Maybe $$ doesn't always get you more..

[2Loud2Old]

I've been spending alot of time going between my DXMG an DK1.

You'd THINK the DK1 would be my fav. (It's the older H/S/S model)

I really WANT it to be my fav, it did cost me a few $$$.

But I keep prefering the sound of the DXMG. I'm not sure what the difference is, but the DK sounds kinda dull, lifeless even muddy in comparison.

The DK has a Duncan Distorion in the Bridge and the tone knob has been disabled. The DX uses the EMG-HZ H3 (which I think are fantastic for a passive)

I'm trying to understand why a $350.00 import is more enjoyable and much, much crisper sounding than a USA axe that kinda sounds like it's under a blanket.

They both play and feel very nicely, it's the tone thats at issue for me.

I have to really yank around the EQ to bring the DK's tone up to the DXMG.

Maybe it's the pickups (I don't want to believe it)

But honestly, I never thought the difference would be so large.

Or maybe the DXMG DOES kick ass. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Side note: The DK1 is all stock wiring, very neat and tidy so i doubt I have a problem there.

[ November 04, 2003, 05:17 AM: Message edited by: 2Loud2Old ]

[Newc]

Re: Maybe $$ doesn\'t always get you more..

Tone knob was disabled - check to see if the Vol is 500K - some folks like to put 250K volumes in. The Dragon Dinky I have was like that when I got it, plus it had a JB. Combine an ass pickup with an ass knob and you get dull ass tone.

It could also be the trem. Try putting new inserts (or turn them around to get a clean side). You might also want to see if the knife edges are dull. Then again, if it's not a genuine Schaller trem or OFR, it does have a duller sound because of the ass metal (that magnets won't stick to, so it can't be metal - it's some sort of alloy).

Give the old dog a bath and some new trimmings - it probably needs it.

Newc

[ranalli]

Re: Maybe $$ doesn\'t always get you more..

I think it's the ebony...it's a pleasure to play on but it changes your game as far as tone goes big-time. I have no idea why Jackson puts the JB in their USA guitars...sounds tinny and terrible IMO. I much prefer a warmer pickup like the Super3 or something in the ebony boarded guitars. Until I swapped out my JB on my SL1 my $200 Kramer blew it out of the water as far as tone goes...how disappointing was that???

[shreddermon]

Re: Maybe $$ doesn\'t always get you more..

I'm with Newc on the tone knob, if it's all stock wiring otherwise. And didn't the DK1's come with a JB, not Distortion? Maybe a poor solder job on the replacement PU (...if it is a Distortion), too? I'd hardly call either PU @ss, though. They're both quality PUs, but personal tone preferences are just too damn subjective.

The rest of the stuff is mostly just filler, likely not having as much of an impact on tone. DK1's have OFRs so, unless that bridge has issues, it should be fine.

[OnlineStageGear]

Re: Maybe $$ doesn\'t always get you more..

Ok, I'll ask. Are you using an Equalizer ?

Matt

[eaeolian]

Re: Maybe $$ doesn\'t always get you more..

Actually, to me, ebony is brighter than rosewood.

Um, as for the JB, I've never had one sound bad. I think Newc - and Matt - are on the right track.

Mike

[Chuckracer]

Re: Maybe $$ doesn\'t always get you more..

*whispers* Poplar...

Just kidding! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Newc]

Re: Maybe $$ doesn\'t always get you more..

Originally posted by shreddermon:
DK1's have OFRs so, unless that bridge has issues, it should be fine.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">It's an older Dinky USA, not the more recent DK-1 (as he confusingly said in the first post), so it originally came with the Schaller/Jackson JT590 - looks like a Floyd but it has those short barrel-style saddle locks out the back in stead of the OFR style. Those baseplates are made of fairly cheap metal (which is why the Schallers can be identical to OFRs), and I too have noticed a tonal difference in my older guitars that have that trem. My Dragon Dinky USA sounds somewhat acoustically dull, and the amped tone is kinda darker than it should be.

Newc

[shreddermon]

Re: Maybe $$ doesn\'t always get you more..

I'm taking his DK1 reference at face value. I know it's not the current one, so it must be one of the mid-90s HSS, 22 fret models. (And he did say it was HSS.) Those were OFR-equipped, also. If it's an even earlier Dinky then, yes, it's not a DK1. But just because it's an earlier Dinky doesn't necessarily mean it had the Jackson/Schaller FR.

[ November 04, 2003, 04:25 PM: Message edited by: shreddermon ]

[Black Mariah]

Re: Maybe $$ doesn\'t always get you more..

The EMG-HZ's are a MUCH brighter pickup than the JB and if it's a bright sound you want, the JB is utter crap. No, more money doe not get you more. I've always said that I'll put my SL3 up against any USA Soloist as far as playability and I stand by that statement. When you pay extra for a USA all you're paying for, basically, is a point of origin and some binding. There is no guarantee it will sound or play better.

Yes, I know that's not all you're paying for. Try to think a bit less literally.

I think what you're looking for is a pickup swap. The JB's are extremely flat sounding to my ears and you might do well to swap out the pickup with something brighter. A Bill Lawrence XL500L or even an EMG-HZ since you like them.

[2Loud2Old]

Re: Maybe $$ doesn\'t always get you more..

There seems to be a little confusion as to what I meant when I said "An older DK1, H/S/S model"

It's a 1996 22 fret DK1 spec'd out as described in the Jackson Cat.. dated by the serial ##

Okay...

This is embarrassing.

I had the 5 way in-between the mid and bridge pups. [img]graemlins/eyes.gif[/img]

I've been playing that way for about 3 weeks, and wondering why the high end seemed so weak.

(I hardly ever use the switch, seems it was a little stuck and I never tried to push it over all the way.)

The DK1 sounds great now, as it should.

I shouldn't be allowed near guitars.

Can someone direct me to Rock School 101 please??? [img]graemlins/help.gif[/img]

Is there an emoticon for.. Doofus?

All that said, I still think the EMG-HZ compares well to the Distortion, is a bit tighter and not as boomy.

[ November 04, 2003, 09:07 PM: Message edited by: 2Loud2Old ]

[Chuckracer]

Re: Maybe $$ doesn\'t always get you more..

Oh no. That is embarrassing! I probably wouldn't have mentioned it, personally! [img]graemlins/notworthy.gif[/img]

[Genebaby]

Re: Maybe $$ doesn\'t always get you more..

Yeah, you should have told us how you rewired the electronics and now she sounds great, you'd have been a legend!! [img]graemlins/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[Black Mariah]

Re: Maybe $$ doesn\'t always get you more..

The correct way to handle this situation is to say "There was a glob of solder between a contact and a ground and it was apparently hurting the high end." [img]graemlins/poke.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[RacerX]

Re: Maybe $$ doesn\'t always get you more..

Originally posted by Genebaby:
Yeah, you should have told us how you rewired the electronics and now she sounds great, you'd have been a legend!! [img]graemlins/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">"I made a slight adjustment to the 5 way switch"

and that would've been the truth! [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]