Advice, Charvel 475 Special too bassy

[slinger]

Hi, I have what I believe is a MIJ late 80's/early 90's Charvel 475 Special. Its a strat style body with HSS pickups and 5 way select. It has a volume pot, a tone pot and like a mid boost pot. Its got the Fort Worth Texas plate on the back where the neck bolts on.

Anyway, I never play it because I always find the bass string on the guitar sounds waaaaay too bassy/flubby. The humbucker in it was I believe a J50BC. I swapped it out and put in a Duncan JB thinking the problem was the stock pickup. Wrong. While the JB does sound better it still sounds too bassy/flubby. So now I am thinking maybe it has something to do with the electronics.

So question. Does anyone know of a mod that can be done to the electronics in this guitar to reduce the bassiness? Thanks.

[RockCity]

Hmmm...Been a long while but I used to have a black and silver desert crackle way back when they came out. I bought it new in like 89- Guitar lasted me a decade of shows- But I did HATE the active Jackson pickups and had everything ripped out and re-wired with Duncan JB and Duncan singles. I think the Jackson preamp board thats in there (with the boost circuit) may have something to do with it. I would have that sucker taken out- Just need the basics- I even skipped wiring through the tone pot because I never used it...

[RobRR]

The stock Jackson pickups sound great, especially a J50BC with a JE1200, probably one of my favorite combinations... It almost sounds like your JE1200 is malfunctioning. Im assuming you changed the battery and checked all the connections?

[BigE13]

I have a 475 Deluxe Exotic. The low end sounded a little undefined for me with the J50BC so I switched it out with a J90C and that cleaned it up pretty good. My boost circuit works fine though. I would either remove the circuit or replace it and that should clear up your issue. These are great guitars!

[tonemonster]

This problem is incurable. the only solution is to ship the guitar to me for proper disposal. I wont even charge you for it.

[slinger]

Thanks very much for all your responses. That was very helpful. I think I am going to take Rockcity and BigE13's advice and bypass the active electronics and just wire it passive. I really believe that will solve the problem. I bought the guitar new and it has always sounded the same so I know its not due to a malfunctioning part. Thanks again for your responses.

[slinger]

This problem is incurable. the only solution is to ship the guitar to me for proper disposal. I wont even charge you for it.

Ha tonemonster, you are a funny guy! I probably will never part with this guitar as it is so playable. Just need to tweak the sound a bit, but thanks for your offer. You are so thoughtful

[tonemonster]

Ha tonemonster, you are a funny guy! I probably will never part with this guitar as it is so playable. Just need to tweak the sound a bit, but thanks for your offer. You are so thoughtful

Hey, I am here to help, right Tommy?

[RockCity]

Thanks very much for all your responses. That was very helpful. I think I am going to take Rockcity and BigE13's advice and bypass the active electronics and just wire it passive. I really believe that will solve the problem. I bought the guitar new and it has always sounded the same so I know its not due to a malfunctioning part. Thanks again for your responses.

Yes sir, good choice....that is a 25 year old design for active electronics in there- Never thought is sounded good even when I had that guitar brand new. My old 475 Deluxe "came alive" once I got it rid of that stuff and just went with a Duncan set up...

[RacerX]

Ha tonemonster, you are a funny guy!

Yeah, well, looks aren't everything!


Ba dum pshhh

[slinger]

Thanks very much for all your responses. That was very helpful. I think I am going to take Rockcity and BigE13's advice and bypass the active electronics and just wire it passive. I really believe that will solve the problem. I bought the guitar new and it has always sounded the same so I know its not due to a malfunctioning part. Thanks again for your responses.

Yes sir, good choice....that is a 25 year old design for active electronics in there- Never thought is sounded good even when I had that guitar brand new. My old 475 Deluxe "came alive" once I got it rid of that stuff and just went with a Duncan set up...

So I did it. Got it wired passive with a master volume and master tone (the mid boost control no longer does anything). OH Yeah baby! New guitar! That completely fixed the problem I had with this guitar. That guitar spent a lot of years hanging on a wall. It is suddenly getting a lot of use. Thanks again for the help and suggestions.

[RockCity]

So I did it. Got it wired passive with a master volume and master tone (the mid boost control no longer does anything). OH Yeah baby! New guitar! That completely fixed the problem I had with this guitar. That guitar spent a lot of years hanging on a wall. It is suddenly getting a lot of use. Thanks again for the help and suggestions.

Glad to help- Miss my old 475 Deluxe- Great guitar....

[BigE13]

Awesome! My 475 Deluxe Exotic sounds pretty good but my boost circuit is working as new. I still might disconnect mine though and see if the J90C gets a little meaner! Glad the mod worked out for you as these are awesome guitars!

[straycat]

EQ ing the amp works too ever think of that?