Mustang: SOUND PROBLEMS

Lexx

One friend of mine asked me to help him with his Mustang japan 2003 re-issue, `cause he has got sound problems:

1)stock neck sigle-coil (very weak tiny brittle sound on clean and too muddy distorted)

2)bridge replaced with DiMarzio Evolution - don`t remember particular model - is too bassy on clean with cutten highs and weak mids, and really bass-guitar sounding destorted, no kidding.

No sustain at all.

He is really disapointed, and i don`t know, how to help him in other way than to change the pickups.

So, can you give me any sugestions in solving these problems?

dinosaur

he shouldnt have bought the guitar if he was gonna say it sounds weak clean and muddy distorted.

put in an american mutsang pickup and a seymor duncan jb humbucker

Lexx

dinosaur said: he shouldnt have bought the guitar if he was gonna say it sounds weak clean and muddy distorted.
put in an american mutsang pickup and a seymor duncan jb humbucker

He bought it online, only because of it`s look and Kurt 🙄 (these guitars are rear and hard to finde in our country).

And... will i have the same problems with 1978 Musicmaster or 1963 Duosonic (mahogany body)?

will_s

dinosaur said: put in an american mutsang pickup

yep,

the stock japanese pick ups aren't good, american pickups really helped my mustang sound back like the real thing

but single coil pickups will always sound more thin i guess, it's a choise you have to make

Gavin

Tell him to stick a single coil sized humbucker of his choice into the bridge position, presumably he's after a loud rock sound ie Nirvana, in which case I would suggest a JB Jr.

robertoriginal

when you change pups its wise to change the cap as well.

if you put in two single sized humbuckers then you will need to change the cap to accomodate them.

dinosaur

noob question, whats a cap?

does he not like the sound or does he not get the kurt sound and thats why he doesnt like it? it must sound decent.

Lexx

dinosaur said:
does he not like the sound or does he not get the kurt sound and thats why he doesnt like it? it must sound decent.

He does not like the sound... He was after Kurt`s image, not the sound. I played this guitar and was upset too.

I have a good rig, ( Brunetti Overtone2 all tube preamp -> Mesa /Boogie 50/50 power amp->Laney 4*12), i tried Mustang through it, and guitar sounded like it was mentioned in my first post.

As for me, i am plaing mahogany bodied Ibanez SZ320 with SD Invaders. SZ 320 is much cheappier than Mustang, but smokes him away. 😕

So, i am looking forward for more suggestions. And if you have please share samples of decent Mustang sound. 🙄

Lexx

robert(original) said: when you change pups its wise to change the cap as well.
if you put in two single sized humbuckers then you will need to change the cap to accomodate them.

Hey, nice idea with caps. He has stock ones in Mustang. For what we should change them?

will_s

i had "seymour duncan antiquity II for mustang" put in. it's a kind of replica of the 60ies or 70ies

muddywaters

Or .......take the guitar into your local shop......plug it into a similar amp model he plays threw....and screw around with a few peddles untill you get a decent sound your happy with......then purchase said peddels

A lot of folks arnt to savey including myself (im just learning) when it comes to replacing PUPs.

Bob_the_godly_dude

muddywaters said: A lot of folks arnt to savey including myself (im just learning) when it comes to replacing PUPs.

Anyone who says they can't change a pickup is a coward, it's as easy as changing a lightbulb. Once you've done it you'll wonder why you where ever scared!