Tubescreamers & Humbuckers not a good match?

[auffredou]

Someone told me in a thread over in the guitar section that some of the muffled sound I am getting with my les paul with lead tones could be because my TS9/silver is not a great match? (the clean tones are pretty good with my guitar/amp). Anyone have an opinion on this? Im thinking of switching to a P90 type pickup anyway, will this help? Are tubescreamers just better for strats in general? Thanks.

 

[slopeshoulder]

Trey Anastasio has made a caeer out of that combo (HB+TS).
Try a more open version like an Eternity or Zendrive or Gain Stage Red.
I'd change pedal before pickups.

 

[auffredou]

yes, and trey is one of my favorites. although when i think about it, he does have somewhat of that "muffled" lead tone, he just makes it work. im probably going to change pickups regardless because ive still got stock p-ups in my lp studio.

 

[auffredou]

how long is the waitlist for the zen by the way? and how much do they cost? i hear that pedal is incredible with humbuckers.

 

[auffredou]

any more thoughts?

 

[slopeshoulder]

wait for zen is long!!!!!!!!!!!! Try Gain Stage Red. VERY close.

 

[welcometoashley]

definitely try a diff't pedal before switching pick-ups. i agree that a more open, uncompressed OD could help as TS-type pedals can often be very compressed.

 

[Hajimemashite]

I'm searching for the same answer right now, I'm experiencing way to much mid hump and compression with my 'buckers and modded TS.

I can't justify spending over $200 on an OD though... so my options may be more limited than yours.

 

[4styx]

The Nobels OD works good with humbuckers,same amount of gain as a TS.

 

[iamspartacus]

I really liked the SD-1 silver i owned with my LP. Perhaps your amp/guitar combo doesn't seem to jive with it. If that's the case, yeah, go ahead and look for something else. I'd recommend the srb808+

 

[auffredou]

bump, still not sure what to do. i was looking at either getting a used strat vs. a pickup change and an rmc3 with my latest paycheck. still cant really decide. my guess would be that i wont be replacing the ts9 at least for a while, so its either going to get a strat to work with, or im going to have to hope that different pickups help.

 

[giggedy]

chris, the wait for the zen isn't that long. I got on the list in July, got the pedal the first week in december, it was $179.

 

[auffredou]

thats not as bad as i thought, maybe its worth looking into. i do hear it tends to be a great match for humbuckers?
...although i feel like im really at a crossroads here where im either going to start taking the single coil route or start adjusting my gear accordingly.

ive heard WAY too many times the past few months: "well this doesnt really work since you use humbuckers" amp (although it was the guy at guitar center who told me not to use a les paul with a drri, until he came in and went "wow, that sounds really good!), compressor (which i eventually worked out), other things.

 

[dividedsky]

I think TS pedals are great with humbuckers. Not sure what the stock pickups in your guitar are like but you might want to try something that will be a little clearer. I had some Fralins in mine but they were insanely bright, although in an LP they might be perfect. I just got some Duncan 59s installed and I love them.

 

[auffredou]

theyre the stocks in a les paul studio, so i think theyre the 490/498 combo. from reviews ive read, phat cats may be that perfect strat type single coil/humbucker middle ground ive been looking for, and i played a paul with p90s in a store that i seemed to like, ive just been having trouble making myself order a set of pickups im unsure about.

 

[auffredou]

i worded that a little weird, what i meant to say was phat cats seem to be right in between a strat style single coil and a heavier humbucker.

 

[Dale]

You may find the Boos OD3 works for you here.

 

[LouRossi]

I use the Maxon 808 when I'm using SC's and a Keeley SD-1 w/ the buckers. Seems like the best sound...