Bright switch use

[HiGain]

Could some of you guys comment on whether you use your bright switches and how?

I'm finding that with the stock circuit, the only function for the bright switche is the lower value cap for lower gain settings with single coil pickups in the neck position.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Jake

[Doug H]

Hi Jake,

I find the 500p bright cap useful for single coil neck pup with the gain >50% for getting a "hot-rodded SRV" sound. I also found a "voxish" sound with the gain at 40%-50%. I turned the presence up high, the treble and mid down to 25%, bass at 50% and used the 100p bright cap setting for that.

But this is with my 6bm8-based Liverpool, which is still in its prototype stage. It has slightly less gain and sounds warmer than the express clips I'm hearing so YMMV.

All I can say is twist the knobs all over the place and experiment. I've found some nice sounds with really weird tone knob settings along with the presence control and/or bright switch.

Doug

[HiGain]

Hey Doug!

Thanks for the feedback I've been really puzzled by the 500p cap.

I'll have to try the 500pF cap with a strat. I don't need it with my heritage lp, even with the neck.

With regard to your point about the 100pF cap. I've found a similar setting, but with a 82pF ceramic cap and the controls in a similar place as you describe. Interesting that the amps with different Power Amp sections respond similarly tonewise!

Incidently, on the point of headroom: As you point out, using a lower value bright cap allows you to roll down the treble and mids, which in turn reduces the gain of those frequencies. More bluesy territory.

Jake

[philmanatee]

I use the bright switch more with my 335 than I did with my SG. One of my favorite sounds is using the bright switch and a wah wah, when you get it in the pocket there's nothing like it. Phil