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Post by jwri9790 on Oct 14, 2014 16:48:44 GMT -7
So I have a Maz 18NR that I love with single coils. The cleans are lush and pristine and the drive with single coils is really complex and chimey.
However, when I plug in my humbucker guitar (loaded with Bare Knuckle Mule pickups) the sound gets very muddy when playing clean. With the volume cranked the amp absolutely sings with humbuckers, but trying to get a nice crisp edge of breakup clean sound is hard on all the settings I've tried.
I'm playing in to a Bad Cat 2x12 with a relatively new Celestion Gold and a broken in Austin Speaker Works KTS-60. Is there any reason clean sounds might be a bit harsh and muddy (sounds like a blanket over my amp) with no definition in chords. Should I wait for the Gold to break in? Am I trying the wrong settings?
EL84s are JJs and are brand new.
Thoughs?
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Post by nmz on Oct 14, 2014 17:59:20 GMT -7
Odd, one thing I would do with my LP was to dump the mids, like all the way down. Other than that are you sure the EQ by-pass is not engaged? Not having a indicator light through me off from time to time.
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Post by BritInvasion on Oct 14, 2014 18:15:57 GMT -7
You might want to try lowering the pickups a little and raising the pole pieces a bit.
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Post by jwri9790 on Oct 14, 2014 18:20:07 GMT -7
The amp doesn't have EQ bypass.
I have tried lots of settings and still find have this problem. I will try dropping the mids.
Do you have a recommended pickup height? I think the bridge bucker is currently at about 2mm or maybe 2.5mm
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Post by digs57 on Oct 14, 2014 18:27:20 GMT -7
try looking for kalamazoo style setup...it might help?..its how a paul should be setup...imho
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Post by jwri9790 on Oct 14, 2014 18:45:42 GMT -7
I've never heard of a Kalamazoo setup?
What is it?
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Post by BritInvasion on Oct 14, 2014 18:46:22 GMT -7
Do you have a recommended pickup height? I think the bridge bucker is currently at about 2mm or maybe 2.5mm I do it by ear , since different pickups have different characteristics and different responsiveness. Generally I drop the pickups probably 4mm / 5mm below the strings then gradually raise them while striking a chord between adjustments. Once I get close to a good even clean, I'll then raise the individual pole pieces a half turn at a time until I get the bite I'm looking for, one string at a time. I start with the polepiece about flush with the cover.
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Post by BritInvasion on Oct 14, 2014 18:53:14 GMT -7
Also , are you plugging into the low input? That's usually the best for 'buckers , depending on the sound you're going for.
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Post by jwri9790 on Oct 14, 2014 18:54:29 GMT -7
Do you have a recommended pickup height? I think the bridge bucker is currently at about 2mm or maybe 2.5mm I do it by ear , since different pickups have different characteristics and different responsiveness. Generally I drop the pickups probably 4mm / 5mm below the strings then gradually raise them while striking a chord between adjustments. Once I get close to a good even clean, I'll then raise the individual pole pieces a half turn at a time until I get the bite I'm looking for, one string at a time. I start with the polepiece about flush with the cover. Sorry again for all the questions, but do you have a preferred amp setting for this? I've attempted adjusting the pickup height, but I've found that when I do it clean I get a nice clean tone, but then I'm not as impressed by the dirty sound with the amp cranked? Thanks for your help so far. Lots of good ideas.
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Post by BritInvasion on Oct 14, 2014 19:03:48 GMT -7
I tend to run the master fairly high - around 2 o'clock maybe 2:30 , volume around 11 o'clock. For some bite, semi-clean, I have the treble around 2 o'clock , mid about 11 , bass 9-10 o'clock. Then adjust the Cut , I have it in the 2 oclock area. Hope this helps.
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Post by digs57 on Oct 14, 2014 19:54:26 GMT -7
kalamazoo mich plant...kind of standard les paul setup.Try to find... "les paul setup secrets/guitar mag"....it will explain.
As brit said start with both low and high e flush w/cover and then a and b up and d and g at the highest graduated.
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eleloy
Junior Member
Posts: 81
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Post by eleloy on Oct 15, 2014 9:08:10 GMT -7
My advice:
Cut: 9, treble: 1 and low input.
