antiquity neck humbucker louder than antiquity bridge humbucker?

[chunkylover53]

Hi,
I put Antiquity humbuckers in my SG. The neck pickup is about twice as loud as the bridge pickup. I replaced the bridge pots and cap thinking that there maybe something wrong with them. Still same problem. I then swapped out the bridge Antiquity for another bridge Antiquity and still the neck pickup is louder than the bridge I'm stumped. Yes the volume is all the way up on the bridge.
Anybody have any insights?
Thanks

 

[blueman335]

Re: antiquity neck humbucker louder than antiquity bridge humbucker?

Normal for PAF's, as the bridge is only slightly hotter than the neck. Adjust the PU heights to get the volume levels where you want them.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: antiquity neck humbucker louder than antiquity bridge humbucker?

That is what old humbuckers were like. They were not wound differently for each position, and the strings vibrate in a longer path over the neck pickup than over the bridge pickups. This causes a much stronger signal from the neck pickup than from the bridge pickup. It's part of what made old guitars behave the way they did. It's something you either learn to use to your benefit, or you choose modern style "balanced" pickup sets instead. In other words, if you want balance, then you also don't want P.A.F. style pickups. The two wants are exclusive of each other.

That said, I believe the Antiquities do attempt to achieve some balance, and there is plenty of adjustability via pickup height and pole screw adjustment. I would suggest having the pickups set up by a reputable guitar repair person. If, after that, they still aren't balanced enough for your taste, then switch to a more modern style pickup set.

 

[blueman335]

Re: antiquity neck humbucker louder than antiquity bridge humbucker?

Play with the PU heights and see what you can do. My move would be to return them and get a pair of Seth's. I've never had a problem with the neck being louder with them, and I think they sound better than Ant's.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: antiquity neck humbucker louder than antiquity bridge humbucker?

I would suggest having the pickups set up by a reputable guitar repair person. If, after that, they still aren't balanced enough for your taste, then switch to a more modern style pickup set.

OMG!

Just to adjust the heights of the pups and possibly the poles?! You don't need to pay someone to screw in (or out) a couple of screws.

Just play with the heights of the pups yourself and see if you can get them to an acceptable level. Move the neck pup away from the strings to reduce the loudness. Move the bridge pup closer to the strings ti increase the volume of that pup.

I am assuming that the bridge and neck pots are the same value? Both are probably 500k pots.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: antiquity neck humbucker louder than antiquity bridge humbucker?

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Twice as loud? Is that hyperbole or does the OP mean literally twice the decibels?

Neck humbuckers usually appear to be richer and deeper sounding than their bridge counterparts (due to their placement) but then again, the OP knows that...

The set is already calibrated meaning the bridge has more winds than the neck does.

The degaussing (magnet aging) affects the tone and feel of the pickup but the output isn't greatly affected... sure you'll lose some millivolts but the output is still decent for a PAF set with a vintage vibe.

Beyond any wiring gremlin or SNAFU... the neck's magnet could have gotten some sort of juice and was fully charged... that wouldn't actually double your decibels or millivolts numbers but it could alter the feel of the neck pickup, change it's attack and fundamental vs harmonic overtones. It's not likely but within the realm of possibility where you wouldn't have to call Moulder and Scully. That would explain why you swapped bridge stuff and nothing changed.

Just wondering as far as troubleshooting goes... why not swap out the neck pickup for another Antiquity (I'm assuming the OP has access to multiple pickup sets since they had another Ant bridge laying around)?

Could be that the OP thought the problem was a quiet bridge but they really had a too loud neck problem.

Did the OP buy these new or used? Used and they could have been modified... new and the OP should be exercising their exchange period... or is that what they did when they swapped the bridge?

Either way... a properly functioning Antiquity humbucker set is balanced without one pickup being substantially louder than the other, something is wrong here.

 

[Mincer]

Re: antiquity neck humbucker louder than antiquity bridge humbucker?

Assuming it isn't actually twice as loud (I would think something is wrong then), you should be able to balance with pickup heights.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: antiquity neck humbucker louder than antiquity bridge humbucker?

Hi,
I put Antiquity humbuckers in my SG. The neck pickup is about twice as loud as the bridge pickup.
Anybody have any insights?

Yes, you need to learn how to do a setup.

Set the bridge p'up at about 2.5mm from the strings, then set the neck p'up at about 4.5mm.

Tell me now if the neck p'up still overpower the bridge.

HTH,

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: antiquity neck humbucker louder than antiquity bridge humbucker?

OMG!

Just to adjust the heights of the pups and possibly the poles?! You don't need to pay someone to screw in (or out) a couple of screws.

Just play with the heights of the pups yourself and see if you can get them to an acceptable level. Move the neck pup away from the strings to reduce the loudness. Move the bridge pup closer to the strings ti increase the volume of that pup.

I am assuming that the bridge and neck pots are the same value? Both are probably 500k pots.

OMG? Obviously it's easy as pie, and you and I can do it. You know very well that I do everything myself, and that I am a proponent of most people doing the same. The suggestion was because anybody asking the question in the first place obviously is ignorant of such things, and maybe a tutorial isn't the best thing to hand out in this particular instance. A quick and easy way to make sure it's done right is to take it to some guitar guy, and pay the 15 bux or whatever he charges. If he wants to do it himself, nobody is stopping him from learning how, least of all me. It was just a suggestion, Doc.

 

[chunkylover53]

Re: antiquity neck humbucker louder than antiquity bridge humbucker?

Thanks for all the replies Lots of good food for thought here. I'll play around with the pickup heights.
Thanks again!

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: antiquity neck humbucker louder than antiquity bridge humbucker?

I agree with Zen, sounds like there is something wrong in the wiring or with the pickup. Have you checked the resistance of the pickups? My Ant sets are well-balanced. I find them "richer" than Seths. They are well worth the effort.

Bill

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: antiquity neck humbucker louder than antiquity bridge humbucker?

OMG? Obviously it's easy as pie, and you and I can do it. You know very well that I do everything myself, and that I am a proponent of most people doing the same. The suggestion was because anybody asking the question in the first place obviously is ignorant of such things, and maybe a tutorial isn't the best thing to hand out in this particular instance. A quick and easy way to make sure it's done right is to take it to some guitar guy, and pay the 15 bux or whatever he charges. If he wants to do it himself, nobody is stopping him from learning how, least of all me. It was just a suggestion, Doc.

I certainly understand your explanation. I think it's a pretty easy thing for the op to learn to do himself, even if he sounds like it's beyond his abilities. Plus, it will probably cost him $50.