Jack_TriPpEr
Well-known member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
Shrill just by itself, or in combination with the neck pickup?
Shrill just by itself, or in combination with the neck pickup?
Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
- Thread starter dpaterson
- Start date
dpaterson
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
Hi.
Thanks for that. Yip. I saw that part of your post. But at this point I'm kinda ready to try anything to be honest.
@freefrog
I don't have resistors per se lying around so I soldered/wired a 500kΩ tone pot across hot and ground. I can only assume this is the same as having a tone control though not??? Must say it did make a BIT of a difference i.e. even with it wide open it tames the shrillness a little. But a LITTLE is all.
@Gtrjunior
Thanks. If you can find that diagram it'd be great. Alternatively I can just wire the black Jackson identical to the white one (only reason I've not done this yet is because when that Invader comes I gotta do the whole darn thing again) (and I've run out of spare wire so time to go raid something electronic that I may have lying around). "freefrog" says that wiring is functionally correct but who knows if by simply doing it in a sort of "odd" fashion is what's making the difference.
Who knows. Maybe we're onto something here. The black Jackson was harsh (before the DM SD) even with a tone pot though. But, as noted, the wiring was totally different. Maybe putting the tone pot. back with that "alternative" wiring would calm the situation.
Tell you though: amazes me that a) the stock Jackson pickups that were in this guitar were just as good as this DM SD thing and b) I measured the old pots. from the Jackson. Old pots. (500kΩ) from the Jackson read 495kΩ/496kΩ. These new pots. that I bought (both the Alpha and CTS) read between 430kΩ and 450kΩ (all of them)!!! Amazing. Pretty sure it makes very little difference (if at all) but seems my 'lil 'ol Jacksons ain't that cr*p (current "ice pick" tone aside of course).
Thanks for your help.
Regards,
Dale.
Hi.
Thanks for that. Yip. I saw that part of your post. But at this point I'm kinda ready to try anything to be honest.
@freefrog
I don't have resistors per se lying around so I soldered/wired a 500kΩ tone pot across hot and ground. I can only assume this is the same as having a tone control though not??? Must say it did make a BIT of a difference i.e. even with it wide open it tames the shrillness a little. But a LITTLE is all.
@Gtrjunior
Thanks. If you can find that diagram it'd be great. Alternatively I can just wire the black Jackson identical to the white one (only reason I've not done this yet is because when that Invader comes I gotta do the whole darn thing again) (and I've run out of spare wire so time to go raid something electronic that I may have lying around). "freefrog" says that wiring is functionally correct but who knows if by simply doing it in a sort of "odd" fashion is what's making the difference.
Who knows. Maybe we're onto something here. The black Jackson was harsh (before the DM SD) even with a tone pot though. But, as noted, the wiring was totally different. Maybe putting the tone pot. back with that "alternative" wiring would calm the situation.
Tell you though: amazes me that a) the stock Jackson pickups that were in this guitar were just as good as this DM SD thing and b) I measured the old pots. from the Jackson. Old pots. (500kΩ) from the Jackson read 495kΩ/496kΩ. These new pots. that I bought (both the Alpha and CTS) read between 430kΩ and 450kΩ (all of them)!!! Amazing. Pretty sure it makes very little difference (if at all) but seems my 'lil 'ol Jacksons ain't that cr*p (current "ice pick" tone aside of course).
Thanks for your help.
Regards,
Dale.
dpaterson
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
Shrill by itself i.e. I've not even bothered to connect the neck pickup (not sure what's eventually going to end up in the neck).
Regards,
Dale.
Shrill by itself i.e. I've not even bothered to connect the neck pickup (not sure what's eventually going to end up in the neck).
Regards,
Dale.
Jack_TriPpEr
Well-known member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
Dale describes the result of install in the 1st guitar as shrill. That doesnt sound right given what we know a Super Distortion is a very fat sounding pickup. I suspect there is a wiring mistake. This is Dale's first pickup install, so not out of the ordinary. There is also the additional complicating factor that there are two wiring color code schemes present - jackson and Dimarzio - that would complicate the job for a newbie.
