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Topic: Weak tone from a weak pick up --- Graphic EQ? |
Paul Seager
From:
Augsburg, Germany
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Posted 4 Dec 2015 3:51 am |
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I have an old Framus non-pedal steel. I am very stupidly fond of but like many old German guitars, the pickup is both weak on tone and output. I don't know how to measure output but if I compare it to my Ricky DW16, I am having to use substantially more gain for the Framus. Tonally the pickup sounds thin and tinny. For the Ricky, I use a Deluxe Reverb amp which is very trebley and the Framus just sounds awful through it.
So I am thinking about replacing the pick up but before doing so I am considering putting a Graphic EQ between amp and guitar. My gut feeling is that the "Garbage In Garbage Out" rule will apply but before I start humping gear around music stores, I thought to seek your opinion.
\ paul
_________________
\paul
Bayern Hawaiians: https://www.youtube.com/@diebayernhawaiians3062
Other stuff: https://www.youtube.com/@paulseager3796/videos |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 4 Dec 2015 6:25 am
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| Although you can preamp (which is basically what an eq is) low signals to get more workable levels into your amp, you can't boost what is not there. Your most likely result will have a lot of noise (hiss/hum) and will not get you where you want to be. A pickup rewind or replacement seems to be in order. |
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Blake Hawkins
From:
Florida
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Posted 4 Dec 2015 1:16 pm
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I agree with John, do a continuity check with an ohmmeter on the pickup. Chances are it will read very high, if at all.
The symptoms you describe are typical of an open pickup coil.
Probably the best and cheapest thing to do is to have the pickup rewound. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 5 Dec 2015 5:51 am
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You could also sell the framus and buy a steel that you like. I have found that it can be more expensive to modify or fix something like that than to trade towards a steel that works for you. Plus some people like an original, vintage guitar no matter how crappy it sounds.
Rewinding a pickup could end up costing around $200 with shipping and all. You won't know if it sounds the way you want until you get it back.
This expense is really not that much if you are attached to the steel. I would do it myself if the guitar has sentimental value.
In any case I do not like graphic eq,s . They cause all sorts of problems and only don't really fix anything ever when used in between a steel guitar and an amp. They certainly cannot make a bad pickup sound good.
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Bob |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 5 Dec 2015 5:58 am
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Another thing.....
If you are into it you could rewind the pickup yourself. It is a real pain in the ass to do but is not very complex. Might be a fun project. Plenty of info on YouTube and all the stuff you need is very easy to get.
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Bob |
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Paul Seager
From:
Augsburg, Germany
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Posted 5 Dec 2015 8:51 am
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Thanks all. To Bob's comments, I didn't pay too much for the guitar, actually I'd guess it was around $200. I just have a soft spot for German history! However if a rewind will cost that much then I think I'd go to my next idea of replacing and even repositioning the pick up. The current pick-up seems to be mounted on the body rather than into a routed cavity and
I'd like to have something that sounds close to a pedal steel. I think I could buy a George L's for the price you estimate for the rewind, and mount it right by the bridge.
Anyway, time to make some 'phone calls I think!
\ paul
_________________
\paul
Bayern Hawaiians: https://www.youtube.com/@diebayernhawaiians3062
Other stuff: https://www.youtube.com/@paulseager3796/videos |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 10 Dec 2015 6:29 am
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| Paul Seager wrote: |
The current pick-up seems to be mounted on the body rather than into a routed cavity and
I'd like to have something that sounds close to a pedal steel. |
No pickup will make it sound like a pedal steel, whose particular sound and sustain comes mostly from all that mass in the changer and keyhead. The new pickup should be mounted in the same manner and position if you want the tone to be the same. Mounting it closer to the bridge will make it sound brighter, and mounting it further away from the bridge will make it sound mellower. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 10 Dec 2015 7:22 am
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I would look for a replacement pickup that fits already. There are tons of options. Post pictures of the guitar and pickup. I'm sure there is an easy and not expensive way to deal with it. I certainly would not recommend digging a big hole into your guitar !
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Bob |
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