How to brighten the sound

[jwp333]

Not an expert, so I just want to confirm with the experts what I think is right I've got Fralin split blades in a strat-style , Peavey Falcon guitar with original pots. The pickups are the blues winds. They sound a little dark to me.
If I want to brighten the sound, would a change to a 500k volume pot be the only way to do it? Would a cap or tone pot change result in no change if everything is turned up all the way?

 

[WaylonFan76]

I know this is the pickup sub-forum, but a set of steel saddles will brighten your tone. Also, what amp are you playing through?

 

[old_picker]

pot change will open things up fo you

 

[Derek Kiernan]

Low capacitance cable. Higher value pots emphasize the resonance wherever it is, low capacitance cable extends out your highs.

 

[sjtalon]

Pickup heights, try something different ??

Would a cap or tone pot change result in no change if everything is turned up all the way?

Pot a little, tone cap not so much.

 

[Telenator]

There are a few knobs on the amp that might help too!

All kidding aside, I listened to the demos and the split blades don't necessarily need more brightness so much as they are simply a warmer sounding pickup. Based on the demo, it seems what you really need is a set of standard single coil pickups with all the hum, noise and articulation.

It would also be a good idea to contact Fralin directly. He's very good about getting back to people and getting them the right answers.

 

[Greg.Coal]

Are these "split blades" actually 2 blades in a single coil form factor? If so:

Yes, you can change out the 250K tone pot to 500K, the capacitor to 0.02 uF (since you are changing the pot anyway) and, again, since you are in the control cavity, change to the Gibson style aka "Fezz Parka" wiring (simple change) to maintain brightness when adjusting the volume.

I couldn't find the demo Telenator referred to but, given differences in strings, cables, amps and speakers, I think you are in a better position if you follow the traditional humbucker wiring which at least allows you to reduce the brightness rather than wish you had more.

 

[jwp333]

Thanks for the replies. I'm at more of a loss now than ever on this guitar. I took it to my regular jam session last night because I thought it was sounding pretty good at home playing along with music after some pickup height adjustment. But once I get to the band situation, I feel lost in the mix. It just wasn't cutting through. Everything felt compressed in a bad way. So I switched to my backup and played it happily the rest of the night. It may be that my setup just wasn't right for a little harder picking in the band situation. Not giving up on it yet but frustrating.

 

[Telenator]

Thanks for the replies. I'm at more of a loss now than ever on this guitar. I took it to my regular jam session last night because I thought it was sounding pretty good at home playing along with music after some pickup height adjustment. But once I get to the band situation, I feel lost in the mix. It just wasn't cutting through. Everything felt compressed in a bad way. So I switched to my backup and played it happily the rest of the night. It may be that my setup just wasn't right for a little harder picking in the band situation. Not giving up on it yet but frustrating.

This sounds like it might be the product of using a fair amount of gain/overdrive in your sound. Or, your guitar simply doesn't project well, and it will not, no matter what pickups you put in it.

I'll never forget buying a 73 Strat that absolutely had the voice of angels! But it couldn't cut through a mix with a machete. I made up a new guard and swapped pickups endlessly only to find the same issue. Sometimes the wood just won't give up the goods. Sounded great for recording though!

 

[kiwi blue]

Not familiar with those pickups but I assume a blues wind would be fairly hot? Try a lower output, brighter pickup. If that doesn't do the trick then Telenator's advice probably applies to that guitar.

If you contact Fralin he might let you swap for a lower output version, or at least do some sort of deal.

As you seem to already know, tone playing solo in a bedroom and tone in a loud mix are two different animals, and what works in a mix doesn't always sound that great on its own. Having spent the last 3 years or so heavily into home recording I'm starting to understand how each instrument needs to occupy its own frequency range in a mix. (Only starting mind you ...) Often you need to take out the low end to make room for the bass. You want good solid mids to poke through (but too much makes it muddy), and some decent bite around 3-5kHz.