So, i hightly recommend that we troubleshoot Dale's first install before he tackles another guitar.
Dale, please post pics of the guitar cavity of the first guitar with the Dimarzio Super Distortion installed.
Dale describes the result of install in the 1st guitar as shrill. That doesnt sound right given what we know a Super Distortion is a very fat sounding pickup. I suspect there is a wiring mistake. This is Dale's first pickup install, so not out of the ordinary. There is also the additional complicating factor that there are two wiring color code schemes present - jackson and Dimarzio - that would complicate the job for a newbie.
So, i hightly recommend that we troubleshoot Dale's first install before he tackles another guitar.
Dale, please post pics of the guitar cavity of the first guitar with the Dimarzio Super Distortion installed.
Jack_TriPpEr
Well-known member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
Dale, still, "shrill" doesnt sound right given what a Super Distortion is supposed to sound like. Please post pics of the cavity post pickup install.
Dale, still, "shrill" doesnt sound right given what a Super Distortion is supposed to sound like. Please post pics of the cavity post pickup install.
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dpaterson
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
You sure you wanna see this??? LOL!!!
It's not permanent though (and I did the wiring in my white Jackson when I replaced the pots. so I don't feel too bad). I've run out of wire so had to join pieces hence the tape (in case you were wondering).
Dunno how much you're going to be able to tell from this pic. though.
I know about the difference between DM and SD wiring (colors) though and I think I got it right (not much to get wrong with just a volume pot. let's face it).
One thing I have tried is connecting the pickup directly out i.e. no volume pot or anything. It sounded exactly the same.
I'm actually starting to wonder if I shouldn't be going the OTHER way i.e. instead of installing extra hot pickups I should be looking at some that's not hot. These hot pickups may be the ticket for tube amps. but maybe these CODE amps. just cannot handle it. My white Jackson doesn't sound half bad compared to the other two. And contrary to my initial thoughts: its pickup is definitely weaker than the black Jackson and the Blaze (which again makes me wonder about this parallel wiring thing as that decreases output).
Matter of fact: is there any way to accurately measure pickup output (without having to deconstruct anything that is i.e. I ain't touching my white Jackson not for love nor money).
Regards,
Dale.
You sure you wanna see this??? LOL!!!
It's not permanent though (and I did the wiring in my white Jackson when I replaced the pots. so I don't feel too bad). I've run out of wire so had to join pieces hence the tape (in case you were wondering).
Dunno how much you're going to be able to tell from this pic. though.
I know about the difference between DM and SD wiring (colors) though and I think I got it right (not much to get wrong with just a volume pot. let's face it).
One thing I have tried is connecting the pickup directly out i.e. no volume pot or anything. It sounded exactly the same.
I'm actually starting to wonder if I shouldn't be going the OTHER way i.e. instead of installing extra hot pickups I should be looking at some that's not hot. These hot pickups may be the ticket for tube amps. but maybe these CODE amps. just cannot handle it. My white Jackson doesn't sound half bad compared to the other two. And contrary to my initial thoughts: its pickup is definitely weaker than the black Jackson and the Blaze (which again makes me wonder about this parallel wiring thing as that decreases output).
Matter of fact: is there any way to accurately measure pickup output (without having to deconstruct anything that is i.e. I ain't touching my white Jackson not for love nor money).
Regards,
Dale.
dpaterson
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
By the way and nobody answered this question:
Is connecting these things in parallel not just the same thing as having them connected normally but turning the volume down??? Or does it have a different effect???
Suppose I should just try it (once I find some wire that is). For all I know its cuts out the "too much" effect and even although it may add highs there's this thing of "let's define highs" i.e. it that "highs" or "upper mids" or "high mids"??? See what I'm getting at. Treble I can dial down easy, but not mids., on the amps.
But this "shrillness". It's like there's "overtones" almost. And the funny thing: it's like I can hear everything single little thing that goes on with the guitar e.g. fingers sliding over the strings are piercing. Or if you knock on the guitar there's some type of trebly, springy, high pitched echo. New strings maybe??? (White Jackson had strings changed last about a month ago and I play that guitar every day)???
