not loud enough

[fenderrules]

hey guys, just went down to swee lee today and picked up the ibanez gsa60.

the problem is, the sound output isnt that loud and the only way to do that is to adjust my pickups higher.....i looked at the manual and i already knew how to adjust the neck and middle single coils. im not really sure how to adjust the bridge humbucker pickup.

i need help guys. thanks

 

[subversion]

the default STD pickups in your GSA isn't a high output unit, hence the volume limitation. if you are relying on your amp in your pic there for projection, it's not gonna help too much.

if you still love your guitar, don't wanna swap pickups yet, still using that amp, i'd suggest you acquirea clean booster. the PB100 is indeed a very affordable unit to own:

 

[mero]

How about the Seymour Duncan pup booster? It looks very tempting with its features......... Though I thought that since I already had humbuckers it would negate their primary option of boosting singlecoils to sound more like humbuckers :?

 

[fenderrules]

the default STD pickups in your GSA isn't a high output unit, hence the volume limitation. if you are relying on your amp in your pic there for projection, it's not gonna help too much.

i still love my guitar, but may wanna change the pickups after a while and im certainly gonna throw that friggin amp of mine away (it was made for my previous sx anyway)

so in my current situation, what would be the problem? the pickups or the guitar?

 

[subversion]

the Duncan pickup booster is more suitable for single coils, as you've mentioned. there is only a single setting which acts as a 'neutral' booster, suitable for both single coil/ humbucker pickups.

 

[subversion]

so in my current situation, what would be the problem? the pickups or the guitar?

the pickups. they lack the output, no point raising them further, it's gonna affect sustain.

why did you choose the GSA60 as an upgrade? (i'm assuming you own the SX guitar previously)

 

[fenderrules]

so in my current situation, what would be the problem? the pickups or the guitar?

why did you choose the GSA60 as an upgrade? (i'm assuming you own the SX guitar previously)

yes i previously owned the SX and its gone now (as in....its not working) i chose the gsa60 cuz i liked the tone but was wondering why it sounded quite soft. even with distortion my dynamics sounded quite weak.

ok, is it just me or are you all actually saying that ive just wasted $300++ on this guitar??

 

[subversion]

no offence my friend, the GSA isn't quite the guitar to get as an upgrade. as for the default pickups, Ibanez don't put fantastic units in their GIOs. the more intriguing tones IMO comes from the GSZ in this offering.

i'd rather you get the SA120 instead. the AH pickups in there are ceramic units, they make themselves heard.

 

[fenderrules]

no offence my friend, the GSA isn't quite the guitar to get as an upgrade. as for the default pickups, Ibanez don't put fantastic units in their GIOs. the more intriguing tones IMO comes from the GSZ in this offering.

i'd rather you get the SA120 instead. the AH pickups in there are ceramic units, they make themselves heard.

oh crap i regretted not having called blackmoo along to swee lee wif me....

uhm.....the pickups still can be changed right??

 

[tany]

yes, but why a gsa? dont worry so long as you love it it's alright!

 

[subversion]

yup- pickups are swapable.

you can always call me to accompany you there... 8)

 

[MrE]

i chose the gsa60 cuz i liked the tone but was wondering why it sounded quite soft. even with distortion my dynamics sounded quite weak.

ok, is it just me or are you all actually saying that ive just wasted $300++ on this guitar??

you say you liked the tone when you tried it? that will likely be attributed to the amp that you tried it on. most likely any amp you tried it with at sweelee would sound like your holy grail of tone compared to your SX amp.

so...... i suggest getting a decent amp first, then get to know your new guitar - i.e. what it is capable of, what you want to hear out of it, where the problems lie. THEN, decide whether you want to swap pickups (and which pickups you want) or if you want to get a new guitar entirely.