Best way to brighten a dark Monaco Elite Mahogany

[Jakeboy]

I LOVE my 2003 Monaco Elite Mahogany I bought from Belikerick. Plays wonderful...as good as my Artist Korina. That being said, it is a tad on the dark side....It is fine with all my amps except my Marshall 18 Watter clone.....just a little too darkeven with the tone control on the amp dimed...I know I could just not use it with that amp but...I am considering new pups for it from Vintage Vibe...maybe some HB-sized P90s..

If I can brighten up the guitar without that, it would be cool too. I use a treble booster occasionally when cranked, but was considering changing cap values, or installing 1 Meg Vol/tone pots..

Do you think this will help?

Thanks!

Mark

[Jakeboy]

I may try changing the speaker in that particular amp.....

[BubbaVO]

Check and see what the cap value is. For a couple of bucks and a little time with a soldering iron, you can swap out a cap and that might help. Many Hamers have a cap value of .01 mF. Try something even lower - .001 mF.

Right now I'm a fan of the Sprague Vitamin Q. Although I've liked the Hovland Musicaps too.

[Siaip Ciuvas]

I have same model of Hamer. Wonderfull guitar, but PAF's are taking it to dark territory for sure. For me WCR Fillmores did the trick.

[Mike Lee]

I have same model of Hamer. Wonderfull guitar, but PAF's are taking it to dark territory for sure. For me WCR Fillmores did the trick.

The stock pickups are hot and dark sounding. Duncan Custom in the neck and Custom Custom in the bridge. PAF style pickups would be considerably brighter.

[Siaip Ciuvas]

Mike - I always tought SD 59's (thats what is said is now in this guitar) are PAF inspired ones?

[murkat]

light weight tail piece. Abr-1 bridge to replace the TOM.

that will def chime it up.

[Jakeboy]

SD 59s are the current pups.....

[harry65]

try phat cats , did wonders for my dark sounding studio , thinkin of changing some pots as well......................................

[Brewmaster]

I have same model of Hamer. Wonderfull guitar, but PAF's are taking it to dark territory for sure. For me WCR Fillmores did the trick.

This worked for me with my 57 RI LP Goldtop. Also, what speaker are you using in your 18 watt clone?

[Armitage]

I always found Duncan '59s kind of bright... which I like... a Pearly Gates is Duncan's other PAF clone that's extra bright.

[Jakeboy]

The Lil Dawg Pug 18 watt clone has a Weber C1230 in it.

SD 59s ARE indeed a bright pup... pulled them out of my Artist cuz they were too bright. But not in the Monaco....

My Artist covers PAF territory perfectly so I may just ring up Bill Lawrence and see what he can do....

[Mike Lee]

Mike - I always tought SD 59's (thats what is said is now in this guitar) are PAF inspired ones?

Yes, '59's are PAF's, perhaps on the brighter side of PAF territory due to the Alnico 5 magnets versus the Alnico 2 magnets in the Seth Lovers.

But the stock pickups in the Monaco Elite are listed on the Hamer website as a Custom Custom in the bridge and a Custom in the neck, which as far as I can remember has been consistent across the Monaco line since its introduction. Check the link:

http://www.hamerguitars.com/?fa=detail&mid=411

Now, it's entirely possible that one or more Monaco Elites left the factory with 59's due to custom orders or the Hamer randomness that we all know about. There might have been a spec change somewhere along the way as well, I just don't remember it.

[Brewmaster]

The Lil Dawg Pug 18 watt clone has a Weber C1230 in it.

....

If it has the 55hz cone, there is part of your problem. Also, that speaker is not very efficient. It has a sensitivity rating of about 97 IIRC. I had one and it was too dark in my 18 watter for my taste. I went to a Celestion G12H Heritage Greenback and never looked back.

[Ethan]

I'd say try the Phat Cats, too.

[Jakeboy]

I do not have the 55Hz cone.....Iknew that wouldn't work.......The C1230 seems pretty efficient...it is louder than my Emi Texas Heat which is rated at 102db i think...

My Monaco Elite is a Monaco Elite MAHOGANY which came stock with 59s.

[Siaip Ciuvas]

well, I'd repeat - I had hot PAFs in the same model and they where way too dark. WCR Fillmores solved it all. Try it, should work. Second hand ones you can get ~100-120$ per piece @ TGP. Try bridge one, if you will like them, upgrade neck. If it won't help - you will be able to sell them pretty much at the same price as your cost was.

BTW - I have tried GregWinds in this guitar and it didn't work out :/

Monaco Elite Mahogany is my main guitar right from the moment I've got it:

[Rockola]

Most underrated Hamer ever? I think maybe so (And I own a Phantom Custom)

YMMV

I hope you get your p/u situation sorted out.

Steve

[Jakeboy]

Siaip,

That is a rockin' photo of you & your Monaco....I love mine for sure. With other amps it is fine, but I really need it to work with the 18 watter....I will either try a Fillmore or call Bill Lawrence...but first I need to buy a new Tele with the proceeds from a recent sale to Atquinn...

Thanks for all the help!

[Siaip Ciuvas]

what are the other amps? I mean it was dark with my JCM800, but with Ceriatone Creme Brulee was way more acceptable... So maybe its just old school marshall thingy?

[Jakeboy]

Other amps:

Lil Dawg Champster (tweed Champ clone)

Lil Dawg D-luxe (25 watt tweed Deluxe clone)

Lil Dawg ChocoDawg (25 watt brownface Deluxe clone that flippin' rocks)

Custom Kraft Model 900 1X12 (vintage 5 watt Valco/Supro from the 60s)

I may change the speaker in the 18 watter to brighten it up a bit....but my Artist has low-output PAFs in it so that base is covered....I really am thinkin' new pups for the Monaco...

[Jakeboy]

Talked to Pete Biltoft at Vintage Vibe & he is winding me a set. An HS90sw HB sized P90 for the bridge & a HS90A for the neck...the neck pup is like a P90 but with STrat-like polepieces (think Harmonic Designs Z90). I recently sold my P90 guitar and I love me some P90 snarl so this should help tremendously....if not, I'll try the Fillmores...

I'll report in once installed.

[Jakeboy]

WooHoo! My Vintage Vibe pups arrived today & I soldered them in...the Bridge pup is pure P90 snarl that I love & the neck pup is like a super fat strat neck pup on steroids...the best part? the middle position is chimey Tele......I love that...

Oh yeah, it is no longer dark....lots of treble 7 brightness on tap now in all amps....i haven't had a chance to crank into tube distortion at gig levels yet.......I am amazed at the HS90SW bridge pup...it is VERY percussive and snappy for a P90.

Problem solved!

[Siaip Ciuvas]

glad to hear I love my Elite Mahgany. Heavy as hell and got it for silly money, but it is by far the best sounding guitar I had.

good luck!