Just put in a X2N and it sounds like shit, whats the problem (pot or one coil or)???

[DeathThrashAttack]

I just had a X2N thrown in (by a guitar tech, so I know its in right) to my Jackson Stealth EX. I just have one humbucker and 1 vol.
I can't get a decent crisp palm muted riff to save my life. It sounds just ok. It almost sounds as if the distortion was rolled off to about 40% of its max. I've used numerous other high output Dimarzios that had mega crunch and this one sounds like i'm jamming a stock single coil. I expected a lot more crunch out of this thing. Its brand new BTW. The wiring is acurate according to Dimarzios and SD's diagrams.

The possiblity that I thought of on why it sounds bad:

I'm only using a 500k Vol pot for the pickup, and its about 10-15 years old(estimated). Its been used previously. should I get a new one and try it out?

Have any of you had a big difference in the sound of a pickup when a pot was swapped out? any other ideas? Thanks guys.

[84sups]

Bad coil, cold solder, bad pot, bad ground. If it has a bad coil you'll be best buying a new pickup.

[Axewielder]

Plug in a guitar cord and check the ohms on the other end with the volume on 10 if you can.

[Newc]

Yeah, cuz everyone has an ohmmeter these days

[DeathThrashAttack]

bad coil in a new pup? hmm. thats really uncommon. I think i'm putting in a new pot today and i'll see. if thats not it, then i have no idea.

[Axewielder]

Yeah, cuz everyone has an ohmmeter these days

I'm getting thread deja-vu here!

Srsly, you can't really troubleshoot these kind of issues without one. I'd run it back over to the tech if you paid to have it done.

[etepbbb]

I just had a X2N thrown in (by a guitar tech, so I know its in right) to my Jackson Stealth EX. I just have one humbucker and 1 vol.
I can't get a decent crisp palm muted riff to save my life. It sounds just ok. It almost sounds as if the distortion was rolled off to about 40% of its max. I've used numerous other high output Dimarzios that had mega crunch and this one sounds like i'm jamming a stock single coil. I expected a lot more crunch out of this thing. Its brand new BTW. The wiring is acurate according to Dimarzios and SD's diagrams.

The possiblity that I thought of on why it sounds bad:

I'm only using a 500k Vol pot for the pickup, and its about 10-15 years old(estimated). Its been used previously. should I get a new one and try it out?

Have any of you had a big difference in the sound of a pickup when a pot was swapped out? any other ideas? Thanks guys.

If you had a tech do it, bring it back and let him figure it out. It will sound like crap on his amp. Could be wiring, pot., workmanship or a bad pickup. A tech. be able to ohm out the pickup make a determination.

[KBRR]

i agree take it back to the tech , let him figure it out

[jdr94]

its a real hot pickup so you cant put it super close to the strings like say and emg. back away a bit and it should clean up some muddiness.

edit- i guess theres no muddiness with 40% gain.LOL. yeah i'd say replace that pot.

[broken_fusion]

I had an X2N years ago. Best I could get out of it was a mild 70's overdrive. I thought maybe thats what the X2N did since its probably been around since then.I was looking for a metal sound so I swapped it out for an Invader.

[DeathThrashAttack]

its a real hot pickup so you cant put it super close to the strings like say and emg. back away a bit and it should clean up some muddiness.

I did this and it worked...somewhat, I had to turn up the mids and highs on my amp to get it to poke through.

I thought x2n's had a very pronounced treble response? The palm muting is now crisper sounding. I havent been able to turn my amp up (live in an apartment) but I have a feeling it will sound way better when its loud. thanks jdr94.

[DeathThrashAttack]

I had an X2N years ago. Best I could get out of it was a mild 70's overdrive. I thought maybe thats what the X2N did since its probably been around since then.I was looking for a metal sound so I swapped it out for an Invader.

I just put an invader in my flying v i made and i absolutely love the fucker. Its chunky as hell with some nice low end. I just roll back the bass a tad on my amp and its sick!

Everybody was telling me it had this gross muddy low end. I take it they don't want to adjust their amp at all ol.

[jdr94]

cool. glad it helped.

[broken_fusion]

I just put an invader in my flying v i made and i absolutely love the fucker. Its chunky as hell with some nice low end. I just roll back the bass a tad on my amp and its sick!

Everybody was telling me it had this gross muddy low end. I take it they don't want to adjust their amp at all ol.

I put in Invader in every guitar I owned. I love em too. I recently installed an Dimarzio Evolution in my Baretta. That may be my new favorite,as my playing style has changed away from the heavy stuff but the Invader still kills.

[DeathThrashAttack]

even then, the evo is excellent for death metal