Any suggestions to clear up low end?

[QuantumShinobi]

Really enjoying the epi standard I got last month, but the bass is a little muddier than I'd like it to be. Any suggestions for cheap and simple ways to get better clarity in the low end out of the stock pickups? (Cheap and simple meaning I can't afford a new amp either right now )

Thanks, everyone, keep on rocking

[b-squared]

Are you using the stock pots/caps?

You can replace the pots/caps with better quality ones, and your guitar will really open up.

Also: What kind of amp are you using?

BB

[voxac30dude]

get an eq pedal bro. boss ge7. or an mxr graphic eq. pickups are like a guitars microphone. you wouldn't see bono from u2 using a cheap shure sm58 right? so it's your jop to get pickups that sound good. your amp only puts out the sound you give it from the pickups. if the pickups are muddy the amp will sound muddy. i think an eq pedal is a cheap fix but it doesn't cure muddy pickups. the thing i found with epiphone guitars is the neck pu is always muddy and the bridge sounds way to shrill. but my epi's all have gibson 57+(bridge) and 57 classic(neck) pickups.

[ninny404]

Caps and Pots shouldn't cost you too much and like B-Squared said, they'll really open up the pickups

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by ninny404

Caps and Pots shouldn't cost you too much and like B-Squared said, they'll really open up the pickups

IMO change the caps first see if improves things.There is IMO probably nothing wrong with your pots.

Alot of people dislike the stock pups because they find the neck too muddy and bridge too shrill, and change their pick ups out .

[ZoomZilla]

Originally Posted by b-squared

Are you using the stock pots/caps?

You can replace the pots/caps with better quality ones, and your guitar will really open up.

Also: What kind of amp are you using?

BB

But if you run everything wide open like I do, your tone should not change, right?

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by ZoomZilla

But if you run everything wide open like I do, your tone should not change, right?

? if you run wide open and like the sound ... using your amp and playing stlye to change up the tone , why change anything. But if you wanted a brighter or darker sound from the guitar alone , running wide open, you could change pot and cap values. Even could do without the tone controls, now thats wide open! lots of folks do.
Changing stuff all depends on what ya want.

[b-squared]

Not necessarily. I used to be a "knobs on 10" guy; then I put in an RS kit, and my guitar absolutely came alive. Now I tweak the knobs, because they actually work like they were supposed to. (Maybe my R9 just had bum pots in it--who knows?)

Just because you have your knobs on 10 doesn't mean you're getting the best signal through the electronics in you guitar to your amp.

True, volume on 10 should cut out the tone circuit (as I remember).

Quality pots DO make a difference. This is an old argument; in my experience you can improve your guitar's tone by putting better components in it.

BB

[overdriver]

^ Alpha pots are quality pots. IMO just as good as the now MIM CTS. But what the hey whatever . I have CTS in my Sheraton , and or course my Fenders, Alphas in my Epi lps. no noticeable performance diff.

[ZoomZilla]

Originally Posted by b-squared

Not necessarily. I used to be a "knobs on 10" guy; then I put in an RS kit, and my guitar absolutely came alive. Now I tweak the knobs, because they actually work like they were supposed to. (Maybe my R9 just had bum pots in it--who knows?)

Just because you have your knobs on 10 doesn't mean you're getting the best signal through the electronics in you guitar to your amp.

True, volume on 10 should cut out the tone circuit (as I remember).

Quality pots DO make a difference. This is an old argument; in my experience you can improve your guitar's tone by putting better components in it.

BB

Well I can see your point with the caps, but the new Epis come with Alpha pots. I don't see them being that bad, but hey, maybe it's just me. Maybe I will just wire everything to the output jack and have no pots!

[b-squared]

Never tried Alpha pots, so my clue bag is empty on those.

I do love the Superpots from RS for my volume controls...have them on 4 of my guitars.

BB

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by QuantumShinobi

Really enjoying the epi standard I got last month, but the bass is a little muddier than I'd like it to be. Any suggestions for cheap and simple ways to get better clarity in the low end out of the stock pickups? (Cheap and simple meaning I can't afford a new amp either right now )

Thanks, everyone, keep on rocking

Are you sitting in your room with the volume real low? Gotta twist the throttle on that thing!

[ZoomZilla]

Originally Posted by b-squared

Never tried Alpha pots, so my clue bag is empty on those.

I do love the Superpots from RS for my volume controls...have them on 4 of my guitars.

BB

I just do not use mine at all. I mean really. I Never use my tone knobs and rarely use my volume. I don't have any need for it. I may rewire it just because I like to tinker, but I am not expecting any miraculous event to happen when I am done.

[WhippingPost]

Originally Posted by dennistruckdriver

Are you sitting in your room with the volume real low? Gotta twist the throttle on that thing!

Going to have to agree with ol' Dennis here.

Also - and especially if you're on carpet - try to raise and/or tilt back your amp/speaker cab. I have an Epiphone Valve Jr. that sounds like mud when it sits on the floor, but will scream when raised up. You might also try dropping the neck pickup down a little bit if you're playing in the middle position, or drop the bass side of whatever pickup is giving you the problem down by a quarter or half turn and see if that helps.