Washburn N4 pickup suggestions

[yngzaklynch]

I think the pickup in the N4 might need to go. I love the way it sounds on the fatter strings but the lighter strings... to bright and brittle. Lately I've been trying to get time on all my guitars and these days the N4 is clearly my favorite to play. I love the other two and they have things they are better at but the N4 is such a great guitar to play. Just have to find a new pickups I think. I really like the way it sounds but I want the bridge to be slightly warmer and the neck to be a little less bassy. The body is swamp ash. Maple neck, Ebony board. 25.5 inch scale. Keep in mind I really do like the way it sounds. This is more of a fine tuning effort.

 

[jcj]

I put an Anderson H2+ in the bridge of mine (Alder) took away some of the highs. I liked the stock pickup with darker amps, but with anything brighter it was a bit too much.

 

[yngzaklynch]

Well the amp I use 90% of the time is the Elmwood M90. It's kinda dark and has a tone of bass. I love the E,A,D string but the G,B,and E string seem a bit shrill. I want to find tune this.

 

[zewango]

You will be happy when you dump it.
I have a Bill/Becky Lawrence in mine.

 

[Pete Lacis]

You will be happy when you dump it.
I have a Bill/Becky Lawrence in mine.

Actually, those pickups work best in the Alder model.

The problems you mention are related to the fact that you have the swamp ash model. Different pickups won't really change that fundamental factor of that guitar. Nuno's sound is the alder one.

 

[OldSkoolNJ]

You could always try the Dimebag trick and use it upside down, So that the Hot/treble side of the pick-up is no longer on the side closest to the bridge..
It helps take away that weird high string thing...
Doing to my g/f's N61 when I change the strings over the holidays...

 

[nickname009]

You could always try the Dimebag trick and use it upside down, So that the Hot/treble side of the pick-up is no longer on the side closest to the bridge..
It helps take away that weird high string thing...
Doing to my g/f's N61 when I change the strings over the holidays...

I want to just chip in and say, I also have a nuno and am looking for a bridge pup replacement and this idea is not the answer. I tried this myself and it has no effect on the sound whatsoever. The coils are mirrored, flipping them the other way will not change anything. I've also tried this myself on my own nuno and nothing changed. It's a myth that I feel has been tricking guitar players for way too long!!!

This kind of idea would work for something like a drop sonic pup where one side is the bar and one side is something else but not for the BLs.

Anyhoo, I'm also still looking for a good pup myself, once I find something I love with the alder body, ebony fretboard and maple neck combo, I'll post something here also.

 

[OldSkoolNJ]

I want to just chip in and say, I also have a nuno and am looking for a bridge pup replacement and this idea is not the answer. I tried this myself and it has no effect on the sound whatsoever. The coils are mirrored, flipping them the other way will not change anything. I've also tried this myself on my own nuno and nothing changed. It's a myth that I feel has been tricking guitar players for way too long!!!

This kind of idea would work for something like a drop sonic pup where one side is the bar and one side is something else but not for the BLs.

Anyhoo, I'm also still looking for a good pup myself, once I find something I love with the alder body, ebony fretboard and maple neck combo, I'll post something here also.

I will get back to you on this after I talk to them tomorrow..

 

[SFW]

Duncan Custom Custom

 

[bsp01]

The 500L's are extremely sensitive to height adjustments as well. Even a millimeter or two can impact the tone. Try adjusting them before you replace them. The 500L series pickups sound amazing when you get them tweaked just right.

 

[chunktone]

Duncan Custom Custom

This, or a Custom 5.

 

[yngzaklynch]

Duncan Custom Custom

This, or a Custom 5.

But will those come close to the tight aggressive sound of the XL500L? I'm really just looking to shave off the high end a bit. I don't really want a different sounding guitar.

 

[SFW]

Then you may want to look at the Duncan Custom. The beauty of the Custom line is that you can change the pickup from a Custom, Custom Custom or a Custom 5 with a simple magnet swap. The Custom is crematic, the CC uses an Alnico 2 and the C5 uses an Alnico 5 magnet. So you can change the character of the pickup with different mags.

 

[jkdsteve]

I had the Custom in my N4 for a while...it was a little better than the stock BLUSA but I still didn't really care for it... I have the Bill and Becky in there now and it's worlds better....but my N4 is mahogany/maple..sooo.