Brand New Guitar - Pickup Ground issue

[guitarjunkie986]

Hey everyone,

I just received a brand new Schecter SLS C-7 with Blackouts and there is an issue with the bridge pickup. When only the neck pickup is on, everything sounds normal, but when just the bridge pickup is selected or both pickups are selected, there is a loud buzzing/humming sound unless I touch one of the tone or volume knobs. I believe there is a ground issue, but it appears to be wired up correctly, and all the solder joints look fine. I did desolder and resolder the bridge pickup ground on the bridge volume pot, but nothing changed.

Everything matches the diagram here: http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=2_blackouts_2v_1t

Any ideas?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Brand New Guitar - Pickup Ground issue

What did the dealer say?

 

[guitarjunkie986]

Re: Brand New Guitar - Pickup Ground issue

It's Sweetwater, and they'll accept a return, but they asked me to re-solder the grounds first...which I did this evening with no success.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Brand New Guitar - Pickup Ground issue

My best guess is that, assuming you have a separate volume for the bridge, the bridge vol pot may not be grounded. A more likely possibility is the baseplate for the bridge pickup isn't grounded.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Brand New Guitar - Pickup Ground issue

I'd just return it......if you start messing with wiring then, even though they have suggested it, it may hinder a return.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Brand New Guitar - Pickup Ground issue

"Maybe" you can have it done locally on their dime.

Did it w/my Epi around here.

Or return,as mentioned.I've heard/read great things about Sweetwater,so mebbe it's no big deal to them...

Good Luck,don'tcha hate that sh!t...

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: Brand New Guitar - Pickup Ground issue

Make sure the ground from the bridge is hard soldered on the other end.

Some manufacturers cut cost by sticking that ground on a foil backed plate or sandwiching it in under the bridge hoping the contact will stay.

I have one of those old school ANGRY techs who hates everything made after 1975 and he's A L W A Y S talking about this issue.

It's THAT ground...somewhere under your bridge or wherever Schecter puts it.

Good luck,

~LD

 

[SGFanatic]

Re: Brand New Guitar - Pickup Ground issue

I bought a brand new Jackson King V and it had the same issue right out of the box. I know how you feel, it's very frustrating. I called Fender/Jackson and *****ed. The tech guy told me to bring it to a Jackson Authorized Technician to have it fixed under warranty, before I mess with anything.
As I examined the electrical work, I noticed the leads from the output jack and the selector switch were wired to the wrong lugs on the volume control pots.
I was confident in my soldering skills enough to heat my iron up and do the work; which fixed that buzz you're referring to.
So if you think you can do it, check out were the leads go and make sure it's all kosher then do it! But otherwise call Schecter and see what they suggest.

Hey everyone,

I just received a brand new Schecter SLS C-7 with Blackouts and there is an issue with the bridge pickup. When only the neck pickup is on, everything sounds normal, but when just the bridge pickup is selected or both pickups are selected, there is a loud buzzing/humming sound unless I touch one of the tone or volume knobs. I believe there is a ground issue, but it appears to be wired up correctly, and all the solder joints look fine. I did desolder and resolder the bridge pickup ground on the bridge volume pot, but nothing changed.

Everything matches the diagram here: http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=2_blackouts_2v_1t

Any ideas?

 

[guitarjunkie986]

Re: Brand New Guitar - Pickup Ground issue

Make sure the ground from the bridge is hard soldered on the other end.

Some manufacturers cut cost by sticking that ground on a foil backed plate or sandwiching it in under the bridge hoping the contact will stay.

I have one of those old school ANGRY techs who hates everything made after 1975 and he's A L W A Y S talking about this issue.

It's THAT ground...somewhere under your bridge or wherever Schecter puts it.

Good luck,

~LD

If it were the bridge ground wire, wouldn't both pickups have the issue? It is just the bridge pickup on this guitar. The hum goes away when only the neck pickup is on.

 

[guitarjunkie986]

Re: Brand New Guitar - Pickup Ground issue

I swapped the bridge Blackout for an EMG 81-7 I received in the mail today, and the issue went away completely. So the issue appears to be a faulty pickup. I'm working with Schecter to see if they'll replace the faulty pickup with a new one.

Sweetwater wanted me to send in the whole guitar, but I don't think that should be necessary when it is so clearly a pickup fault.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Brand New Guitar - Pickup Ground issue

Good luck to ya. Hope it all gets taken care of in a convenient way for you.

 

[guitarjunkie986]

Re: Brand New Guitar - Pickup Ground issue

Spoke again to Sweetwater and they will be sending me a replacement pickup, so all is well!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Brand New Guitar - Pickup Ground issue

Sounds like the best solution. Glad you got it resolved in the most convenient way for you.