Gibson T-bird IV too dark. tone pot?

[uOpt]

You can easily test the "maximum brightness" of your pickups by connecting it directly to the plug with no pots for a test, or some crocodile clips to the cable. You won't be impressed.

The "1Mohm vol pot is more like a switch" statement isn't correct either. But you won't hear a difference in general brightness between 0.5 and 1 Mohm with a bass, much less with these pickups.

 

[Low Sound Love]

Just a quick report to share my findings: the fresh strings and the 'presence' knob on the back of my amp did have an impact on the tone of my bird, providing it with just a bit of zing. Still not enough for my liking, though.

I'm gonna start saving up for a pair of Thunderbuckers ...

 

[El Tookay]

Thunderbucker 66's...if you want more output and zing, it's in there.

 

[funnyfingers]

I think a decent comparison here is the Epiphone Thunderbird Pro IV Classic, which has the Gibson USA pickups.

Here is a clip of me playing it. Harmonics first and then plucking, http://soundcloud.com/william-leonard-1/tapharmonics

The dododo is also with those same pickups. Do you consider that dark?

 

[Low Sound Love]

That first part of dododo, that's pretty close to how my bird sounds, and I consider that 'dark'.
The tapping piece sounded much crispier, I don't think I could get that tone out of my bird.

 

[funnyfingers]

Where have you played it? The biggest problem I have had is I go to a store play something and am like wow this one sounds great and this one sounds eh. Then I go back to the store and it is the opposite. Then at home in one room I am like wow this sounds bleh and then another room wow this sounds great. So the only sound I trust is the garage where we practice. Then I take it there and I am like eh this sounds bleh and realize that is because they left the garage door open! lol. There is so much to consider when just playing and trying to dial in the tone you want. Then finally actually playing with the band will change the dynamic as well.