What Frequency range makes a pickup a Spikey/Icepick

[jerryjg]

Can a exagggerated midrange make a pickup icepicky even if thhe highs are rolled off ?
Is it more a question of balance? Even if the mids are scooped, if the balance of the pickup emphasizes the Highs , even if they are cut well, could it still sound bright?

[jerryjg]

Can a exagggerated midrange make a pickup icepicky even if thhe highs are rolled off ?
Is it more a question of balance? Even if the mids are scooped, if the balance of the pickup emphasizes the Highs , even if they are cut well, could it still sound bright?

This may be like a goofy question, but i think its one of the most important ones Im trying to find out to try and match up pickups into my stupid bright guitars. I dont think the Patb is doin it. Maybe thhe new 8's?
IDimarzio reccoemnded the Air Zone for the bridge of a walnut/ maple super bright guitar, but looking at thhe tonal spectrum, thhe mids are pretty predominat even though the highs are rolled off.
Looking at the patb-3 bridge, jeebus, the mids are sooo scooped. Thats why Im wondering about the balnce thing, cause thhe Ptb-3 doesnt seem to be working for me to eliminate the iicepick highs.
Im thinking of trying just a Virtual PAf thhat seems to be balanced in terms of bass, mids and treble and also have soft highs too.

[jeremy]

upper mids or treble is what causes the icepick. if you have a very scooped pup it can add to the problem since there isnt any low mids to balance the high end.

are you using 250k pots in these guitars?

[guitarded]

The big problem with those frequencies is besides being unpleasant, is they don't cut through the band mix well so you end up playing louder which adds to the problem.

I have an Ash Tele that was like that. I ended up with a Dimarzio Air Norton on the bridge pickup. That solved my problem. Nice and balanced now dirty... still clean sparkle as well for a humbucker, anyway.

This may be like a goofy question, but i think its one of the most important ones Im trying to find out to try and match up pickups into my stupid bright guitars. I dont think the Patb is doin it. Maybe thhe new 8's?
IDimarzio reccoemnded the Air Zone for the bridge of a walnut/ maple super bright guitar, but looking at thhe tonal spectrum, thhe mids are pretty predominat even though the highs are rolled off.
Looking at the patb-3 bridge, jeebus, the mids are sooo scooped. Thats why Im wondering about the balnce thing, cause thhe Ptb-3 doesnt seem to be working for me to eliminate the iicepick highs.
Im thinking of trying just a Virtual PAf thhat seems to be balanced in terms of bass, mids and treble and also have soft highs too.

[theodie]

I am confused, have you tried the PATB-3 yet Jerry?

[jerryjg]

yes, but to be fair about it being so bright, the Sunn amp i tried it with can also be very very bright. The Patb-3 sounds nicer in my Traynor . I think it also has to do with some very aggresive trebleish Emininece "Red Ryders" that Im going to pull out of the 4x12 Cabinet I was using.
I need to give it more time and consider every aspect before i pass final judgement.
do you think something moore balced with cut treble may tend to sound less spikey than thhe Patb-3?