3stepbend
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Post by 3stepbend on Sept 9, 2010 5:59:08 GMT -5
Hi everyone...hoping to get some help...I have a strat with a 5 way switch and a new set of Fralin Vintage Hots.
I have verified and re-verified and re-verified and....the wiring. I'm sure it's wired correctly.
Position 2 sounds very thin and weak compared with 1,3,5 (Neck, Bridge, Middle)
Position 4 sounds weaker than the others, but not nearly as thin as position 2.
I am at a loss for what to try next. All three pickups sound pretty good when selected individually. I'm tempted to just put in a vintage setup (3-way) and forget about it, but I'd like to know what the heck is going on.
Any help would be greatly appreciated...
Cheers!
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Post by newey on Sept 9, 2010 9:06:41 GMT -5
3step- Hello and Welcome to G Nutz2! (Edited by Newey to correct his typo)
Most likely scenario is that the middle pickup is wired out of phase with the other 2. This would account for your symptoms; the fact that position 4 is not as bad as position 2 can be attributed to a hotter bridge pickup in this set- which I don't know to be true, I'm not familiar with Lindy Fralins. Most manufacturers use a different wiring color or colors for the middle pickup so as to designate it's RWRP, again, not sure if that's the case with the Fralins, but it can make it easy to get confused when wiring the middle pup. The solution is to swap the wires 'round on the middle pup. Yes, I know that means dismembering the guitar again! I like Strats, right up to the point where I have to destring it and remove the pickguard to fix something that I could have done in 5 secs on a Tele or LP. Then I'm cursing 'ol Leo to the Gods. One tip- when buttoning up your Strat after rewiring, just mount a couple of strings first (I usually do the 2 Es) for testing. That way, if this sort of issue arises, you only have to remove 2 strings to get back in there again instead of 6. Other causes for this are possible, but much less likely given your description of the problem. If switching the wires doesn't fix this, please report back for Plan B.
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Post by sumgai on Sept 9, 2010 15:29:47 GMT -5
Gutz? We have Gutz now? Hells' Bells, I don't even remember seeing any blood around here, let alone Gutz..... Did I miss yet another memo...... Oh, and 3step, Hi, and to the NutzHouse!
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Post by ashcatlt on Sept 9, 2010 17:33:02 GMT -5
How's the hum?
Is it noisier in one or both of the "in-between" positions than when only one pickup is selected? Or somewhere close to the same? In most cases it should be noticeably less noisy.
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3stepbend
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Post by 3stepbend on Sept 9, 2010 19:30:34 GMT -5
I double checked the middle pickup wiring when I installed it, and I flipped the black/white wires as the instructions said. I wonder have tried it both ways.
Position 2 puts them in parallel so the hotter bridge would definitely have an affect on the position 4. The Bridge is an SP43 which is a fairly hot pickup. That one sounds awesome, btw.
It actually sounds ok, just weak in position 2.
I hate to have to pull it all apart for the 4th time this month...but I'm starting to wonder if it says RWRP on the box the but pickup is not RWRP.
Regarding noise...they aren't very noisy as it is...I can't perceive a difference between the positions.
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Post by newey on Sept 9, 2010 20:20:04 GMT -5
That shouldn't matter, either way it has to be wired in phase with the other 2 pickups. Do you mean that you have tried the middle pickup in both configurations? Your statement about "flipping the wires as the instructions said" worries me. If this is a matched set of pickups, there shouldn't need to be any wire flipping going on.
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Post by ashcatlt on Sept 10, 2010 0:00:09 GMT -5
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3stepbend
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Post by 3stepbend on Sept 10, 2010 5:26:00 GMT -5
That shouldn't matter, either way it has to be wired in phase with the other 2 pickups. Do you mean that you have tried the middle pickup in both configurations? Your statement about "flipping the wires as the instructions said" worries me. If this is a matched set of pickups, there shouldn't need to be any wire flipping going on. Well, first I had them all wired so that the white leads went to the switch and the black leads went to ground. That was before I read the instructions. It really sounded weak on position 2 and 4 when I did that. Then I read the fine print...it said for RWRP middle pups to switch the black/white wires...so for the middle pup, the black goes to the switch and the white goes to ground. After I did that, it sounded a lot better but still pretty weak in positions 2 and 4. I also took the switch out of the circuit and measured the impedence in each position and noticed that it's 6.xK for each the neck and middle in positions 1 and 3, and 9.xK for the bridge in position 5. The middle positions appear to be in parallel as the impedence is about half. So for position 2, the impedence seems to be around 3.4K I was wondering if I could wire them in series.... I'm going to try that screwdriver test. I hadn't seen that before...
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Post by newey on Sept 10, 2010 9:22:14 GMT -5
OK, you've tried it both ways. If it sounds better now, I'd say you're in phase, no need to do a screwdriver test- although that could be a good double-check, assuming you have an analog meter.
You may just be hearing the normal interaction of the 2 single coils in parallel, it may sound different than what you had before because of the different pickups.
I suspect what you were measuring was DC resistance, not impedance- unless you've got some fairly fancy equipment. In any event, the readings (if it's really DC resistance) seem about right. That's a very hot single-coil in the bridge- it may be subjectively influencing your perception of how positions 2 and 4 sound.
Yes, you can, but your series options are somewhat limited with a regular 5-way switch. If what you want is for positions 2 and 4 to be N * M and Br * M, respectively, that won't happen with a std. 5-way switch.
More switching capability opens up your series options.
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3stepbend
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Post by 3stepbend on Sept 10, 2010 20:54:10 GMT -5
Yes, I did meant DC resistance...The bridge is pretty hot, but it sounds really good.
I guess I'll just leave it for now. I tend to use 1 and 5 mostly anyway. Thanks for all the replies...everyone!
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Post by ashcatlt on Sept 11, 2010 14:13:48 GMT -5
This thread ended up addressing an issue similar to the one you describe, and offers a possible solution.
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