Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Skeesix on June 24, 2011 at 3:42pm

Does the pickup have a schematic that comes with it? It kind of sounds like only one coil is hooked up? Does it sound full like a humbucker or more like a single coil?

Permalink Reply by Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw on June 24, 2011 at 11:12pm

Hi Skeesix.

Thanks for the reply. There was no diagram with this one. I have tried wiring the black as live and the green as neutral and the other way round. Same result both ways. All the diagrams I have seen on line show the white and red connected together (as I have them) to use it as a humbucker. As far as the sound is concerned I am too inexperienced to know. This is only my second one with a magnetic pickup and that is also a humbucker, though of a different make. Is there anything I can do to test if it is working as a humbucker?

All the best.

John

Permalink Reply by Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw on June 25, 2011 at 1:29am

Hi.

A little update. I have just had this message back from the chap who sold the pickup on eBay.

"Th green is live to the switch
The black and silver are the earths to the back of one of the pots
The red and white soldered together are the split.
If your not slitting the coils just tape the red and white up but keep the soldered together"

This is the way I have it wired. Although I think I have earthed everything, I wonder if it is looking like an earthing issue. They say you learn from your mistakes. Lucky me. I must be doing a lot of learning.

Permalink Reply by Servaas (Der Groovemeister) on June 25, 2011 at 7:19am

Hi John,

Is your amp grounded?

Permalink Reply by Mark on June 25, 2011 at 8:17am

An odd one given that you don't get anything when you touch the strings with your fingers but only with something metal. How are the strings grounded?

Permalink Reply by Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw on June 25, 2011 at 1:25pm

Hi Groovemeister and Mark.

Thanks for the replies. I am using a Micro Cube which takes its power from either a transformer of batteries. I did a few tests tonight and the clicks seem less when running the amp on battery. The mains adaptor has only two core wire running from it to the amp and has the symbol for being double insulated. Should I do anything more to earth the amp and if so, how should I do that?

Also, from my tests if I turn the gain up a lot I can hear just a little of the same sort of noise when just touching the strings with my fingers, but it is much less than when touching metal to them.

The strings are attached at the tail (inside the box) with a brass plate. The neutral and screen cables from the pickup are soldered to the brass plate and a wire runs from the plate to the earth lug on the 1/4" jack. There is a steel rod running behind the neck to strengthen it inside the box and this is also grounded to the brass plate.

I hope all of this makes sense. I will mess around a bit more tomorrow and see if I cam learn anything else.

Thanks again.

Permalink Reply by Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw on June 26, 2011 at 1:51am

Hi Ellwood.

Thanks for the information.

Latest update. I tried re-soldering some of the joints. I tried changing the cable that I had used to connect the pickup to the jack for some with a better screen. No improvement. Then, just as a test I added a piezo in parallel. Clicks have gone.

Now I am really confused. Why should adding a piezo make a difference. I would love to understand this.

 

Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on June 26, 2011 at 6:01am

I have the same problem, not too intrusive i can live with it but would like to sort it out one day (-;

Permalink Reply by Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw on June 26, 2011 at 6:50am

Hi Ellwood and Steve.

I will find out what I can about capacitors. Unfortunately my electrical knowledge (and aptitude) is very limited, but I would really like to find an answer, as I will have both the humbucker and two piezos on this guitar and want to be able to switch one or other out without getting these clicking noises again.

If anyone else has any ideas I would be very grateful and if I find a solution I will post it here.

Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on June 26, 2011 at 6:58pm

I read somewhere piezo's and humbuckers theoretically shouldn't be used together as they work on different output voltages, i'm not an electrical wizard i just wire 'em up according to a diagram, though on my first build i connected them "together" on the same volume, tone and 3-way switch circuit, it affected the humbucker, making it sound muddy on its own, the piezo sounded thin and weedy, but together sounded amazing - plenty of grunt and characteristic CBG sound.

 

On my second build i installed the piezo and humbucker on separate circuits with separate input jacks, and run both into my amp which has a feedback canceller - results CBG Nirvana! - both pickups working to their full capacity without any problems except the earthing niggle from the humbucker. Without stripping the guitar down  i can't investigate it but maybe a job for later in the year, though using a glass slide or an IT computer earthing wristband/wire/crocodile clip attached to one of the tuners the problem goes away!

 

 

Permalink Reply by Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw on June 27, 2011 at 8:50am

Hi Ellwood,

Thanks for the link. Lots of good info there.

Hi Steve.

Theory and practice are sometimes a long way apart. The piezo is making my setup workable at the moment, so it obviously isn't a very useful theory.

I have asked around and searched the 'net, but so far I am drawing a blank. Really don't know what the solution is. I might try wiring in a capacitor, but as I wasn't intending to have a tone control on the instrument I'm not sure where to put it (where the sun don't shine is not the sort of suggestion I need).

Permalink Reply by swampapple slim on August 6, 2011 at 6:08am

anytime you get weird noises or touch it and sounds go to grounds plus your pup is wide open on 10 all the time and hot wire to jack picks up a lot of noise i used rubber like tape wrapped all 3 poles on pots ane steel sheilding wire like in old gibsons i can crank it all the way up with amp on and not hear a sound or hum i mean  really ck grounds and sheild hots especieally hots to jack i even wrapped legs on tone caps sorry this was for jon maw

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