Duncan Distortion question

DEADBYDAWN

DEADBYDAWN

New member
I put in the DD in the bridge position of my Jackson today but when I tried it out- it sounded horrible.

I know my soldering skills are not so good and this prolly has alot to do with the sound.

My question is- could I have damaged the pickup when I soldered it if I let the wires get too hot?

The weird thing is I have a Duncan jazz in the neck position and it sounds fine.

I twisted the bare wires from both the neck and bridge pickups togeter and the green from both pups together and soldered them all to the back of the tone pot. Then I soldered the black wire to the correct location on the three way switch.

I am thinging the 3 way switch may have a issue. Anyways I am gonna take it in to a pro cause I fail at soldering such small wires- I just hope I didn't damge my new pup.
 
Re: Duncan Distortion question

DEADBYDAWN said:
I twisted the bare wires from both the neck and bridge pickups togeter and the green from both pups together and soldered them all to the back of the tone pot. Then I soldered the black wire to the correct location on the three way switch.
Click to expand...

The red and white wires do not get soldered to the back of any pots. You just put tape around them and leave them unattached to anything.

Then tune to Eb and play some Deicide. :)
 
Re: Duncan Distortion question

DEADBYDAWN said:
I put in the DD in the bridge position of my Jackson today but when I tried it out- it sounded horrible.

I know my soldering skills are not so good and this prolly has alot to do with the sound.

My question is- could I have damaged the pickup when I soldered it if I let the wires get too hot?

The weird thing is I have a Duncan jazz in the neck position and it sounds fine.

I twisted the bare wires from both the neck and bridge pickups togeter and the green from both pups together and soldered them all to the back of the tone pot. Then I soldered the black wire to the correct location on the three way switch.

I am thinging the 3 way switch may have a issue. Anyways I am gonna take it in to a pro cause I fail at soldering such small wires- I just hope I didn't damge my new pup.
Click to expand...

This maybe the problem.
 
Re: Duncan Distortion question

Varg said:
The red and white wires do not get soldered to the back of any pots. You just put tape around them and leave them unattached to anything.

Then tune to Eb and play some Deicide. :)
Click to expand...

yep, like he said. red and white connect to each other and nothing else; solder them then tape them up so they don't short out.
and if all your connections are solid, you'll be in grind country
 
Re: Duncan Distortion question

Varg said:
The red and white wires do not get soldered to the back of any pots. You just put tape around them and leave them unattached to anything.

Then tune to Eb and play some Deicide. :)
Click to expand...

Another +1!
It sounds horrible because the bucker is not wired correctly, you want it in series! Just do as Varg said, twist and solder the red and white together, then tape it off, and all should be well.
 
Re: Duncan Distortion question

I did not solder the red and white together- I just tapped the out of the way- mistake #1 from what I read here.

A tech told me even a new pickup can be out of phase which would require switching the black and green wires- if all else fails I will try this.


Thank you guys for the replys.
 
Re: Duncan Distortion question

DEADBYDAWN said:
A tech told me even a new pickup can be out of phase which would require switching the black and green wires- if all else fails I will try this.
Click to expand...

Not if the pups are made by the same company. A Gibson and a Duncan, or a Dmz and a Duncan might be out of phase, (in the middle position) but not a 2 Duncans.

Just solder the red/white together, wrap the connection in electrical tape, and then tape it to the large exterior sheath to keep it out of the way and you'll be fine. Remember, black is hot and green is ground.

Luke
 
Re: Duncan Distortion question

one little thing i like to do when i solder the pu wires, is i put a heat sink on the wire i'm soldering that way you know for sure your pu will not get damaged.
it's a little overly cautious but better to be safe then sorry.
 
Re: Duncan Distortion question

DEADBYDAWN said:
I did not solder the red and white together- I just tapped the out of the way- mistake #1 from what I read here.

A tech told me even a new pickup can be out of phase which would require switching the black and green wires- if all else fails I will try this.


Thank you guys for the replys.
Click to expand...

Not soldering the red and white together is causing your pup to run in single coil mode, hence the sound is not as you would expect, just solder the red and white wires together and insulate them (tape/shrinktube) without being connected to anything.
I would defenitely not reverse the phase of your new pickup yet, an out of phase sound only appears when the pickup is on TOGETHER with another pickup, and it'll produce a normal sound when played on itself, only sounds like crap when combined with another pickup.

Correct the red and white wires, and your problem will be most likely fixed! ;)
 
Re: Duncan Distortion question

Please be sure to update us on the awesome sound when it is corrected.
 
Re: Duncan Distortion question

Soldered the red/white together and taped them with electrical tape. Sounds AWSOME!!!!! Very happy. Had a JB previously but needed a little more chugga.

Thank you fellers
 
Re: Duncan Distortion question

I made that mistake once on a dimebucker. Boy did I ever learn a lesson from that experience.
 
Re: Duncan Distortion question

The funny part is it was such a simple swap but when I looked at the diagram I just assumed the red/white were just taped out of the way and not soldered together- I somehow missed the explanation which was right in front of my face- durrrrrrr.

Also- this thing sounds great for leads even in the bridge position. I would always switch to my neck pup before but- no need to now- which I really love.
 
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