2 single coils, 1 too quiet, 1 too loud, help!

Electroman

New member
Hello, I'm new here, didn't know where to find an answer to my problem. I've already built more than a couple of guitars without any problems, but well, there is always a first time.

Ok, this is a proyect i had from some time.
It supposed to be finished now i got the pickups i wanted.
Is a DIY Mustang, so i made the wiring exactly as explained by the schematics.
I choose a couple of pickups for strat, an SD Alnico II Pro Staggered APS-1 for the bridge and a SD Custom Staggered SSL-5 for the neck.
Now the problem is the gain of each pickup, they sound awesome individualy, but toghether i only hear the SSL-5, also when i set the SSL-5 alone sounds amazing, but when i turn on the other pickup the gain drops dramaticaly. The APS-1 sounds too quiet, to low.
So, is there any solution to my problem so the 2 pickups sound at the same level individualy and toghether (change of pots, capacitor or whatever), or the only solution is to get two pickups with similar gain/level?

Was a mistake to mix 2 pickups, 1 with hot output and another with normal output?

Please help.
 
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Re: 2 single coils, 1 too quiet, 1 too loud, help!

I Believe
they are out of phase with one another
reverse the hot and ground on only one and see if that tames them
 
Re: 2 single coils, 1 too quiet, 1 too loud, help!

I would probably use the SSL-5 for the bridge and the APS-1 for the neck. If the combined sound is really bright and thin then you might have the two pickups in parallel, rather than out of phase series.
 
Re: 2 single coils, 1 too quiet, 1 too loud, help!

I Believe
they are out of phase with one another
reverse the hot and ground on only one and see if that tames them

Thanks!, you really nailed it, that was it all along, was easier than a thought :smack:
 
Re: 2 single coils, 1 too quiet, 1 too loud, help!

I would probably use the SSL-5 for the bridge and the APS-1 for the neck. If the combined sound is really bright and thin then you might have the two pickups in parallel, rather than out of phase series.

I thought the same, but, the APS-1 is too bright for the sound i'm looking for in the neck position and the SSL-5 in neck position sound a little thin. The idea is to use the SSL-5 in the neck all the time, and turn the APS-1 on only for solos or brighter parts of a song. The APS-1 is the bright tone i was looking for solos, works perfect with my fuzz pedals.
 
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