Gibson SG w/p-rails & triple shot problem

[TinPan]

Happy Labor-day, I have installed the p-rails w/triple shot on my SG the neck pup works & sounds great in all triple-shot switching modes, however the bridge pup works in only some settings on the triple-shot mounting ring. I checked all the solder joints R/G/Blk/W/ and braid and checked the output wires to the pots and checked all points on the pots/caps/ and switch & output. Let me add that everything is "hard wired" and no "junction box's" are installed. Could the bridge triple-shot mounting ring be damaged or defective, or have I made a mistake somewhere? But as I stated I double checked my work. I used "standard wiring instructions. I might add that I have been wiring guitars for many years, this is not my first rodeo. Any advise is appreciated

 

[VinceT]

Re: Gibson SG w/p-rails & triple shot problem

Which settings does it work in, and which not?


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[TinPan]

Re: Gibson SG w/p-rails & triple shot problem

Which settings does it work in, and which not?


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It is wired for standard wiring according to the instruction card's photo I am getting sound in the parallel/humbucker and slug coil settings, no sound with series/humbucke and adjustable coil settings.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Gibson SG w/p-rails & triple shot problem

sounds like the issue is with the adjustable coil. do you have a meter?

 

[TinPan]

Re: Gibson SG w/p-rails & triple shot problem

sounds like the issue is with the adjustable coil. do you have a meter?

As a matter of fact yes, Im a retired electronics tech.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Gibson SG w/p-rails & triple shot problem

Cool. So the first test is to see if you have continuity through the adjustable coil before it hits the Triple Shot. On a neck P-Rails, that should be between green and red wires (though if I’m wrong about north/south, it’ll be between black and white). The electronics tech in you will probably say test both just to be wise [emoji1]

One note, I don’t know if the switch config on the Triple Shot would provide an alternate path for your meter, so I’d be tempted to lift one of the coil wires from the mounting pad to do that test.

If you have continuity in both coils, then it’s likely the Triple Shot (as you’re getting signal on the other side).


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[TinPan]

Re: Gibson SG w/p-rails & triple shot problem

One big problem is they are mounted on a batwing scratch plate, the whole thing has to come out "un soldered" from pots, wires pulled out, in order to turn the thing up side down. I know I know pain in the but. I also have to loosen the strings and stick on a capo. Uh...boy!

 

[VinceT]

Re: Gibson SG w/p-rails & triple shot problem

I feel your pain. When I first put PRails and triple shots in my ES335, it took several rounds of testing to work out that the neck,pickup was INTERNALLY out of phase, simple fix in terms of wiring (flipping green and red), but it really did a number on me.

That experience alone made me a “first principles” trouble-shooter - I.e. not presuming what’s broken but starting at source and testing along the chain.

In this case, I would take the strings off, do all your testing, and then only put one string back on when you do an amplified test rather than believing it’s all done and wasting a whole set of strings (guess how expensive that particular lesson was!)

As an aside, I’ve had several Triple Shots where the circuit board came loose from the ring (and needed supergluing back on), so be careful when you’re poking around!


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[TinPan]

Re: Gibson SG w/p-rails & triple shot problem

I feel your pain. When I first put PRails and triple shots in my ES335, it took several rounds of testing to work out that the neck,pickup was INTERNALLY out of phase, simple fix in terms of wiring (flipping green and red), but it really did a number on me.

That experience alone made me a “first principles” trouble-shooter - I.e. not presuming what’s broken but starting at source and testing along the chain.

In this case, I would take the strings off, do all your testing, and then only put one string back on when you do an amplified test rather than believing it’s all done and wasting a whole set of strings (guess how expensive that particular lesson was!)

As an aside, I’ve had several Triple Shots where the circuit board came loose from the ring (and needed supergluing back on), so be careful when you’re poking around!


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I just noticed there is also a bad ground hum with vol full up (both pups) and subsides turning vol down. otherwise these pups sound great, iron out these 2 problems and it will be smooth sailing.

 

[TinPan]

Re: Gibson SG w/p-rails & triple shot problem

I just noticed there is also a bad ground hum with vol full up (both pups) and subsides turning vol down. otherwise these pups sound great, iron out these 2 problems and it will be smooth sailing.

Im 99.99% sure I damaged the bridge triple shot mounting ring, easy problem, what is bothering me more at this point is the ground hum/buzz that the guitar didn't have before. I have done many upgrades before and never had these problems, am I just getting old and making mistakes? Well wish me luck........