Problem with Strat LiveWire

[KPJ]

Hello,

I have a Strat that has been equipped with LiveWire Pickups. When you switch to the bridge pup or the bridge/mid position, there is a noticeable drop in output when the volume is not at 10. At 10, the output seems the same. I lowered the neck and middle pups and this balanced the sound out better, but there still is a difference. Is this standard, or is there something else I should be looking at. I changed the battery and checked all connections.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Robert S.]

Re: Problem with Strat LiveWire

Is the guitar wired stock 1 volume/2 tone and a 5 way switch?

[KPJ]

Re: Problem with Strat LiveWire

Yes, stock wiring, 1 vol, 2 tone, 5 way switch.

[Kac]

Re: Problem with Strat LiveWire

I played on Livewire pick-ups in my strat for a year before I decided I wanted a more vintage sound.
I would just go through the stock wiring again and check it all out, get a second opinion from a luthier.
I've never experienced the drop out like you were describing, sorry to hear that.

Rock on

[Robert S.]

Re: Problem with Strat LiveWire

Ok, the signal path is common after the switch so it's not a pot issue. I'd suggest switching the bridge and neck hot connections at the switch. This will tell you if you have a problem with the switch in that position or not. Also check and make sure you have solid connections for the battery hookup for the bridge pickup

If it's not the switch you most likely have a bad bridge pickup which is something that you can't meter for like you can with passive pickups. If they are new within 21 days Seymour Duncan MAY replace it under their 21 day return policy. If it is an old pickup that you are trying to troubleshoot you're in a hard place because there is no easy way to test and spec out active pickups that I know of.

[KPJ]

Re: Problem with Strat LiveWire

Thanks, Robert. It is an older set. I do some repair work for a buddy of mine who owns a guitar shop and it is one of his customer's guitars. I will swap the pups to check it out. My suspicion is that it is the pup. The kid didn't even realize that he has active pups, as the reason he brought it in was because the overall output was low and distorting, which he didn't realize was because the battery was dead (1 volt!) I was going to recommend that he changed the pups to a good passive model.

[ArtieToo]

Re: Problem with Strat LiveWire

Hey KPJ; I know you said that you checked the wiring, but you may want to double-check one thing. See if you might have gotten the "hot" and "wiper" of the volume control reversed. Use this diagram as a reference:

Fig. A is correct, fig. B is wrong.



The reason I say this is, you said you only exhibit the problem when the volume control is not on "10". These two different ways to wire the volume control are identical when on 10, and only become different as you turn the volume down. If you accidently wired up "B", you'll be putting an undue "load" on the LiveWires as you turn the volume down.

I believe that LiveWires are particularly sensitive to this "loading" affect.

Artie

[KPJ]

Re: Problem with Strat LiveWire

Thanks, Artie. Given the chance, I'll check it out. The kid got his guitar back and loves it!