|
Post by simes on Jun 7, 2012 17:19:39 GMT -5
Today my luthier friend brought me his newest creation, a "Traveller" inspired by Johnny Winter's Lazer (although this one is a beast all of its own).
One SC, one HB, a toggle switch, a volume pot and a tone pot. The SC is a GFS, supposedly about 6K, the HB another ("Crunchy PAT" - ceramic) GFS, purportedly 14K. I was expecting a large imbalance, but there wasn't.
Very resonant, this guitar, and I can't help thinking that its lightness has something to do with it.
Anyway, the wiring thing. Two things, actually.
One is that in the middle position, it doesn't sound much like a middle position. Big volume drop compared to the neck SC, rather trebly, but doesn't sound OoP.
The other is that he installed a push-pull to split the HB. It doesn't do anything. Doesn't change the sound, doesn't kill it. He followed SD diagrams. I didn't have time to inspect the wiring - worryingly, and despite his considerable lutherie skills, this guy defers to me on wiring matters - but I can't see how things wouldn't change if the HB is routed through the P/P.
Any suggestions? I don't have the guitar on hand, and won't until this time next month.
Cheers,
Simes
|
|
|
Post by reTrEaD on Jun 7, 2012 17:36:37 GMT -5
One is that in the middle position, it doesn't sound much like a middle position. Big volume drop compared to the neck SC, rather trebly, but doesn't sound OoP. "trebly" might be because of more coils in parallel. But trebly along with a big drop in volume sure seems like Oop to me. Easy enough to prove or disprove. Change two wires. The problem with the PP switch might be a bad switch or incorrect wiring. Since I can't see the actual wiring, that's the most I can suggest. Hope this helps.
|
|
|
Post by simes on Jun 8, 2012 4:56:53 GMT -5
Perhaps it is OoP but the large disparity between the two pickups means it doesn't sound like a typical OoP.
Regarding the push-pull, if it was wrongly wired, I'd expect it to either sound different but in a bad way, or not sound at all. I can only think that there's a bad connection to ground or the switch itself isn't working.
|
|
|
Post by sbgodofmetal on Jun 9, 2012 12:54:11 GMT -5
The problem with the PP switch might be a bad switch or incorrect wiring. Since I can't see the actual wiring, that's the most I can suggest. Hope this helps. Finally something that the two of us can agree on RT. Yeah id say crack out the ole multimeter and check the switch connections and the circuit diagram it may just be as simple as a misplaced wire.... Good luck...
|
|
|
Post by reTrEaD on Jun 9, 2012 21:36:31 GMT -5
Perhaps it is OoP but the large disparity between the two pickups means it doesn't sound like a typical OoP. [/color] Yes! Not only are the pickups different, but they are sensing different areas of the string. So the cancellation of the two signals is not at all complete. The closer together two pickups are, the better the cancellation. The more alike the two pickups are, the better the cancellation. In this case, both distance and dissimilar pickups lead to less cancellation. Regarding the push-pull, if it was wrongly wired, I'd expect it to either sound different but in a bad way, or not sound at all. I can only think that there's a bad connection to ground or the switch itself isn't working. [/color] Or the wrong lugs on the switch are being used. There are 6 switch lugs on a DPDT push-pull. So if your luthier friend is using two lugs that never get connected internally, the push-pull won't shunt one coil, as expected. Before bothering with a meter, use your EYES. Chances are good you'll discover the problem with a careful inspection. Cheers!
|
|
|
Post by simes on Jun 10, 2012 9:41:56 GMT -5
I have received word that the ground connection from the P/P was bad, and that this has solved the switching matter, although - rather mystifyingly - I'm told that the split is clearly apparent when the HB is selected alone, but is undetectable in the middle position.
The OoP issue hasn't been addressed yet, but on reflection it sounds fairly cut-and-dried to me.
|
|