It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 3:18 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Trouble-shooting Thin Sound
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 12:43 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:38 am
Posts: 8
OK, so I've had a recurring problem that hopefully will be resolved here. I've been a Strat player for more than 20 years, and own three American Standards and two MIM models. My Strats seem to always have a "thin"and sometimes "tinny" sound. The problem is not with tone. I have come as close to achieving that awesome Strat tone we all are addicted to. I am looking for a more full, round sound. Increasing the volume does not fix the problem, it only makes the thin sound louder :D The closest I've come to getting what I want is on the 2012 with the 57/62 pickups, but only on the low E, A, and G strings. After that, there is little sustain and not much of the round, fullness I want.

My three American Standards are equipped as follows:
1996 - Set of three Custom Shop Texas Specials with 200 meg pots, rosewood neck
2006 - CS TX Special in neck, American stock in mid, Seymour Duncan Hot Rail in bridge with standard pots, maple neck
2012 - Set of three Fender 57/62 pickups with 250 meg pots, maple neck

All three have vintage cloth wire.

MIM Models are equipped with standard stock pickups.

What I've done to try to relieve the problem: adjusted pickup height from strings according to Fender recommended specs and also by ear. I've used a variety of brands of strings in gauges from 11 to 12. I've played through both my Fender '59 Reissues Bassman, and also my Hot Rod Deluxe, while adjusting settings many, many times. I've played through a TS-808 with the gain all the way down which does the job, but then I lose the authenticity of the tone. I do not have this problem with my American Tele. I'm at a loss at this point, but love the feel, tone, and versatility of the guitars. Any suggestions???


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Trouble-shooting Thin Sound
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 1:09 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
What amp are you playing these guitars through?

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Trouble-shooting Thin Sound
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 1:10 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:38 am
Posts: 8
Fender '59 Reissue Bassman. I try not to use effects pedals for my clean sound.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Trouble-shooting Thin Sound
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 1:18 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:10 pm
Posts: 2261
Location: Elay
Any chance you're using a 20' cable that isn't good quality?

_________________
'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Trouble-shooting Thin Sound
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 1:21 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:38 am
Posts: 8
Honestly, that's one thing I haven't swapped. Now that you mention it, I am in fact using a very old cable that is somewhere around 20'. I will absolutely try that tonight!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Trouble-shooting Thin Sound
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 2:24 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
ncatechis wrote:
Honestly, that's one thing I haven't swapped. Now that you mention it, I am in fact using a very old cable that is somewhere around 20'. I will absolutely try that tonight!


+1

Nothing seems amiss with your guitars and you have a righteous amp -- try a high-quality cable.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Trouble-shooting Thin Sound
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 2:55 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:10 pm
Posts: 2261
Location: Elay
Try a good quality shorter cable. When you mentioned that the TS 808 sounded okay, I figured it was acting as a buffer and your problem might be a too long cord. Anything over 18' will start to roll off the highs pretty noticably.

_________________
'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Trouble-shooting Thin Sound
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 4:24 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:37 pm
Posts: 8708
Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
Drew365 wrote:
Try a good quality shorter cable. When you mentioned that the TS 808 sounded okay, I figured it was acting as a buffer and your problem might be a too long cord. Anything over 18' will start to roll off the highs pretty noticably.



Ummm, the OP is complaining about a "thin" and "tinny" sound. Rolled of highs from a long and/or cheap cable will result in a dark and muffled tone.

Sounds to me like the pickups are adjusted too high, or at least too high on the treble side.

Another question for the OP: What channel are you running the guitars through? The bright channel is considerably brighter than the normal channel. Either jumper both channels and use the volume controls to mix the sounds or plug only into the normal channel. Also, where is the Presence control set in relation to the treble and mid control. Most Bassman players turn the treble way down and the mids way up and then adjust the bass to taste. The Presence control is then used to fine tune the highs. Replace the 12AX7 in V1 with a 12AY7 as in the original 59 Bassman. Finally, get the power tube bias checked and adjusted if necessary.

_________________
Bill

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Trouble-shooting Thin Sound
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 5:05 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:29 am
Posts: 4238
Location: Pgh Pa
I don't know how you can get a thin soun through a 59 Bassman. I would lower the p/us like Bill suggested and use a good cord always.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Trouble-shooting Thin Sound
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 5:17 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:37 pm
Posts: 8708
Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
tbazzone wrote:
I don't know how you can get a thin soun through a 59 Bassman. I would lower the p/us like Bill suggested and use a good cord always.


By plugging only into the Bright channel with the volume on "4", the treble and Presence on "12", the bass on "1" and the middle between "6" and "12". Have you ever heard Buddy Guy live? Those are his settings with his 59 Bassman clones. :shock: :lol: :lol: :lol:

_________________
Bill

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Trouble-shooting Thin Sound
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 6:03 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:29 am
Posts: 4238
Location: Pgh Pa
bluesky636 wrote:
tbazzone wrote:
I don't know how you can get a thin soun through a 59 Bassman. I would lower the p/us like Bill suggested and use a good cord always.


By plugging only into the Bright channel with the volume on "4", the treble and Presence on "12", the bass on "1" and the middle between "6" and "12". Have you ever heard Buddy Guy live? Those are his settings with his 59 Bassman clones. :shock: :lol: :lol: :lol:

You got me. :oops:


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Trouble-shooting Thin Sound
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 6:14 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2013 7:02 pm
Posts: 1978
Location: Manchester
ncatechis wrote:
All three have vintage cloth wire.


Image

_________________
Image
Image my stuff on soundcloud


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Trouble-shooting Thin Sound
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 7:20 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:44 am
Posts: 7282
Location: Washington
tbazzone wrote:
I don't know how you can get a thin sound through a 59 Bassman. I would lower the p/us like Bill suggested and use a good cord always.


+1
I would think you could find some usable settings with that setup.

_________________
Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Trouble-shooting Thin Sound
Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2013 9:54 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:38 am
Posts: 8
A big thanks to all of you! I purchased a high-grade 10' cable today, then lowered the high end of the pups, and got great results! It's not 100%, and I definitely need to still play with the tone controls on the amp, but it's a vast improvement.

Thanks for keeping the scene alive!!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Trouble-shooting Thin Sound
Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2013 11:40 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
You might try some minor amp tweaks to get you that last few percentage points. If your re-issue 5F6-A is the "LTD" edition, that model features adjustable idle bias -- if set too low, the result is often a sterile, clinical-sounding tone. "Tube rolling" might also prove beneficial. An NOS 12AY7 or 5751 in the V1 position usually takes some edge off of the highs.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: