Scott Henderson Discussion

[dmtrio]

Hi Scott,

I'm wondering what your take is on guitar cavitiy shielding on a guitar with humbuckers? Les Paul style guitar. I read that it effects the tone a bit, as in knocking a bit of top end off. At gigs and particularly on bigger stages at volume, with more gain, I get a fair bit of noise….I'm wondering if shielding my cavity would be worth while. I've got an SSV and SSV+ in there.

Looking forward to the new trio record!
Cheers
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[Scott Henderson]

I've never heard of shielding affecting the tone, but it definitely helps keep the noise down. Suhr uses a special paint to shield the cavity - seems a lot easier than tin foil.

One thing that really affects tone on humbuckers is whether you're using covers. They make the guitar more vintage sounding - smoother top end and a bit less bass. On a strat I don't use one, but on a bright guitar like my Les Paul, covers improve the tone.

[dmtrio]

I ended up tin foiling it and it's pretty good. Definitely quieter.

My other issue is my neck pickup has way too much bass.
I had a 59 in therea while back, and now have an SSV…But they've both been pretty much unusable unless i roll the neck volume right back.

Did I read in the forum somewhere that you also had issues with neck humbuckers being to bottom heavy? What was your solution for your guitar with HBs?
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[kirk95]

I have a Seymour Duncan Jazz pickup in the neck position on both my Les Paul and SG - I really like them. Less windings, so the tone isn't as woofy. I use 59's for the bridge. The pickups on my Gibsons are covered, and that gets rid of some woof too.

I prefer John's SSV on a strat, especially since the spacing is wider so the pole pieces line up with the strings. The wider spacing makes the pickup sound different, less honky than a '59.
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