H535 - Low Strings Sound Muddy

[Balladeer]

I picked up a used 1999 H535 in Aug. 2012. It has SD Seth Lover pickups. I love the guitar. The low strings always sound a little muddy, though. I do not raise my pickups too high. How can I get the low strings to sound more focused without making the plain strings sound thinner?

[MartyGrass]

What strings? Both pups or just the neck?

[Balladeer]

My strings are Dean Markley 10-46 (not blue steel). I think it is both pickups, but it's most obvious in the neck. My pots are all 500k DiMarzio. My H535 seems to generate a bit of "hair" to the sound that I don't hear when playing other guitars thru the amp. I'm not a rocker. More into blues-jazz styles.

[davesultra]

You could try lowering the pickups on the bass side.

[Balladeer]

The neck pickup is as low as it can go.

[slider313]

Raise the pole pieces a bit.

[TalismanRich]

Stings will make a huge difference. Its the quickest and cheapest way to change the sound.

 

I had DR Pure Blues on my Mille with Seths. They are balanced but seem to be a bit dull. D'Addarios are snappier, especially the lower strings. I've also used some GHS and Ernie Balls. My 535 has D'Addario 110XLs.

[MartyGrass]

I'm surprised. I haven't had trouble with mud using Seths. They are not very hot and tend to be articulate. Hmm.

 

Seths sound much like Gibson 57s. Here's what they should sound like clean.

 

 

[Balladeer]

Beautiful sound and playing on "Witchita Lineman". That looks like the Johhny A Gibson. The scale length on that is 25.5". That makes a big difference in how focused the low notes sound. I've got a USAGC hollow T-style in swamp ash with wild maple top, mahogany neck, and 2 Fralin P92s. The low notes are beautiful and piano-like. I don't expect that from the H535, but I know that a LP has a bit more focus to the low notes, and I'd like mine to sound a little more like that.

[bolero]

what amp are you using?

 

I find the amp tone control settings for a strat or tele may not always work for a humbucker

 

I would also try raising the pups & then rolling the gtr volume off a bit....although max volume on the gtr is usually brightest

[yoslate]

Raise the pole pieces a bit.

 

+1