Ebony fingerboard, tone too bright

[fbloke]

Hi folks,

I have a Gibson es355 with an ebony board which sounds great apart from being quite bright and percussive. There's still the lovely mid-range honk but the tone is toppy, like it would be ideal for funk chops.  I'm, looking for woody warmth like a 335 will get ya.  The pickups are 57 classics, A2.  These are usually fine. So what might help? Pots change?

Your opinions are welcomed.

Thanks,

Mike.

[Nephilim]

How about trying 250k pots? Or even a pickup change?

[Telerocker]

Just thrown in some Mules!  :)

[Philly Q]

I might be wrong, but I don't think Mules would be any less bright than the '57 Classics.  Stormy Mondays?  Probably the same problem.  You could go the P-90 route with Manahattans or MQs, but it's a very different sound.

It's a tricky one.  250k pots is a good idea, but being Gibson the volume controls might already be 300k.

Aluminium tailpiece?  It's a subtle change, but it certainly makes the acoustic tone a little warmer and, to use the word you mentioned, woodier.

[Telerocker]

tonepots a tad back?

[FELINEGUITARS]

Put some Jensen /BKP tone caps in instead of what Gibson has in there - will smooth out the top end a lot - even with the tone full up

[gwEm]

ebony is bright, but the lovely feel makes up for it. would suggest replace the capacitors for nice paper/oil ones as others have done to give you more control

[Philly Q]

This is an interesting thread, as I am GASing for an ebony-board Gibson.  Does it generally brighten the tone that much?

[gwEm]

This is an interesting thread, as I am GASing for an ebony-board Gibson.  Does it generally brighten the tone that much?

not really, i still think maple is brighter

[bandmaster188]

This is an interesting thread, as I am GASing for an ebony-board Gibson.  Does it generally brighten the tone that much?

i've had a les paul custom (ebony board) for about ten years and have never found it to be bright. changed the pickups back in the summer for wcr filmore's (alnico V) and if anything it could do with some brightening up a touch.

[FELINEGUITARS]

This is an interesting thread, as I am GASing for an ebony-board Gibson.  Does it generally brighten the tone that much?

i've had a les paul custom (ebony board) for about ten years and have never found it to be bright. changed the pickups back in the summer for wcr filmore's (alnico V) and if anything it could do with some brightening up a touch.

Fit an Earvana then Phil....unless we already have, & make sure you have 50s wiring

[bandmaster188]

This is an interesting thread, as I am GASing for an ebony-board Gibson.  Does it generally brighten the tone that much?

i've had a les paul custom (ebony board) for about ten years and have never found it to be bright. changed the pickups back in the summer for wcr filmore's (alnico V) and if anything it could do with some brightening up a touch.

Fit an Earvana then Phil....unless we already have, & make sure you have 50s wiring

already got the earvana jonathan. not sure what the wiring is. its the original loom. (LP custom 1989)

[Telerocker]

I have ebony on my swampashstrat and it's not overly bright. Maybe a bit more percussive tone then rosewood. Anyway, I have a Crawler in it and no problems with annoying treble... :D

[FELINEGUITARS]

This is an interesting thread, as I am GASing for an ebony-board Gibson.  Does it generally brighten the tone that much?

i've had a les paul custom (ebony board) for about ten years and have never found it to be bright. changed the pickups back in the summer for wcr filmore's (alnico V) and if anything it could do with some brightening up a touch.

Fit an Earvana then Phil....unless we already have, & make sure you have 50s wiring

already got the earvana jonathan. not sure what the wiring is. its the original loom. (LP custom 1989)

Pop in with her Phil - I'll have a look in the back

[darkbluemurder]

This is an interesting thread, as I am GASing for an ebony-board Gibson.  Does it generally brighten the tone that much?

i've had a les paul custom (ebony board) for about ten years and have never found it to be bright. changed the pickups back in the summer for wcr filmore's (alnico V) and if anything it could do with some brightening up a touch.

Those WCR Filmores are quite middy.

Cheers Stephan