That garage sale is really starting to appeal I'll tell you.
Regards,
Dale.
By the way and nobody answered this question:
Is connecting these things in parallel not just the same thing as having them connected normally but turning the volume down??? Or does it have a different effect???
Suppose I should just try it (once I find some wire that is). For all I know its cuts out the "too much" effect and even although it may add highs there's this thing of "let's define highs" i.e. it that "highs" or "upper mids" or "high mids"??? See what I'm getting at. Treble I can dial down easy, but not mids., on the amps.
But this "shrillness". It's like there's "overtones" almost. And the funny thing: it's like I can hear everything single little thing that goes on with the guitar e.g. fingers sliding over the strings are piercing. Or if you knock on the guitar there's some type of trebly, springy, high pitched echo. New strings maybe??? (White Jackson had strings changed last about a month ago and I play that guitar every day)???
That garage sale is really starting to appeal I'll tell you.
Regards,
Dale.
Jack_TriPpEr
Well-known member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
Thank you. Ok, your wiring connections look correct.
Next step, as one of the other posters already mentioned, the sound will be extra bright without a tone pot wired in to provide additional resistance - that occurs even when the tone pot is fully open/set to 10. I see your guitar has a drillhole there to support a 2nd pot. Add in a tone pot, reevaluate the tone and then let us know.
Also, since you are saying the tone is too bright, make sure the value of your pots are 500K and not 1 Meg. If your current lone volume control is 1 meg, you can first try replacing it with a 500k pot, before adding a 500k tone pot.
Thank you. Ok, your wiring connections look correct.
Next step, as one of the other posters already mentioned, the sound will be extra bright without a tone pot wired in to provide additional resistance - that occurs even when the tone pot is fully open/set to 10. I see your guitar has a drillhole there to support a 2nd pot. Add in a tone pot, reevaluate the tone and then let us know.
Also, since you are saying the tone is too bright, make sure the value of your pots are 500K and not 1 Meg. If your current lone volume control is 1 meg, you can first try replacing it with a 500k pot, before adding a 500k tone pot.
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dpaterson
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
I'm not sure quite what to make of this but I wired the thing in parallel and the shrillness all but went away and treble increased (which is quite strange is it not i.e. the shrillness went away but with an increased treble response). Pickup becomes much clearer and more articulate that's for sure. But you lose gain (because of lower output). Compensate on the amps. or wireless system and the bottom becomes muddy (like it's overpowering). Now I'm wondering: maybe a cap. in series on the output to take away some muddy bottom???
There's something I'm missing here. Just dunno what it is.
Still wanna try wiring it the same as the white Jackson and see what happens. But need to get pickup wire and some of that heat shrink wrapping (whatever it's called i.e the tape thing don't work for me). Or wait for the Invader and see if that's better or different or what (because with all this pushing and pulling on this guitar: sooner or later I'm gonna be filling holes with matchsticks or toothpicks and superglue).
Don't forget that wiring diagram (if you have it). Keen to see it. Who knows. Maybe.........
Regards,
Dale.
I'm not sure quite what to make of this but I wired the thing in parallel and the shrillness all but went away and treble increased (which is quite strange is it not i.e. the shrillness went away but with an increased treble response). Pickup becomes much clearer and more articulate that's for sure. But you lose gain (because of lower output). Compensate on the amps. or wireless system and the bottom becomes muddy (like it's overpowering). Now I'm wondering: maybe a cap. in series on the output to take away some muddy bottom???
There's something I'm missing here. Just dunno what it is.
Still wanna try wiring it the same as the white Jackson and see what happens. But need to get pickup wire and some of that heat shrink wrapping (whatever it's called i.e the tape thing don't work for me). Or wait for the Invader and see if that's better or different or what (because with all this pushing and pulling on this guitar: sooner or later I'm gonna be filling holes with matchsticks or toothpicks and superglue).
Don't forget that wiring diagram (if you have it). Keen to see it. Who knows. Maybe.........
Regards,
Dale.
dpaterson
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
@kingswebe.
See above (interesting).
