Post by thehushdown on Jan 20, 2018 20:55:42 GMT -5
Hello all, So i just did a pup swap on my clients Epiphone SG pro, and no matter what I do it keeps buzzing, that awful sort that seems fixed via touching any metal surface on the guitar. So after quadruple checking that the grounds were secure, I figured I'd try Guitarnutz since you all have helped me with much more complicated wiring issues before. So a few more details... for reference I used the schematic at the bottom, as the previous owner had bypassed the volume and tone via some misguided solderless (some wires were tied to components lol) modifications. The replacement pups are the Hot Rod Set from Seymour Duncan. It may also be worth mentioning that the 3 way toggle seems to make a bit of a pop sound switching between the pups. well hope you all can help! Thank you ahead of time! THD
The diagram looks straightforward and is fine. I can't tell much from the photos, but nothing obviously out of place.
I assume from what you said that both pickups work and produce sound, the switch switches between them as it should, but that you have a buzz over the top of it all?
Two things: First, the popping could indicate a bad switch. But before we go any further, first thing to check is the wiring to the output jack- make sure the wires aren't reversed.
Post by thehushdown on Jan 21, 2018 12:30:10 GMT -5
Yes your assumption is correct, everything is working properly, I just have this nasal buzz on the hot channels of my amp, the pups seem to want to distort a bit on the clean channel as well. The Jack seems to be wired correctly, though I'll be honest that has happened to me before!
THD (total harmonic distortion, in Hi-Fi parlance)
The guitar is probably fine, you're hearing the amp. Pickup coils don't make a "sweeping" sound in and of themselves. Unless the pickups are located next to a cyclic neon beer sign, then it's gonna have to be the amplifier (or a pedal of some kind).
Try another amp, and in another location... not in your home, but in a friend's home, or at work, or in a bar, somehwere else. If your axe is clean, then try your amp in this/these other location(s).
It's also possible a bad guitar cord is at fault here, but generally you have at least one extra cable on hand to test that theory, so I'm assuming you've aready done that, yes?
A popping sound when switching from one pup to another is normal, it's part of the beast we all deal with. However, they're usually well below the point of irritation. When they're objectionably loud, the common culprit is the amp (or pedal) gain being cranked. If you normally do not play clean, then you're gonna have to develop a deaf ear to this kind of thing. And putting a "pop reducing" capacitor in the circuit will work, but at the expense of tone... the highs will magically find a new place to live, no longer will they be a part of your tone.
Post by thehushdown on Jan 22, 2018 1:46:11 GMT -5
Sumgai, I think you are right, the amp I'm running through has some issues however I dont experience the same thing with my other guitars. I didnt know about the THD thing either thanks man thats really cool! And Thanks to everyone for helping me out!
I live with noise like that all the time- screened cavities or otherwise! If "Best Beloved" is not in, then off go all the lamp dimmer switches. I had a similar (although maybe unrelated) "issue" with an AKG wireless guitar link. I read somewhere that the AKG cables were of poor quality so I bought a third party one from Amazoff. The goons had wired the mini XLR incorrectly and rather than fix it, I returned it for a refund. Then I made a lead up with Klotz cable and Neutrik connectors- Fixed.
Poor quality cable (insufficient braided screening) should be looked at to eliminate it. Good connectors for reliability. As well as general noise pick up (no pun) my original AKG cable was noisy when it brushed on clothes, not any more.
Poor quality cable (insufficient braided screening) should be looked at to eliminate it.
My ex had an ability to eliminate things just by looking at them. Not really. Just seemed that way.
I dunno about the shielding on his cable but I'd guess its capacitance is high. Did you notice how when he turned the volume up and down, he lost a lot of treble when the volume was lower?
Is everyone here comfortable with the wiring to the switch as shown on that SD diagram ? On my Firebird, the output to the TS socket is taken from the other side of the switch from the two pickup signal leads. On the aforementioned diagram posted, the output is taken from the lug in between the two leads from the pickups, and the middle connector sends the signal on to the jack socket.
I know that there is some variation in these switches, and also that "open" types differ from "block" types. At the end of the day, ringing out the contacts is always my first task.
I know that there is some variation in these switches, and also that "open" types differ from "block" types. At the end of the day, ringing out the contacts is always my first task.
Yes. In this case, the switch in the drawing is like the one in the pics THD took. You probably use switches that are like this:
Well yes, sort of- in so far as the Firebird has an angled switch, but you are correct. My research seems to reveal that the only difference is the relative way the tags at the end of the plates are assembled in the switch, at least with the open variants. But that doesn't contribute towards the noise problem. If and when the OP manages to exclude the preciously stated environmental variables, then we may progress a little further.
