70s sg too dark?

[destroyerrock]

Hey yall! I recently picked up a '72 sg pro from sam ash. They get a lot of hate, but i really dig the way it feels. However, it feels that the p90s dont have the same sparkle as most people talk about, and get kind of mushy with gain. Should i just replace them, or is there something i can do to remedy the mud?

 

[destroyerrock]

For some reference, i used to have a 1962 epiphone coronet with the original p90 and i loved that bridge pickup, tons of clarity from it. This one seems to loose shape a lot easier.

 

[skelt101]

@destroyerrock
You might want to check the pot values. If you have 500k all around, there should be plenty of sparkle.

 

[Go Nigel Go]

Have you experimented with the height of the pickups and pole pieces? The first thing that occurs to me is to see to it they are in best the position relative to the strings. Either too close or too far away can cause muddyness and output issues. There is no one single position that "always works" for everyone, each guitar should have this adjustment done to your individual taste. Fire up your favorite amp with the settings you would normally use, play it and really listen. Make changes in a methodical way until you find the spot you like best and then you can decide if it is what you want or if you need to start thinking about swapping out pickups etc.

 

[Decadent Dan]

I’ve tried some clear bobbin p-90’s from the late 70’s and thought they were pretty dull.
I gave up and sold them to the next idiot.
Maybe the old magnets are weak.

 

[Snake Plissken]

Guitar is probably broken. I'd throw it out and start over.

 

[destroyerrock]

Guitar is probably broken. I'd throw it out and start over.

Wise man, maybe the racoons will dig it

 

[Dave]

Have you experimented with the height of the pickups and pole pieces? The first thing that occurs to me is to see to it they are in best the position relative to the strings. Either too close or too far away can cause muddyness and output issues. There is no one single position that "always works" for everyone, each guitar should have this adjustment done to your individual taste. Fire up your favorite amp with the settings you would normally use, play it and really listen. Make changes in a methodical way until you find the spot you like best and then you can decide if it is what you want or if you need to start thinking about swapping out pickups etc.

Good suggestions.

Try ajusting height of the PU and also try adjusting the polepieces. Adjust to taste.

 

[Siamese]

Sounds like good advice going on here. Ditto on the pot values, and ditto on the pickup height. I recently got a Les Paul Special with p90s and it sounded dull at first. Pickup height was waaaay off. I adjust both to within about the thickness of a nickel from the strings and it perked right up. As a Strat player, it was news to me that p90s need to be so close to the strings.

 

[Col Mustard]

there you have it