Yeh. A tone pot will tone it down a bit (tried that earlier) (don't really want to go further with the whole wiring thing until I've put the Invader in to see how it compares) (although as per my other post on another thread: my days of expecting tone miracles from pickups are finally over) (which should make a few people smile).
And yip: tone pots are 500kΩ (440kΩ to be exact!!!). That's another idea of course i.e. try 250kΩ pots. (I don't have any but if I'm ordering wiring then maybe I should get some).
Regards,
Dale.
@kingswebe.
See above (interesting).
Yeh. A tone pot will tone it down a bit (tried that earlier) (don't really want to go further with the whole wiring thing until I've put the Invader in to see how it compares) (although as per my other post on another thread: my days of expecting tone miracles from pickups are finally over) (which should make a few people smile).
And yip: tone pots are 500kΩ (440kΩ to be exact!!!). That's another idea of course i.e. try 250kΩ pots. (I don't have any but if I'm ordering wiring then maybe I should get some).
Regards,
Dale.
dpaterson
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
Hi.
Sorry. I know I'm bugging you all. But one final question for the night:
Is there such a thing as the wrong pickups for the wrong guitar (not talking about Gibsons or something like that i.e. just these strats.)???
Reason I ask is because after testing in parallel I put the DM SD back to series (normal) and moved it as far as I could (2.4mm when last fret is fretted) and it sounds like real sh*t again (possibly even worse with it further away i.e. the bottom end bass is so muddy and distorted it's not funny and the articulation is gone). You only realise just how bad it sounds after you've tried it in parallel. But the norm. is to indeed run it in series. But evidently on this particular guitar that's just not an option. I'm mean one could be forgiven for assuming that it's just another strat. type electric guitar and therefore there should be no problem. But evidently that's not the case so I'm really curious as to the answer.
Regards,
P.S.
By the way. Thanks for all the help. Much appreciated.
Dale.
Hi.
Sorry. I know I'm bugging you all. But one final question for the night:
Is there such a thing as the wrong pickups for the wrong guitar (not talking about Gibsons or something like that i.e. just these strats.)???
Reason I ask is because after testing in parallel I put the DM SD back to series (normal) and moved it as far as I could (2.4mm when last fret is fretted) and it sounds like real sh*t again (possibly even worse with it further away i.e. the bottom end bass is so muddy and distorted it's not funny and the articulation is gone). You only realise just how bad it sounds after you've tried it in parallel. But the norm. is to indeed run it in series. But evidently on this particular guitar that's just not an option. I'm mean one could be forgiven for assuming that it's just another strat. type electric guitar and therefore there should be no problem. But evidently that's not the case so I'm really curious as to the answer.
Regards,
P.S.
By the way. Thanks for all the help. Much appreciated.
Dale.
Gtrjunior
Well-known member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
Sure, some pickups don’t work well in particular guitars but I don’t think you can make a blanket statement like “a super D doesn’t work in a Strat”....
More like
“THIS Strat doesn’t sound good with a Super D” is probably more accurate.
Just my opinion.
Any way you can make a short recording of each wiring?
Maybe just a phone video or something?
I had a super D in my Les Paul for a long time and I think it’s a phenomenal pickup. I can’t imagine it sounding bad in a Strat much less a Superstrat.
Sure, some pickups don’t work well in particular guitars but I don’t think you can make a blanket statement like “a super D doesn’t work in a Strat”....
More like
“THIS Strat doesn’t sound good with a Super D” is probably more accurate.
Just my opinion.
Any way you can make a short recording of each wiring?
Maybe just a phone video or something?
I had a super D in my Les Paul for a long time and I think it’s a phenomenal pickup. I can’t imagine it sounding bad in a Strat much less a Superstrat.
dpaterson
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
Yip. That's what I meant. I've only heard great reports about the DM SD so it cannot be the pickup for sure.
I'm going to record some stuff tomorrow (oh: put it back in parallel again and it sounds a bit better again) and will upload. Got some recordings in series as well as recordings done just before I put the DM SD in. So loads of comparisons (all sound like sh*t to me by that's just me).
