Flat 50's a bit dark

[FuZZBoY]

Hi boys,

I'm still happy with my Flat 50's but I went back to DR pure blues (pure nickel) strings in a heavy gauge (11-50) so my tele is a bit dark when ODed.
I was thinking about swapping the current pots (250k) for 375k, what do you think?
(the neck has a cover so it's a bit dark by nature and the bridge is overwound so not very trebly  :mrgreen:)

Thanks,
Jean

[HTH AMPS]

How about trying an EQ pedal, or just going back to your old strings (assuming everything sounded fine with them and they weren't dark when overdriven).

[BigB]

Higher value pots should indeed let a bit more trebles out. The good old treble boost trick might help too, specially for bluesy / rock tones with heavy strings and a vintagey valve amp.

[Telerocker]

Higher value pots should indeed let a bit more trebles out. The good old treble boost trick might help too, specially for bluesy / rock tones with heavy strings and a vintagey valve amp.

+1.

[gwEm]

I seem to remember some vintage Teles used 1M controls. (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong)

I think its worth experimenting with values. I have a stratele with a BG52 in the bridge, which sounded a bit better to me with a higher value pot in there. I forget if I threw in a 350, 500 or 1M now.. but it was higher than 250 anyway ;) Sorry for the vague advice here, but I just wanted to put a vote in for playing with the pots because it helped in my case.

[BigB]

Sorry for the vague advice here, but I just wanted to put a vote in for playing with the pots because it helped in my case.

It's indeed the first thing to try if you find your guitar a bit lacking in the hi-ends (and you're willing and able to swap pots by yourself of course). But even then a "good" (=> whatever works for you) treble booster really helps for vintage "cranked up" tones - sometimes you just don't realize how much you needed it until you find the one that works for you.

[gwEm]

Sorry for the vague advice here, but I just wanted to put a vote in for playing with the pots because it helped in my case.

It's indeed the first thing to try if you find your guitar a bit lacking in the hi-ends (and you're willing and able to swap pots by yourself of course). But even then a "good" (=> whatever works for you) treble booster really helps for vintage "cranked up" tones - sometimes you just don't realize how much you needed it until you find the one that works for you.

I do like that treble booster effect. More people should use it :)

[AJM]

+ Treble Booster. I have a Flat 50 in my tele and it sounds wonderful going through my HBE Germania.

[FuZZBoY]

Thanks for all the replies sorry I didn't answer sooner because for an obscure reason the notification didn't work!!!:oops:

About strings, yes I went back to nickel plated vs "pure nickel" before and there is definitely a difference in favor of the former regarding treble!!

And I actually went slightly down on guages (going from 11-50 Dr Pure Blues set to GHS David Gilmour signature set for strat in 10-48, very nice set indeed!!), that could also help to brighten up my sound.

About pots, I'm considering whether to change only the volume pot to 500k or to change both for 375 (which both leads to a total resistance of 750k).

gwEm you're right I read on Duchossoir's that all Teles were loaded with 1M pots for years (I don't remember exactly when), and I think it wasn't on a sound purpose but more an avaibility issue  :P

And about treble boosters, I've never tried one!!! (I had many fuzz boxes, OD/Distorsions, boosters...but not a TB!!)
Can you advice me some please?

Thanks for all GOOD answers  8)

[BigB]

About strings, yes I went back to nickel plated vs "pure nickel" before and there is definitely a difference in favor of the former regarding treble!!

And I actually went slightly down on guages (going from 11-50 Dr Pure Blues set to GHS David Gilmour signature set for strat in 10-48, very nice set indeed!!), that could also help to brighten up my sound.

I quite like this set on both the strat and tele. And yes, this should bring some brigthness back.

About pots, I'm considering whether to change only the volume pot to 500k or to change both for 375 (which both leads to a total resistance of 750k).

I'm not an electronic engineer but I don't think this is how it adds up :lol:

But anyway: I tried a quick simulation and it seems that 375/375 would give you a tiny wee bit more hi end - but don't take me on words here and wait until someone more knowledgeable chimes in.

And about treble boosters, I've never tried one!!! (I had many fuzz boxes, OD/Distorsions, boosters...but not a TB!!)
Can you advice me some please?

The all-times classic is the Dallas Rangemaster (or at least clones of...), which I never tried so I can't comment.

The Xotic EP Booster worked fine for me so far on Fenderish amps (Blues Jr, HRDx, DRRI, Silverface Bassman 50 and a couple Brownface and Blackface clones),  Vox AC (15 and 30) and Peavey Classic 30 (clean channel, cranked).  Didn't work fine on the Epi Valve Jr (which is kinda picky about boosters and dirtboxes) and doesn't add anything useful on the SLO-like channel of my (custom) amp.

I tried a couple others when I bought the EP Booster - Jacques Katapult, EHX Screaming Bird and at least another one I can't remember, all on a HRDx which was my current amp by that time -, and found the EP Booster to be the less transparent yet the more interesting. I really disliked the Screaming Bird (ice-pick anyone ?). The Jacques Katapult was far from bad but mostly a bit too clean to my tastes. OTHO that might as well be what you're after.

[FuZZBoY]

I'm not an electronic engineer but I don't think this is how it adds up Laughing

But anyway: I tried a quick simulation and it seems that 375/375 would give you a tiny wee bit more hi end - but don't take me on words here and wait until someone more knowledgeable chimes in.

Maybe you're right but it should definitely adds hi end :lol:

The all-times classic is the Dallas Rangemaster (or at least clones of...), which I never tried so I can't comment.

The Xotic EP Booster worked fine for me so far on Fenderish amps (Blues Jr, HRDx, DRRI, Silverface Bassman 50 and a couple Brownface and Blackface clones),  Vox AC (15 and 30) and Peavey Classic 30 (clean channel, cranked).  Didn't work fine on the Epi Valve Jr (which is kinda picky about boosters and dirtboxes) and doesn't add anything useful on the SLO-like channel of my (custom) amp.

I tried a couple others when I bought the EP Booster - Jacques Katapult, EHX Screaming Bird and at least another one I can't remember, all on a HRDx which was my current amp by that time -, and found the EP Booster to be the less transparent yet the more interesting. I really disliked the Screaming Bird (ice-pick anyone ?). The Jacques Katapult was far from bad but mostly a bit too clean to my tastes. OTHO that might as well be what you're after.

Thanks for the suggestions, the Xotic EP Booster looks nice, and I like simple pedals.

I'll play the guitar this afternoon with my Marshall plexi 50w (1987x with PPIMV) and I'll see what happens.
The bright channel is actually... BRIGHT!!!

This thread was based on the sound I get with my JMP1c (Marshall 1w combo) which is based on the big plexi.

I'll report the results  8)

[FuZZBoY]

Well, as I hoped it was GREAT with the plexi, just as bright as needed and still FULL sounding!!
Gosh I love these pickups  8) (and when back to Dr pure blues as I broke a string on the ghs DG set, and I had a Dr backup set left, love the guitar with these settings!!!)