Originally posted by Newc
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Muffled DXMG Guitar Sound, PLEASE HELP!!!
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I have shitloads of guitars. 6 LP's SG's USA Jacksons, Fenders, etc. but I love the stupid little DXMG.
This is the second one I've owned - I took the first back because I thought $250 without a case was too pricey. This one cost me $180 and I bought a case for $40 (I'm a cheapass)
Both of my DXMGs sounded similar (even though I owned them a few years apart). I have the stock pickups and like the tone. The last thing I played on mine was ZZ Top - the tone just seemed to match that.
I'm afraid you've done all you can do. Putting a JB in there would certainly brighten it up. The stock pickups are passive and should come with 250K to 500K pots. If you replaced your pots with 500K you've covered that base. Wiring the JB straight out is something to try. Maybe a brighter PAF style pickup (Gibson Burstbucker)? Try brighter thinner strings? Maybe remove the big block, as that supposed to fatten a thin tone.
If that doesn't work all I can say is maybe the guitar isn't for you. These came in basswood for certain years and alder in others. Maybe find one in a different wood than what your is made of.
My serial number is 9775498 and I can't remember what wood mine is. Ron should chime in shortly and let us know.
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Originally posted by DonP View PostI have shitloads of guitars. 6 LP's SG's USA Jacksons, Fenders, etc. but I love the stupid little DXMG.
This is the second one I've owned - I took the first back because I thought $250 without a case was too pricey. This one cost me $180 and I bought a case for $40 (I'm a cheapass)
Both of my DXMGs sounded similar (even though I owned them a few years apart). I have the stock pickups and like the tone. The last thing I played on mine was ZZ Top - the tone just seemed to match that.
I'm afraid you've done all you can do. Putting a JB in there would certainly brighten it up. The stock pickups are passive and should come with 250K to 500K pots. If you replaced your pots with 500K you've covered that base. Wiring the JB straight out is something to try. Maybe a brighter PAF style pickup (Gibson Burstbucker)? Try brighter thinner strings? Maybe remove the big block, as that supposed to fatten a thin tone.
If that doesn't work all I can say is maybe the guitar isn't for you. These came in basswood for certain years and alder in others. Maybe find one in a different wood than what your is made of.
My serial number is 9775498 and I can't remember what wood mine is. Ron should chime in shortly and let us know.Last edited by Skoked; 08-31-2011, 03:38 PM.
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Originally posted by Skoked View PostThanks for the advice. My DXMG has 500k pots that came in it, do you think switching to 250k might be a step in the right direction? I use Ibanez 9's. I would have taken the big block out exept that I thought it sounded better with it in. My DXMG is made out of Basswood Serial: 9827803 and I paid $499 or $459 for it on musician's friend in 2008. The tone just seems dead. The sustain on higher strings is horrible and I can't feel the tone through my guitar in my hands like I do with other guitars. It sounds mechanical, lifeless, and dull. The sound is there, I mean I don't think there is anything wrong with it. I love the way it plays but it just sounds lifeless. Is this what a DXMG is supposed to sound like? or do you think perhaps I just have some bad wood? After all that I have tried, I have nothing else to think except that it's dead wood OR this is what a Jackson DXMG is supposed to sound like. That is what I'm trying to find out! But I have not given up hope. I want this guitar to sound like I believe it can. That is why I am here posting. I will mess around with it more this weekend and hopefully know more. It sounds way better through my Marshall MG than it does through my Tube Amp! Now how is that possible? Anyway, thanks for the tips and keep them coming. I would like to keep this guitar.
As for if yours is bad or that's just the way they sound, no way to tell unless you try more of them. I've tried two - both sounded similar to me, and I liked both. The first one I played mostly in an apartment with a Vox Modeling 15 watt amp or a POD with headphones. I'm no longer in the apartment and back at home, this newer one goes thru my DSL100 1/2 stack. Even though I played thru different amps a couple of years apart, my memory says they were very similar.
