Dull SL2H!!!

[Jaxcharvel]

Alright, first time post. I have a gorgeous trans black sl2h that is the most wonderful playing guitar i've ever touched. However, it doesn't sound as good as i think it should. It has no brightness to it. It isn't muddy, but it's dull. It almost sounds like the tone knob is rolled back about a 1/4 turn, but it isn't.
I've had it for about a month now and it's getting to me. Every other guitar i have sounds wonderful but the prize of my collection is just lackluster. I don't get it. Alder wings, maple neck, ebony board, and a JB all tell me it should be VERY bright. Someone please help me. I know it has a 500k vol pot and a 250k tone pot. I thought about ditching the tone all together and putting in a second 500k vol pot for the bridge alone but i don't know. Suggestions?

[Rich#6]

That 250k tone pot takes away all the extra brightness a JB has. I'd say ditch it with a 500k or by pass the tone pot altogether. If that doesn't work dump the JB and drop in a seymour duncan custom.

[shreddermon]

IMHO, the JB's tone is very susceptible to pickup height changes. Try moving it closer to the strings first, and see if that does anything for you.

[Jaxcharvel]

Never played a Custom. JB, Jazz, 59, Full Shred (fav), and a (ugh) Dimebucker. I think i will just make my tone knob another vol and have a vol for each pup. Don't really want to change pups yet till i get the cash for my Nailbombs.

[Jaxcharvel]

Moved the JB around a lot. More output, but sadly no real treble. I think i'm with Rich that it's the damn tone knob.

[john.w.lawson]

Are JBs bright? maybe a custom is bright, but a JB?

[Jaxcharvel]

I'm not by any means a JB guru but i was always under the impression that they were a bright pickup with a distinct mid spike, not much ass, and med-high output.

[DonP]

Alright, first time post. I have a gorgeous trans black sl2h that is the most wonderful playing guitar i've ever touched. However, it doesn't sound as good as i think it should. It has no brightness to it. It isn't muddy, but it's dull. It almost sounds like the tone knob is rolled back about a 1/4 turn, but it isn't.
I've had it for about a month now and it's getting to me. Every other guitar i have sounds wonderful but the prize of my collection is just lackluster. I don't get it. Alder wings, maple neck, ebony board, and a JB all tell me it should be VERY bright. Someone please help me. I know it has a 500k vol pot and a 250k tone pot. I thought about ditching the tone all together and putting in a second 500k vol pot for the bridge alone but i don't know. Suggestions?

Have the original pickups been swapped out? My Bengal SL2H is bright and sharp on the attack. Never, ever muddy or dull.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

The Soloist is not as inherently bright as you would think it would be relative to your "standard" bot-on Floyd'ed maple/alder super-Strat.

[Nightbat]

Are JBs bright? maybe a custom is bright, but a JB?

Duncan JB a.k.a. "The Icepick" ...for a good reason

[john.w.lawson]

Duncan JB a.k.a. "The Icepick" ...for a good reason

Well you can pick all the "ICE" you want with them! I don't like 'em, but I don't play so:think:I am just here for the free food

[Rich#6]

The JBs eq is 5 bass, 6 mids, 8 treble. It should be bright with no balls.

[john.w.lawson]

The JBs eq is 5 bass, 6 mids, 8 treble. It should be bright with no balls.

Sounds like MartinB:ROTF:

[Submariner]

how does it sound unplugged?

[Davey]

rip out the tone pot. world of difference right there.. 2nd rip out the duncans and get some high end pickups.


oh.. and change the strings?