Matter of fact: I'll record some of the white Jackson as well as the Blaze. May explain better what I'm banging on about. And you can be the judge!!! LOL!!!
Thanks again.
(Did you happen to find that wiring diagram by some remote chance???).
Regards,
Dale.
Hello.
Yip. That's what I meant. I've only heard great reports about the DM SD so it cannot be the pickup for sure.
I'm going to record some stuff tomorrow (oh: put it back in parallel again and it sounds a bit better again) and will upload. Got some recordings in series as well as recordings done just before I put the DM SD in. So loads of comparisons (all sound like sh*t to me by that's just me).
Matter of fact: I'll record some of the white Jackson as well as the Blaze. May explain better what I'm banging on about. And you can be the judge!!! LOL!!!
Thanks again.
(Did you happen to find that wiring diagram by some remote chance???).
Regards,
Dale.
Gtrjunior
Well-known member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
I just spent 20 minutes looking for it and I’m sorry to say I can’t find the one I was looking for.
I happened to stumble on it last weekend when I was wiring my pickups in. It wasn’t the diagram I was looking for so I didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to it. But I did remember that it had the tone caps wired in like yours. I do mine middle to outer lug.
If you want to spend 10 minutes looking, the Duncan website is a pretty damn good wiring resource...it under the “support” heading.
It’s my go-to site for this.
I just spent 20 minutes looking for it and I’m sorry to say I can’t find the one I was looking for.
I happened to stumble on it last weekend when I was wiring my pickups in. It wasn’t the diagram I was looking for so I didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to it. But I did remember that it had the tone caps wired in like yours. I do mine middle to outer lug.
If you want to spend 10 minutes looking, the Duncan website is a pretty damn good wiring resource...it under the “support” heading.
It’s my go-to site for this.
devastone
Well-known member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
Just be aware that DiMarzio wire colors are different from Duncans, if you hook a DMZ up with the Duncan colors, it will be disappointing if it works at all. That said, from what I can make out of the picture, it looks right. But if it sounds "shrill" hooked up in series, but fuller in parallel, something is wrong, there is a bad solder joint, or something. A Super D in series (standard) wiring is not thin or shrill at all.
Also, I can't tell from the pic, but you should also ground the shielding braid to the back of the pot. It won't (shouldn't) change the sound, but it will help keep out noise.
Just be aware that DiMarzio wire colors are different from Duncans, if you hook a DMZ up with the Duncan colors, it will be disappointing if it works at all. That said, from what I can make out of the picture, it looks right. But if it sounds "shrill" hooked up in series, but fuller in parallel, something is wrong, there is a bad solder joint, or something. A Super D in series (standard) wiring is not thin or shrill at all.
Also, I can't tell from the pic, but you should also ground the shielding braid to the back of the pot. It won't (shouldn't) change the sound, but it will help keep out noise.
Gtrjunior
Well-known member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
Absolutely correct. I keep a color chart diagram at my work bench too!!
Just be aware that DiMarzio wire colors are different from Duncans, if you hook a DMZ up with the Duncan colors, it will be disappointing if it works at all. That said, from what I can make out of the picture, it looks right. But if it sounds "shrill" hooked up in series, but fuller in parallel, something is wrong, there is a bad solder joint, or something. A Super D in series (standard) wiring is not thin or shrill at all.
Also, I can't tell from the pic, but you should also ground the shielding braid to the back of the pot. It won't (shouldn't) change the sound, but it will help keep out noise.
Absolutely correct. I keep a color chart diagram at my work bench too!!
dpaterson
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
Good morning.
As always: thank you everyone.
I had a thought this morning:
Could the actual pickup mounting itself have anything to do with this shrillness??? Reason I ask is because when I put the DM SD in I had to use the DM SD silver, slotted, screws as supplied because the black, phillips or star, screws from the Jackson are thicker in diameter. I used the Jackson's springs because the DM SD springs as supplied were MUCH longer than the Jackson's springs. But the DM SD springs as supplied were MUCH smaller in diameter. Maybe these springs or screws of combination thereof is causing some type of sympathetic resonance??? As I noted: this shrillness is almost like an "ice pickey, springy, overtone". Just a thought.
