Antiquity Surf + Hot Rails PROBLEMS

[emb3232]

Hi.

I had a tech recently install a Antiquity 2 Surf in the neck and middle position and a SD Hot Rails in the bridge.

My problem is when I switch from the humbucker to the single coils. There is a big treble boost on the single coils for about 10-20 seconds before making the pickup sound fuller and bassy; perhaps even muddy.

The problem is that I also prefer this trebly tone. It has the perfect chime that I associate with a 60’s start pickup.

The humbucker always sounds good and consistent. But not the singe coils after switching from the Hot Rails. The tone is also consistent when switching between the single coils only...

Is it possible that the humbucker overloads the tubes so much that when switching to the low output single coils takes time for the tubes to readjust to the drastic change in EQ?

Does this pickup combination just not mix?

My gear is a 96 USA Roland Ready Strat + a Tiny Terror. This problem happens with any types of tubes I put in there. So it doest seem to be a tube problem. I have not tried other amplifiers.

Please help.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Antiquity Surf + Hot Rails PROBLEMS

I'd guess maybe something is bad with the wiring - specifically with the ant. Tube overloading (if indeed that was a real effect) would happen while you are playing with the humbucker, not when you had moved to the lower output pickup.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Antiquity Surf + Hot Rails PROBLEMS

Hmm, the Antiquity Surfers should not sound bassy at all. Check the switch wiring- maybe it isn't 'clicking' into place properly. Are you sure the Hot Rails is actually off when you select the single coils? Try it in another amp too to eliminate that as a possible source of the problem.

 

[emb3232]

Re: Antiquity Surf + Hot Rails PROBLEMS

The Hot Rails turn off when I switch to other pickups... Isn't that how the pickup selector functions?

You guys never heard of HSS combinations having this problem?

 

[AlexR]

Re: Antiquity Surf + Hot Rails PROBLEMS

second point - not ones that are working normally no. I would see if you can get some pics of the cavity so we can look at solder joint quality. Also if you have a multimeter you can move wires about and see if the continuity (ohms/resistance) changes with any mechanical changes. Is there any physical playing thing you are doing at the point of change which might impact the pots, pickup or anything else which might give a clue as to why the change happens??

 

[emb3232]

Re: Antiquity Surf + Hot Rails PROBLEMS

Ill open it up soon. For now, I raised the Hot Rails very close to the strings... It seems to lessen this "effect" a bit.

This reminds me; I had this Hot Rails bridge paired with my stock USA single coils, and while the Hot Rails sounded great, the single coils never sounded as good as when they were all just SSS stock...

Any other theories?