Duncan 59 weirdness

M

mechanic1908

New member
I had a 59 installed in my Dillion SG copy.
After getting it back I noticed something weird.
I used to be able to blend neck and bridge volumes when in middle switch position and it was 50's wiring as either volume turned off both pickups in the switch middle position.
Now the neck pickup and bridge ( in middle position) volume affect each other and turning down the volume of the neck pickup (all the way down) doesn't affect the bridge volumes but turning down the bridge does cut out the neck.
Thoughts?

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Re: Duncan 59 weirdness

The wiring has most likely been somewhat altered.
Sounds like you got it done 'somewhere' - and that somewhere is where to go to get it sorted out or explained.
 
Re: Duncan 59 weirdness

I can't quite picture how they did it, but my guess is that one pickup is connected to the input of its volume control...as it should be.

But maybe the other pickup is connected to the switch first, and then to its volume control...and it should NOT be. It should be connected to its volume control first and then the output of the volume control (middle terminal) should go to the switch.
 
Re: Duncan 59 weirdness

If you can post some pics of what they did in there, we might be able to help out. My guess if you bring it back, they might not think there is anything wrong.
 
Re: Duncan 59 weirdness

Sorry pics took so long been busy with work and house chores.
Here she is .The braided line goes to back of bridge volume pot and conductor from same goes to right leg of same volume pot.
Does this look right?
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Re: Duncan 59 weirdness

I can't tell which white wire belongs to which on the neck volume, and this is where things aren't working the way you want them to. It does look like the hot lead of pickup is connected to the input of the volume pot (the outside lug that isn't grounded). If the hot lead going to the tone control is connected to the middle lug and the hot lead going to the switch is connected to the same lug as the pickup then that's your problem.

BTW, your bridge is not '50s wiring if it is as you described. '50s wiring is when the tone control is connected to the middle lug of the volume control. Modern wiring is when the tone control is connected to the outside lug of the volume control with the hot lead from the pickup. I'm assuming non-independent volume wiring.

Independent (tone-suck) volume wiring is where you can take either volume down to zero in the middle position and you don't lose output. It is achieved by connecting the hot lead of the pickup to the middle lug of the volume control and the outside lug of the volume control to the switch.
 
Re: Duncan 59 weirdness

The whites are top to bottom neck pup, output jack positive and bridge pup. Right side of switch has the 3 grounds.
There is continuity between bridge pup and the output jack in bridge switch position.
In middle position both pups have continuity to output.
In neck switch position both pickups have continuity.
Could the problem just be the switch?

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Re: Duncan 59 weirdness

The way it was wired before the pickup swap made it so if you had the switch in the middle position and rolled back the volume to either pickup all the way shut off both pickups btw that's why I thought it was 50's wiring. Hth

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Re: Duncan 59 weirdness

The wiring on the switch is just fine. I doubt that is the source of your problem. '50s/modern wiring is about tone control placement, not the behavior of the volumes when the neck and bridge are combined.

Again, I'm asking about the neck volume control. What is connected to the outside lug and what is connected to the middle lug?
 
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Re: Duncan 59 weirdness

Neck volume pot has right lug connected to neck pickup positive and it has a white going from it to the neck tone control middle lug.
Neck volume pot middle lug is connected to 3 way switch

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Re: Duncan 59 weirdness

That is how it should be wired. If it is due to a faulty component, I would be suspicious of the neck volume pot. You're saying that if you turn it all the way down with the switch in the middle position, you still get some output, correct?
 
Re: Duncan 59 weirdness

You may not want to hear this, but the materials used on that harness are simply NOT up to par. Even that colored wire used to do the cabling is the one with the highest capacitance in the history of mankind. And it's actually holding back your new p'ups to deliver its full potential.

I'd re-do the harness with good CTS or Bourns pots, Switchcraft toggle and jack, do the cabling with good vintage push-back wire (the same wire used on your new p'ups) and good PIO caps.

You can than me later. In the meantime, even it you solve your actual problem, the ticking bomb of the whole thing failing on you at any moment without any warning remains.

HTH,
 
Re: Duncan 59 weirdness

gregory said:
That is how it should be wired. If it is due to a faulty component, I would be suspicious of the neck volume pot. You're saying that if you turn it all the way down with the switch in the middle position, you still get some output, correct?
Click to expand...
With switch in middle position if I roll the neck or bridge volume off it shuts off the output completely. Both volume pot have to be cracked open a little to have any output.
Put simply when in bridge position everything works as expected neck tone/volume have no effect
But neck position both volume and time controls affect the output.

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Re: Duncan 59 weirdness

Oh and thank you for all the help people! Appreciated.
And LT I'm ok with hearing my electronics are crappy I intend on swapping them out eventually

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Re: Duncan 59 weirdness

LtKojak said:
Even that colored wire used to do the cabling is the one with the highest capacitance in the history of mankind. And it's actually holding back your new p'ups to deliver its full potential.
Click to expand...
Not to mention all the ground loops, for those who are paranoid about them.
 
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Re: Duncan 59 weirdness

Update: I swapped out the switch and all is good in SG land again.
I do intend on upgrading all the wiring, pots caps ECT in the not too distant future.
Thanks for all the help people!

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