How to brighten the sound of my Gibson Explorer (w/ Painkillers)

[HTH AMPS]

I had the same problem with my Explorer when settling on a st of pickups for it - all too bassy.  This won't help you, but I couldn't find a set of pickups that worked in mine and ended up with EMGs.

For the most drastic change in tone, I'd try these in the following order...

* change to 500k pots (if they're 300k).  If they're already 500k, get 1M - can always put a resistor across the pot to bring it down to 750k for less brightness.

* disconnect the tone pot completely

* aluminium tailpiece

I'd use the old 50s Gibson style pickup wiring anyway as it sounds subjectively better to my ears - louder, crisp and more open like a blanket has been removed from over your tone.

[FELINEGUITARS]

Oh, it gives quite a bit of control, no doubt, its why I use it, but one of its main strengths is you can add bass, and if theres too much to begin with then single screw is all you need.

+1

Double screw pole will make it bassier
I find also that with the single screw pole you  get the opportunity to make it brighter by raising  poles

Aluminium tailpiece is a great idea

and

Fit an Earvana nut!

As well as  making things more in tune , you get a noticeable amount more clarity which you may percieve as brightness

[gwEm]

I find also that with the single screw pole you  get the opportunity to make it brighter by raising  poles

funny, but i never thought of doing that on a SSP pickup until this thread!! nice tip