What is your back up guitar and what pickups does it have? That might be a good starting point for solving the problem.

 

[1955]

You can lower the pups, too, and nothing wrong with turning up the treble on the amp either. Not trying to sound smart, but I have a guitar with bright pups, and I have the treble half-way down on the amp when I play it.

 

[younkint]

Sometimes simple stuff works. Try a totally different pick ...maybe even a metal one. Tilt your amp or raise it from the floor.




.

 

[Davo17]

As stated the Fezz Parka/50's wiring is very easy to do and will brighten things up a bit at make it sound a tiny bit less compressed.

Its also very easy to try, just requires soldering one end of one wire...

Another thing to look into is a TBX tone control, it functions as a regular tone, has a center position where the tone control is completely removed from the signal (so slightly brighter) and also functions as a bass cut if you want. Also, a .022 cap will help if you want to keep the stock tone pot. They cost around 15 bucks.

 

[bun malaey]

Easiest and cheapest way to brighten your sound is the EQ on your amp.

Turn the bass down

Mids all the way

Treble all the way

You'll be cutting heads off with brightness

 

[trev333]

I tried a Fender TBX/4 way on my last 2 x P90 Tele.... it was spare in the parts box.... with a 500K V pot..

the extra treble side of centre adds sparkle to the neck/series tones... the center works fine for bridge/par.... I'm going to swap the .022 cap to one that doesn't take a lot of treble out.... .015 first to see how it goes... and use the same resistor....

 

[moosie]

If your total cable length, including pedalboard, is more than 15-18 ft, you (I) can hear loss of highs. Buy a buffer, place it inline close to the guitar.

You can wire a bypass into your guitar, so when you don't need to ride the volume knob, you can flip a switch, or pull a knob, and bypass all pots. Noticeably brighter, more present.

To bypass just the tone pot, use a no-load, which goes out of the circuit when on '10'. You can still ride your volume pot this way.

Speaking of volume, if you do ride it, and notice you lose highs when you back it off 10, install a treble bleed kit. (or the previously mentioned 50s wiring, but not everyone likes the side effects).

 

[TELECULT]

I've got what's called an "Active Lead".Its basically a 20' good quality lead with a switchable on/off 9 volt battery in a small box in line that you plug your guitar into and then to your pedalboard that powers the signal from the guitar to the amp.I don't know what else is in the box,but it seems to work ok.Ive had it for about 25 years or so and they are pretty rare as they don't appear on search engines.I had a habit of using effect pedals and at one time had 12 or 13 on the go,so by the time the signal got to the amp it was knackered and carrying a lot of unwanted baggage.Maybe someone out there is selling a similar thing?

 

[moosie]

I've got what's called an "Active Lead".Its basically a 20' good quality lead with a switchable on/off 9 volt battery in a small box in line that you plug your guitar into and then to your pedalboard that powers the signal from the guitar to the amp.I don't know what else is in the box,but it seems to work ok.Ive had it for about 25 years or so and they are pretty rare as they don't appear on search engines.I had a habit of using effect pedals and at one time had 12 or 13 on the go,so by the time the signal got to the amp it was knackered and carrying a lot of unwanted baggage.Maybe someone out there is selling a similar thing?

Sounds like a buffer right next to the guitar. This is the best place for a buffer, but needs to be switchable, because some things like an unbuffered signal (fuzz).

Creation Audio Redeemer. Available as a belt pack, which makes it easy to use on multiple guitars, or you can stuff it right into the guitar.

http://www.creationaudiolabs.com/#!redeemer/cqq6

Anthony Stauffer of Texas Blues Alley (formerly Steviesnacks) has recently produced a mini series on buffering, cable length, and the Redeemer. Pretty much the last word on the subject of buffering from a non-technical player's perspective.

http://www.texasbluesalley.com/oldt...the-ultimate-tone-saving-tool-a-guitar-buffer