My CU22 sounds dull and weak at times.... What gives?

[jwhitman]

My '96 PRS Custom 22 seems to have gone a little on the fritz! Where it used to be a total tone monster, I've noticed she's lost alot of top end and over all punch and clarity. It's almost as if the volume is down a few notches at all times now. It's got all the original wiring/pups. I don't think it's a pup problem, as all the pickup positions affected. Maybe it's time for some upgrades? I love the Dragon 1 pickups and a three way would definantly help her stage worthiness, as rotating a 5 way usually ends up in akward tones as I miss my mark

So, question 1. What could cause my issues?

So, question 2. Wiring kits? RS Guitarworks? PRS PTC? Pretty easily install?

Thanks guys n gals!

 

[Mr. Willy]

I've never heard of this kind of problem with a guitar. It might be your amp. How old are your power tubes? If they're winding down, this could be a reason for the perceived weakness in tone. If you've loved the tone of the guitar and pickups, nothing should alter it, unless maybe a soldering joint has come loose or gone bad. It could be a bad chord too. Trouble check everything in your signal and see if there isn't a problem there. If it isn't in fact your amp or anything else, you may want to check out some higher output pickups or maybe upgrade the pots. I dunno, that's all I've got.

 

[Khoi]

sounds like more of an amp problem than a guitar problem to me?

 

[jwhitman]

I've never heard of this kind of problem with a guitar. It might be your amp. How old are your power tubes? If they're winding down, this could be a reason for the perceived weakness in tone. If you've loved the tone of the guitar and pickups, nothing should alter it, unless maybe a soldering joint has come loose or gone bad. It could be a bad chord too. Trouble check everything in your signal and see if there isn't a problem there. If it isn't in fact your amp or anything else, you may want to check out some higher output pickups or maybe upgrade the pots. I dunno, that's all I've got.

Nah, the amp's fine. She screams with my other axe.

sounds like more of an amp problem than a guitar problem to me?

As answered above. I only have issues with this guitar. My other guitar into the same amp shreds.

Thanks guys!

 

[mboogman]

Sounds like your volume pot is going. I have had this happen to me before. A new pot (I like CTS pots) should fix you right up.

 

[PaulyPanacea]

you already know what i am gonna say....

 

[jwhitman]

Sounds like your volume pot is going. I have had this happen to me before. A new pot (I like CTS pots) should fix you right up.

Any experience with RS Guitarworks? I'm considering their McCarty style wiring kit and going to a three way with a push pull tone for the single coil positions.

 

[jwhitman]

you already know what i am gonna say....

Aight 'Lester lover. You're so predictable lol.

 

[mboogman]

Sounds like your volume pot is going. I have had this happen to me before. A new pot (I like CTS pots) should fix you right up.

Any experience with RS Guitarworks? I'm considering their McCarty style wiring kit and going to a three way with a push pull tone for the single coil positions.

I haven't ever used RS stuff, but I've put three way toggles with push pull tone pots in both of my PRS CE's and I much prefer it to the 5 way rotary.