Question Why can't I get along with my HH AL bridge pup?

[brokenvail]

Title says it all. I had this same pup in my RW A.S.S. and I pretty much hatted it then. I figured having been away from it for almost a year would refresh my ears but this doesn't seem to be the case. I love the neck pup just like I did before but the bridge is just not doing it for me. Anyone else finding a similar experiance? I know this thing rips because I hear it kill with others lol.

 

[dwells]

change pickups simple

 

[fbecir]

Perhaps, you are a single coil man ???????????

 

[brokenvail]

change pickups simple

Deano if I must I will. I don't want to jump to a quick decition especially since I'd have to get a pickup with chrome covers which cost more $ These are the same pups as your Reflex. What are your thoughts of the bridge pup? It sounds kind of thin to me.

 

[ScoobySteve]

Hey Otto, what are you running your guitar through? The 25th has the same pups and with the chambering and the mahogany tone block the low end can be slightly more pronounced than I'd like sometimes. Well, depending on what sound I'm going for at the time.

Cab/speaker changes, amp selection, and EQ all play a big role with these pups.

 

[Barny]

I bought my AL HH used and the pickups had been really messed around with height wise and were almost touching the strings, so I contacted customer services and got the correct measurements (sorry, didn't keep the email with the correct heights) however, I still found the Bridge pickup a bit to bright for my ear, so I simply lowered it a tiny amount, played, lowered, played......you get the idea, until i found the point that i liked, it was only a few points of a MM lower than the factory set up, but made a lot of difference to my ear and didn't seem to adversely affect the other positions.

I would say note the height of each pickup and play around with it, see if you can get it to a point you like where it still works in all other positions, if you cant find that point, maybe then look for some new pickups.

 

[brokenvail]

I am running an Axe FX II either to FOH or QSC K. Bass is def not the issue here. I will try lowing them.

 

[beej]

They're hot, middy pickups. Most guys love 'em for rock (I do). But if they're not your cup of tea, you shouldn't think twice about swapping in another set.

 

[brokenvail]

It is crazy because I have always considered my self a rock guy. The seems to be more bright than middy to me though. If they come out a DImarzio AT1 will be going in.

 

[Smellybum]

The have got some juice in them - do you play with the volume at 10 all the time? -- I find with my HH AL and my 25th I have to wind the volume down to get the 'regular ' tone - and then ramp it up for solo time...

 

[brokenvail]

Yes most of the dime I have it dimes out

 

[douglasspears]

roll the tone back a bit?

 

[beej]

If they're bright for you, yeah, dial back the volume and you'll lose a bit of treble. (Like playing a strat ... always keep the volume & tone down a bit.)

Or adjust the treble/mids on your amp. Every guitar requires a bit of a different EQ to sound good.

Or just get the pickup you want. (But keep the original!)

 

[straycat113]

I think everyone has given sound advice and personally would go with the easiest choice first-cut back on the tone knob. I was thinking at first the pups are just not your cup of tea, but then you state how you like them hearing others using them. So if the tone knob is no help I would secondly adjust the pup height and look for the sweet spot for your ears. Worse comes to worse -make a change.

 

[brokenvail]

Yes all solid ideas here. The tone knob may work though might be impractal because then the neck pup will suffer. We shall see

 

[ScreaminFloyd]

I was going to say the same thing. With Humbuckers on the bridge playing with the tone works. Also if your running a high gain pedal ie: Tube Screamer or OCD, I roll the tone back or use the high Freq. Cut to make it sound better. Instead of a P/U change you could do an easy Mod with a "Black Ice" Circ. hooked up to your tone control. Good luck !

 

[mantrarock]

If the tone knob works for the bridge pickup, you could consider wiring it to that pup so it doesn't affect the neck...

 

[LawDaddy]

I bet if you call DiMarzio, they would have a great suggestion. Super customer service, and a 30-day return policy. The AT-1 looks like a good choice. A regular Tone Zone, or even a Super Distortion might work. Both have their emphasis shifted down to the lower-midrange area.

Funny how everyone's ears are different; I swapped out the pups in my Rosewood Axis SS for 36th PAFs because I find the originals too dark for the clean blues and soul I play.

 

[ZeRaskolnikoff]

I'd change a pup, to be honest. Make your guitar sound the way you WANT it, not the way it came from the factory.

I'm not a huge fan of constantly playing with volume or tone knob adjusted, since you might accidentally touch the knobs and return to your original tone which you hate and yes - it will affect neck pickup. I don't think that solves the problem. I want to have the right tone all the time with both knobs maxed out. The only time when I touch the knobs is only when required by a song or a part of the song.

In fact, I'm going to the same problems with both of my guitars. I have a Silo Special and Yamaha SG1500. I love my Silo' Special but I find the stock pickups pretty annoying. Too trebly, too much Telecasterish - not too versatile. Solution - I want to switch to Fender CS '69 pickups.

On Yamaha same issue - the bridge pickup is too bright. I'd rather have a different pup. I'm considering Seymour '59 or Alnico II or maybe a Lollar... Something along the classical vintage-sounding line, something you can't go wrong with.

As to the price - you can buy it used off ebay for half the price.

 

[agt]

I have an Axe FX Ultra, not an Axe FX II, but either unit gives you plenty of options to tweak. I would start there.

If you get to the point where changing pickups is imminent, I suggest an Air Zone if you feel the stock Axis Dimarzios are too bright.