did use the bright switch when I switch guitars from my tele to a humbucker equipt strat. The tone worked out good with no other changes to the settings between those particular two guitars. What I was doing about the icepick bridge thing though was setting the tone settings for the other settings on my tele, and then when I go to the bridge, rolling the tone off to about 6 or so. That works fine on my setup.

[telesavant]

Weber Beam Blockers!!! www.webervst.com

[surfoverb]

Originally Posted by randysmojo

What I was doing about the icepick bridge thing though was setting the tone settings for the other settings on my tele, and then when I go to the bridge, rolling the tone off to about 6 or so. That works fine on my setup.

The only problem though is that on the Esquire there's no tone control...Thats why I set everything to that pickup.

[telesavant]

The aformentioned Beam Blockers are around $20.00, and easily installed. Sometimes, amp settings won't solve this problem.

[yegbert]

Originally Posted by surfoverb

The only problem though is that on the Esquire there's no tone control...Thats why I set everything to that pickup.

I'd put a tone control on the Esquire.

[surfoverb]

Nobody uses thier amp controls? I'm not going to mod my amp when all I need to do is adjust the bass level. I could also lower the treble or adjust the mid all these things take care of the icepick I was just wondering what everyone else did. Just to clarify the Esquire has a tone control in one position and none on the other 2 (1 has a cap). So I adjust the amp to the one position with no tone control because there is no tone control in that one position.

[telesavant]

Yes, people use their tone controls. It's evidently not working for you. Sometimes an amp/ speaker combination produces a "BEAM" of harsh high end, that the tone controls will tame, but in the process extuingish all of your useable high end. That's where the "Beam Blockers" shine...no non reversable mods either. This is not what "everyone else" does, "everyone else" does not have this problem, but some do report this malady, and these get great reports from these folks......just a suggestion.

[surfoverb]

Originally Posted by telesavant

Yes, people use their tone controls. It's evidently not working for you. Sometimes an amp/ speaker combination produces a "BEAM" of harsh high end, that the tone controls will tame, but in the process extuingish all of your useable high end. That's where the "Beam Blockers" shine...no non reversable mods either. This is not what "everyone else" does, "everyone else" does not have this problem, but some do report this malady, and these get great reports from these folks......just a suggestion.

Like I said earlier all I do is adjust the bass. This works fine, no problem ice pick gone but highs remain. All I wanted to know was what others do. I find that If I adjust the bass: problem solved, udjust the treble: problem solved, adjust the mids: problem solved, adjust the bass and treble: problem solved, adjust the bass, mid, treble: problem solved ect;

I used to just have my amp set on 5 for everything and adjust with the guitar tone control but now that I have an Esquire it's not that easy. I could put a tone on the 1 position without it but I'd rather not because that is what's unique about the Esquire, having a bridge only position. I like to set it with the position w/ tone control about 60% then all I do is switch from no tone to tone @60% rather than have to mess with the knobs.

[telesavant]

Yes, that's what most players do, and that might take care of it.....sometimes... but only where your standing. That's why players usually like their amp in a certain position in relation to themselves on stage. The problem with the "Ice Pick" high frequency beam is that when you adjust the amp for "Your Tone" from one position on stage, or wherever.... and you move.... "Your tone" changes, and if your movement is directly in front of the amp the change will be for the worse. The high frequency "Beam" coming from the center of the speaker, travels faster than the rest of the more pallatable frequencys, thus appears harsh and brittle. A beam blocker appears to send all the frequencys out together, blocking the harsh highs from emminating, unimpeded from the center of the speaker by themselves, and thus a more uniform sound everywhere you move, and NO BEAMING. Many Icons (Stevie Ray comes to mind) use beam blockers in one form or another, as well as many working players. We are apparently talking about two different things.....if you haven't experienced this...you will, and "Tone Controls" will NOT solve it.

[surfoverb]

Originally Posted by telesavant

Yes, that's what most players do, and that might take care of it.....sometimes... but only where your standing. That's why players usually like their amp in a certain position in relation to themselves on stage. The problem with the "Ice Pick" high frequency beam is that when you adjust the amp for "Your Tone" from one position on stage, or wherever.... and you move.... "Your tone" changes, and if your movement is directly in front of the amp the change will be for the worse. The high frequency "Beam" coming from the center of the speaker, travels faster than the rest of the more pallatable frequencys, thus appears harsh and brittle. A beam blocker appears to send all the frequencys out together, blocking the harsh highs from emminating, unimpeded from the center of the speaker by themselves, and thus a more uniform sound everywhere you move, and NO BEAMING. Many Icons (Stevie Ray comes to mind) use beam blockers in one form or another, as well as many working players. We are apparently talking about two different things.....if you haven't experienced this...you will, and "Tone Controls" will NOT solve it.

