1 Topic by BazC (edited by BazC 2015-03-18 12:12:46)

  • BazC
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Topic: Just been trying Pelham Blue Epi Bonamassa

Hi folks, I'm new to the forum's but long time guitarist and I'm in the market for an affordable classic twin humbucker guitar. The Epi Bonammassa seemed an obvious choice and mostly I loved it when I finally got my hands on one. Build quality seemed excellent, loved the neck, hardware all seemed good quality and the acoustic tone was rich and vibrant. I'm not mad about the colour - I'd much rather a more traditional finish like a burst or even a gold top but it's OK, better in the flesh than in photos.

Weirdly what bothered me was the pickups! I really expected to love the Burstbuckers but there was something very odd about them that I've never experienced on any other guitar. After picking a note I'd hear maybe 2-3 seconds of sweet clear music then it would suddenly change character and go muddy/muffled. Didn't seem to matter which note, which string or which pickup I used, fretted or open. It sounded almost as though some kind of gate was cutting in and removing all the higher harmonics. I asked the guy in the store what he thought about the sound and he thought it was just the style of the guitar but I'm sure something was wrong somewhere. I was playing through a Fender Vibrolux reissue (pretty bright) and tried other guitars including cheaper Epiphones that didn't suffer from the same problem so it wasn't the amp or lead.

Now I'm home and got to thinking maybe the pickups were set wrong, could pickups produce this effect if set too high maybe?

Thanks for any help, I really fancy buying the guitar but I'm feeling a little cautious about it now!

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Just been trying Pelham Blue Epi Bonamassa

If they are the original strings, swap them immediately.

Then try the sound unplugged, and see if it is a symptom of what the guitar is sounding like naturally. I like to call your symptoms note 'decay', which I can only describe as the opposite of 'sustain.' If the notes decay instead of sustain, it could be a number of issues like the nut, bridge, string gaguge and action (setup) of the guitar.

The magnetism of the pickups could tamper with the oscillation of the strings, but I'm not sure if it would to that extreme, but who knows. Stranger things have happened. You can easily test that by backing off on the pickup height. If you like JB's tone, you'd want to back them down anyway.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2006-06-30
  • Posts: 2,835

Re: Just been trying Pelham Blue Epi Bonamassa

Possible they have a short in the wiring....they are put together/ made in China...I'd try another one someplace else.

And so castles made of sand melts into the sea, eventually.........
  • BazC
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Re: Just been trying Pelham Blue Epi Bonamassa

Thanks for the replies folks. I didn't buy the guitar so I can't change the strings but the acoustic tone was good so I think the problem must be with the electrics. These guitars aren't easy to find where I am but there is another store I hope to visit next week so I can see how it compares. I might go back to the store I visited today with my own amp and maybe a screwdriver so I can tweak the pickups.

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Just been trying Pelham Blue Epi Bonamassa

BazC wrote:

I might go back to the store I visited today with my own amp and maybe a screwdriver so I can tweak the pickups.

That sounds like a fun little mission!
Get a screwdriver for the back too, and inspect the solder joints in the control cavity. If you know what cold solder looks like (dull-lead looking) instead of a shiny mirror finish on the solder joints.. that could be problem. Then you simply offer less $$ for the les paul.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • BazC
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Re: Just been trying Pelham Blue Epi Bonamassa

Good idea, thanks for the suggestion!

  • BazC
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Re: Just been trying Pelham Blue Epi Bonamassa

Quick update, I never did try that particular guitar again but I did try another Epi Bonamassa at a different store and it was superb! So clearly something was wrong with the first guitar but I have no idea what.

  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2010-04-15
  • Posts: 1,374

Re: Just been trying Pelham Blue Epi Bonamassa

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

The magnetism of the pickups could tamper with the oscillation of the strings, but I'm not sure if it would to that extreme, but who knows. Stranger things have happened. You can easily test that by backing off on the pickup height. If you like JB's tone, you'd want to back them down anyway.

That was my first thought, too. Good to hear a different one was fine.

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