You say it's muddy and dark. The only things I can think of left to try are either EMG pickups (dual 81's) or some really bright Duncans, like a Jazz set (1st choice) or a Full Shred set. Pull the tone control and wire up as two volumes.
Finally, check out http://www.rsguitarworks.net/cms2/ for higher value pots.
There. straycat will be happy with me.
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Originally posted by DonP View PostNo to the 250K's. Wrong direction.
As for if yours is bad or that's just the way they sound, no way to tell unless you try more of them. I've tried two - both sounded similar to me, and I liked both. The first one I played mostly in an apartment with a Vox Modeling 15 watt amp or a POD with headphones. I'm no longer in the apartment and back at home, this newer one goes thru my DSL100 1/2 stack. Even though I played thru different amps a couple of years apart, my memory says they were very similar.
You say it's muddy and dark. The only things I can think of left to try are either EMG pickups (dual 81's) or some really bright Duncans, like a Jazz set (1st choice) or a Full Shred set. Pull the tone control and wire up as two volumes.
Finally, check out http://www.rsguitarworks.net/cms2/ for higher value pots.
There. straycat will be happy with me.
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Originally posted by ralph View PostOlder DKMG's had EMG-HZ's with the afterburner, whereas the newer ones have active EMG's
I thought the DXMG's were purely passive
I had a problem like this with an Ibanez, it turned out to be bad wiring to the output jack
This kind of gets me as I can't quite wrap my mind around why bad pots or wiring would case what the OP is describing. I mean, that's pretty much what it HAS to be, but it seems like he'd have a volume problem, shorting problem... something indicative of a wiring issue...
Just for my own education, could someone explain to me why a bad pot would cause this lack of clarity/tone?
Thanks!
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A bad pot can have the same effect as a weak solder joint - either way it's a weak electrical connection.
However, I still say it's the bridge (saddles) and nut hardware being of a cheaper material. Replacing these low-cost parts with higher-quality Schaller-made Floyd parts (solid hardened steel) will give you a brighter tone.Last edited by Newc; 09-07-2011, 03:31 PM.I want to depart this world the same way I arrived; screaming and covered in someone else's blood
The most human thing we can do is comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.
My Blog: http://newcenstein.com
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Originally posted by psychles View PostBut then some folks get lucky and get a set of the HZs w/o the afterburner (leaving very dull pickups).
This kind of gets me as I can't quite wrap my mind around why bad pots or wiring would case what the OP is describing. I mean, that's pretty much what it HAS to be, but it seems like he'd have a volume problem, shorting problem... something indicative of a wiring issue...
Just for my own education, could someone explain to me why a bad pot would cause this lack of clarity/tone?
Thanks!HTTP 404 - Signature Not Found
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Just a thought. Have you tried putting on a brand new set of strings and played it (both acoustically and plugged in)? I once had a Dinky Reverse that sounded muffled, even after I put on new strings, especially on the low E string. I was told, by an owner of a guitar shop, that the string was dead and needed to be replaced. It sounded better once I replaced the offending string. It happens sometimes.I feel my soul go cold... only the dead are smiling.
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Originally posted by toejam View PostJust a thought. Have you tried putting on a brand new set of strings and played it (both acoustically and plugged in)? I once had a Dinky Reverse that sounded muffled, even after I put on new strings, especially on the low E string. I was told, by an owner of a guitar shop, that the string was dead and needed to be replaced. It sounded better once I replaced the offending string. It happens sometimes.
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Originally posted by Newc View PostA bad pot can have the same effect as a weak solder joint - either way it's a weak electrical connection.
However, I still say it's the bridge (saddles) and nut hardware being of a cheaper material. Replacing these low-cost parts with higher-quality Schaller-made Floyd parts (solid hardened steel) will give you a brighter tone.
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Quote----However, I still say it's the bridge (saddles) and nut hardware being of a cheaper material. Replacing these low-cost parts with higher-quality Schaller-made Floyd parts (solid hardened steel) will give you a brighter tone.---End Quote----
I think I will try this when I have the $....I am very curious if this would fix the whole problem or just help some....
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