New Gibson '57 Classics Way to Dark, Need Treble Bleed Kit Idea's

[rebel082002]

Just finished a project guitar in which I put a Gibson '57 Classic + in the Bridge and A '57 Classic in the neck. I used 500K Gibson Pots, .022 Mojo Tone Oil Can Caps, Cloth cover vintage wire and even with the Tone pots all the way up the tone is very dark.

The guitar is a modeled after a PRS single cut, made of Basswood with a Mahogany neck and rosewood fret board. I have been told just to use a .01 Cap on as a treble bleed but have also seen traditional Cap and resistor configurations for humbuckers. Anybody know the specifics or what value cap and resistor to use, or have any wiring diagrams I could use. Basically I need some help and a idea or 2.

gary

[David Schwab]

That caps don't do anything unless you turn down the tone control. A smaller cap won't brighten up the guitar.

Do those pickups have covers on them? Taking the covers off will brighten them up (which is why people started taking covers off pickups).

[jrfrond]

Before we even talk about pickups or anything else, basswood and mahogany has huge potential for dark tonality. How does the guitar sound BEFORE you plug it in, i.e. acoustically? This will tell you a lot about the guitar and the final sound emanating from the pickups.

Regardless of advertising and internet hyperbole, guitar pickups can only amplify and enhance what a guitar has to offer, which is a product of the materials and component design.

[minime]

After rereading your question, it seems to me that you're actually looking for a treble bypass rather than a treble bleed. I would start with a .001uf cap mounted between the hot side (input) and the middle (output) on your volume controls. this allows the treble frequencies to sneak past the volume pot, especially if you turn down the volume. Fender used this trick on some Telecasters. (As if they weren't bright enough already!) I have also seen this done with a cap and resistor in parallel and also a cap and resistor in series. I think Kinman recommends the series version. I can't remember the resistor values. Maybe someone else will chime in. Welcome to the forum!

[GregS]

I installed those exact pickups in an Epiphone SG and it sounds normal to me. As stated earlier in the thread your guitar may be dark acoustically. Also, if you're used to bright guitars like Fenders with single coils then it may seem dark to you. I play Gibsons with humbuckers so am used to a darker tone.

Greg

[big_teee]

The way I can tell if you need the bypass Cap is this.
Turn the Volume and tone all the way up on the Guitar.
Now adjust the Volume with the amp only.
If it sounds good that way, turn the amp up and the guitar volume down.
If it starts getting darker sounding then you need the bypass cap.
The Other issue, is some Les Pauls sound better with a lower wind neck.
I like Pickups wound like the Seth Lover or Pearly gates. 7.2-7.3k DCR.
Also the Metal cover can make a Bucker Darker sounding.
Good Luck,
Terry