Annoying problem with Tele

[mikesaidthis]

Ok.. I am having an issue with my tele. Back in the day, about 10 years ago, I had the stock single coil removed... and had an Invader professionally installed into the bridge spot. At the time, it sounded fine...

As my tastes developed, I decided to swap it out for a JB... but wasn't really happy with the tone overall... I did a complete overhaul of the wiring, new pots, new cap, new switch, new wires ... all to compliment a new humbucker.. a DiMarzio DP100 Super Distortion.

All wired up how it should have been (I am assuming.. I mirrored the stock set up...) and There was a buzz (sounded like grounding) and my middle position is really weak and "out of phase" sounding.

I stopped playing it.. to think about it for a while, and just tackled it again, put the old electronics back in to see if I did something wrong in the wiring... Pickup sounds great... neck pickup sounds a bit strange, and middle position is still out of phase... I am stumped. No more buzz (at least as far as I can tell)

Any Ideas?!

 

[skynyrd]

Re: Annoying problem with Tele

Possibly your neck pup is in backwards ?

 

[AlexR]

Re: Annoying problem with Tele

I'm pretty sure Dimarzio colour coding is different to SD. Yep - just checked. If you've just wired the colours the same then you'll have issues. You may be able to swap the neck p/u leads and solve the issue.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=color_codes

This explains the colours of humbucker wires. Check you've got the h/b right then see if its in phase then.

 

[Leikdoi]

Re: Annoying problem with Tele

Is the neck single coil still the stock Fender? If so, you'll need to switch the bridge pickup's hot wire with the colored ground wire. If it's a DiMarzio, then I think you'll need to switch the red and green wires. You'd have to double check the color coding on that.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Annoying problem with Tele

Resolve all of the issues via the bridge PU cabling and/or magnet orientation. This will avoid tampering with the ground connection for the Tele neck PU metal cover.

 

[mikesaidthis]

Re: Annoying problem with Tele

Yes, it is the stock neck singlecoil in my fender. I will give that a shot. Thanks so much. I will post back on the results because it seems I can't find any proper answers on topics such as this. Thanks again.

Mike

 

[mikesaidthis]

Re: Annoying problem with Tele

Is the neck single coil still the stock Fender? If so, you'll need to switch the bridge pickup's hot wire with the colored ground wire. If it's a DiMarzio, then I think you'll need to switch the red and green wires. You'd have to double check the color coding on that.

Problem Solved!!! You are a lifesaver Leikdoi! Thanks so much. Now my guitar sounds perfect again.

I feel like I get so much crap from the Tele community for wanting a super high output humbucker in my guitar... when I post on their boards, they all just tell me to "get another guitar", "buy an ibanez/les paul/etc..", "stop messing w/ a classic"... but the point is.. I love the way tele's feel, play, look... just the thin single coil sound isn't for me.. I am glad I could actually get help to my problem on a forum without insignificant judgment.

Ha.

** and as a side note... I feel really stupid. I was just looking back over the DiMarzio install instructions.. and under all the pictures, it tells you exactly this. Haha. I am dumb, but at least now I know. I don't believe that the pickup came with instructions, as I just bought it off a friend... but in any event. Thanks again for the help, sorry for such a n00b post. ***

 

[Mark Cearlock]

Re: Annoying problem with Tele

I can really take stock singles in my tele either, and i havent been able to find a stock tele neck p/u i could live with. I have a stl-3 hot for tele in the bridge , and a seth lover in the neck, problem solved, does rock and blues in spades. Cheers on you getting your tele lined out.