Dunno if anybody here has installed an Invader but I'm curious to know if the screws as supplied with SD pickups are of the larger diameter and are phillips or star screws (same as the Jackson's originals) (based on the Blaze I'm guessing they are). Wonder why DM supplies different mounting screws??? Just to be individual or difficult or what???
No worries about the diagram. I've documented the white Jackson's wiring pretty well. One thing's for certain: how much of a difference it may or may not make I'll wire the black Jackson exactly the same when I'm ready.
I know about all the diagrams on SD's website and how to configure different diagrams (believe it or not I do try check things out BEFORE posting pages and pages on nonsense here). Also acutely aware of the wiring differences between DM and SD. Must say that in this regard: SD's website sticks sh*t into DM's website.
Anyways. Not much more I can do other than play the guitar, maybe muck about (again) with pickup height, and go from there. Once the SD Invader arrives I've got to go through this entire process again so I may as well wait, put that in, and test. At least with not having any tone pot. or anything else I'm getting the pure unadulterated tone from the pickup which for comparison purposes may be a good thing.
Some useless information:
Dunno if you all know this but the middle lug of a CTS pot. is made from an alloy whereas as all the lugs on other pots. (Jackson and Alpha are those that I have experience with) are not (same as all the other lugs on the pot.). Here's a video on this (it's short so don't worry): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSTX-kytxxU. Why this is the case and how much of a difference it makes I know not. But the chap makes a good point in his comments for the video i.e. it's not just CTS "wanting to fool around with things". If this is worth anything it doesn't help my cause (as according to this I should be using the normal pots with ceramic magnets) but there you go (for the sake of interest anyway). Me myself am not "over the moon" with these Alpha pots though. I've tossed two of them already because the middle lug seemed to be making a bad connection and the Alpha pots. that I put in my white Jackson: one of them already has a scratchy spot on the volume control and those pots. have not been in that guitar for longer than four, maybe five, months.
In closing:
Funny thing is that a year ago I would have told you that this black Jackson sounds absolutely wonderful with this DM SD in it because it's got so much crunch and distortion. Only in the last few months have I realised just how cr*p things sounded with all this overdone distortion (black Jackson has always been like this) and in recent months I've dialed back on gain and distortion by, oh, I'd say three quarters??? I now favor that "clean" distortion (if that makes sense) as opposed to the "grunge" that I thought sounded so wonderful a year ago. Ironic is it not.
Thanks again for all the help and input everyone.
Lemme know what you all think about my screw and spring theory above???
Regards,
Dale.
P.S.
Am going to record things as they stand now (just repeat a short but identical phrase or riff for the purposes of comparison). Will upload and, well, who knows. Maybe it's just me. Maybe you'll tell me "there's nothing wrong with that"!!! LOL!!! Happens to me often i.e. sometimes I'll record something and it sounds horrid to me at the time but when I listen to the same thing a few days later I think to myself "that ain't bad so what's the problem (type of thing)".
Good morning.
As always: thank you everyone.
I had a thought this morning:
Could the actual pickup mounting itself have anything to do with this shrillness??? Reason I ask is because when I put the DM SD in I had to use the DM SD silver, slotted, screws as supplied because the black, phillips or star, screws from the Jackson are thicker in diameter. I used the Jackson's springs because the DM SD springs as supplied were MUCH longer than the Jackson's springs. But the DM SD springs as supplied were MUCH smaller in diameter. Maybe these springs or screws of combination thereof is causing some type of sympathetic resonance??? As I noted: this shrillness is almost like an "ice pickey, springy, overtone". Just a thought.
Dunno if anybody here has installed an Invader but I'm curious to know if the screws as supplied with SD pickups are of the larger diameter and are phillips or star screws (same as the Jackson's originals) (based on the Blaze I'm guessing they are). Wonder why DM supplies different mounting screws??? Just to be individual or difficult or what???
No worries about the diagram. I've documented the white Jackson's wiring pretty well. One thing's for certain: how much of a difference it may or may not make I'll wire the black Jackson exactly the same when I'm ready.
