Guitars that play right but dont sound right?

Travisthedog

Anyone have one of these?

I have a non reverse firebird and it plays like a dream. It's a total joy to sit and noodle on and live it really makes me push my own playing on a bit.

But, I struggle to get a good sound out of it. The neck pick up is far more powerful than the bridge, even with it cranked right down into the body (and the bridge pup all the way up) - pick ups are oil city masterwounds. I guess it's too dark when hit with a bit of drive

How far do you go with a guitar like this to get it right? My missus bough this one for me so its never gonna be sold, but I have a hankering to try and fit it with P90s for which it is routed. I'd like a vibrola too, not sure if you can bigsby a firebird!?

Anyone experienced this issue and what did you do about it

earwighoney

Travisthedog said:

Anyone have one of these?

I have a non reverse firebird and it plays like a dream. It's a total joy to sit and noodle on and live it really makes me push my own playing on a bit.

But, I struggle to get a good sound out of it. The neck pick up is far more powerful than the bridge, even with it cranked right down into the body (and the bridge pup all the way up) - pick ups are oil city masterwounds. I guess it's too dark when hit with a bit of drive

How far do you go with a guitar like this to get it right? My missus bough this one for me so its never gonna be sold, but I have a hankering to try and fit it with P90s for which it is routed. I'd like a vibrola too, not sure if you can bigsby a firebird!?

Anyone experienced this issue and what did you do about it

What spec are the Oil City Pickups?

Travisthedog

Masterwound winterizers 

victorludorum

Can you get a reading on the pickups?

sweepy

Original Pre Washburn Parker Fly, amazing guitars but those Air Nortons are dire beyond belief 

Epsilon

I had the most beautifully figured Gibson ES-335 that also played perfectly. Plugged in it was muddy and had no sustain. New 500k pots, big bumblebee caps and 50s wiring helped with the muddiness but obviously not the sustain. Had to sell it eventually but I kept it for years just because of how it looked, if I'm being honest. 

robgilmo

Travisthedog said:

Anyone have one of these?

I have a non reverse firebird and it plays like a dream. It's a total joy to sit and noodle on and live it really makes me push my own playing on a bit.

But, I struggle to get a good sound out of it. The neck pick up is far more powerful than the bridge, even with it cranked right down into the body (and the bridge pup all the way up) - pick ups are oil city masterwounds. I guess it's too dark when hit with a bit of drive

How far do you go with a guitar like this to get it right? My missus bough this one for me so its never gonna be sold, but I have a hankering to try and fit it with P90s for which it is routed. I'd like a vibrola too, not sure if you can bigsby a firebird!?

Anyone experienced this issue and what did you do about it

My Epi LP did the same, neck was real loud compared to the thin bridge, I changed the switch and its fine now.

underdog

All strats are like this for me.

JD50

Travisthedog said:

Anyone have one of these?

I have a non reverse firebird and it plays like a dream. It's a total joy to sit and noodle on and live it really makes me push my own playing on a bit.

But, I struggle to get a good sound out of it. The neck pick up is far more powerful than the bridge, even with it cranked right down into the body (and the bridge pup all the way up) - pick ups are oil city masterwounds. I guess it's too dark when hit with a bit of drive

How far do you go with a guitar like this to get it right? My missus bough this one for me so its never gonna be sold, but I have a hankering to try and fit it with P90s for which it is routed. I'd like a vibrola too, not sure if you can bigsby a firebird!?

Anyone experienced this issue and what did you do about it

All my guitars sound better when someone else plays them...... according to my daughter

Funkfingers

Travisthedog said:

I struggle to get a good sound out of it. The neck pick up is far more powerful than the bridge, even with it cranked right down into the body (and the bridge pup all the way up) - pick ups are oil city masterwounds. I guess it's too dark when hit with a bit of drive

This surprises me. I have a pair of Winterizer II humbuckers. (Essentially, the same pickup innards as you but in a full-sized cover and a bit more potting wax.) In a PRS S2 Singlecut, these pickups are almost as bright as a Fender guitar. I tweak the overall sound by making frequent adjustments to all four control pots. 

robgilmo said:

My Epi LP did the same, neck was real loud compared to the thin bridge, I changed the switch and it's fine now.

