Brightening an Humbuckers Sound

[roger bayliss]

Continuing on from the earlier Humbucker Thread I did a little looking around and heres some guys with some useful ideas on UTube. The simplest mod removing the screws should be easy enough to do !

So there are things you can do to make humbuckers brighter sounding as well as the right pot values.

[dave robinson]

I lost the will to live after three minutes . . . .

[Uncle Fiesta]

Could try replacing the volume pot with one of a higher value, for instance 1M instead of 500K.

Easiest method of all though is just turn the treble up on the amp ...

[ecca]

He said it was a 2 minute job and then rattled for 3.
I gave in.

[JimN]

I quite like the sound of humbuckers, played clean and warm.

I get more unsolicited compliments (from other players) on the sound of my 335 than on Fenders.

[negninegaw]

Does it work on your guitar, Roger?

[dave robinson]

Why do folks buy stuff that they know what it sounds like, then want to change it ?

[roger bayliss]

Yes he does go on a bit

These tips though do appear to work though.

Placing a resistor and cap across the volume pot is another tip to stop the volume darkening the tone as you turn vol pot down.

Using a higher value pot also works as stated above.

The guitar does sound better IMHO after these changes are implemented but it depends on the sound you want in the end.

Thought it was worth sharing out of interest.

[cockroach]

I take your point Dave, I suppose I'm really looking for a single coil sound that is quiet- which means spending what would for me be a lot of money for new noiseless Fender type pickups.

I know humbuckers won't give the single coil sound without noise, because if they are coil tapped, as soon as you flick the switch they buzz just like any single coil.
Back to square one.

I've pretty much given up on humbuckers, and am keeping on using noisy -but good sounding!- single coil pickup guitars. My Squier Tele has a neck h/b which I fitted myself, but that pickup suits those tunes etc where I want that sound.