Help with installing JBjr

[CGH]

I removed the bridge pickup in my American Strat and put in the JBjr. It's working, but there is lots of hum, just like a single coil. Also, the output isn't has hot as I thought it would be. I followed the instructions and wired it as follows:

black - to switch
green/bare wire - ground (bottom of tone pot)
red/white - ground (bottom of tone pot)

I also tried the red/white soldered/taped together not attached to anything but that didn't help.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance...

chris

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: Help with installing JBjr

Well, now, red/white grounded would be split, and have all the symptoms you're talking about- hum, weak(er) signal, etc. BUT, red/white soldered and taped is the desired full humbucking configuration. There has to be a difference.

I would hook up red and white to each other and nothing else, and try it again. If you're still getting hum, I would wonder if something else is causing the hum.


http://guitarelectronics.zoovy.com/category/wiringresources.11pickupcolorcodes/

Scroll down to Standard Humbucker Wiring and look for "S. Duncan / Gotoh".

 

[CGH]

Re: Help with installing JBjr

Well, now, red/white grounded would be split, and have all the symptoms you're talking about- hum, weak(er) signal, etc. BUT, red/white soldered and taped is the desired full humbucking configuration. There has to be a difference.

I would hook up red and white to each other and nothing else, and try it again. If you're still getting hum, I would wonder if something else is causing the hum.

Actually, you're right there was a difference but it wasn't good. When red/white was soldered/taped there was still a bit of hum in bridge but the worst part was the the middle/bridge position (normally quiet,) had bad hum. When I soldered them to ground that went away but I was left with the hum in the bridge.

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: Help with installing JBjr

Was there any tonal change to the middle/bridge sound? The JBjr could be out of phase with the Fender pickups(The out of phase sound is thin, brittle, and hollow. Extra-quacky). In that case, you'll want to swap the black and green wires. And the JB was most positively designed to sound the best in humbucker mode.

My other thought would be to check your solder joint where the green wire joins the back of the pot. It almost sounds like it could be a cold solder joint, resulting in poor tone and hum.

 

[CGH]

Re: Help with installing JBjr

Was there any tonal change to the middle/bridge sound? The JBjr could be out of phase with the Fender pickups(The out of phase sound is thin, brittle, and hollow. Extra-quacky). In that case, you'll want to swap the black and green wires. And the JB was most positively designed to sound the best in humbucker mode.

My other thought would be to check your solder joint where the green wire joins the back of the pot. It almost sounds like it could be a cold solder joint, resulting in poor tone and hum.

I don't remember any tonal differences, but there could have been. I just remember noticing the hum. I'll recheck the solder joints. Thanks.