Humbucker and amp questions

[Tonal Sex]

Hey, I'm new to rig talk. I have some simple questions.

First, I'm looking for a humbucker to go in the bridge position of my guitar. It's a Bill Lawrence USA L500XL. It seems to be too muddy/round sounding for my needs. I'm looking for something more sharp and "attacky". My guitar is a Charvel San Dimas copy with alder body, maple neck with ebony board. I heard/read somewhere that lower output is less muddy, and hotter pups are more muddy/round. Is this true? Can anyone recommend something that might suit this need? I need something that suits a 80s hard rock/metal style. I like the bill Lawrence and was thinking of swapping my L500XL for the L500L or something like that. Would this be a good option? Which other pickups would you consider if you were me?

Also, how would you rate the Friedman BE100 against other viable amps? I'm going for something similar to 80s hard rock/metal, but just a touch on the heavier side of it. I've played through many amps such as Bogner, Mesa, Peavey, Marshall, etc., I've watched videos and heard clips of most all of them and haven't really liked a single one of them. But judging by the videos of the BE on youtube, this amps sound like the best I've heard and seems like it would suit my style perfectly. But I've never played one or heard one in person. And would you finance one from Guitar Center, Musician's Friend, or Sweetwater, or is that not a good idea? I don't have the money to buy outright. I'm looking to buy a good amp with great sound that will do what I mentioned above and more. Most of what I do is/will be original, but the style I mentioned above is the basic ballpark of what I play.

Thanks for any/all helpful answers!

 

[Racerxrated]

Duncan JB, Custom or Custom 5 for your Bridge pup. JB is stock for most of the Charvel Alder guitars I've played. Most love their BE so I don't think you can go wrong with one. Good luck!

 

[Tonal Sex]

Duncan JB, Custom or Custom 5 for your Bridge pup. JB is stock for most of the Charvel Alder guitars I've played. Most love their BE so I don't think you can go wrong with one. Good luck!

Thanks, I had a JB in it to begin with but it did the same thing. I bought the body and neck from musikraft and put the bridge and pups on it. I wanted it to be identical to the san dimas, but the JB did the same thing. Too muddy. Idk if it's just the particular wood that comes from musikraft, but hot pups just seems to he too muddy and round. Is the custom less hot? And What is the real difference between the L500XL, L500L, and L500C? And where is the best place to order the actual wylde pickups? Sorry so many questions! Lol

 

[anomaly]

L-500XL's are very bright pickups, and much brighter and more clear sounding than your average high output pickup. I think it's something else that's making your tone dark or muddy?? Certainly no Duncan Distortion, JB or any popular Duncan is brighter than the L-500xl...Not even a emg-81 has more top end...

if you want something even brighter? The sh-13 Dimebucker is about as bright and sharp as it gets, and they are voiced similar to the l-500xl... maybe try one of those.

 

[Racerxrated]

Duncan JB, Custom or Custom 5 for your Bridge pup. JB is stock for most of the Charvel Alder guitars I've played. Most love their BE so I don't think you can go wrong with one. Good luck!

Thanks, I had a JB in it to begin with but it did the same thing. I bought the body and neck from musikraft and put the bridge and pups on it. I wanted it to be identical to the san dimas, but the JB did the same thing. Too muddy. Idk if it's just the particular wood that comes from musikraft, but hot pups just seems to he too muddy and round. Is the custom less hot? And What is the real difference between the L500XL, L500L, and L500C? And where is the best place to order the actual wylde pickups? Sorry so many questions! Lol

Hmm..not sure then. JBs can sometimes sound too middy, and thin out when you go higher on the neck for leads, but I've never heard them called muddy. Custom and custom 5 probably wouldn't be for you then if you need brighter than a JB. Maybe go for a PAF style pup then....more articulation with less output.

 

[Tonal Sex]

I don't understand it either. It must be the wood. All tube amps sound round/muddy with this guitar. There is only one patch on my line 6 spider that doesn't sound muddy. I just thought going to less output might solve the problem.

 

[chunktone]

I would move away from the L500's personally. I don't care for them at all. They're very harsh and shrill sounding to me. Lower output would help. I'd stay with something 12k output or lower. I have a WCR set that's about 9-10k and they sound great!

 

[Bxlxaxkxe]

I don't equate muddy and round with high output- quite the opposite. It does sound like you've got an usual slab of alder or something. 500k pots? What amp(s)?

 

[Tonal Sex]

I don't equate muddy and round with high output- quite the opposite. It does sound like you've got an usual slab of alder or something. 500k pots? What amp(s)?

I'm don't know for sure but I believe they are 500k pots. I used it on my 6505+ with mesa recto cab before I sold it. I just can't seem to get the chunky tone I want. It's just too round. I don't know how to describe it. I don't know all the terminology people use to describe tones lol. It's just sounds round/muddy. Over on the gear page I was reading people saying higher output=muddier. Lower=tighter, sharper, etc. I like the L500s because Nuno Bettencourt plays them. That's kind of the overall sound I'm looking for. Very hard to find I've found! Lol

 

[d1469d]

Screaming Demon George Lynch. How about some EVH pick ups. If that fails go with the no brainer pick up EMG 81.

 

[thunda]

Line 6 Spider? There's your problem right there...

500XL is very bright. Extra hot ceramic pickup that will not forgive sloppy playing.

 

[Tonal Sex]

Line 6 Spider? There's your problem right there...

500XL is very bright. Extra hot ceramic pickup that will not forgive sloppy playing.

No, like I said it's muddy with every amp, except the line 6 spider on one certain patch. No amount of unsloppy playing would fix the muddiness.