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Post by boskivens on Oct 15, 2014 9:10:16 GMT -7
How long is your guitar cable? Are you running through an effect pedal board? Sometimes the cable length and too many true-bypass effects make your speakers sound like a blanket is over them. Perhaps a buffer(d) pedal would help?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2014 11:17:44 GMT -7
Muddy and harsh?
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Post by greenblues58 on Oct 15, 2014 12:59:33 GMT -7
I understand your problem as I experience the same thing with humbuckers and have never really come to an acceptable set of conditions that work every time(you know the syndrome it sounds fantastic one day and you leave everything as is but the next day it sounds crap). However I find it best with the master as high as I can get it with the volume on about 11 to 12 but cut at 3 and treble at 11 mid 11 and bass 9 no pedals and a 10 foot cable into the low input. If I do have pedals set up I always revert to a dedicated buffer. The main thing is I prefer a higher cut setting with a low treble setting with humbuckers but the other way around with single coils.
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Post by digiTED aka 'Ted' on Oct 15, 2014 14:18:48 GMT -7
Do you have a recommended pickup height? I think the bridge bucker is currently at about 2mm or maybe 2.5mm I do it by ear , since different pickups have different characteristics and different responsiveness. Generally I drop the pickups probably 4mm / 5mm below the strings then gradually raise them while striking a chord between adjustments. Once I get close to a good even clean, I'll then raise the individual pole pieces a half turn at a time until I get the bite I'm looking for, one string at a time. I start with the polepiece about flush with the cover. BritInvasion's approach is pretty much how I like to do it as well. Here's a video of Greg V (KILLER player BTW) walking through Brit's method:
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Post by harry on Oct 16, 2014 9:30:52 GMT -7
My LP R9, PRS SC58, and Duesenburg Starplayer TV all sound great through my Maz 18NR but I can see how some HB's could need some help if they are high output and muddy by nature
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Post by greenblues58 on Oct 16, 2014 9:39:14 GMT -7
I wouldn't call BK Mules high output they are nominally alnico 2 low output unpotted. I have the PG Blues which are basically Mules with the neck reverse wound.
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Post by smokeshowin1 on Oct 17, 2014 18:03:53 GMT -7
Put pole screws flush w/ top of pup. Have screw driver close by. Sit w/ guitar on knee.With distortion/overdrive,bridge pup, grab 3 note f# bar chord. Strike the chord, quickly grab the screwdriver and raise/lower the low e end screw until the chord smoothes out. Next grab an open d chord. Strike it. Raise/lower high e end screw on pup till it smoothes out. Pup selector to neck pup. Repeat. Now play 2 adjacent notes on each string, same frets from e to e. Adjust where they sound consistent in volume. I play a lp. Classic w/ the stock ceramic pups, sound great in the low side. As someone mentioned, dump the mids. It's there, find it!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2014 5:26:45 GMT -7
I play an early 90's GIbson Nighthawk. The guitar has a 5 way selector switch which can coil tap both pickups. The single coil settings (which I use exclusively) sound perfect through the maz. Great low end, crystal clear highs and punchy mids. With the humbucker engaged I have to EQ a ton of low end out as it gets pretty muddy. I just try to remember that the maz EQ is really different from any other amp and extreme movements of the knobs aren't as extreme as you may think. Diming the treble and cutting the bass to 10:00 may look extreme on the faceplate but if you use your ears it's not.
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Post by ksquared on Oct 21, 2014 15:05:06 GMT -7
To the OP, I once had this issue with humbuckers; just mud and no clarity, and couldn't get a good clean sound. The fix was counter-intuitive -- I turned UP the gain (Vol.). With single coils I have V at about 10:00, and the cut lower, like 10:00. With 'buckers I turn V up to noon or 1:00, the Cut up to 1:00. This makes the amp really bright (as well as loud). Even with 'buckers, you'll find yourself rolling back the tone on the guitar to taste. This setting makes the controls on the guitar much more interactive (instead of always being on "10".) Cut the guitar volume to like 7 out of 10 for cleans, higher for crunch. I think you'll find the amp will shine and the mud will be gone, even when using distortion.
With a Les Paul, my settings are V at 12:00, T at 1:00, Mids at 10:00, B at 3:00, C at 1:00, Master at noon or higher. (A brake lite helps keep volume under control.)
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