PU's for '86 TLE Custom

[TheDan]

I was hoping somebody could help me get my TLE Custom on the right track. I've replaced the original Slammer Humbucker with a Harmonic Design Z-90 pick up, hoping to get a clearer and more direct sound. The Slammer just didn't sound (which is weird because the one in my Chap Custom sounds great...). Anyway, the Z-90 didn't improve the sound, actually made it worse. The guitar sounds like a bass now.

I'm now thinking of putting in a Gibson Burstbucker but I don't wanna go through the whole hassle again and not getting any results.

Anybody ever changed PU's on a TLE or knows of issues with these guitars?

Thanks,

Dan

Thanks for your help guys, I'll try that. Cheers.

[BubbaVO]

Could it be a bad potentiometer?

[Mickb]

Yeah make sure the pot is ok, i would make sure it's a 500k value pot, i have found that the .047 orange drop caps seem to really warm up the tone, maybe try a .022 cap if you have a .047 fitted, maybe drop your pickup back away from the strings too( start with this cos it's the cheapest option...)

Cheers

Mick

[murkat]

agree'd

check the pot, make sure its a 500k (original) Hamer pot.

022 cap for sure, a good one makes a big diff.

If you need more bright, clarity, adjust the adjustable pole pieces up farther, at asame time lower the pup to compinsate closeness, this will focus the tone of the pup to the one bobbin close to the bridge, result in a more define tone.

thats what that all is there for, adjust to taste

btw, fwiw, I find those old slammer/ Dimarzio pups to be very nice, esp in the old Phantoms, very phat