A defective selector switch might explain the OP's problem. So would melted pot innards. 

The bridge/Treble position Winterizer should sound a little thinner and brighter than would be considered ideal. That is what the original Gibson unit was like.

TTBZ

Yeah my SG is like this. Neck pickup always sounds perfect no matter what I’ve got in that slot, bridge can often sound thin and lacking in sustain/punch. I’ve currently got an Alegree prototype (based on a BK Warpig) which works great for fattening it up but I wish I could have the same fatness with a more raw and open/less compressed tone.

stimpsonslostson

Reverend Jetstream. 
Played beautifully. Plugged in it just sounded honky. I couldn't dial in a tone I liked. 

Teyeplayer

This is an interesting one as I have the same guitar and some of the same feelings. 

However, I love mine. This is the guitar I am most proactive on rolling the volume and tone to balance; as a result I get some great sounds out of it and love this firebird. The adjustments are more extreme than on any other guitar though and the neck cannot be on 10, ever.

I’ve also had a three pickup p90 (2011 firebird studio) that I had to sell but wish I hadn’t had to, it was pretty much perfect. The 4 and 2 slots on this were better than any strat, the balance was fantastic and I’m regularly tempted to try the same with my current firebird. The only reason I find for putting it off is the p90/min-hum plates being awkward to source, as well as an appropriate decalled replacement pickguard (that isn’t stupid money).

Travisthedog

@Teyeplayer and I assume the 90s and mini hums are totally different sizes?!

uncledick

I saw Gary Moore live at Bristol Colston Hall and his best sound all night was a Firebird.  FWIW, if I'm playing a rock (ish) set, I'll set up my initial sound with the bridge pickup and work from there whereas if I''m doing something more laid back I'll start at the neck pickup.  This applies to my Tele or my McCarty.

To answer the OP's question, my biggest disappointment sound-wise was a PRS Silver Sky.  Nicely set up - like every PRS - but dead beyond belief and (IMHO) not much better than a cheap Pacifica.

On the other hand, my Heritage H150 is completely opposite.  It had obviously been set up and rewired by a bloke with a white stick and a labrador but tone-wise it's right up there with the very best LPs.   Currently in bits as a winter project but looking forward to the full Don Felder (in my dreams) experience next year.

Teyeplayer

Travisthedog said:

@Teyeplayer and I assume the 90s and mini hums are totally different sizes?!

Unfortunately yes, though they are identical routing. You’ll no doubt have noticed it with the surround on a LP deluxe mini-hum, take that away and it’s a direct drop in for a p90, with the firebird it means a new pickguard. 

Edit: Gibson use the same plates for them to be attached internally.

stickyfiddle

Is it possible you just don’t like Firebird pickups and/or solid mahogany guitars?

I’m going through a similar thing with my ES-330 at the mo. It’s magic to play, the best Casino/330 type I’ve ever played by miles, but the P90s are stupidly hot, and I’m wondering whether it’s that or whether I just don’t like P90s enough, as I’ve never held onto a P90 guitar in the past either. Personally, I’m going to try new vintage-spec pickups first, as I know it’s an easily reversible mod (even if it is a pain to rewire a semi...)

Brize

I had a Gibson R9 years ago that looked beautiful and had the most fantastic neck profile, but just didn't have it tonally. I tried four sets of pickups on it, but it was just always lacking something so I moved it on.

bbill335

my strat is weirdly dark compared to other guitars, but it just needs more treble at the amp end. plays great though. 

timmypix

Had the same with my old American Deluxe Strat. Heavenly to play, but the noiseless pickups were sterile. I'd probably have put new pickups in it eventually, or sold it, but it was nicked before I got to do anything about it.

RonnieHotdogs

underdog said:

All strats are like this for me.

me too