1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

[T-Bone-BBQ]

I've been wanting to try the YJM pickups with a 500k volume to see if it "opens" them up a little more and gives them more highs for a while. I had a Yamaha Pacifica that I was wanting to try something new with and put in a new Alnico Pro II bridge pickup I got for a steal and took two of my YJM neck/middle pups I ordered with flat poles. I didn't have a 5-way switch to replace the 3-way that was in there, so I wired it so that I could at least get the neck, neck/bridge and bridge to try it out until I get a 5-way switch.

Here's a before pic...



Here's two after pics





Initial impressions are that it did add more highs, but not as much as I'd hoped for. Once I get the 5-way switch I may try wiring both neck and middle pickups bypassing the tone control completely just to see what that does and go from there. I'll update as I go with my findings. I love these pickups with gain, but want to try to get more "chime" from them when playing clean. It's fun to experiment anyways.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

You can turn your tone into a no load tone pot.

https://youtu.be/dN3SlH-cEAg

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

No clips? Boo!

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

No clips? Boo!

Sorry...I don't have any good way to record any clips other than via cell phone. I can do a comparison once I'm done between one guitar I have with the YJM's and the stock 250k pots and this guitar with the 500k using the same amp settings, but it'll have to be with a cell phone. I know they are never going to sound like regular single coils, but if changing the pots can add in more chime and open them up a little more I think it'll be a good thing especially with clean and lower gain settings. For higher gain they are awesome. This test is ONLY for the YJM pickups in the neck and middle. The stock 250k's sound fine with the bridge pickup to me, but I don't like a regular single coil tone in the bridge anyway.

 

[Mincer]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

Wow, very nice1 what model Pacifica is that? I've been looking at those as a platform to mod. I'd like to wire up a few pickguards to molex connectors and switch them out at will.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

It's a 112J. It was my first Pacifica I got years ago in a trade. Now I have three of them with different pickups in each. Awesome little Strat copies for modding and I even found a place where you can order different pickguards for them with SSS, SSH and HH configs. I like the flatter fret board radius (13.75" I think) compared to a similar priced Squier strat. I just replace the pickups/electronics in them and they're great.

 

[Mincer]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

I always liked the look and weight of them compared to cheaper Fenders. I would think the bridge is just a standard Strat bridge? Is the string spacing like a standard Strat?

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

It's a standard import strat type bridge. I replaced the stamped saddles with solid SS saddles as you can see from the pics. String spacing I'm not 100% sure of. I've had much better luck with these vs comparably priced Squier guitars for build quality and fretwork. I haven't had one that's had a bad fret. I've had some Squier and even MIM Fenders that have had really bad fret jobs.

I got me a good 5-way switch yesterday, so later this week I'll get it put in and get things wired up. At first I think I'm going to leave the neck/middle YJM pickups out of the tone control just to see how they are that way. If they're too bright, then I'll see what I want to do from there.

 

[Jacew]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

Nice! I've always liked Pacificas. Should be great quality for the money, and they look sleeker and better balanced than usual Strats.

Bet it plays well. Interested to hear how it works out with those pickups.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

For the same price range they seem better made IMO to Squier Strats. With any luck in the next day or two I'll get it all wired up and have it ready to test out at band practice this weekend. It'll also be interesting to see how the APH works out for me since it's a lower output humbucker compared to what I normally use.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

So I had an idea to loosen the pick guard just enough to cut the wire to the tone pot for now until I get a chance to put the new switch in and re wire it all. Figured out a few things trying the neck and bridge pickup with only the 500k volume pot.

1. It did help add in more highs to the YJM neck pickup and it didn't seem too bright which is good.
2. The YJM pickups have a lot of mids, so turning the mids down a little on the amp helps to clear it up some more since the mids are so strong in those pickups.
3. I either have to have the 250k tone pot back on for the APH bridge pickup or possibly replace it with something else because it is bright...really bright without the 250k tone pot. I almost wonder if it would make for a good neck pickup and put something else in the bridge.

Would the APH-1B be a good neck pickup? I've got a couple of other pickups I could put in, but mixing brands worries me about matching the wiring. I have a F spaced Air Norton, F spaced Air Zone and a bridge pickup from a PRS SE 245 also.

 

[Jacew]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

You could try a lower cap value, if you want too keep the highs for YJMs, but keep mids and APH tamed with 250k pot.

 

[Mincer]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

I would think the APH-1B would be a fine neck pickup, but sound pretty different than the YJMs. Funny, I never heard the YJMs as full of mids myself, but I like mids. They were always on the 'clear' side for me.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

I'll keep the APH in there for now and see how it is once all the wiring is done and it's back on the tone control. I'll be able to try it out at better volumes this weekend, but the YJM's with the 500k is encouraging so far. I do need to try it with one of my other amps to make sure the YJM's and the 500k aren't too bright on them.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

Frank Falbo posted this in another thread...how to make a passive mid-cut out of your tone control: LINK

Might be useful in this case!

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

If I find that the neck/middle pickups are a little too bright with only the 500k volume I can always add another tone control with a mini tone pot for only the neck/middle pickups and make it a 500k if I have to. Lots of options, but I'm going to try them first with no tone control and see how that goes.

 

[Aceman]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

Dave - if you can find a Yamaha Pacifica 712 with a Wilkinson and Spertzel locking tuners....you'd love it.

 

[Mincer]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

Dave - if you can find a Yamaha Pacifica 712 with a Wilkinson and Spertzel locking tuners....you'd love it.

I am sure I would!

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: 1st test - YJM pickups with 500k volume/250k tone pots

Ok, so here's a question regarding what I may do with a guitar if this whole YJM/500k volume/no tone pot idea works out. I have an ESP LTD strat that has two of the YJM bridge pickups in the neck/middle positions and a Lil Screamin Demon in the bridge. It has the standard 1 volume 2 tone config and I have it wired right now with the bridge pickup on the bottom tone control, the middle pickup on the top tone control and the neck pickup not in any tone control. If I wanted to put in a 500k volume for the YJM pickups, but keep the 250k volume for the bridge pickup AND leave the YJM's out of the tone control how would I do that? I know I could change the 250k tone to a no-load, but I like to keep it set for the bridge pickup. I was just curious how it could be done with the standard 5-way strat switch.

What I also thought about doing was replace the volume with a 500k and the top tone control with a no-load 500k or 250k tone control, but I'm afraid that the 500k volume might make the Lil Screamin Demon too bright.