I know about all the diagrams on SD's website and how to configure different diagrams (believe it or not I do try check things out BEFORE posting pages and pages on nonsense here). Also acutely aware of the wiring differences between DM and SD. Must say that in this regard: SD's website sticks sh*t into DM's website.
Anyways. Not much more I can do other than play the guitar, maybe muck about (again) with pickup height, and go from there. Once the SD Invader arrives I've got to go through this entire process again so I may as well wait, put that in, and test. At least with not having any tone pot. or anything else I'm getting the pure unadulterated tone from the pickup which for comparison purposes may be a good thing.
Some useless information:
Dunno if you all know this but the middle lug of a CTS pot. is made from an alloy whereas as all the lugs on other pots. (Jackson and Alpha are those that I have experience with) are not (same as all the other lugs on the pot.). Here's a video on this (it's short so don't worry): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSTX-kytxxU. Why this is the case and how much of a difference it makes I know not. But the chap makes a good point in his comments for the video i.e. it's not just CTS "wanting to fool around with things". If this is worth anything it doesn't help my cause (as according to this I should be using the normal pots with ceramic magnets) but there you go (for the sake of interest anyway). Me myself am not "over the moon" with these Alpha pots though. I've tossed two of them already because the middle lug seemed to be making a bad connection and the Alpha pots. that I put in my white Jackson: one of them already has a scratchy spot on the volume control and those pots. have not been in that guitar for longer than four, maybe five, months.
In closing:
Funny thing is that a year ago I would have told you that this black Jackson sounds absolutely wonderful with this DM SD in it because it's got so much crunch and distortion. Only in the last few months have I realised just how cr*p things sounded with all this overdone distortion (black Jackson has always been like this) and in recent months I've dialed back on gain and distortion by, oh, I'd say three quarters??? I now favor that "clean" distortion (if that makes sense) as opposed to the "grunge" that I thought sounded so wonderful a year ago. Ironic is it not.
Thanks again for all the help and input everyone.
Lemme know what you all think about my screw and spring theory above???
Regards,
Dale.
P.S.
Am going to record things as they stand now (just repeat a short but identical phrase or riff for the purposes of comparison). Will upload and, well, who knows. Maybe it's just me. Maybe you'll tell me "there's nothing wrong with that"!!! LOL!!! Happens to me often i.e. sometimes I'll record something and it sounds horrid to me at the time but when I listen to the same thing a few days later I think to myself "that ain't bad so what's the problem (type of thing)".
Dave Locher
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
I agree with devastone - I have had three or four different Super Distortion pickups in 5 or 6 different guitars and none of them sounded shrill. It is a thick sounding pickup and that is what I like about it.
If it is still in the guitar, redo your solder connections because something just isn't right.
This was not a used pickup, was it? I foolishly put an A5 magnet into a SD a couple years ago and that DID sound thin and shrill.
I agree with devastone - I have had three or four different Super Distortion pickups in 5 or 6 different guitars and none of them sounded shrill. It is a thick sounding pickup and that is what I like about it.
If it is still in the guitar, redo your solder connections because something just isn't right.
This was not a used pickup, was it? I foolishly put an A5 magnet into a SD a couple years ago and that DID sound thin and shrill.
Jack_TriPpEr
Well-known member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
Regarding the fact that the capacitor on the tone pot is connected to the outer lug versus the middle lug: it has zero impact. (ref: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?261511-Two-Methods-of-Wiring-a-Tone-Pot )
Remind us: what type of wood is the body of the white Jackson made of? I think i recall the black one being mahogany, right?
Regarding the fact that the capacitor on the tone pot is connected to the outer lug versus the middle lug: it has zero impact. (ref: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?261511-Two-Methods-of-Wiring-a-Tone-Pot )
Remind us: what type of wood is the body of the white Jackson made of? I think i recall the black one being mahogany, right?
dpaterson
New member
Re: Dimarzio Super Distortion and SD Invader orientation
Hello again everyone.
Thanks (as usual).
@Dave Locher
Nope. New pickup (from Amazon). All nicely boxed and sealed upon arrival.
