Clean tone is still slightly distorted

[scottn5388]

I just put a Seymour Duncan SH-8 Invader pickup (it's a humbucker) in my guitar, and even when i am playing with a clean tone it is still distorted and there is some crackling. Is this normal?

I don't use this pickup a whole lot when recording clean tones, but I do use it occasionaly. Is there a problem with the wiring or solder connections, or is this typical of this pickup.

Thanks,
Scott

[Major Tom]

What are you playing thru, an amp? what kind? A Modeller? I believe the Invader is a high output pickup, it doesn't create distortion itself, however its output is probably high enough to (over)drive your amp or Pod or whatever into some preamp distortion or clipping. If you have a pedal like an eq, or something that has a level/output control, or for that matter your guitar's volume, try cutting back on the signal level before it reaches your device.

[scottn5388]

My 100th post!

Thanks for your reply...

I am playing through a pedel, but it only controls the volume when it it distorted (when distortion is off, it just bypasses the pedel). When I turn the volume knob on the guitar down and the vol on the amp up, it goes away...but, the distortion doesn't sound as good like this...and I can't really keep switching all this on the fly. I can do it for recording but not for live shows. Will I have to make a compromise?

It is a solid state amp so I don't think it is getting overdriven, and I don't really notice it when playing through my J-Station.

Thanks A Lot,
Scott

[PFDarkside]

If it dissapears when you turn down the volume, then it is the high output of your Invader. If you have a multi channel amp, just set up your clean channel so it's at the proper volume with the volume knob rolled back a bit. Then turn the volume up when you switch to distortion.

[Major Tom]

I agree with Mr D above, sounds like transistor clipping to me, especially since you use the word crackling. Transistor amplification always has a threshold at which this clipping (bad, ugy, crackly distortion) will occur. That is one of the advantages to tube amps - they don't have an absolute threshold of clipping like transistor devices, they compress and distort in a pleasing way. Very possibly the distorto pedal you are using compresses the signal enough so that it doesn't clip the amp, so the clipping only occurs with the clean sound. Here's some ideas fer u:

I just bought a Danelectro 7 band eq pedal for $30. (+tax) at Guitar Center - in addition to tweaking the eq a little, I use its level control to compensate for the signal strength on different guitars thru my live rig. With my stock Strat, I raise the volume about 3 db above the center detent (boost), with my medium output humbucker guitar I lower the slider about 3 db below the detent to cut the signal. You could set this up to cut your signal a little for the clean, with the added benefit of having more control over the eq.

Lower the gain on the amp's input to where it doesn't clip for your clean tone, and turn up the level on the distorto pedal for that sound.

Find a cheap (one that fits your budget) compressor pedal, set the compressor to limit/compress your clean tone to where it won't clip, and yet isn't too compressed sounding and switch it on only for your clean setting. With a SS amp, you might consider this an improvement in its sound anyway.

What kind/model amp is it?

[esun127]

Like what the other guys said, you're overdriving your transistors. Turn down the gain on the amp to fix this. Your invader pickup is acting like a normal pickup with an overdrive pedal.

I use my Avalon U5 (which I normally use for acoustic guitar) to overdrive my Marshall AVT50. I have my gains set at half of what they were at before.

[c7sus]

Could also be a cold solder joint on a jack somewhere in your chain.

My meek is doing something similar. I called and they gave me a return number and said they would fix it but I haven't had time to send it down yet. Doesn't seem to do it on the mic input, just the instrument jack.

On my meek it's most noticable with the pick "attack" or however you want to describe the initial plucking/picking of the string.

[esun127]

Good point made there, C7sus. My friend bought a Warwick Dolphin on ebay and it really didn't sound too good. We went to the Carvin store in Hollywood and got a new jack, I popped it in, soldered it up, and it sounded GREAT. Maybe that's why the seller sold it for so little... it cost my friend 8 bucks to fix.

So don't forget the simple things. If the crackling happens at low volumes, check the soldering job on the pickup.

[Outlaws]

I realize what you mean about the guitar not sounding good after you roll the volume down, but next time you play, start with the volume at zero and roll up. You will find it more pleasing and will never stop using the volume knob again.