Oh I see...Yeah I haven't gigged with this set-up yet. It's funny coming from a surf guitar background IcePick is not always a bad thing...But my Jags pickups are not as bad as these Fralins...I can dig a little ice pick but I set the amp so it is ice pick then back off a notch.

I'll look into those weber things.

[telesavant]

Big fan of the Jag as well...Had the Custom Shop put 4 Jag's on the pickguard!!

[yegbert]

Originally Posted by surfoverb

Just to clarify the Esquire has a tone control in one position and none on the other 2 (1 has a cap). So I adjust the amp to the one position with no tone control because there is no tone control in that one position.

Originally Posted by surfoverb

Like I said earlier all I do is adjust the bass. This works fine, no problem ice pick gone but highs remain. All I wanted to know was what others do.

I guess the most important part of this that I didn't get before was that you aren't looking for a solution to a problem, but rather just information about others' approaches for comparison.

I'm curious. Since you've added a neck pickup, what do you get out of each of the three positions?

I've never had an Esquire, my Teles are two-pickup setups with controls that are essentially the same as the post-67 Fender setup. The exception is one Tele with separate tone controls (stacked pot), but I plan to switch that back to master volume, master tone.

I generally set my SFDR controls to about 1 on the bass and about 5 on the treble. For a Tele with a slightly warmer tonal character I'll set the tone up a number or two. Then I adjust the tone control on the Tele somewhere between max and 2/3. I do that when I plug in the Tele, then I usually leave the settings alone. I like my Teles set up with pickups, pots, caps and wiring so I can generally switch between pickup settings without having to do a lot of adjusting the tone or volume during playing.

I play mostly at home by myself, and I realize my setup and approach may not have much relevance for a gigging environment.

I'd like to try a beam blocker.

[Scott S]

This is a struggle for me, too. I strive for a really clear tone where the low strings are as piano-like as possible, but I roll off just enough treble to tame the icepick. Bright switches (or channels) are great for some darker-sounding guitars, because then you have more flexibility with the treble control -- it's not just dimed.

Simply taping a circular piece of cardboard over the center of the speakers does work, but I imagine the Beam Blocker is even better.

[surfoverb]

Originally Posted by yegbert

I'm curious. Since you've added a neck pickup, what do you get out of each of the three positions?

Actually I didn't add a neck pup...I guess I worded that weird. I have an Esquire which has the classic esquire set-up (except I switched positions)
1st position=PUP+tone control
2nd position=PUP no tone control
3rd position=PUP no tone + .047 cap (bassy sound ala "I walk the line" or "I still miss someone"

It's funny that the 1st position with the tone turned all the way off sounds identical to the 2nd position which has no tone. I figured there would be a slight difference maybe the 2nd position would be 'hotter' sounding but to me they sound identical.

Also the way I have it wired the tone cap is a jenson .047 and the bass cap is an orange drop .047 and to me I can hear a slight difference between the 1st position with the tone all the way up and the 3rd position...Neither one is 'better' but I think the jenson cap sounds a tad warmer.

Just food for thought...

[surfoverb]

Originally Posted by telesavant

Big fan of the Jag as well...Had the Custom Shop put 4 Jag's on the pickguard!!

Check this out:

It's my 62avri Jag neck on my 52avri tele...I just did it to check my wiring.

[telesavant]

Originally Posted by Scott S

This is a struggle for me, too. I strive for a really clear tone where the low strings are as piano-like as possible, but I roll off just enough treble to tame the icepick. Bright switches (or channels) are great for some darker-sounding guitars, because then you have more flexibility with the treble control -- it's not just dimed.

Simply taping a circular piece of cardboard over the center of the speakers does work, but I imagine the Beam Blocker is even better.

Yes, cardboard will work to an extent, but stops the beam in it's tracks....no good...plus try getting that perfectly centered!! The "Beam Blocker" that Weber sells is an inverted dust cap of the same size speaker you wish to block the "Beam" of. It, like the dustcap (speaker center) is curved, or conical in shape, and thus sloughs off the Highs evenly all around with the other frequencys..out the front. Any highs lost.....just temper the tones to match your pleasure. It's an easy mod, cheap, and I'll be doing ALL my cabs sooner or later!!

[telesavant]

Originally Posted by surfoverb

Check this out:

It's my 62avri Jag neck on my 52avri tele...I just did it to check my wiring.

Tasty!! Post pics when the Jag is back together also!!