As I said: too many good things said about this pickup for it to be the pickup. It's this guitar (black Jackson) I reckon. That being said: I don't have the experience (guitars are the one thing I've STAYED AWAY from modding up until now) BUT I don't know if it's possible to get a guitar that in and of itself distorts EVERYTHING. As I noted and truth be told: this is actually my favorite guitar (for many a reason) but it's always been "heavy" and "overpowering". I used to joke and say "it has a life of its own". I thought this DM SD would "clear" things up a bit but it's WAY "more" now (especially with the pickup in series). When I first got my Blaze we tested it side-by-side with my black Jackson on a Kemper. Had to take the gain down a LOT with the black Jackson i.e. it just blew everything away (and that was with the stock pickup at the time). But it's weird: it's "bright" and "dark" at the same time.
Anyways. The pickup is now wired in parallel and I'm going to record some little snippets today and will post them on SoundCloud. Try as I might I don't seem to be able to describe what's going on. Soldering is fine I think (although as I noted above: these Alpha pots. are not filling me with confidence at this time) (but even wired direct to the instrument jack with no volume pot. things sound the same).
@kingswebe
Well I was hoping anyway (about the "odd" wiring scheme in my white Jackson).
Black Jackson has a Poplar body with Maple neck and Rosewood fretboard.
White Jackson has a Poplar body with Maple neck and Maple fretboard.
Blaze has Honduras Mahogany body with Maple neck and Ebony fretboard.
ODD thing is this: the white Jackon is VERY light (as in weight) compared to the other two. The black Jackson is a heavy (as in weight) guitar and the Blaze even heavier (as in weight) (and these are my "dark" guitars). When I ordered the white Jackson I was told that it has an ALDER body (but the specs. on Jackson's website say different so who the hell knows). Not sure if this means anything. (Maybe they ran out of wood and used PINE!!! LOL!!!). The other funny thing is that the white Jackson was held up for a few weeks by CITES. This never happened with my other two guitars.
Regards,
Dale.
Hello again everyone.
Thanks (as usual).
@Dave Locher
Nope. New pickup (from Amazon). All nicely boxed and sealed upon arrival.
As I said: too many good things said about this pickup for it to be the pickup. It's this guitar (black Jackson) I reckon. That being said: I don't have the experience (guitars are the one thing I've STAYED AWAY from modding up until now) BUT I don't know if it's possible to get a guitar that in and of itself distorts EVERYTHING. As I noted and truth be told: this is actually my favorite guitar (for many a reason) but it's always been "heavy" and "overpowering". I used to joke and say "it has a life of its own". I thought this DM SD would "clear" things up a bit but it's WAY "more" now (especially with the pickup in series). When I first got my Blaze we tested it side-by-side with my black Jackson on a Kemper. Had to take the gain down a LOT with the black Jackson i.e. it just blew everything away (and that was with the stock pickup at the time). But it's weird: it's "bright" and "dark" at the same time.
Anyways. The pickup is now wired in parallel and I'm going to record some little snippets today and will post them on SoundCloud. Try as I might I don't seem to be able to describe what's going on. Soldering is fine I think (although as I noted above: these Alpha pots. are not filling me with confidence at this time) (but even wired direct to the instrument jack with no volume pot. things sound the same).
@kingswebe
Well I was hoping anyway (about the "odd" wiring scheme in my white Jackson).
Black Jackson has a Poplar body with Maple neck and Rosewood fretboard.
White Jackson has a Poplar body with Maple neck and Maple fretboard.
Blaze has Honduras Mahogany body with Maple neck and Ebony fretboard.
ODD thing is this: the white Jackon is VERY light (as in weight) compared to the other two. The black Jackson is a heavy (as in weight) guitar and the Blaze even heavier (as in weight) (and these are my "dark" guitars). When I ordered the white Jackson I was told that it has an ALDER body (but the specs. on Jackson's website say different so who the hell knows). Not sure if this means anything. (Maybe they ran out of wood and used PINE!!! LOL!!!). The other funny thing is that the white Jackson was held up for a few weeks by CITES. This never happened with my other two guitars.
Regards,
Dale.
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