Alternative to Benedetto B6......?

carlescountry · #1 05-17-2011, 05:35 PM

I have a Conti guitar (Peerless) with Benedetto B-6. I'm not very satisfied with the sound. I had thought in a Seth Lover.
Any other suggestions?

NiAg · #2 05-17-2011, 07:44 PM

I guess someone has to say it:

How would you describe the sound with which you are not satisfied?

82Benedetto · #3 05-17-2011, 10:58 PM

Find someone who custom winds and describe the sound you're looking for.

You should be able to grab a humbucker for $100 or less completely tailored to your tone.

carlescountry · #4 05-18-2011, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiAg

I guess someone has to say it:

How would you describe the sound with which you are not satisfied?

Sorry for my frugal words

. I would describe as very flat and muddy. Besides, I don't know why but I have to keep the volume to maximum. If I turn down a bit the sound disappears. That never happened to me.

oldane · #5 05-18-2011, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlescountry

Sorry for my frugal words

. I would describe as very flat and muddy. Besides, I don't know why but I have to keep the volume to maximum. If I turn down a bit the sound disappears. That never happened to me.

The problem with the sound disappearing when turning down the volume just a tad is most likely NOT caused by the PU but by the volume pot. And defective pots can also influence the sound. So first thing should be to replace the volume pot - be sure to get one with the same resistance (Ohm reading). Maybe the PU sounds OK after that. The Benedetto PUs are not that exotic, and it should not be difficult to get the desired tone with appropiate settings on the guitar and on the amp.

carlescountry · #6 05-18-2011, 02:55 AM

Thank you, Oldane. I'll replace the volume pot. I hope that's the problem, because I do not really like the sound that now has the guitar.

Franz 1997 · #7 05-18-2011, 04:24 AM

The Benedetto PUs are not that exotic, and it should not be difficult to get the desired tone with appropiate settings on the guitar and on the amp.

Not sure I'd agree. I seem to remember the B6s have a dc resistance of about 12kohms ( against an average of around 7k for humbuckers), with high inductance, which together tends to produce a very solid, dark sound. The B6 sound was described in another recent thread as dark and lacking output.

By all means try a different pot, but it sounds to me like this pickup - which is a quite specialist jazz pickup- is just not to your taste.

carlescountry · #8 05-18-2011, 07:23 AM

Thanks Franz. Yes, according to their specs the B6 has a dc resistance of 12.10 k ohms and an inductance of 7.10 H. I also followed your advice and I put a 250K pot with a 0.22 uf capacitor (I have no idea of these technical issues).

The definition of dark and low output is correct! I like the dark sound, but not the one I have now on my guitar...

I'll wait and see what happens when I change the volume pot.

basile865 · #9 05-18-2011, 09:41 AM

from my understanding, mating a 250K pot with a humbucker will actually darken the sound. I would think a 500K is the standard combo with a humbucker, and I think you can even put a 1000 in which brightens it further.

Single coil guitars usually use a 250K to aid in their brightness.....it helps darken just slightly. I find with my strat I actually play with the volume on 8 or 9 if not less because that helps further darken the sound. So when you talk about the sound deadening more as you roll the volume knob back, I think thats natural. Unless it sounds like something is actually electrically wrong - where the volume cuts out considerably or it gets dark very fast. It should only be slight and gradual.

So if the 250 doesn't fix some sort of electrical problem, use a higher rated pot. The higher you go the brighter it should be as I understand it.

Adjusting the height of your pickup might also help. I think the general rule of thumb is that the closer you put it to the strings the louder and more robust it will sound, where as the further down you put it from the strings, the lower the volume but more clarity and brightness.

Just some thoughts.

If all else fails I guess swapping out the pickup entirely would help as well. Good luck with it!

carlescountry · #10 05-23-2011, 03:58 PM

Sorry for the delay and thanks a lot for the info, Basile.