How to install livewire?

S

SpiffyChee

New member
I have a schecter c-1 classic and it has a JB and a Jazz seymour duncan in it.

i would like to replace the JB with a Livewire Active pickup.
I have no clue how i would do this,
does the livewire come with special pots and things? i saw a picture on musicians friend and it shows 2 pots with it.

there are only 2 knobs on the guitar, so the cavity isnt extremely big, has anyone ever crammed 2 9 volts in a 2 knob cavity? would there be a way of doing this without making another hole in my guitar?

ps. Ive never changed pickups before. but i am ok with a soldering iron and would like to try.

also, would i be able to get similar "not intense" distortion if i wanted to? I play at church and use the bridge pickup very seldom, but if i wanted to, would i be able to make it a little less distorted?
 
Re: How to install livewire?

why would they not work with passives? emgs can work with passives right?


i would not want to run them both at the same time, just one or the other.

if i installed a concentric pot, do you think it would make enough room for the 2 batteries?
 
Re: How to install livewire?

The problem is that your humbucker wants to see a 500k volume pot and the Livewire wants to see a 100k volume pot. It will be difficult to find a concentric pot that mixes those two values.
 
Re: How to install livewire?

Has nobody ever done this??? you serious??
there has to be some pot or something that would work

i only have one awesome guitar and i need a way to do this?
can anyone help me out?
 
Re: How to install livewire?

Sure you can do it. We just wanted to warn you that its not ideal. However, if you only have one on at a time, it won't be too bad.

The C1 has a selector switch like an LP, right?

If so, just do it like this:

Edit: Removed pic since it wasn't the right switch.

500k when the passive is selected - 100k when the LiveWire is selected.
 
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Re: How to install livewire?

ArtieToo said:
Sure you can do it. We just wanted to warn you that its not ideal. However, if you only have one on at a time, it won't be too bad.

The C1 has a selector switch like an LP, right?

If so, just do it like this:

SpiffyChee.png


500k when the passive is selected - 100k when the LiveWire is selected.
Click to expand...


its a 5 way switch. set up with split coiling
 
Re: How to install livewire?

Ok, if you just put a 125k resistor in parallel with the LiveWire, it will always "see" a 100k load. Connect one end of the resistor to wherever you connect the LiveWire "hot", and the other end of the resistor to any ground.

Edit: Thats "hot" output. Not the power wire.
 
Re: How to install livewire?

ArtieToo said:
Ok, if you just put a 125k resistor in parallel with the LiveWire, it will always "see" a 100k load. Connect one end of the resistor to wherever you connect the LiveWire "hot", and the other end of the resistor to any ground.

Edit: Thats "hot" output. Not the power wire.
Click to expand...

would that take away from the sound quality?
 
Re: How to install livewire?

Not at all. The Livewire was designed to see a 100k load. You'll be giving it exactly what it wants.
 
Re: How to install livewire?

ArtieToo said:
Not at all. The Livewire was designed to see a 100k load. You'll be giving it exactly what it wants.
Click to expand...

can you explain it again a little more noob proof? i havent wired a guitar before. like what i do with the stuff it comes with?


and you said "it wouldnt be to bad" what would be bad at all?
 
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Re: How to install livewire?

A guitar pickup is just a tiny AC power supply. The volume pot is the "load" that it works against. The larger the resistance, the smaller the load. So, a passive pickup needs a small load, like 500k. A Livewire has a built-in amp and can drive a larger load, like 100k. That load also affects the tonal characteristics of the pup. The passive pup expects to see a 500k load, and the Livewire was designed for a 100k load.

By placing a 125k resistor across the hot and ground leads of the Livewire, it will always "see" the 100k load. (Thats the 500k pot in parallel with the 125k resistor equals 100k.)

So, you just ground one side of the resistor, and connect the other end to the same place you connect the Livewire's hot lead. When the Livewire is selected, so will the resistor. When the livewire isn't selected, the resistor will also be out of the circuit. Should work fine.
 
Re: How to install livewire?

Well now, that is an excellent explanation!

Just one quick question. I haven't been able to figure what resistor value I would need to have a LiveWire "see" a 100k load from a 250k pot. As I have it now, the neck pup is passive with a 500k pot and my LiveWire Metal is 250k. I don't find the sound too harsh as it is now and the output levels are very tolerable to me (I don't find the neck "weak" at all) but I am always ready to break out the solder gun and experiment.

I guess my question in a nutshell is: What is the formula to determine the value of resistance needed? (of course just the answer would be great as well but the theory behind it is always appreciated!) Thanks!

Cheers KCK
 
Re: How to install livewire?

KCK_sdmf said:
I guess my question in a nutshell is: What is the formula to determine the value of resistance needed? (of course just the answer would be great as well but the theory behind it is always appreciated!) Thanks!

Cheers KCK
Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum. The formula is pretty simple given todays calculators.

To add resistors in parallel, just add the reciprocal of the resistors and then take the reciprocal one more time. The "reciprocal" just means using the 1/x key. So, to add 125k and 500k, just hit:

1 2 5 1/x + 5 0 0 1/x = 1/x

To find what value you need to get to 100k, just subtract:

5 0 0 1/x - 1 0 0 1/x = 1/x

Make sense? :)
 
Re: How to install livewire?

I get it and even get the correct results for the 500k to 100k but for the 250k I end up getting 166k as a value for the resistor? lol So, a little more of input from ya might be helpful! HAHA
 
Re: How to install livewire?

KCK_sdmf said:
I get it and even get the correct results for the 500k to 100k but for the 250k I end up getting 166k as a value for the resistor? lol So, a little more of input from ya might be helpful! HAHA
Click to expand...

Which is correct. ;)

If you're trying to find what value resistor gives you 100k when mixed with a 250k pot, then 166k is correct.

Keep in mind that resistors are manufactured in "standard" values. Sometimes you have to fudge on the resistor value a little. Generally, its better to go to the next higher standard value.

Edit: A little "trick" to remember: any time you put two or more resistors in parallel, the total resistance is always less than the smallest resistor. If I put a 10 ohm, 100k ohm, and a 250k ohm resistor in parallel, my total resistance will be less than 10 ohms. (9.9986 ohms.)
 
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