Hello everyone,
I'm posting this message because I really need some technical assistance, or opinion, on a subject that has troubled me for quite a long time.
The problem is about an SH-4 JB Model and later on about an SH-2n Jazz Model pickup. They both have the same problem. They produce exactly the same noise single coils do. Before you start assuming wrong things about false wirings etc, I will tell you a bit of their history.
I bought my first Seymour Duncan pickups on 1990. The models were:
1. STK-S1 staggered bridge model as a replacement for a Stratocaster bridge pickup
2. SH-4 JB model as a replacement on a guitar that was using only one bridge humbucker and just one volume knob.
3. An old "Silverbird" model, don't remember the exact code for that one, as a replacement for another bridge humbucker on another guitar. Again, just volume, no tone knobs connected.
I followed the mounting and connecting instructions to the letter, Black for hot output, Red and White soldered together and taped, Green and Shield soldered together and grounded, for all three of them. Additionally, I connected the black conductor to the volume knob's right pin, I grounded the knob's left pin and I connected the jack cable's signal conductor to the middle pin and grounded its shield. Needless to say that the cable was properly connected to the corresponding pins on the jack and all grounding took place on the back metal cover of the pot.
Everything went fine for both the STK-S1 and the "Silverbird" model, they both worked as they should. The SH-4 did not. Although it sounded ok and both coils were working, it produced the same noise as the two single coils I had left intact on my Stratocaster. Back at those days I was not using a compressor to boost low level signals so the noise was somehow acceptable. Now, I've changed setups completely and among all processors, there's a compressor that really boosts this noise so much you can clearly hear it even while all other instruments are playing. This does not happen when I play with the STK-S1 or the Silverbird model, I get some hiss, like tape hiss, but no hum, no noise at all.
Assuming that that specific SH-4 was malfunctioning, I decided to replace it with another newer SH-4 a few days ago, plus, I decided to replace the neck pickup too on the guitar I had placed the "Silverbird" model on the bridge position. So I bought a brand new SH-4 and an SH-2n for the other guitar. Again I followed the instructions to the letter BUT the results were very disappointing, now the problem was double. The new SH-4 produces exactly the same noise as the previous one AND the SH-2n does the same thing on the other guitar. Everything is connected properly and double checked of course. Every time I switch from the bridge "Silverbird" pickup to the neck "SH-2n" pickup is like switching from a completely noiseless environment to a clear single coil situation. I also have to mention that the computer CRT monitor that I use for my studio needs makes things even worse for those two pickups while IT DOES NOT bother at all either the STK-S1 or the Silverbird.
I really hope I did not bore you with this rather long message of mine but I felt I had to point out the things I did so that you could be able to judge the situation better. I would really like some help on this if you can.
Thank you very much,
Alex.
I'm posting this message because I really need some technical assistance, or opinion, on a subject that has troubled me for quite a long time.
The problem is about an SH-4 JB Model and later on about an SH-2n Jazz Model pickup. They both have the same problem. They produce exactly the same noise single coils do. Before you start assuming wrong things about false wirings etc, I will tell you a bit of their history.
I bought my first Seymour Duncan pickups on 1990. The models were:
1. STK-S1 staggered bridge model as a replacement for a Stratocaster bridge pickup
2. SH-4 JB model as a replacement on a guitar that was using only one bridge humbucker and just one volume knob.
3. An old "Silverbird" model, don't remember the exact code for that one, as a replacement for another bridge humbucker on another guitar. Again, just volume, no tone knobs connected.
I followed the mounting and connecting instructions to the letter, Black for hot output, Red and White soldered together and taped, Green and Shield soldered together and grounded, for all three of them. Additionally, I connected the black conductor to the volume knob's right pin, I grounded the knob's left pin and I connected the jack cable's signal conductor to the middle pin and grounded its shield. Needless to say that the cable was properly connected to the corresponding pins on the jack and all grounding took place on the back metal cover of the pot.
Everything went fine for both the STK-S1 and the "Silverbird" model, they both worked as they should. The SH-4 did not. Although it sounded ok and both coils were working, it produced the same noise as the two single coils I had left intact on my Stratocaster. Back at those days I was not using a compressor to boost low level signals so the noise was somehow acceptable. Now, I've changed setups completely and among all processors, there's a compressor that really boosts this noise so much you can clearly hear it even while all other instruments are playing. This does not happen when I play with the STK-S1 or the Silverbird model, I get some hiss, like tape hiss, but no hum, no noise at all.
Assuming that that specific SH-4 was malfunctioning, I decided to replace it with another newer SH-4 a few days ago, plus, I decided to replace the neck pickup too on the guitar I had placed the "Silverbird" model on the bridge position. So I bought a brand new SH-4 and an SH-2n for the other guitar. Again I followed the instructions to the letter BUT the results were very disappointing, now the problem was double. The new SH-4 produces exactly the same noise as the previous one AND the SH-2n does the same thing on the other guitar. Everything is connected properly and double checked of course. Every time I switch from the bridge "Silverbird" pickup to the neck "SH-2n" pickup is like switching from a completely noiseless environment to a clear single coil situation. I also have to mention that the computer CRT monitor that I use for my studio needs makes things even worse for those two pickups while IT DOES NOT bother at all either the STK-S1 or the Silverbird.
I really hope I did not bore you with this rather long message of mine but I felt I had to point out the things I did so that you could be able to judge the situation better. I would really like some help on this if you can.
Thank you very much,
Alex.
