350V63

country_gene · Post by **country_gene** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:58 am

When I play my 350V63 with all pickups 'on' or bridge pickup 'on', I get nice clean tones. When I switch just the neck/middle pickups 'on', the tone sounds muddy/muffled (I don't mean bass-ey).

I've tweaked all the knobs on the guitar and on the amps, still sounds muffled. I even tweaked the little knob - no good. I'm trying to get a nice, mellow, but *clean* tone.

I think I'm doing something wrong. Anybody out there know how to correct this?

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 1:48 pm

I had that problem for years. But I was able to fix it. Tell me, what kind of amp/rig are you using?

country_gene · Post by **country_gene** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 5:41 pm

VOX AC30CC-2 (Vox Speakers)

Fender Deluxe Reverb Re-issue w/Jensen Spkr.

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 2:49 am

Ok, so that's not the problem. Is it possible for you to record a little sample and post?

country_gene · Post by **country_gene** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:22 am

Jason - I'm not setup for recording. Not to mention that I have no clue as what to do. I'll try to decribe the tone.

Both Volume controls at 3/4 for Rhythm.
Both Volume controls all the way up for Lead.
Both Tone controls all the way up.
Little knob about 1/2 way up.

Bridge pickup: Nice, clean, "crisp" trebley tone.

All 3 pickups: Very clean, nice full tone - deep bass, crisp highs, nice mids.

Neck + Middle pickup: Deep, almost too deep bass. Guitar sounds muffled - like a blanket draped over the speakers.

I like to play some jazz/blues tunes. On my other guitars I switch to the neck pickup and go. With the 350, the neck/middle pickups are unusable to me.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 6:02 am

Try cranking up the fifth knob for full volume with the neck & middle pickup selected. Cutting the resistance in the circuit should help with definition.

karl_teten · Post by **karl_teten** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 9:00 am

What year is your 350V? Pre-1999 models have overwound toasters that are very midrangey in tone. Also, try bypassing the tiny .0047 cap for more clear signal path.

country_gene · Post by **country_gene** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:07 am

Ken, I tried this and it helped. But tone still is muffled.

Karl, my 350V was made in March, 2005.

I've heard that different RIC's have various "peculiarities". Could this be one of those? Do other people's 350's sound the same as mine? Is this just "the way it is?" Or....Am I doing something wrong?

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 12:47 pm

Make sure you have a low capacitance guitar cord. You could also try some 500k pots for the volume controls.

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:28 pm

There shouldn't be a .0047 cap in there. A couple of .047s are correct. Plus, an .0047 would cut the bass, not make it muddier. Something doesn't sound right with your 350, Gene.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 7:51 pm

I, too, think it is a wiring or part problem.

wolfgang · Post by **wolfgang** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:40 pm

the neck and middle pus are wired in parallel,
(my 325V63 was wired like this, although there are
some guitars, where the tiny knob act as a volume pot for the middle pu)this sounds not too attractive to me. it is thin. But not really muddy. I disconnected my middle pu to have a nice
neck pu sound on my 325V63.

karl_teten · Post by **karl_teten** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 9:49 pm

I don't know whats in a 350V but to me the .0047 cap makes tones muddy with an overall thinness due to lack of bass.

What amp are you running your 350V through and what type of strings?

wolfgang · Post by **wolfgang** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 1:54 am

Karl, I think you are right. Especially when the volume is turned down to half volume, the 0.0047µF cap makes the sound thin and muddy.
But the cap was'nt used in the 325V63 (and 350V63).
And if it is used, it sits in the bridge pu circuity. But the bridge pu sounds right, here,
isnt't it?

country_gene · Post by **country_gene** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 4:11 pm

I think I have discovered the problem.......

It has something to do with my effects pedals signal chain. Last night I tried plugging directly into my Deluxe Reverb (no effects) - tone on all pickups was fine. Prior to this, I was putting the pedals in front of my Deluxe and in the effects loop on my AC30CC.

I'm not technically oriented, so I don't know why this is. All I know is that everything now seams to be fine. Thanks everybody for your tips and suggestions.