Gtr / Amp Mismatch?

[argh!]

I have a problem.

I have two main guitars (Gibson ES-335 & PRS CE24) and two main amps (Peavey 5150 & Mesa Express 5/50).

The Gibson sounds great with both.

Much to my surprise, although the PRS sounds incredible through the PV, it loses much of balls through the Mesa. It sounds good but doesn't have that "life" that I've come to expect.

I've tried the PRS through other amps and it sounds great. It just doesn't like the Mesa.

I've tried other gtrs through the Mesa and they sound great as well.

Has anyone experienced anything similar to this, and what did they do to fix it? I haven't tried boosting the input gain yet...that may be my next step

Help!

Setup:
I have a fairly simple setup these days. I've stripped everything from the signal path so there should be nothing sucking tone.

Guitar -> Boss Tuner Pedal -> Amp

 

[GD_NC]

It's almost certainly the ability of the pickups to push the pre-amp. I have two Gibsons LPs one with newer hot pickups and an older one with much lower output. There is night/day between the two when it comes to pre-amp gain.

Try an EQ or boost pedal. That should make a world of difference. I use a Boss GE-7 but there are tons of other options.

You could also try hotter pickups but that's a lot more trouble.

 

[bobby wasabi]

Funny...I've got a 5:25 and a 5150 combo...

Currently I'm boosting the lead channel on the 5:25 with a blues driver to give it more balls.

Obviously, I don't need a booster with the 5150...and I even have the Eurotubes low gain option...

 

[vbf]

I agree on the pups. I have three Gibson LP's, a Gretsch, a strat, and a tele. There is no question that the hotter pups in one of my LP's makes the 5:50 scream.

 

[argh!]

Funny thing is...I think the PRS p/ups are hotter than the 335.

I'm picking up a Boosta Grande next week to see if that makes a difference. At the very least it will be a pretty good solo boost. I'm also wondering if a sonic maximizer would do the trick - but then I'd be getting back into processing my sound. I like the sound of a good guitar into a good amp.

I'm wondering if because the 335 is just that harmonically richer than the PRS and hits the pre-amp in a way that I really like. After all, I didn't get the 335 to be all jangly - I wanted that overdriven, smack you over the head, hollowbody through a distorted amp sound.

thanks for the ideas...keep 'em coming.

 

[Newysurfer]

Well that's the first time we've heard of a poor match up with the 5:50.
I guess it had to happen one day.
I've played mine with about 20 different guitars and had no issue with any PUP.
What PUP's does the PRS have in it.

For an EQ pedal / clean booster I'd recommend the MXR EQ pedals - both great.
But if you're planning to keep the 5:50 I'd change PUPs on the PRS.

 

[argh!]

Well that's the first time we've heard of a poor match up with the 5:50.
I guess it had to happen one day.
I've played mine with about 20 different guitars and had no issue with any PUP.
What PUP's does the PRS have in it.
.

I know...it's really strange and disappointing. It's a great sounding PRS - a real work horse. I've recorded and gigged with it...

If I can't figure this out, I think I may just give it a vacation until I back playing the 5150.

I've been eyeing the Clapton Strat for a while. I may have to go shopping.

Is the MXR EQ true bypass?

As far as the pickups, it's PRS stock - HFS Treble at bridge, Vintage Bass at neck.

Here's their description - not far off...(except for the aggressive toen and coil tapping bits)

HFS: Originally meaning Hot, Fat and Screams, the HFS features a powerful ceramic magnet and hot coils for an aggressive tone when cranked, clear highs, searing midrange and thumping bass.
Vintage Bass: This alnico pickup provides a round, clear tone to complement the HFS and also works well when coil tapped.

 

[GD_NC]

Yep, the description sounds hot. But there's hot and there's HOT. You can check the pickups output with a multimeter. For example Here's a sampling of the pickups in my guitars...

"Shaw" PAF Reissue = 5.5
Gibson 57 classic+ = 7
Gibson 498T = 13-14
Duncan JB = 16
Duncan Hot Rails = 19!!!

..and Gibson calls the 57+ a "hot" pickup. Which is true when compared to a standard PAF that reads about 5.5 to 6

There's a lot more to pickups than output alone. But tube amps are vary sensitive to what your give them to work with.

 

[vbf]

I've got a good feel for what each of my guitars will sound like through the 5:50 and I took several to play when test driving amps. There was no question that, to my ear, the 5:50 was the best amp for the $$$. One of my guitars is a custom shop gibby black beauty LP. I replaced the stock pups with a custom V (bridge) and a 59 (neck) - both duncan's. This is a terrific combo that covers a lot of ground and both sound great through the express. Another guitar that sounds great through the 5:50 is my gretsch solid body electromatic. I picked it up used at m local GC and really like the sound of it. I play a wide range of musical styles and thus need a good selection of guitars. I can honestly sat that each guitar sounds good through the 5:50, although they all sound different.

 

[steviekool]

Thats funny you mention that. I had a 1979 Greco EG800 Les Paul. Guitar was awesome, pure LEs Paul, IT had 3 humbuckers, a Humbucker from hell in the neck, a super distortion in the middle, and a PAF anniversary in the bridge. When I got my boogie, all my other guitars, "Nash strat, Kramer Baretta 85 reissue, Dean Dave Mustaine Angel of Death, and a 97 Jackson RR1, pre fender of course, ", all sounded awesome, but for some reason my greco just sounded like pure *** no matter what I did. It didnt make sense, so I did the logical thing of course.....

I sold it