 

[IceMan]

Screaming Demon George Lynch. How about some EVH pick ups. If that fails go with the no brainer pick up EMG 81.

^^^^^ This!! I have swapped several bridge pickups to the Scream'n Demon to replace the JB when I need a bit more "bite" and attack. Love, love, LOVE that pickup!! And if you are trying to go with more of an '80's tone, this is the way to go!

 

[Tonal Sex]

Screaming Demon George Lynch. How about some EVH pick ups. If that fails go with the no brainer pick up EMG 81.

^^^^^ This!! I have swapped several bridge pickups to the Scream'n Demon to replace the JB when I need a bit more "bite" and attack. Love, love, LOVE that pickup!! And if you are trying to go with more of an '80's tone, this is the way to go!

I'm not exactly going for 80s tone. I just said that so you would know I'm going for tone heavier than classic rock, but not modern metal heavy. Like I said, sort of like Nuno.

 

[superstratjunky]

I'd try the Suhr Aldrich. This guitar is close to yours in construction Alder body/Maple neck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8hbz2UTNaE
The Suhr Thornbucker, played by our vary own Rockinchippy. Alder/Maple
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTphJ9YK2rg
Andy Timmons DiMarzio DP224 AT1. Alder/Maple
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMk2olNPHjo

GL's Scream'n Demon is another

I'll let Pete explain & endorse lower output pups.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLMKzZlJsRM

 

[superstratjunky]

Screaming Demon George Lynch. How about some EVH pick ups. If that fails go with the no brainer pick up EMG 81.

^^^^^ This!! I have swapped several bridge pickups to the Scream'n Demon to replace the JB when I need a bit more "bite" and attack. Love, love, LOVE that pickup!! And if you are trying to go with more of an '80's tone, this is the way to go!

I'm not exactly going for 80s tone. I just said that so you would know I'm going for tone heavier than classic rock, but not modern metal heavy. Like I said, sort of like Nuno.

Nuno's is that type of tone & he uses the BL's, so if that's not working, then trying other pups might give you a better tone. If not, sell the pyps & the guitar & get another. Love to see the Sandy, post a pic.

 

[Tonal Sex]

Screaming Demon George Lynch. How about some EVH pick ups. If that fails go with the no brainer pick up EMG 81.

^^^^^ This!! I have swapped several bridge pickups to the Scream'n Demon to replace the JB when I need a bit more "bite" and attack. Love, love, LOVE that pickup!! And if you are trying to go with more of an '80's tone, this is the way to go!

I'm not exactly going for 80s tone. I just said that so you would know I'm going for tone heavier than classic rock, but not modern metal heavy. Like I said, sort of like Nuno.

Nuno's is that type of tone & he uses the BL's, so if that's not working, then trying other pups might give you a better tone. If not, sell the pyps & the guitar & get another. Love to see the Sandy, post a pic.

Sorry, can't do that. I keep a low profile. If you've seen a Charvel Pro Mod USA model you've seen mine.

I can see that the solution I'm looking for is not available and my trial and error in fixing it myself will burn my pocket book very badly. lol

 

[Racerxrated]

I will also say the Motor City/Bare Knuckle brand pups are really nice but not cheap. There are a few bridge pups available from both in the classifieds. If one of those still doesn't help then it must be something with the wood or pots. They really are a step up, IMO. Not a huge step up since I seem to be OK with my Duncan's, but maybe for you it might be all the difference you need. I've had an Afwayu, very thick and balanced high output. But more modern....

 

[IceMan]

Screaming Demon George Lynch. How about some EVH pick ups. If that fails go with the no brainer pick up EMG 81.

^^^^^ This!! I have swapped several bridge pickups to the Scream'n Demon to replace the JB when I need a bit more "bite" and attack. Love, love, LOVE that pickup!! And if you are trying to go with more of an '80's tone, this is the way to go!

I'm not exactly going for 80s tone. I just said that so you would know I'm going for tone heavier than classic rock, but not modern metal heavy. Like I said, sort of like Nuno.

Nuno's is that type of tone & he uses the BL's, so if that's not working, then trying other pups might give you a better tone. If not, sell the pyps & the guitar & get another. Love to see the Sandy, post a pic.

Sorry, can't do that. I keep a low profile. If you've seen a Charvel Pro Mod USA model you've seen mine.

I can see that the solution I'm looking for is not available and my trial and error in fixing it myself will burn my pocket book very badly. lol

Welcome to the world of guitar!!!! It's all trial and error, man. No matter how much advise anyone gets or how much research you do, you just don't know what things are going to work or sound good until you try them out. You may get close and having things like the Internet and YouTube is a huge help - I wish it was around when I started out - all we had back then was "Oregon Trail" (yes, I'm old). It's a total "money pit", man!! I don't even want to THINK about how many THOUSANDS of $$$ I've thrown away over the years trying this and that out! I'm sure everyone else would agree. But the fun for must of us is the journey.........

 

[Valtyr]

Screaming Demon George Lynch. How about some EVH pick ups. If that fails go with the no brainer pick up EMG 81.

^^^^^ This!! I have swapped several bridge pickups to the Scream'n Demon to replace the JB when I need a bit more "bite" and attack. Love, love, LOVE that pickup!! And if you are trying to go with more of an '80's tone, this is the way to go!

I'm not exactly going for 80s tone. I just said that so you would know I'm going for tone heavier than classic rock, but not modern metal heavy. Like I said, sort of like Nuno.

Nuno's is that type of tone & he uses the BL's, so if that's not working, then trying other pups might give you a better tone. If not, sell the pyps & the guitar & get another. Love to see the Sandy, post a pic.

Doesn't Nuno lower his pickups quite a bit? That may be someone the OP should try.